Captain Twill
Academic Fight Circle, Research, Share, Discuss & Debate Maritime History.
1,565 topics in this forum
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For your edification (despite my general lack of use for poetry, this is sort of funny): "A relation of some Passages happening when we were at Zante; where we tried which wine was the best; viz. of that which we had at Malta or that which we found then at Zante. Composed September 28 [1675]: I. Two great commanders at this place fell out, A Malta gallant and a Grecian stout; True Trojans both, equal for birth and valour, Small difference in habit or in colour; Ambitious only which should have the honour To fight the Turks under the English banner. II. Brave Syracusa, Malta's warlike knight, Displays his bloody flag much like a wight …
Last reply by Mission, -
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Wasn't there a good description of these in Pere Labat's memoirs? I couldn't find it in my research folders, I thought I had made a copy some time past but it is missing. Anyone remember the discussion thread on this? I tried the buccaneer project and period descriptions but not having any luck so far. (Maybe I just can't see?) Bo
Last reply by michaelsbagley, -
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Does anyone know if pirates/ sailors had coffee aboard their ships during the GAOP and how did they store it, i think in jas townsed.com they show how coffee was kept in a paper type cartage, but that was more durning the 1770's.
Last reply by William Brand, -
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I didn't know where to put this so... By an accident I happened to look at a book about history of British West Indies and I found an interesting description about life in Jamaican colony from about 1730s (published originally in 1740) and pretty near if we think about pirate era too. An Interesting description about housing, clothes and social lconditions. I found the description here on the web, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to post it at all The Gentlemens Houses are generally built low, of one Story, consisting of five or six handsome Apartments, beautifully lined and floored with mahogany, which looks exceeding gay; they have agenerally a Piazza to which yo…
Last reply by RoyalJames, -
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What would rovers in the West Indies have used when careening their vessels. After they had cleaned her hull of weed and other growth, what was the most typical substance they used to 'grave' it? Are there any specific direct references? Benerson Little in Buccaneer's Realm says they covered their hulls with different combinations of pitch, tar, lime and tallow. Brain Lavery in his extensively researched book "the arming and fitting of english ships of war 1660-1815" explains that vessels of the period used 'black stuff' which was a mixture of tar and pitch, which is consistent with what Little says, however he specifies that vessels going on foreign service favoured 'wh…
Last reply by RoyalJames, -
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GoF, I've been reading your web page again (always an expensive habit). I take it that one of the tricks with GAoP shoes is getting the buckles right, because nobody makes shoes 'stock' with the right ones. So what type of buckles should I be looking for, i.e. size, shape, and material? Also, have you been successful getting appropriate shoes and buckles from the same source, or did you have to mix and match, specifying a particular latchet size, then getting buckles elsewhere? TIA!
Last reply by michaelsbagley, -
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Keelhauling appears often as a mention in fiction pirate tales. And keelhauling (Dutch kielhalen; "to drag along the keel"; German Kielholen; Swedish kölhalning; Danish kølhaling; Norwegian kjølhaling) was a real punishment used during most of the age of sail. Traditionally at least in Northern Europe, Britain, Holland and France it was a used practise from Tudor era up to the 18th Century. Even Navies sometimes practised as a form of punishment. It seems that in Netherlands the practise wasn't formally abolished until 1853, while it had been abandoned earlier. So in the pirate era (let’s say about 1630-1730 in this case. But we can also include Tudor era privateers.) T…
Last reply by Jas. Hook, -
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As usual, when I have a divergence of opinion on my site, I come here to impartial judges. I am talking both about the historical pirates that you have seen described in chronicles and about the somehow fictional, but not fantastic ones in Daniel Defoe's, Walter Scott's, Raphael Sabbattini's novels, etc. (In my mind, there is a difference between historical fiction, which goes beyond chronicles but relates about people and facts which might have been possible even if they hadn't exactly happened or we can't know if they happened, and historical fantasy, which twists historical facts, physics laws and the time's way of seeing, such as "Pyratica" or other stories with pret…
Last reply by Swashbuckler 1700, -
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Belly dancing as we see it performed today is a relatively modern interpretation of ancient cultural and performing arts. The dance forms that modern groups draw from are steeped in rich traditions. That said, why do we see bellydancing at every festival under the sun? Now before anyone thinks I'm attacking bellydancing in any way, shape or form, remember this…. My wife is a dancer. She's performed in both the tribal and cabaret styles for many years and I'm a huge fan of the art for it's cultural and performance value, as well as it's inclusive nature to both genders and all body types. My wife has won numerous awards and I've been the master of ceremonie…
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Just wanted to ask if anyone knew any "off" expresions for hanging, I remember finding something that named these but I can't find it anymore, and any reference sights as to methods would be greatly appreciated thanks!
Last reply by Coastie04, -
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Had a though while reading... I've read where during doldrums and whatnot that sailors fished... What did they use? I've seen nets for hauling a large catch if possible, but what about a single line? I've even read an instance where a crew baited a hook with a '4 pound hunk of beef and caught a 100 pound fish'. How big was the hook and what was the line? I'd like to maybe add a small fishing kit to my gear, but what would it consist of?
Last reply by Mission, -
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- 510 views
http://mashable.com/2014/11/11/irish-castle-artifacts/
Last reply by William Brand, -
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I heard a tale about 20 years ago about a treasure hoard found in New Jersey in the early 1980's. I will be ommiting some details because I have done this research and have found evidence of the story proving the tale to have at the very least, a good amount of fact to it. I have found the cave opening itself, I have maps of the underground tunnel/cave systems, and I intend to find a way in since the main entrance is sealed. I need to see the empty treasure room with my own eyes. Here is the story...: In the early 1980's a large building near a river in New Jersey was being built. As the foundations were being dug a construction crew member operating a tractor fell thro…
Last reply by Capt_Jack_Stifler, -
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At some point in the history of the sword the rapier was replaced by the small sword. Curious to know why this occurred. Was the rapier still in use by the GAOP or had it already been replaced?
Last reply by Johnathan Atwood, -
Seagar
by RoyalJames- 0 replies
- 533 views
Jasper Seagar is often taken for being the true name of Edward England, but as Grey and others suggest they probably were two different persons. It is easy to understand how they got mixed up as they succeeded each other as captains of the same ship and crew, and at which point Seagar’s name first seems to be mentioned in the history. I have started to list the places and dates where he is mentioned: 1720 Aug 17, Anjouan, Seagar is captain of the Fancy. (Kirby) * 1720 Dec, Seager commands a 38 gun ship at the coast of Malabar. (Fougeray) 1721 Apr 26, La Buse (Le Victorieux) and Seagar (Fancy) takes the Nossa Senhora do Cabo at Saint Denis, Bourbon (Le Mercure) …
Last reply by RoyalJames, -
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Ok I'm starting a book of my own about pirates... I have some questions and I'm hoping for the most accurate reply I can happen across, which is why I started this thread
Last reply by Silver, -
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It should be noted that both the skull & crossbones and the hourglass were both common "memento mori" (remembrances of mortality, roughly) used on tombstoes of the period.
Last reply by Littleneckhalfshell, -
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Today a brand new 24-pound cannon is fired into a replica of ship Vasa (originally built 1628) in Stockholm. https://translate.google.se/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.svt.se%2Fnyheter%2Fsverige%2Fi-dag-skjuts-regalskeppet-vasa-sonder&edit-text=
Last reply by Cascabel, -
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On September 5, 1717 King George signed his "Act of Grace," an offer of amnesty designed to pardon any piratical acts committed after Queen Anne's War. The proclamation was signed on September 5, 1717 and extended for one year. Anyone ever seen a copy of this printed any where? If yes, could you possibly share the wording of it?
Last reply by BellamyCay, -
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Question for all: I’m looking for a few good books that show the fashion of the GAOP preferably with illustrations. Ultimately I would like examples of clothing worn not only in England and on the continent but also in the colonies, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. I know it’s a tall order… Suggestions?
Last reply by Jib, -
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I know it's here somewhere but I need to waterproof my lean-to canvases for the upcoming FTPI. Any info would be great. Thanks, Animal
Last reply by sutlerjon, -
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I heard that when a sailor died in battle, it was common to sell his things for auction among the crew. Was it customary even if the sailor had left a will? And what could have been in his trunk, what did they find after his death?
Last reply by Elena, -
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Who really is "Captain Twill"?
Last reply by Capt. Bo of the WTF co., -
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While I imagine that the clergy frequently followed the army to provide spiritual assistance since the middle ages when do we see naval chaplain appear in history? Was the position of chaplain around during the GAOP?
Last reply by Mission, -
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Are there any studies done on the cemetery on St Marie?
Last reply by RoyalJames,