Captain Twill
Academic Fight Circle, Research, Share, Discuss & Debate Maritime History.
1,565 topics in this forum
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Blackbeard 1 2 3
by Capt. Flint- 59 replies
- 4.1k views
I thought that since there was so much chatter about Blackbeard, I would move it out of cutlass combat and into a new topic..... In response to the last post, Blackbeard did not fight for sugar and indigo. His real reasons for fighting will never be known. As far as falling for his own hype; well, he created it. It was a common practice during the time ( and Teach used it also) to creat as terrific an image as possible. This would hopefully make raiding a ship easier. As folks would be so afraid, they would surrendor without a fight. Blackbeard is an incredible figure in time. Almost nothing is known for fact about his younger years and he lived as a pirate for only a f…
Last reply by Longarm, -
- 28 replies
- 1.8k views
The press gang seems particularly despotic to me, as I read "Pirate Hunter."Does anyone have a good source for information about the press gangs? And, while we're at it, can anyone reccomend a good source of info for the rules of apprenticeship at the time?
Last reply by JoshuaRed, -
- 7 replies
- 1.9k views
I decided, after long deliberation, to post this question in Captain Twill, instead of Plunder, for two reasons: I am not interested in buying, but making, and I am looking for a fair degree of historical accuracy. My question: What did sailors commonly wear under their work clothes when it gets cold? I wondered after reading people lament not lining their coats with a thicker material, and I figured their must be an undergarment one can wear to fight the cold. But what type of fabric? Wool does not work very well against my bare skin. I think I developed an allergy after several years of kilt-wearing. I'm hoping maybe a type of softer flannel? I'm not sure.
Last reply by Deacon Frye, -
- 5 replies
- 711 views
This just came into the Library: "Artifacts of the Spanish Colonies of Florida & the Caribbean, 1500-1800, v. 2 Personal Artifacts" By Kathleen Deagan Smithsonian Institution Press, 2002 ISBN 1-58834-035x A marvelously detailed account of personal artifacts with loads of illustrations and photos. Everything from amulets & charms (there a great mermaid charm), jewelry, bells, buttons, buckles sewing equipment, personal firearms and more. A great deal of pirate booty was taken from the Spanish including personal items so this book would be a good reference tool for any pirate.
Last reply by Red Maria, -
- 10 replies
- 1.9k views
This guy intrigues me, but there doesn't seem to be a lot out there on him in spite of the scope of his activities. Unlike most of the Golden Age pirates, who mostly came to bad ends, some of the Jacobean pirates wound up doing quite well for themselves. Easton retired as the Marquis of Savoy. Peter Easton, The "Pirate Admiral"
Last reply by Calico Jack, -
- 15 replies
- 379 views
General fishin question, mates: What sources do ye know of for copies or records of ships articles for privateer or pyratical vessles? I knows of a couple, but would like ta collect the whole set :) Mayhaps we should write our own set as a crew. Anybody know howta write? Z
Last reply by Calico Jack, -
- 17 replies
- 1.4k views
I've run across several references to archers on ships adding to the general mayhem, but how common was it really? What kind of bows were in use? Longbows? Shortbows? Recurves? Even crossbows were available at that time.
Last reply by Deacon Frye, -
- 45 replies
- 4.3k views
Just figured I'd add a place ta list what books we all find a must ta have n' read 'bout life before the mast.... Not just folks in the sweet trade neither, All maritime books included... So.... WHAT'S IN YER LIBRARY?
Last reply by Charlotte Doyle, -
- 7 replies
- 756 views
Aside from the infamous Jose Gaspar, who be named by all as Gasparilla, may any of you maties knowest the names/backgrounds of any other Spanish Pirates?
Last reply by Captain Tito, -
- 5 replies
- 758 views
I was in a local Borders Books yesterday and saw a new Osprey title: "Pirate Ships 16..?-17..?" (forgot the dates). I was in too big a rush to give it a look-over. Has anyone read it and is it worth buying?
Last reply by capnwilliam, -
- 3 replies
- 697 views
i thought this was very cool.... learn the ropes with help of the hms rose! http://www.tallshiprose.org/info/pinchase.html
Last reply by Captain Tito, -
- 8 replies
- 801 views
This is transcribed from Sea History magazine, as I thought it would be of great interest here. The picture is from another website. Luckily there's probably a 'no smoking' rule in the museum! Coastie
Last reply by Longarm, -
- 18 replies
- 1.9k views
How many MASONS be in this here Pub? No, and don't ye be slingin' jokes about cement workers! I'm talking about the world's oldest and largest fraternal association, the Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons. Some believe there are connections betwixt the Freemasons and the Pirates, but I believe this to be far-fetched. What think ye? Capt. William (In another context in life: Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Commander, 32nd degree KCCH)
Last reply by Thomas B., -
Brave New World - A new dawn for the Internet
by Guest Angus MacVox- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
Google rocks, Lexis-Nexus rocks but you have to pay for it. But neither I think compare to the innovation Amazon.com has just wrought. FULL TEXT SEARCHING of thousands of books (and soon all of them)... and when you use your amazon login and password you can view the entire page and several surrounding page. You can't even do this at your local University library folks, this is a librarians wet dream. Right now you can go on Amazon.com and search through pirate books, or, like I just did, Penthouse Letters It's a whole new world. Here's an article about it: http://slate.msn.com/id/2090298/ But better yet, go try it out!! http://www.amazon.com
Last reply by Cap'n Coyote, -
- 12 replies
- 1.1k views
I'm reading a WONDERFUL book about a little-know area of history- "Ben Franklin's Privateers". It is about how during the American Revolution, Ben Franklin authorized three ships, the Black Prince, the Black Princess and the Fearnot to capture British merchants and ships of war. The goal in capturing British ships was not monetary gain for Franklin (Although it was for the privateers themselves. The ships were French owned and crewed by Irish and American seamen) Franklin's objective was a prisoner exchange- trading the Britishers that they took in the raids, and exchanging them for imprisoned Americans, who apparently suffered greatly in British prisons. One accou…
Last reply by Deacon Frye, -
- 5 replies
- 768 views
While I was on vacation in Panama, again, in August I was talking to one fo then honchos who is part of the restoration for the old Spanish towns and forts. One obstacle that he said they have been facing was using Coral in the concrete mixture for strength. Since Coral was so plentiful back then the Spaniards used coral in every fort I have seen from Havana, Panama, Cartagena, San Juan, etc... The Panamanian government is restoring the forts to what they once were and have been using coral rather than sand or gravel for simple cost effectiveness. Anyway, I'll quit rambling now.
Last reply by TalesOfTheSevenSeas, -
- 7 replies
- 733 views
"Beds have topsheets,not ships. All sails have sheets for trim. " That always puzzled me...and worse, my dictionary does offer a "sheet".... 5.a sail, as on a ship or boat. Along with a sheet of almost everything else (fire, ice, water.....) and....."a rope or chain for extending the clews" (extending the clews?) three sheets in/to the wind.......? aside from the generally understood meaning......??? sheet anchor? ......... (no sheet mate, we be in trouble deep?) can one recommend a good book on this subject (etymology, not sheets)?
Last reply by Zephyr, -
- 5 replies
- 1.3k views
I was sent on a quest to see if the term "brute squad" was historically accurate, and if it existed prior to the 1980s (or whenever) printing of "The Princess Bride". Have fun storming the castle!
Last reply by captweaver65, -
- 1 reply
- 998 views
Greetings, The nice people at the Whydah site are letting me dock some of my material there. For those who are interested in the "Madagascar Men" see http://www.whydah.com/page.php?id=past01 [You will have to cut and paste the address into your browser] More will be posted at this site over the coming months. Thanks, Corsair
Last reply by beachbum, -
- 8 replies
- 905 views
Usually before one took passage as crew of a Pirate ship (voluntarily that is) ya had to sign the "Articles". Does anyone have or know of a link to some of these?
Last reply by Black Deacon, -
- 8 replies
- 981 views
Anyone else out there a fan of Howard Pyle or N.C. Wyeth?
Last reply by Redd Oktober, -
- 34 replies
- 2.2k views
I know that in France they used to brand thieves with a letter "V" on the forearm. The V stood for voleur, the French word for theif. Children caught stealing would get off "lightly" with this punishment for a first offense. On the second offense they would lose their hand. I noted that in Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp was branded with a letter P for pirate on his forearm and that this was supposedly done by the East India Company. Is there any basis for this in history?
Last reply by Zephyr, -
- 26 replies
- 2k views
After hearing for years about snuff boxes, bottles and such and never quite knowing just what snuff was, I finally got around to looking it up. It was tabbacco, ground very, very fine. A bit of the stuff was pinched between the fingers and sniffed up the nose. It would seem quite logical to me that snuff was probably popular among seafarers on ships, as fire was an ever-present danger. Am I right in this assumption? Or was snuff a bad habit of the elite?
Last reply by John Maddox Roberts, -
- 1 reply
- 618 views
There an interesting article on Blackbeard in American Neptune v.61:4 Fall 2001. The article cuts through the myth of Blackbeard and relies on contmeporary accounts that fit BB more in what is known of early 18th c. pirate society. If anyone wants a copy let me know privately and I will send you a copy for copying costs and postage. If you're coming to Ojai I bring you a copy and just charge for copying.
Last reply by Scupper, -
pirate history for yer kids
by Guest Angus MacVox- 1 reply
- 665 views
Nice book available for free online here: http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/Pirate...reat_Sea_Rover/
Last reply by Rosalinda,
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