PoD

Just added some new replica documents to the website.

Pirate Death Warrant

Customisable Henry Every reward proclamation

An ACT for the Encrease and Encouragement of Seamen 1696

An ACT for the more effectual Suppression of Piracy 1699

This is a set of replica playing cards of a pack first sold in the year 1700.

It consists of the standard four houses and features characters from 17th Century Burlesque Theatre (no not the stiptease kind).

There are no Jokers in this pack as these weren't featured in packs of playing cards until about 1860.

Printed on period correct Laid card.

The cards are also available with a wooden holder based on a surviving example confiscated from a pirate ship. The cards are sandwiched between two wooden panels then fastened in place with string.

http://www.lettersof...products_id=148

yeah it could be that.

ok next question is then:

Does anyone have an image of what a plain-scale looked like from the period? Aparently its another word for a ruler but no idea what the measurements would look like on it.

They describe it in this 1721 book (but its waaaaaaay over my head to work out) - 'The description, nature and general use, of the sector and plain-scale,:briefly and plainly laid down. : As also a short account of the uses of the lines of numbers, artificial sines and tangents' by Edmund Stone

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nqU2AAAAMAAJ&dq=The%20Description%2C%20Nature%20and%20General%20Use%2C%20of%20the%20Sector%20and%20Plain-Scale&pg=PP3#v=onepage&q&f=false

Don't you just hate it when google doesnt scan in the folded pages at the end.

Speaking of arc-compasses, check this out. (It's an pocket engineer's kit in a shagreen case on eBay.) Being an engineer, it appeals to me, although it's almost certainly post-period and of no relevance to the hobby that I can figure. :)

I've seen quite a few of those Etui's knocking around on ebay. They usually sell for about £200 ($315). I think most are from the mid to late 18th century although some seem to imply they are earlier. There was certainly an earlier one in the National Maritime Museum when I went the other week. I have a number of seperate bits from these kits in my own navigation kit.

I have a few of the dividers from such kits for sale on my website here: http://www.lettersofmarque.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11

yes thats what I would have thought also had they not already listed that he had a pair of dividers as well as a pair of compasses. If they were both dividers surely they would have just put 2 pairs of dividers

I am trying to get together the instruments for my navigation kit. I have some of them that were made by a certain knowledgeable fellow that hangs around this forum. I believe he goes by the name Foxe.

I should be reproducing Gunter Scales and Gunners Scales soon too so they wont be a problem to get either.

I have a copy of the Epitome, Practical Navigation and Seaman's Practice that I am in the process of reproducing.

I wonder what they mean by '1 pair Compasses'? I doubt they mean directional compasses but I could be wrong. Did navigators use the type of compass we use today for drawing arcs?

They say the clothes were nothing out of the ordinary too but seem to be basing the 'man of substance' title on the fact that he had the trade items (which they call a sizable venture?) and the 2 slaves.

It says in the book it was branding. I bet the slaves were thankful he left his middle initial out.

Interesting how a lot of what this fellow had was made illegal round about the time he died...does the book mention his background?

Did he hail from England or the colonies?

the book sumises that he was a professional seafarer and a man of some substance judging by the inventory of what he owned. It suggests that many of his items were goods he hoped to sell on his journey but hadn't managed too. He hadnt declared them to the customs officials at Dartmouth (the port they began their journey from) either so hadnt paid the 10% tax.

I imagine he hailed from England as the ship he was on, 'The Daniel and Henry' was from Exeter in the south of England.

I'd recommend the book if you can get hold of it as its full of loads of interesting information like ships cargos, exchange rates for gold, price of goods in different ports along with a reprinting of the log from the voyages themselves.

the only reference to nickers i could find from the period was in a play where someone gave a boy some money for nickers but nothing in the dialogue insinuated that it was underwear so still drawing a blank on that one.

I am wondering what the difference between Britches and Drawers is? Also (going off the modern term) were Nickers what they called all underwear back then rather than just female garments?

also

SERGE is a woolen fabric, a durable twilled cloth of wool or silk and wool.

BROAD CLOTH is a soft lustrous woolen with nap sheared close and pressed; also a fine, smooth surfaced cotton or silk.

FUSTIAN was a coarse cloth of cotton and flax, thick twilled cotton with short nap

Flanning may mean Flannel material that was loosely woven, lightweight woolen with slight nap.

Muzling may mean Muslin which was a general name for the most delicately woven cotton fabrics, especially those used for ladies dresses, curtains, etc.

oops i got it slightly wrong. He wasnt just the navigator he was actually the Chief Mate. He died in a fever that it thought to have been Malaria

I actually thought the books were the most interesting things. He seems to have been involved in navigation, which may explain why he could read.

Yeah I was interested in the books about all else too. I have tracked them down and I am in the process of trying to reproduce copies of these.

A jackcoat differs from a frock coat in that its frock is not as long and does not flare out as much. The materials used to make a jackcoat are cheaper or less fine. It is more a commoner's item of clothing.

Some of this clothing could have been what was used to cloth the slaves owned by him.

Pentadoes is also a type of cloth

brawles were cheap cloths

Sheets or Sheeting was a strong linen or cotton cloth used for bed linen.

I am assuming Callakew is Calico and Lyning is Linen

ok thats one down:

Nickanees. A cheap striped calico, patterned in the loom. Bought mainly for the slave markets

yep thats my next job. actually deciphering it all.

Here is the inventory of a navigator who died aboard a Slave ship in 1700. Its from the Book "The Forgotten Trade" by Nigel Tattersfield

Inventory of Mr John Chapman's goods, deceased.

At Sea 9 October 1700

13 Single Brawles

56 coarse callakew sheets

2 Nickanees

1 piece Pentadoes

Pte a piece Blue Lyning

11 Sheets

6 small Elephant Teeth marked J:C:A

2 small ditto m'ked J:C:P

8 small ditto m'ked J:C

3 small ditto J:C

1 man Slave m'rked J:C

1 girl ditto m'rked J:C

6 Bars lead

Some Brass wrye

Clothes (viz):

4 Old Coats, 3 old Jackcoats

1 Waistcoat, 1 pair britches

2 Flanning Sherts, 1 pair flanning Drawers

1 old Broad Cloth coat & Jackcoat

2 old Hats, 4 pair old Stockings

6 old White Shurts

1 old Check Shurt & 1 pair Drawers

1 Lace Neckcloth: 10 old Muzling ditto

1 Rumall & 1 White Handkerchiefe

1 Bed, 1 Rugg, 1 blanket, 1 Pillow

2 pair old broad Cloth Britches

1 pair Serge ditto

1 White Fustian Waistcoat

1 Serge Coat and Waistcoat

1 old Cloth Jackcoat

3 New hats, 1 pair old Gloves

2 pair old Shoes, 1 pair Silver Buckles

2 Nickers, 3 pair Sheets

1 hat brush, 1 Cane with Ivory head boss

1 Knife and fork, 1 pen Knife

Books and Instruments (viz):

1 Forestaff with 4 vanes

1 Quadrant with 4 vanes

1 Nocturnall, 1 Gunter scale

1 Plain & 1 Gunner scale

1 old Epitome, 1 old Callinder

1 Practical Navigation

1 Seaman's Practice

2 old Journal Books

1 pair Dividers, 1 pair Compasses

1 Bible, 1 Whole Duty of Man

1 Common Prayer, 1 quarto Waggoner

1 book called Heaven Opened

1 paper Pocket Book

1 old atlass, all torn

1 old papered book

These Things are putt into two Chests which are marked J:C: and this Inventory is attested by us

Francis Snelling

Walter Prideaux

I'm definately up for it again this year. Be good to get it in the post earlier too as last years didnt arrive at my giftees(?) until way after xmas.

yeah getting new stuff done all the time now

Can you add my new Letters of Marque page to the list please mate

www.lettersofmarque.co.uk

My new online shop if finally complete. Check it out for cheaper prices, more products and customizable options on all your pirate goodies.

http://www.lettersofmarque.co.uk/

English dance tune Hey Boys, Up Go We.

Isn't that by The Chemical Brothers

yeah bit gutted about that but going down for the day anyway so I can see the Captain Kidd exhibit. Going to go to the National Maritime Museum after that to check out what they have too.

What material are these made from?

Not sure that they are made of, maybe steel