William Brand

December 1 -

On this day in 1718, the HMS Lyme reported the following (From page 263 of "The Last Battle").

"Soon after dawn on Thursday, December 1, lookouts on board the two British warships spotted two sloops approaching from seaward. It was Maynard, returning in triumph, with Blackbeard's head still swinging from the bowsprit of the Jane. The log of HMS Lyme recorded the event in the usual nonchalant, understated manner adopted by the Royal Navy: "Light Wind, Fair Visability, Wind WSW. This Morn. Sloops returned from ye exhibition in N. Carolina." Over two hundred sailors raced into the rigging and lined the sides of the two warships, cheering the arrival of their victorious shipmates. The battered men of Maynard's command cheered back. They had plenty to cheer about. They had survived a hard-fought battle with the pirates, they had been promised a bonus - and they expected a share of the plunder."

Also on this day in 1968, Pirate Radio Modern (259) began transmitting in England.

Thanks for adding more and more variations to this thread. I wish we had more period lanterns availably commercially.

November 30 -

Joseph de la Fontaine, of France, was one of Shelvocke’s men. When the Speedwell was in need of provisions and wood, and repairs were necessary to the gale-battered vessel, De la Fontaine told Shelvocke that everything she wanted was to be found on the island of Chiloe off the Chilean coast. The soil of the island was very fertile, he said, producing fruits and grains, with fine pasturing for herds of sheep and cattle, there were plenty of fowl and geese. Some industry too, he said, carpets and clothes, and woodwork and furniture, expertly carved - the whole of Chili and Peru were supplied with hams and tongues, and lumber. What was more, the island and the main town Valdivia could be taken easily. On this day in 1719, Speedwell entered the channel between Chiloe and the mainland, flying French colors. Shelvocke tried to barter rather than to plunder.

And on this day, Captain Cook begin his third and last trip to the Pacific (South Seas).

November 28 -

On this day in 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan entered the Pacific Ocean with three ships, becoming the first European explorer to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic.

And on this day in 1716, Blackbeard attacked Guadeloupe.

Also on this day in 1717, Captain Benjamin Hornigold captured the slave ship La Concorde de Nantes, which would later become the Queen Anne's Revenge near the island of Martinique. Hornigold turned her over to one of his men —Edward Teach, later known as Blackbeard—and made him her captain.

And finally on this day in 1720, Anne Bonny and Mary Read were tried and convicted of piracy. Although sentenced to hang, they 'plead their bellies' (being pregnant) and their executions were stayed until after the births of their children.

November 27 -

On this day in history the 'Great Storm of 1703' began to subside, but not before exacting a heavy toll.

Winstanley's tower (known as the first Eddystone Lighthouse) was almost completed erased from existence. Winstanley himself was on the lighthouse, completing additions to the structure. No trace was found of him, or of the other five men in the lighthouse.

In the English Channel, fierce winds and high seas had swamped some vessels outright and drove others onto the Goodwin Sands, an extensive sand bank situated along the southeast coast of England and the traditional anchorage for ships waiting either for passage up the Thames estuary to London or for favorable winds to take them out into the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. The Royal Navy was badly affected, losing thirteen ships, including the entire Channel Squadron, and upwards of fifteen hundred seamen drowned.

- The third rate Restoration was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands; of the ship's company of 387 not one was saved.

- The third rate Northumberland was lost on the Goodwin Sands; all 220 men, including 24 marines were killed.

- The third rate (battleship) Stirling Castle was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands. Seventy men, including four marine officers, were saved, but 206 men were drowned.

- The fourth rate Mary was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands. The captain and the purser were ashore, but Rear Admiral Beaumont and 268 other men were drowned. Only one man, whose name was Thomas Atkins, was saved. His escape was very remarkable - having first seen the rear admiral get onto a piece of her quarter-deck when the ship was breaking up, and then get washed off again, Atkins was tossed by a wave into the Stirling Castle, which sank soon after. From the Stirling Castle he was swept into a boat by a wave, and was rescued.

- The fifth rate Mortar-bomb was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands and her entire company of 65 were lost.

- The sixth rate advice boat Eagle was lost on the coast of Sussex, but her ship's company of 45 were all saved.

- The third rate Resolution was lost at Pevensey on the coast of Sussex; all her ship's company of 221 were saved.

- The fifth rate Litchfield Prize was wrecked on the coast of Sussex; all 108 on board were saved.

- The fourth rate Newcastle was lost at Spithead. The carpenter and 39 men were saved, and the other 193 were drowned.

- The fifth rate fire-ship Vesuvius was lost at Spithead; all 48 of her ship's company were saved.

- The fourth rate Reserve was lost by foundering off Yarmouth. The captain, the surgeon, the clerk, and 44 men were saved; the other 175 members of the crew were drowned.

- The second rate Vanguard was sunk in Chatham harbour. She was not manned and had no armament fitted; the following year she was raised for rebuilding.

- The fourth rate York was lost at Harwich; all but four of her men were saved.

Lamb (1991) claimed 10,000 seamen were lost in one night, a far higher figure, about 1/3 of all the seamen in the British Navy. HMS Shrewsbury narrowly escaped a similar fate. Over 40 merchant ships were lost.

The Great Storm also coincided with the increase in English journalism, and was the first weather event to be a news story on a national scale. Special issue broadsheets were produced detailing damage to property and stories of people who had been killed.

Daniel Defoe produced his full-length book, The Storm, published in July 1704, in response to the calamity, calling it "the tempest that destroyed woods and forests all over England." He wrote: "No pen could describe it, nor tongue express it, nor thought conceive it unless by one in the extremity of it." Coastal towns such as Portsmouth "looked as if the enemy had sackt them and were most miserably torn to pieces." Winds of up to 80mph destroyed more than 400 windmills. Defoe reported in some the sails turned so fast that the friction caused the wooden wheels to overheat and catch fire.

November 25 -

On this day in 1500, Governor Francisco De Bobadilla of Santo Domingo captured Columbus on charges and accusations of mismanagement.

November 24 -

On this day in 1642, Abel Janzoon Tasman discovered Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania).

And on this day in 1718, Captain Brand, unaware of Edward Teach's death, sent two canoes down Pamlico River to Ocracoke Inlet, to see if Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach and his men could be seen. They returned two days later and reported on what had already transpired with the death of Teach.

On November 24, 1696 the House of Commons passed legislation ordering that after December 1, 1696 hammered English coinage would no longer be current except by weight at 62d (5s2d) per ounce. To encourage the exchange of hammered English silver and to bring more plate to the mint an order was enacted that for the eight month period from after November 4, 1696 to before July 1, 1697 the mint would purchase all hammered English silver coinage brought to them at the rate of 64d (5s4d) per sterling ounce. This was a premium of 2d above the rate at which sterling coinage was produced (8&9 Guilielmi III cap. 2, Statutes vol. 7, pp. 162-164 and Ruding, vol. 2, pp. 48-49). In order to pay these premiums, a bill was passed in the House of Commons on February 24, 1697 levying a tax on paper, parchment and vellum for a period of two years from March 1, 1697; the tax was £20 per £100 value on paper and £25 per £100 value on imported paper, over and above the current duties. Importers were give a 10% discount for ready cash or were given the option of making the duty payment within a three month period if they gave security (8&9 Guilielmi III cap. 7, Statutes vol. 7, pp. 189-196).

As additional silver was needed, the act encouraging silver plate to be brought to the mint was extended and revised so that it was similar to the act concerning hammered coinage. On March 6, 1697 the House of Commons passed an act with a retroactive starting date that, "Any wrought Plate of any sort or kind whatsoever" with the mark of the Hall of Goldsmiths in London (thus verifying its purity as sterling) could be brought to the mint between January 1, 1696/7 and November 4, 1697 where it would be purchased at 64d (5s4d) per troy ounce. The earlier stipulation on when the plate had been produced was dropped. If the silver did not have a goldsmith's mark the individual could accept an offer made by the mint or request an assay. As the mint was now accepting hammered English coins there was no need for stipulations that would exclude coinage. However, to prevent newly minted milled English coins, which were issued at 62d per troy ounce, from being melted down into plate for the 2d per ounce profit, it was stipulated all wrought plate produced after March 25, 1697 was to be above the sterling standard (which was 11 oz. 2 dwt.) at 11 oz. 10 dwt. of fine silver per troy pound (8&9 Guilielmi III cap. 8, Statutes vol. 7, p. 196). It is quite likely several eight reales were melted by goldsmiths into sterling silver to be traded at the mint as this would represent the highest rate offered in England for the eight reales, at 64d (5s4d) per ounce, or 1d per 7.5 grains, at this rate a full weight eight reales of 420 grains would be valued at 56d (4s8d). Of course, this valuation was only for a short period.

November 23 -

On this day in 1718, a force made up of Captain Brand, Colonel Moore, Captain JeremiahVail, and a number of North Carolinians arrived within 3 miles of Bath, North Carolina searching for Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach. Moore went into the town to see if Teach was there, reporting back that he was not, but that the pirate was expected at "every minute", as the force was yet unaware of Teach's death the day before.

November 22 -

On this day in history in 1684, French Buccaneer, Raveneau de Lussan, joined other buccaneers under Laurens de Graaf, sailing from Petit-Goâve to try the sweet trade.

On this day in 1718, Samuel Odell was emancipated by Lieutenant Maynard from Blackbeard. In the fight Odell received at least seventy wounds, but recovered. He stood trial for piracy later at Williamsburg, Virginia, but was acquitted. Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach was killed in the battle with Lieutenant Maynard at Ocracoke, a Province of Carolina, having been shot no fewer than five times and cut about twenty. Captain Gordon would write the following later in a letter sent to the Admiralty about the death of Blackbeard.

"…in less than ten minutes time Tatch (Teach) and five or six men were killed; the rest of these rogues jumped in the water where they were demolished."

The following members of Blackbeard's crew were killed during the same battle.

Husk, John.

Jackson, Nathaniel.

Roberts, Owen. From Wales. Carpenter.

Morton, Philip. Gunner.

Miller, Thomas. Quartermaster.

Brooks, Joseph, Sr..

Curtice, Joseph..

Gibbens, Garrat. Boatswain on board Blackbeard's "Adventure.

November 21 -

On this day in 1718, Samuel Odell was taken prisoner by Blackbeard.

And on this day in 1724, the pirate ship 'Revenge' attacked the British ship 'Sarah'. Most of the crew was set adrift, though some deemed useful were given the option of joining John Gow's crew. Over the next few months, John Gow attacked several other ships.

Also on this day in 1996, Intersal Inc., a private research firm, discovered the wreck believed to be the 'Queen Anne’s Revenge'. It was located by Intersal's director of operations, Mike Daniel, who used historical research provided by Intersal's president, Phil Masters and archaeologist David Moore. The vessel is in the Atlantic Ocean in shallow water offshore from Fort Macon State Park (34°41′44″N 76°41′20″W), Atlantic BEach, North Carolina. Several of the cannons and more than 16,000 artifacts have been recovered.

You must post a picture of the marigold Whaler and the stripe monmouth!

November 20 -

On this day in 1694, three ships were reported off the coast of Soconusco and were captured by the Viceroy. The ships were found in the company of another missing vessel called the Manila galleon, which had bypassed Acapulco to illegally sell her cargo in Peru.

And on this day in 2008, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution, proposed by Britain, introducing tougher sanctions against Somalia over the country's failure to prevent a surge in sea piracy.

She does good work. Strangely, I had people buying her hats before I owned one myself. My first monmouth, and the one I still wear most often, was made by Gentleman of Fortune. It was that hat that I showed to Kristen and asked, "Have you ever considered historic hats?". Then the obsession was born. I think half the Mercury crew owns a Knit Kriket hat now.

I wear my monmouth all Winter. And I wear some open ended knit gloves the Kristen made. If you don't already have one, I can't recommend her 'gunnister purses' enough. It's such a great way to store small personal items.

Thank you for reviving the books thread and for the suggested reading. I really need to get back to my list of pirates books. I haven't read anything pirate related in such a long time.

Welcome aboard! You'll find all sorts of amazing pirate trivia, history and people here on the Pub.

I've created a number of knit good junkies in my time.

November 19 -

On this day in 1620, the Mayflower reached Cape Cod and began exploring the coast.

And on this day in 1718…

"…the Willing Mind arrived at Green Turtle Key, and took the Goods out of the Neptune, being in a very bad Condition; and after they had taken out all her Cargo, finding the Neptune to be better than they did expect; and, having a fair Wind, brought both Ships up to Providence, the Neptune got in safe, but the Willing Mindstruck on the Bar, and sprung a Leak, insomuch that she was forced to unload and careen, and, when down, found her to be very bad, a Piece of her main Keel being gone, so was forced to hawl her ashore; and when the Carpenters had done what could be done to her, she could not be got up again by all the Strength that could be made, and tried for several Days, breaking and tearing all to pieces, but all to no Purpose; so the Governor order'd a Warrant of Survey on her, and was found by the Surveyors not sufficient to proceed any further, being very much damaged in her Wood-Work and Iron-Work, &c. Whereupon the said King desired a second Survey of his Ship and Goods, they lying in a very bad Condition."

Heh. I've known Kristen since high school. I was the one that got her started on period hat wear.

November 18 -

On this day in 1497, the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama reached the Cape of Good Hope.

And on this day in 1720, John 'Calico Jack' Rackam was hanged in Port Royal. Rackam's body was then gibbeted on display on a very small islet at a main entrance to Port Royal now known as Rackham's Cay.

I'm considering another KnitKriket hat as well. I need a brimmed monmouth against the coming winter. I've also just been invited to a very immersive event and I have to do a complete write-up to be considered. I don't when I'll find the time right now to do that.

November 15 -

On this day in 1696, Edward Forsyth, William Mays, William Bishop, James Lewis, and John Sparks – crewmembers of Henry Every – were hanged at Execution Dock having been convicted of mutiny.

And on this day in 1717, six members of Samuel Bellamy’s crew were hanged. The six were tried in Boston for piracy and robbery. The following were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging: John Brown of Jamaica, Thomas Baker and Hendrick Quintor of the Netherlands; Peter Cornelius Hoof of Sweden; John Shaun of France; and Simon van der Vorst of New York. Carpenters Thomas South and Thomas Davis, who were tried separately, had been conscripted by Bellamy – forced to choose between a life of piracy or death. Therefore, they were acquitted of all charges and spared the gallows. The last survivor was a 16-year-old Miskito Indian named John Julian – who was a skilled navigator, and also the Whydah's pilot. He was not tried, but instead was sold into slavery after his capture.

The famous Puritan minister Cotton Mather accompanied the six condemned men as they were rowed across Boston Harbor to Charlestown. All six men confessed and repented in the presence of Mather, but they still hanged.

November 16 -

Born in 1785, Zheng Yi Sao, whose birth name is unknown, spent her early years engaged in a variety of illicit activities. By 1801, she was working as a prostitute in Canton's floating brothels, which is where she met the notorious pirate captain, Zheng Yi. The two were married in 1801, with the condition that Zheng Yi would share equally with his wife his power and that he would give her the opportunity to help them secure more wealth from their pirating activities. For six years the husband-and-wife team grew their piracy business along the coast of the South China Sea. Using military coercion and his family's pirating credentials, Zheng Yi was able to gather together a bevy of competing Cantonese pirate fleets into a strong coalition. Within several years, the Red Flag Fleet was one of the most powerful pirate fleets in all of China.

Then, on this day in 1807, Zheng Yi died. Rather than step aside and assume a quiet life as a widow as other women may have done in 19th century China, Zheng Yi Sao (whose name means ""widow of Zheng Yi"") deftly manoeuvered to assume control of her late husband's booming pirate business. She oversaw and led a fleet of more than 1,500 ships staffed with more than 60,000 pirates.

And finally on this day in 1720, Calico Jack Rackham and the male members of his crew were tried and convicted of piracy at St. Jago de la Bega.

November 17 -

On this day in 1716, Blackbeard captured the French slaver Concorde off St. Vincent and renamed her Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Also on this day in 1718, Spotswood obtained valuable information on Edward Teach's whereabouts, and he planned to send his forces across the border into North Carolina to capture him. He gained the support of two men keen to discredit North Carolina's Governor—Edward Moseley and Colonel Maurice Moore. He also wrote to the Lords of Trade, suggesting that the Crown might benefit financially from Teach's capture. Spotswood personally financed the operation, possibly believing that Teach had fabulous treasures hidden away. He ordered Captains Gordon and Brand of HMS Pearl and HMS Lyme to travel overland to Bath. Lieutenant Robert Maynard of HMS Pearl was given command of two commandeered sloops, to approach the town from the sea. An extra incentive for Teach's capture was the offer of a reward from the Assembly of Virginia, over and above any that might be received from the Crown.

Maynard took command of the two armed sloops on this day in 1718. He was given 57 men—33 from HMS Pearl and 24 from HMS Lyme. Maynard and the detachment from HMS Pearl took the larger of the two vessels and named her Jane; the rest took Ranger, commanded by one of Maynard's officers, a Mister Hyde. Some from the two ships' civilian crews remained aboard. They sailed from Kecoughtan, along the James River, on 17 November in pursuit of Edward Teach.

And on this day in November 1720, Calico Jack Rackham and his mates were hanged at Gallows Point.

November 14 -

On this day in 1701, Vice Admiral John Benbow reached Barbados with ten Royal Navy warships to winter at Jamaica in expectation of hostilities in the Spring.

November 11 -

On this day in 1723, pirates from George Lowther’s crew were hanged at St. Kitts.

Also on this day in 1822, the following extract of a letter was written from Matanzas.

" The gallant ALLEN is no more ! — You witnessed the promptitude with which he hastened to relieve the vessels which I informed him had been captured off this port. He arrived just in time to save five sail of vessels which he found in possession of a gang of pirates, 300 strong, established in the Bay of Lejuapo, about 15 leagues east of this. He fell, pierced by two musket balls, in the van of a division of boats, attacking their principal vessel, a fine schooner of about eighty tons, with a long eighteen pounder on a pivot, and four smaller guns, with the bloody flag nailed to the mast. Himself, Capt. Freeman of Marines, and twelve men, were in the boat, much in advance of his other boats, and even took possession of the schooner, after a desperate resistance, which nothing but a bravery almost too daring could have overcome. The pirates, all but one, escaped by taking to their boats and jumping overboard, before the Alligator's boats reached them. Two other schooners escaped by the use of their oars, the wind being light;

Capt. Allen survived about four hours, during which his conversation evinced a composure and firmness of mind, and correctness of feeling, as honourable to his character, and more consoling to his friends than even the dauntless bravery he before exhibited."