William Brand

We have enough members of the Mercury crew planning on attendance that we should have a conversation about our crew presence there. For example, who is bringing what...?

Excellent subject and specifically relevant to projects being discussed all over. Thank you!

It's been a number of years since we hosted an event and Massacre Island has been extremely generous in their offerings to host us at Fort Gaines. Because of this, we're setting a high mark for kit, clothing and campsites. We're hoping to make this one of several 'must attend' events, now and every year to come, so we're going to ask that attendees bring their best. This is not meant to imply any specific requirements that would keep you from attending. It's more about celebrating life at sea, cooking, black powder, stories, and all things of the Golden Age. We're primarily looking for streamlined and pragmatic set-ups for camps and kit. The kind of stuff that made Fort Taylor what it was in terms of atmosphere. Things we'd like to see... No modern tents. Just canvas tents. This can come in the form of makeshift careening camps of loose canvas, oars, rope, rough cut poles, etc. You are also welcome to bring standard wedge tents, bell end tents, etc. Costumes that err on the side of the day-to-day sailors, soldiers and townspeople. We'd love to see a variety of impressions from land and sea, i.e., sailors, marketplace impressions, various classes from poor to wealthy, soldiers of the age. etc. Cannons, muskets, swivel guns, pistols, boarding axes, cutlasses, sailor knives, etc. are all welcome. Some safety restrictions and peace-tying will likely be in effect, but we'll have some latitude not afforded at state run parks. Good mood lighting in the form of tin and ship lanterns. We're hoping to steer away from obvious modern lighting, even the tea lights, but we would like every attendee to have a good lantern for after hours safety and events. We'd like to avoid flying dozens of store bought flags and limit it to the flags of crews in attendance. We don't need a lot of skulls, thrones, and ship wheels, but would rather see very basic camps that are openly inviting for attendees. Especially camps with little details like tool boxes, cargo, etc. Stuff that invites questions about the age. We'll be sharing ideas for all of this. We want to help everyone with their set-ups, trades, fabrication, purchases and any other needs.

I love a good medical display, especially when well thought out and growing.

Thank you! You saved me a search on some of these and listed some I didn't know about.

Fantastic projects. I love the pragmatic stuff for kit like bags and luggage.

March 11 - On this day in 1718, Captain Paul Williams, a Carolina pirate who began his career as a buccaneer in the West Indies, accepted the King's pardon at New Providence. Soon afterward he returned to piracy and was hanged a short time later at Eastman, Massachusetts. And on this day in 1722, the following pirates under George Lowther were hanged at St. Kitts. John Shaw Henry Watson Richard West Robert White Robert Willis John Churchill Mathew Freebarn Andrew Hunter Sam Levercott Nicholas Lewis Edward MackDonald

March 10 - On this day in 241 BC, the Romans sank the Carthaginian fleet bringing the First Punic War to an end at the Battle of the Aegates. Also on this day in 1496, after establishing the city of Santo Domingo, Christopher Columbus departed for Spain, leaving his brother in command. And on this day in 1535, Spaniard Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the fourth Bishop of Panama, discovered the Galápagos Islands by chance on his way to Peru.

March 9 - On this day in 1500, the fleet of Pedro Álvares Cabral left Lisbon for the Indies. The fleet discovered Brazil which lay within the boundaries granted to Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. On the day in 1841, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the United States v. The Amistad case that captive Africans who had seized control of the ship carrying them had been taken into slavery illegally. If you haven't seen the movie, this would be a good day to watch.

I received it a few days ago and it is very well made. I haven't had a proper lantern in years and it's nice to check this bit of kit off of the list.

From Cran Ohlandt's 'Merchant Seaman's Effects' album...

March 6 - On this day in 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. Also on this day in 1700, there was an Irish Proclamation promising a pardon and a reward for persons who caused any pirate ship or vessel, its commanders or its crew to be seized.

I wish more ships slated for the scrap heap could be preserved this way... The Cutty Sark preserved at the Royal Museum Greenwich.

March 3 - Not piratey, but... On this day in 1776, the first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps began the Battle of Nassau during the American Revolutionary War.

Also, some fine lanterns by Rob Gorrell. https://www.robgorrell.com

We are strongly encouraging all participants to purchase a period lantern for the event. The added lighting at night will improve the photo opportunities and atmosphere of the camps. We are also doing some after hours events which may involve walking around (we'll explain this later) and you'll want a good lantern.

That's not a bad idea for travel oars as poles. Not bad at all!

Michael Mendenhall of Fighting Quaker Forge made waffles for us on a period waffle iron at the Utah Pirate Invasion. They were glorious waffles.

Welcome! Raise a glass!

EDIT: Participants can show up Friday Morning, but the event ends shortly after the park closes on Sunday night. Originally we were told that we could arrive earlier and stay later, but they changed their minds. Some of us are camping or hoteling before and after. The planning continues, but I can now confirm early arrival for camping participants. There are some specific limitations to arriving early, but they're minor. Participants can show up Wednesday night and stay through Monday morning, so you can enjoy the place for days! specific times and details on this to follow, but we can camp!

My name is William. I’m an admin. I like bacon. I shouldn’t be allowed to have this much power. I cannot confirm the existence of an extensive personal file with the FBI.

This is a placeholder for planning. Details to be added later. Just a short list of activities being discussed: Camping in and around the fort Black powder muskets, pistols and cannons Skirmishes and battles Historic demonstrations Reading of the Articles Period plays Mock trials Live music Ghost Walks An ‘auction before the mast’ on Saturday Night Special merchandise celebrating the event and the Pub

February 24 - On this day in 1720, the Spanish fleet arrived at New Providence, only to find that Roger's had fortified the place with new defenses. Wary of Rogers' defenses, the Spanish landed troops on Paradise Island (then known as Hog Island), which shelters Nassau's harbor, but they were driven off by Rogers' troops. And on February 24th in 1725, the trial of Matthew Perry and a number of other sailors began in Newport, Rhode Island. Perry was the first mate aboard the ship 'John and Mary' when it was captured off the coast of Belize by members of the Low-Spriggs pirate crew, now under the command of Richard Shipton (Low had been cast adrift some months earlier). Three pirates went aboard the John and Mary to take command, with orders to follow Shipton's vessel. Perry was initially bound with his hands tied behind his back, but in a matter of days, several other captives aboard the ship, who were entrusted by the pirates, were able to free Perry and gave him one of their pistols. Anchored off the coast of Guanaja in the Bay of Honduras one afternoon in late December, Perry and the other captives suddenly rushed the pirates, killed two of them, and regained control of the ship. The men cut their cables and immediately set sail back home to Newport. When they arrived, however, they were put on trial -- because the men, with “force and arms,” had killed “two of the subjects of our Lord the King.” Yet since these two “subjects” were by all accounts pirates, there never seemed to be any question of the crew’s innocence. The men recounted their capture and escape, and all of them were found not guilty.

Thanks for sharing these.