William Brand

And my brother built a second fighter cockpit in my garage. Not a single boat, but two fighter cockpits.

July 22 -

On this day in 1713, Rogers' expedition arrived at Nassau Harbor, surprising and trapping a ship commanded by pirate Charles Vane. Negotiations ensued, but failed, and Vane used a captured French vessel as a fireship in an attempt to ram the naval vessels. The attempt failed, but the naval vessels were forced out of the west end of Nassau harbor, giving Vane's crew an opportunity to raid the town and secure the best local pilot. Vane and his men then escaped in a small sloop via the harbor's narrow east entrance. The pirates had evaded the trap, but Nassau and New Providence Island were left in Rogers' hands.

On this same day and year, a minor engagement took place between Sweden and Russia.

July 23 -

July 23, 1718 - This date was selected for pardon for all acts of piracy committed by surrendering pirates. Some chose the pardon and some didn't.

July 21 -

On this day in 1721, William Kennedy was executed at Execution Dock, Wapping, along with Howell Davis.

And on this day in 1823, the U. S. schooners of war Greyhound and Beagle came to anchor off Cape Cruz, and Lieut.

"Kearney went in his boat to reconnoitre the shore, when he was fired on by a party of pirates who were concealed among the bushes. Fire was also opened from several pieces of cannon erected on a hill, a short distance off. The boat returned, and five or six others were manned from the vessels, and pushed off for the shore, but a very heavy cannonade being kept up by the pirates on the heights, as well as from the boats were compelled to retreat. The two schooners were then warped in, when they discharged several broadsides, and covered the landing of the boats. After a short time the pirates retreated to a hill that was well fortified. A small hamlet, in which the pirates resided was set fire to and destroyed. Three guns, one a four pounder, and two large swivels, with several pistols, cutlasses, and eight large boats, were captured. A cave, about 150 feet deep, was discovered, near where the houses were, and after considerable difficulty, a party of seamen got to the bottom, where was found an immense quantity of plunder, consisting of broadcloths, dry goods, female dresses, saddlery, Many human bones were also in the cave, supposed to have been unfortunate persons who were taken and put to death. A great deal of the articles were brought away and the rest destroyed. About forty pirates escaped to the heights, but many were supposed to have been killed, from the fire of the schooners, as well as from the men who landed. The bushes were so thick that it was impossible to go after them. Several other caves are in the neighborhood, in which it was conjectured they occasion ally take shelter."

Mister Flint! As I live and breath. It's been awhile. I'm still here and I run the place. Welcome back aboard.

July 18 -

On this day in 1696, Czar Peter I's fleet occupied Azov at the mouth of the Don River.

And on this day in 1700, according to British Admiralty Records in the Public Records Office in the UK, the HMS Poole, commanded by Captain John Cranby, engaged pirate Emanuel Wynn's ship off the Cape Verde islands. Cranby chased Wynn into a cove at Brava Island but, assisted by Portuguese soldiers, Wynn escaped Poole. Most historians agree that Cranby's account is the first mention of a Jolly Roger, which Cranby described as "a sable ensign with cross bones, a death's head, and an hour glass." Wynne is believed to be the first (or some sources contend one of the first) pirate to fly the now familiar form of the jolly roger. His flag, showing the distinctive skull and crossbones motif, was augmented with another common pirate symbol: an hourglass (meant to signify to his prey that only by timely surrender could they evade death). Wynne began his piratical career raiding English merchantmen off the coast of the Province of Carolina near the end of the 17th century. He later moved to the more profitable waters of the Caribbean, attacking both English and Spanish ships.

Also on this day in 1718, Howell Davis was given command of the Cadogan and set out for Brazil. However, his crew mutinied and sailed to Barbados instead. Davis was imprisoned there on the charge of piracy, but was eventually released and sought shelter in the pirate den of New Providence in the Bahamas. With New Providence being cleaned out by Governor Woodes Rogers, Davis left on the sloop Buck and conspired with six other crew members, who included Thomas Anstis and Walter Kennedy, to take over the vessel off Martinique. Davis was elected captain and conducted raids from his base at Coxon's Hole.

July 19 -

On this day in 1545, the Tudor warship, Mary Rose, sunk in Portsmouth Harbor at Hampshire, England.

Also on this day in 1702, Philemon Ewer, the English shipbuilder is born. He is responsible for the rebuild of the first ship built in North America back in 1696. He also built the HMS Salisbury, which served as the location for the famous experiments on scurvy in 1747, by James Lind.

And on this day in 1723, Charles Harris and 25 pirates were hanged in Newport, Rhode Island. Joseph Libbey, who was abducted the previous year along with Philip Ashton, was among them. All were all former members of Edward Low’s crew.

My uncle was a lonely, bitter fellow that bought things to fill the hole in his life. He shut everyone out and just holed up in his house. When he died, the whole family was invited in to pick out something to take home and cherish. Something to give life to. I found a beautiful folding knife in the original box in the top drawer of his dresser. It looked as though it had never been used. I began whittling with it almost at once and I use it all of the time. I only wish he'd been a happier fellow and I always think of him when I whittle.

Excellent pictures! Thank you for sharing the event with us.

July 17 -

On this day in 1596, At 10:30AM, Dutch explorer Willem Barents arrived at Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago in the Arctic Sea.

Also on this day in 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh was arrested by forces of King James.

And on this day in 1690, Adam Baldridge arrived at Island of St. Marie in Madagascar where he built a fort and began trading with pirates.

And also on this day in 1696, a proclamation for the arrest of Henry Every was issued by the Lords Justices.

Aye, but your mindset, like the Mercury mindset, is to allow flexibility in style and interpretation, all the while encouraging and rewarding efforts to improve kit, which is as it should be. All groups and events should have short and long term goals that work with progression towards their mindset.

My gripe is that three different events I've attended in the past told me that they had this same goal in mind, with short and long term goals of immersive history and detailed content. All three of them have added mermaids and one of them introduced space pirates and zombies last year. When you introduce mermaids, fairies and zombies you're not headed toward history or immersion.

July 10-

On this day in 1723, Captain Peter Solgard of the HMS Greyhound, engaged Edward Low’s Ranger, but Low escaped capture. Low fled in the Fancy after stripping the ship Fortune, and cutting off the ear of John Welland with a cutlass. Loe took a skeleton crew and £150,000 in gold on board and headed back to the Azores, leaving Harris and the Ranger behind. Twenty-five of the crew of the Ranger, including the ship's doctor, were tried between the 10th and 12th of July, with Solgard giving evidence and recounting the battle. The men were hanged for felony, piracy and robbery, near Newport, Rhode Island, on the 19th of July 1723.

And on this day in 1724, Benjamin Colman, a Presbyterian minister, delivered a sermon at the request of two convicted pirates in Boston. They were members of William Fly’s crew.

What Commodore Swab said. IF you can't follow the rules of an event, don't attend that event. It creates unforeseen problems and unwelcome friction where one should exist.


Focus on the 'DO' at any event.

Do follow the rules.

Do volunteer to lend a hand.

Do go out of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to pirates from all walks of the hobby.

Months back I went through the event pictures of a pirate festival claiming to be 'historic'. The phrase was used so much I expected to see it in the 300+ images I went through. There was one sailor, dressed like a sailor out of hundreds of pictures. One.

Yet more and more I find that events push the 'historic' bent in their advertising and claim re-enactors where there are none. I don't mind that they have none, but the CLAIM bothers me. If an event is going to tout history, it should have some history.

July 9 -

On this day in 1722, the Boston News Letter published a list of those captured by Edward Low after he sank ships of the fleet, and abandoned the Rebecca.

That was a very nice read and I enjoyed your sources. I'm glad you mentioned the purchase of added food and spirits.

I just recently re-watched Roman Polanski's Pirates and noticed a great many little details I'd forgotten or not seen before. It's a movie best watched with a group of people.

I've always been a big promoter of the 'Sailor's knife' for kit and I'm seeing less and less of them. I see so many grande cutlasses, and often a brace or whole baldric of pistols, but almost never a good sailor's knife. Why does a tool so common to the working day of any sailor continue to be so absent in kit? Is it simply a 'sash and flash' before all else?

I'm finding more and more that 'consistency' is key. For example, I've been to some events that lean strongly toward history as a presentation and with that comes amazing encampment setups, trials, battles, live music and food cooked right in camp. When events like this start to loosen a set of standards, whatever they may be, the mode of dress becomes loose and indeterminate, and with it go so many things. Safety. Historic variety. Sailors. When a festival has more captains than sailors, I seldom enjoy them.

July 7 -

On this day in 1730, Olivier Levasseur was taken to Saint-Denis, Réunion and hanged for piracy at 5 p.m.

July 8 -

This day in 1700 is claimed to be the first recorded reference to a Jolly Roger when Emanuel Wynne, a French privateer turned pirate, flew one decorated with skull, crossed bones, and an hourglass.

Each new addition makes it better and better. It's a great build.

July 6 -

On this day in 1685, Lauren de Graff was seen on Isla de Pinos presiding over a gathering of buccaneers. After his departure, he led yet another raid on Campeche. After a protracted battle, the Spaniards fled the town, leaving the pirates with a city devoid of plunder. The length of the battle and delay in attacking had allowed residents to move goods away. After two months in the town the pirates, failing to secure a ransom, began to burn the town and execute prisoners.

And on this day in 1699, Captain William Kidd was arrested at the home of Lord Bellomont.

Whenever the fort event ends I always jump onto the Facebook page in anticipation of pictures and was overjoyed when I came across this one. Tracy heard me exclaim 'Bo!', and she looked over to see what I was so excited about, so I showed her the old engravings and she was most impressed.

It's looking fantastic and I look forward to the finished boat!

June 13 -

On this day in 1665, English forces beat the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Lowestoft, off Suffolk, England.

And on this day in 1774, Rhode Island became the first colony to prohibit the importation of slaves.

June 12 -

On this day in 1653, the First Anglo-Dutch War took place at the Battle of the Gabbard/ Battle at North Foreland. The English fleet beat the Dutch.

And on this day in 1665, New Amsterdam legally became British and was renamed New York after English Duke of York and England installed a municipal government.

Also on this day in 1667, Michiel de Ruyter destroyed the English fleet.

And on this day in 1772, Marion du Fresne was killed at Tacoury's Cove, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, by local Māori.

June 11 -

On this day in 1578, England granted Sir Humphrey Gilbert a patent to explore and colonize North America.

And on this day in 1664, Sir Thomas Modyford arrived in Jamaica to assume governorship.

Also on this day in 1594, Philip II recognized the rights and privileges of the local nobles and chieftains in the Philippines, which paved the way to the creation of the Principalía (i.e., elite ruling class of native nobility in Spanish Philippines).

And on this day in 1676, the Battle at Öland took place. Danish and Dutch fleets under CM Tromp beat Swedish forces.

And finally, on this day in 1725, John Gow was hanged. According to the Newgate Calendar, John Gow was slow to die. To relieve his pain, some of his friends pulled at his legs, but this just broke the rope, causing him to tumble to the ground, from where he was gathered up and hanged again. After his death, his body (along with those of his crew) was left in the River Thames. The bodies were then tarred and suspended on the riverbank, as a warning to other would-be pirates.