William Brand

April 26 -

On this day in 1717, English pirate Captain 'Black Sam' Samuel Bellamy died. Though his known career as a pirate captain lasted little more than a year, he and his crew captured at least 53 ships under his command – making him the wealthiest pirate in recorded history – before his death at age 28. Called "Black Sam" in Cape Cod folklore because he eschewed the fashionable powdered wig in favor of tying back his long black hair with a simple band, Bellamy became known for his mercy and generosity toward those he captured on his raids. This reputation earned him another nickname, the "Prince of Pirates". He likened himself to Robin Hood, with his crew calling themselves "Robin Hood's Men".

Also on this day in 1717, near Chatham, Massachusetts, the Whydah approached a thick, gray fog bank rolling across the water – signaling inclement weather ahead.

That weather turned into a violent nor'easter, a storm with gale force winds out of the east and northeast, which forced the vessel dangerously close to the breaking waves along the shoals of Cape Cod. The ship was eventually driven aground at Wellfleet, Massachusetts. At midnight she hit a sandbar in 16 feet (5 m) of water about 500 feet (152 m) from the coast of what is now Marconi Beach. Pummeled by 70 mph (110 km/h) winds and 30-to-40 ft (9-to-12 m) waves, the main mast snapped, pulling the ship into about 30 ft (9 m) of water, where she violently capsized.[14] The 60+ cannon on board ripped through the overturned decks of the ship and quickly broke it apart, scattering parts of the ship over a 4-mile (6.4 km) length of coast. One of the two surviving members of Bellamy's crew, Thomas Davis, testified in his subsequent trial that "In a quarter of an hour after the ship struck, the Mainmast was carried by the board, and in the Morning she was beat to pieces."

By morning, hundreds of Cape Cod's notorious wreckers (locally known as "moon-cussers") were already plundering the remains. Hearing of the shipwreck, then-governor Samuel Shute dispatched Captain Cyprian Southack, a local salvager and cartographer, to recover "Money, Bullion, Treasure, Goods and Merchandizes taken out of the said Ship." When Southack reached the wreck on May 3rd, he found that part of the ship was still visible breaching the water's surface, but that much of the ship's wreckage was scattered along more than 4 miles (6.4 km) of shoreline. On a map that he made of the wreck site, Southack reported that he had buried 102 of the 144 Whydah crew and captives lost in the sinking (though technically they were buried by the town coroner, who surprised Southack by handing him the bill and demanding payment).

According to surviving members of the crew – two from the Whydah and seven from the Mary Anne, another of Bellamy's fleet which ran aground in the storm – at the time of its sinking, the ship carried from four and a half to five tons of silver, gold, gold dust, and jewelry, which had been divided equally into 180 50-pound (23 kg) sacks and stored in-between the ship's decks. Though Southack did salvage some nearly worthless items from the ship, little of the massive treasure hoard was recovered. Southack would write in his account of his findings, that, "The riches, with the guns, would be buried in the sand." With that, the exact location of the ship, its riches and its guns were lost, and came to be thought of as nothing more than legend.

April 25 -

On this day in 1680, buccaneers under Harris, Sharp and Cook plundered the mining town of Santa Maria (east of Panama City) and set fire to the town. Then using canoes they rowed downstream to the Pacific.

Also on this day in 1719, Daniel Defoe first published Robinson Crusoe. This first edition credited the work's fictional protagonist Robinson Crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person and the book a travelogue of true incidents. It was published under the considerably longer original title The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver'd by Pyrates. Epistolary, confessional, and didactic in form, the book is a fictional autobiography of the title character (whose birth name is Robinson Kreutznaer)—a castaway who spends years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and mutineers before being rescued.

April 24 -

Bernard Desjean, Baron de Pointis, was a French admiral and privateer. He was born in Brittany. He took part in naval operations in the 1680s under Duquesne, like the bombardment of Algiers and the punitive action against Genoa. In the 1690s he fought under Tourville among others in the Battle of Beachy Head (1690). In 1693, he became chef d'escadre. In 1697, he undertook his greatest expedition: the Raid on Cartagena. This raid was so successful that it made him immensely rich and very appreciated by King Louis XIV. In 1702, after the death of Jean Bart, he was appointed head of the Dunkirkers, but he was soon replaced by Marc-Antoine de Saint-Pol Hécourt for lack of initiative. In 1705, he tried to attack Gibraltar by sea during the Twelfth Siege of Gibraltar, but was defeated by John Leake in the Battle of Cabrita Point. After this battle Pointis retired from active service. He published Relation de l'expédition de Carthègene faite par les François en 1697. He died in Paris on this day in 1707.

April 23 -

On this day in 1700, the English Admiralty board debated the legality of holding Captain William Kidd uncharged in solitary. The confinement of Kidd defied the laws of Habeus Corpus and bail. Even the Solicitor General was called on for his opinion on the matter.

Do you dive year round?

April 22 -

On this day in 1718, Rogers departed the Thames with his expedition of seven ships, 100 soldiers, 130 colonists, and supplies ranging from food for the expedition members and ships' crews to religious pamphlets to give to the pirates, whom Rogers believed would respond to spiritual teachings, to take up his appointment as "Captain General and Governor in Chief". The expedition was accompanied by three Royal Navy vessels.

Also on this day in 1782, Anne Bonny died at the respectable age of 80 in South Carolina.

Excellent find, Jim. I did some further searching and found another quote. By 1700, Roger North could write to his sister challenging her to tell the difference between the writing of his new French-made metal pen and the usual quills.

It seems that the early ones were stiff and harder to use, but they have been around a long time.

April 21 -

On this day in 1663, Swedish nobleman and pirate, Skyte, died. Skyte was born to noble Jacob Skytte of Duderhof and Anna Bielkenstjerna; he was the grandson of Johan Skytte and nephew of the famous Vendela Skytte. He was described as charming and made a good impression when he grew up. In 1657, Skytte hired a Dutch ship together with some of his friends. Out on the sea, the noblemen murdered the captain and took over the ship, which they used as a pirate ship, attacking ships in the Baltic Sea. They forced the crew to swore their legiance to them. One of his colleagues was his brother-in-law Gustaf Drake, the husband of his sister Anna Christina, who was also involved. When one of their accomplices wanted to stop, Drake and Anna had him killed. They pursued this secret business from a base in Blekinge, Sweden.

In 1663, their pirate activity was exposed. Gustaf Drake and Anna Christina left the country, but Gustav Skytte was arrested and put on trial. He was convicted of piracy and was executed in Jönköping, after which his mother was said to have "died of grief". He was said to have died regretting his crimes.

Also on this day in 1701, Captain William Kidd petitioned the Admiralty board asking if he might use some of his treasure effects to prepare for his trial costs. His request was sent on to the judge Admiralty and summarily denied.

April 19 -

On this day in 1706, a letter from John Graves was read at the Council of Trade and Plantations about his experience with pirates.

"John Graves to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I sailed from Portsmouth on the feast of St. Michael, 1703, in the Providence, Jos. Blagdon, master, for New Providence, having on board Edwd. Birch, the Governor of the Bahama Islands. We got into Providence Harbour Jan. 1st. Four brigantines driven off their course put in there. There is a Fort about the bigness of the Royal Exchange, having about 40 great guns, and 150 men fit to bear arms, besides about 250 other souls. When the enemy came they brought with them 4 or 500 men in severall vessels, and having taken some prisoners, forced them to pilot their ships into the Harbour, where landing they found no resistance, nor was any of the inhabitants destroyed at that time, except only one man, who was killed, and another had his hand cut off. However, before they attempted the Fort, they made a halt and by threatening their prisoners, found there would be no resistance, so proceeded and carryed all before them. The French Capt. and the Spaniards declared if anybody had appeared in the Fort, and fired but one gun, they would never have attempted it. Before they went off, they burn't the town and Church to ashes, except 2 or 3 sorry houses where the French and Spaniards kept their prisoners; they broke the carriages of the great guns and spiked up most of them, some they tossed over the walls and some they threw down into ye Fort, 2 or 3 were burst to peices. They plundered in gold, silver, slaves etc. to the value of 30,000l.; and in Sept. following they came and carryed off more plunder and 40 slaves. Besides said damages, I have had no particulars, only that the gates of the fort were broke down, and made a small breach in the walls of the eastermost part of the Fort, which by very great rains that fell some time before I came off were for about 40 ft. much damnifyed. And here desire to take notice of an accident, which contributed greatly to the enemy's success. Mr. Ellis Lightwood, a Gentleman of a considerable estate in that Island, having made great rejoycings and kept open house for the birth of a son, so that allmost all the defensible men being at his house on that occasion, were got drunk, and hardly in their beds when the enemy landed; this made their enterprise very easy, none being in a condition to oppose ym.… In June, 1704, I went in a small sloop a cruizing, being informed that 2 or 3 vessells from Curaçao was amongst the Islands trading with their dry goods for our commodities. I found at Exuma Islands about 90 souls, I crossed the Channel to Columbus alias Cat Island, found there at several places about 120 souls, upon Elutheria at least 160, upon Harbour Island 60, and return'd in July. On Aug. 3 the Spaniards came in a gally with 65 men, they lay to the eastward and took one of our small sloopes that was coming to Providence from Carolina, and made the prisoners pilot them in before day and took us in our beds; at which time there was not above 20 men on the Island, and some of those at 20 miles distance: their usage to me was very cruell, not leaving me a shoe to my foot or more cloathing than would cover my nakedness, and the next day most barbarously used me. Dec. 18 I went to Carolina, where I found our Governor, who had been there 2 months before I arrived. I left upon the Island 27 families, and amongst all the Islands at least 4 or 500 people that are scattered some 200 miles distance, so yt. in a little time they will be worse than the Wild Indians, and at the best they are very ready to succour and trade with Pirates; they have 12 or 14 small sloopes amongst them, that escaped the enemy, so that unless H.M. give immediate protection, it will become a second Madagascar. For my Lord Granville has declared that they cannot send strength sufficient to protect the people, or to support the Governor's power in putting the Laws in execution against offenders. What will be requisite to revive the Colony and make it a flourishing place of trade is as follows:—100 soldiers to be kept in garrison. One small man of war and a yatcht or sloop to cruise amongst the Islands in search of pirates and to prevent unlawfull trade. 200 spare arms, 2 mortars for 6 inch shell, 4 hand-mortars for hand granados, carriages and stores for 40 great gunns, which are already there unmounted. All manner of tools for procuring stone and timber for building fortifications and barracks, and some long oars for sloops. Provisions for a year. Please to note that only Providence was destroyed and plundered; that provisions have been for 20 years past at very high rates, vizt. mutton, veal, pork and goat at 9d. per pound, beef, fresh and salt, at 6d., eggs 1½d. each, butter 18d. per lb. milk 6d. per quart, and other things proportionable, excepting fish and turtle. But, in few years, with good management, and the use of means that are to be found out, provisions may be had cheap and in plenty, and H.M. eased of most if not all the charge wch. this place at present requires to resettle it, and will prove as good a place of trade as most in the Indies. Signed, Jno. Graves. Endorsed, Recd. Read April 19, 1706. 7½ pp. Enclosed".

Also on this day in 1770, British explorer Captain James Cook 1st sighted Australia.

April 20 -

On this day in 1700, the thirty-two-gun man-o-war named HMS Shoreham arrived at Virginia to serve as a protector to the colony against pirates.

April 18 -

During the night of April 18, 1721, Roberts' ships headed for Africa, but Thomas Anstis and his crew in the Good Fortune slipped away in the night and continued to operate in the Caribbean. Between Hispaniola and Jamaica, the Good Fortune plundered two vessels. Aboard one, the Irwin, Anstis's crew committed gang rape and murder against a female passenger. Afterwards they stopped to careen their vessel.

April 17 -

On this day in 1622, Admiral Sir Richard Hawkins (or Hawkyns) died. He was a 17th-century English seaman, explorer and Elizabethan "Sea Dog", and the son of Admiral Sir John Hawkins.

He was from his earlier days familiar with ships and the sea, and in 1582 he accompanied his uncle, William Hawkins, to the West Indies. In 1585 he was captain of a galliot in Drake's expedition to the Spanish main, in 1588 he commanded a queen's ship against the Armada, and in 1590 he served with his father's expedition at the coast of Portugal.

In 1593 he purchased the discovery ship Dainty, a vessel originally built for his father and used by him in his expeditions, and sailed for the West Indies, the Spanish Main and the South Seas. It seems clear that his project was to prey on the oversea possessions of Spanish crown. Hawkins, however, in an account of the voyage written thirty years afterwards, maintained, and by that time perhaps had really persuaded himself, that his expedition was undertaken purely for the purpose of geographical discovery. After visiting the coast of Brazil, the Dainty passed through the Straits of Magellan, and in due course reached Valparaíso.

Having plundered the town, Hawkins pushed north, and in June 1594, a year after leaving Plymouth, he arrived in the Bay of San Mateo, at the mouth of the Esmeraldas river, nowadays Ecuador, at the position 1°1′2.6″N 79°36′30.5″W. Here the Dainty was attacked by two Spanish ships. Hawkins was hopelessly outmatched, but Dainty's crew defended her with gallantry. At last, when he himself had been severely wounded, 27 of his men killed, and the Dainty was nearly sinking, he surrendered on 1 July 1594 on the promise of a safe-conduct out of the country for himself and his crew.

Through no fault of the Spanish commander, this promise was not kept. In 1597 Hawkins was sent to Spain, and imprisoned first at Seville and subsequently at Madrid. He was released in 1602, and, returning to England, was knighted in 1603.

In 1604 he became Member of Parliament for Plymouth and Vice-Admiral of Devon, a post which, as the coast was swarming with pirates, was no sinecure. In 1620 to 1621 he was vice-admiral, under Sir Robert Mansell of the fleet sent into the Mediterranean to reduce the Algerian corsairs. He died in London on 17 April 1622.

Hawkins wrote the memories of his trip under the title Voiage into the South Sea (1622), which became the most famous Elizabethan adventure, re-published by the Hakluyt Society and reworked in Charles Kingsley's Westward Ho! (1855). He depicts the Spaniards in the Americas in a positive way, judging them as "temperate" and "gentle".

Today's special is the Italian sampler.

April 16 -

On this day in 1579, Francis Drake sailed out of Guatulco with his two ships.

How many craftsman here have made some of these?

April 15 -

On this night in 1579, Francis Drake was visited aboard the Golden Hind by a commission of Spaniards, including the encomendero of Guatulco, Bernardino Lopez. The visitors took care to arrive after dinner so hay would not violate their Lenten fast by eating heretical beef. They had a pleasant visit with Drake and went ashore for the night.

April 14 -

Lords Orford, Somers, Portland and Halifax were all impeached by the House of Commons on April 14, 1701 in connection with the guilty ruling against William Kidd, which soundly shifted power to the Whigs.

Kilo

It's going to be a great finish.

April 13 -

On this day in 1579, Francis Drake's two ships arrived at the tiny port of Guatulco. He put into port at ten of the morning on Monday of Holy Week.

April 12 -

On this day in 1557, Cuenca was founded in Ecuador.

And on this day in 1606, England adopted the Union Flag, replaced again in 1801 by the current Union Flag/Union Jack.

April 11 -

On this day in 1700, the HMS Katherine arrived at Downs carrying the prisoner Captain William Kidd. Kidd, having acquired a sewing needle from a slave girl, spent the evening sewing documents into the lining of his clothes to protect them for his impending trial. He also wrote two pleading letters to Lord Orford of the Admiralty and Lord Romney.

There are also numerous examples from sailor's accounts of them drinking water. (Many of them discuss the lack of it; apparently it was so common a thing that it was only worth mentioning when they didn't have it. This is problem with trying to understand history using period writers - when something is common, it isn't mentioned because their readers would already know about this. They weren't concerned with what someone reading 300 years later would know.

And yet you find the most excellent citations on the subject. It's the same with all subjects, but I have wondered about water enough to find these invaluable.

April 10 -

On this day in 1700, the HMS Advice reached Downs bearing two sealed wooden boxes full of documents relating to the case of Captain William Kidd. Captain William Kidd would arrive at the same destination the following day aboard the HMS Katherine.

Their surgeon was no Joseph Lister

and could barely give aid to a blister

He was pressed into service

proved reluctant and nervous

except with a mercury clyster

Please do. How about this? "Bale Seals, Company Emblems, Logos, Maker's marks, & Trade Symbols of the Period"