William Brand

February 10 - Jan Abels was one of the first leaders of the Seabeggars in 1568. He was active with three vessels, manned by 40 people, in the Ems River. On this day in 1569, with a small boat and a crew of 25, Abels took a ship from Delfzijl, Friesland, laden with cheese and goods. He left the goods belonging to Hamburg merchants alone and sold the cheese belonging to the Spanish. He went on to seize a larger vessel and used her for further piracies, and continued to seize merchantmen from Amsterdam selecting the goods belonging to Spanish Netherlanders to sell. Thomas Armstrong, one of Roberts' men, said to have been forced into piracy after deserting HMS Swallow at Cape Three Points, West-Africa in April of 1721. When Roberts on the morning of the 10th of February 1722 was surprised by a ship making slow headway against a offshore wind, it was Armstrong who rushed to tell him he recognized his old ship and knew her well. Armstrong told the pirate chief she "sailed best upon a wind and therefore, if they designed to leave her, they should go before it", which meant that the naval vessel was at her best when going into the wind, but sluggish when her sails were filled from behind. There were too few sober pirates to fight the powerful Swallow, Roberts pondered, that is why he would let the man-of-war come deep into the bay against the wind and then, at the last moment, his Royal Fortune would sail directly past her. However, writes Defoe: "coming close to the Man of War, they received her fire, and hoisted his black flag, and returned it, shooting away from her, with all the sail he could pack; and had he took Armstrong's advice, to have gone before the wind, he had probably escaped. But keeping his tacks down, either by the wind shifting, or ill steerage, or both, he was taken a-back with his sails; and the Swallow came a second time very nigh to him". Robert's Royal Fortune was doomed and so was her crew. With Roberts' death the men surrendered. Armstrong was taken to HMS Weymouth to be executed in accordance with naval regulations. "There was nobody to press him to an acknowledgement of the crime he died for, nor of sorrowing in particular for it, which would have been exemplary." So after long hours of lamenting and bewailing his sins in general faced a noose dangling over a yard arm, secured to a capstan where some navymen waited for the order to wind up the rope. Desired the spectators to join in with him singing 2 or 3 last verses of psalm 140, which the sailors willingly did. The firing of a gun disturbed this peaceful moment and "the Deserter then was tric'd up by the Neck at the fore Yard Arm". After a successful career as a pirate off the Iberian Peninsula, Captain Gow decided to return to the Orkney Islands. He was running low on supplies, and the authorities were on his trail. Arriving in early 1725, he adopted the name Mr. Smith for himself, and renamed his vessel the George, and passed as a wealthy trader, even courting a Miss Gordon. He was eventually recognized by a merchant passing through the islands, and his true identity was revealed. According to other accounts, some of his prisoners escaped there and notified the authorities. Rather than surrender, Gow and his men successfully raided the Hall of Clestrain on February 10, 1725, but when they attempted to attack another remote mansion, they ran aground on the Calf of Eday, where they were captured.

February 9 - Christopher Carleill, a gentleman adventurer from England and professional soldier was a Commander of 800 English troops in Drake’s fleet during a campaign in the West Indies and captain of the ship Tiger, 1585-6. He landed his soldiers at the banks of Rio Haina to attack Santo Domingo. Carleill held the city for a month, ransacking it and burning its buildings until its inhabitants handed over 25,000 ducats in ransom. A week later Drake sailed to Cartagena, landing Carleill and 600 men near the fort at La Caleta where the town’s battery guns were located (February 9-10, 1586). Carleill had to pick his way through the darkness, carefully avoiding the poisoned stakes driven into the path by the Indians. He overran the outer defenses, defeating the Spanish governor with 450 men armed with harquebuses, 400 Indian archers, 100 lancers, 54 cavalrymen and 20 armed African slaves plus two well-armed galleys in the large outer harbour. Spanish moral collapsed. Cartagena was held for over a month and thoroughly plundered, until its inhabitants came up with 107.000 ducats to save its buildings from burning to the ground. Drake also plundered St. Augustine in Florida and Santiago in the main island of the Cape Verdes, before returning to England. The effect of this enterprise was enormous. The Bank of Spain collapsed; the Bank of Venice nearly foundered; and Germany’s principal bank, the Bank of Augsburg, refused to extend the Spanish monarchy any further credit. Henry Morgan was the eldest son of Robert Morgan, a farmer living in Llanrhymny (today known as Rhymney, three miles from Tredegar), situated on the Rhymney River, in south-east Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. He also had a sister Catherine. An entry in the Bristol Apprentice Books showing "Servants to Foreign Plantations" 9 February 1655, included "Henry Morgan of Abergavenny, Labourer, Bound to Timothy Tounsend of Bristol, Cutler, for three years, to serve in Barbados on the like Condiciouns." February 9, 1688 - After a sound victory at Nueva Segovia against the Spanish, Raveneau de Lussan and his followers descended the Yara on the wretched boats of the country, and came in sight of Cape Gracias a Dios on February 9th, having traveled afoot nearly 1,000 miles, harassed by the Spanish all the way,

Having worked as a hired hand on a pig farm, and due to my prolonged love of bacon, I say bring on more period pork quotes. This is a great thread.

I recently won tickets to tour the sound stage in New York, but found out only the day before, so a ticket to New York was impossible. Since I couldn't make it out, they sent me a promotional flag and a hip flask. The flag is pretty cool. It's silks screened, but done in a style that looks like loose threads and stitching. The hip flask says 'Black Sails' and 'Starz'. The flag is already slated for the guest room wall.

You should drop it into 'events' with a website link.

You're welcome. February 8 - On February 8, 1725, Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, dies and is succeeded by his wife, Catherine. The reign of Peter, who became sole czar in 1696, was characterized by a series of sweeping military, political, economic, and cultural reforms based on Western European models. Russian victories in major conflicts with Persia and the Ottoman Empire greatly expanded Peter's empire, and the defeat of Sweden in the Great Northern War won Russia direct access to the Baltic Sea. Here, Peter founded the new Russian capital of St. Petersburg, and Russia became a major European power--politically, culturally, and geographically. In 1721, Peter abandoned the traditional Russian title of czar in favor of the European-influenced title of emperor. Four years later, he died. I've included this entry because Peter the Great was instrumental in creating the first fighting Russian Navy in October of 1696. Ascribed to Peter I is the oft quoted statement: "A ruler that has but an army has one hand, but he who has a navy has both."

February 7 - On this day in 1596, Francis Drake of Devonshire, England died at sea. He proved a superb seaman, master and pirate in his day and this was said of him… “El terror que el solo nombre de Drake impulsa la construcción de foritificaciones para defender nuestras ciudades de los posibles ataques y saques del temido corsario’’ (the terror [that] the sound of his name evoked, forced us to construct fortifications to defend our cities against the attacks and plunders of this terrible corsair). Also on this day… Domingo Eucalla, was one of ten pirates captured by the British Sloop of War, Tyne, and hanged on February 7, 1823 at Kingston, Jamaica. Eucalla showed the greatest courage, making a moving speech to the spectators from the gallows, as described in this excerpt from "The History of the Pirates,: Containing the Lives of Those Noted Pirate Captains, Mission, Bowen, Kidd, Tew, Halsey, White, Condent, Bellamy, Fly, Howard, Lewis, Cornelius, Williams, Burgess, North and their several crews" by Thomas Carey. "Several of the prisoners cried out for mercy, pardon, pardon. Domingo Eucalla, the black man, then addressed them. "Do not look for mercy here, but pray to God; we are all brought here to die. This is not built for nothing; here we must end our lives. You know I am innocent, but I must die the same as you all. There is not any biddy here who can do us any good, so let us think only of God Almighty. We are not children but men, you know that all must die; and in a few years those who kill us must die too. When I was born, God set the way of my death; I do not blame any body. I was taken by the pirates and they made me help them; they would not let me be idle. I could not show that this was the truth, and therefore they have judged me by the people they have found me with. I am put to death unjustly, but I blame nobody. It was my misfortune. Come, let us pray. If we are innocent, so much less we have to repent. I do not come here to accuse any one. Death must come one day or other; better to the innocent than guilty." He then joined in prayer with the others. He seemed to be much reverenced by his fellow prisoners. He chose those prayers he thought most adapted to the occasion. Hundreds were witnesses to the manly firmness of this negro. Observing a bystander listening attentively to the complaints of one of his fellow wretches, he translated what had been said into English. With a steady pace, and a resolute and resigned countenance, he ascended the fatal scaffold. Observing the executioner unable to untie a knot on the collar of one of the prisoners, he with his teeth undid it. He then prayed most fervently till the drop fell. " The other nine prates hanged were Augustus Hernandez, Juan Hernandez, Pedro Nondre, Miguel Jose, Francisco Miguel, Breti Gullimillit, Manuel Lima, Juan Gutterez, and Francisco de Sayas.

A very Happy Birthday, Mate!

Welcome back!

February 5, 1721 - On this day in 1721, John Clipperton, sailing aboard his ship the 'Success', met up with George Shelvoke and forty surviving members of his crew at Coiba Island. With about 120 men between them, they joined forces. Also on this day in 1722, the HMS Swallow, commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle, came upon the three pirate ships, the Royal Fortune, the Ranger and the Little Ranger careening at Cape Lopez. The Swallow veered away to avoid a shoal, making the pirates think that she was a fleeing merchant ship. The Ranger, commanded by James Skyrme, departed in pursuit. Once out of earshot of the other pirates, the Swallow opened her gun ports and opened fire. Ten pirates were killed and Skyrme had his leg taken off by a cannonball, but refused to leave the deck. Eventually, the Ranger was forced to strike her colors and the surviving crew were captured. Roger Ball. one of Roberts’ men in the ship Royal Fortune, upon being captured by HMS Swallow , tried to blow up the ship with Morris and Main. Being damp the keg had detonated with only enough force to smash a hole in the ship’s side through which he was thrown. Ball was picked up by the Swallow’s boat and resisted all attempts to dress his wounds, and although in terrible pain, he refused to be touched. "Why," he said, "John Morris fired a pistol into the powder, and if he had not done it, I would." Ball then became delirious during the night. He raved at the top of his voice about Roberts’ bravery and cunning. He was whipped the next morning on the forecastle for his insolences. He wrenched at the grating and was lashed more violently for his resistance. He remained through the day lay "in a private corner, with a look as sullen as winter", eating nothing, silent, brooding in the darkness. Eventually he lapsed into a coma and was gone.

Thank you for posting. I didn't have any historic trivia for the day and that's a great story.

February 3 - On this day in 1685, Rod Cap, one of Cowley’s men, succumbed to the great scourge of the period during the epic passage to Guam, almost 8.000 nautical miles. "We throwed overboard Rod Cap, who died with the scurvy." Also on this day in 1735, a Dutch East Indiamen called The Vligenthart (Flying Hart) was lost after striking a sand bank off the coast of Vissingen, Zeeland. Every one of the 461 sailors, soldiers and merchants aboard perished.

The F word as used in the show is mostly wrong. In 1715 and thereabouts, it would have strictly referred to people engaging in intercourse. The only time in the first episode it is used correctly (even though it still could have been said more accurately) is once by Anne Bonney when she tells Calico Jack she is interesting in doing it. Beyond that, no. The use of the F word to mean an intensifier expressing annoyance, hostility, urgency, exasperation; or used in imprecatory and exclamatory phrases are all incorrect and only began being used in such a way in the 20th century. If you want to argue otherwise, go argue with the Oxford English Dictionary, they've documented the use over time and that's what they show. It was distracting hearing it used as a an intensifier, verb, noun, and adjective all in the same conversation.

Spades

February 2 - New Amsterdam was formally incorporated as a city on February 2, 1653.

While the F word is arguably period, why should it be used to replace so much fantastic slang from the period? It's one thing to drive the point home, but to use it as a noun, verb, adjective, etc. in place of so many creative words that existed, well...the dialogue pitches from good to bad like tides.

Another product film by Jas Townsend.

February 1 - John Clipperton of Ireland had sailed as first officer with Dampier in 1703-‘4. He mutinied in Panama Bay with 20 other men and went off in a small prize on his own account before returning to England. Eleven years later in command of the ship Prince Eugene, and in consort with another pirate vessel, he took two Spanish vessels off Paita on the Pacific coast of South America in 1715. The loot comprised goods and money to a value of 400.000 pesos. Clipperton was captured early in 1716. Clipperton became a Commander of 36-gun privateer Success in company of Shelvocke’s Speedwell during the war between Spain and England/France/Holland in 1719 and 1720. After Shelvocke had belittled him as a tradesman and a freebooter, he more or less took over the position as a commodore of the two ships. Sailed the same route but refused to meet his consort, even when, in the Pacific, both ships were continually drawn to each other. He recaptured Prince Eugene, 1 February 1720, , the same vessel which had been taken from him on his previous cruise, and captured with her the Marquis of Villa-Rocha and the family of the Marquis on their way to Lima. Clipperton, accompanied by these prizes, steered for the Port of Velas at the Western extremity of Nicoya peninsula.. With the war over he tried to win the Manila galleon in Philippine waters and thus crossed the Pacific, missing the galleon by two months, reaching Guam in May of 1722. He there attacked a 20-gun ship in the roads but, in approaching her, ran his Success on the rocks within range of the other ship’s guns, which began to hammer her. Now Clipperton’s mind "plunged into depressive neurosis," wrote historian K. Poolman, "He drank a bottle of brandy and fell down in a drunken stupor on deck, where he lay snoring as shot from the Spaniard whistled around them." Lieutenant Davison took command and fought the ship well, until he was killed. Second lieutenant Cook then took over, and also put up a good defense. After 48 hours on the rocks the ship was got afloat again. His crew deserted and Success was condemned at Macao, China. Clipperton as jailed but released after presenting his commission from the English king. Basically this circumnavigation was no act of piracy but one of a privateer. Finally he reached Europe again in a Dutch ship and died a few days afterwards.

Stone

Indeed. And more of us are attending those regular events. It feels weird to be planning for an event just a month from now. Our first event of the season is behind us and Searle's is looming. I've added the 'Save the Santa Maria festival/Great Lakes Pirate Gathering' event as well, which is mid-May. Please send me dates for any regular and new events for 2014.

We could take a good third of this thread to the 'Shipyard' subforum at this point. As a side note, I actually won tickets to the studio open house for Black Sails, due to the tongue in cheek 'drinking game' I posted on their Facebook page. Unfortunately, I learned of it only the day before, far too late to fly to Turner Studios in New York. Evidently they have a sound stage with Flint's ship on it.

January 31 - Salomon des Champs, aka De Scanis, was the youngest undermerchant of the VOC-ship Batavia. He was loyal towards the ringleader Jeronymus Cornelisz during and after him taking over the command of Batavia by mutiny. Salomon had no part in the orgy of murders until Cornelisz grabbed a child from its mother and told Salomon: "Here is a noose. Strangle it without any sound, if you please." On trial at Batavia, Java, the judge could not ignore this homicide. Salomon was sentenced to keel-hauling, threefold. In this punishment a rope was rigged from yardarm to yardarm passing under the bottom of the ship, the delinquent secured by it, sometimes with lead or iron attached to his legs. Then the delinquent was hoisted up to one yardarm then dropped into the sea, hauled underneath the ship, and hoisted up to the opposite yardarm, the punishment repeated after having had time to recover one’s breath, but the hapless Des Champs suffered more. He was beaten with 100 strokes with the cat-o’-nine-tails. Then the Council of Justice found out he had done more mischief, so they hanged him on this day in 1630. Also on this day in 1709… Thomas Dover, aka Doctor Quicksilver, was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, taking the degree of Bachelor of Medicine. Dover practiced as a physician at Bristol until appointed as “second captain” to Woodes Rogers to sail for a South Sea expedition, which was a common but special privateering enterprise and to some showed strong pirate aberrations. Dover had no nautical experience whatsoever but insisted on being given a command, which he finally obtained when promoted to the rank of captain of a small Spanish prize taken off the South American West coast. He partook in the sack of Guayaguil in April of 1709. He also partook in the seizure of the Acapulco ship, with a booty more than a million pounds sterling. Dover was also the one who, on the morning of the 31st of January 1709, out of sheer curiosity asked for a boat to be lowered when a light was spotted burning on the heights of an island in the Juan Fernandez group. With the second mate Frye, Dover scanned the stony beach, and suddenly saw a funny character hopping along the shoreline. His legs and feet were bare, and hairy pelts of animals covered the upper thighs and body. Stitched skins formed an uncouth jacket, or something like it, and the creature sported a long beard and a wild mat of hair – in all more a beast than a human being. Dover and Frye rescued this man, found to be one Alexander Selkirk, the real life inspiration for Robinson Crusoe. And on this day in history, 1721, John Clipperton and his crew departed Cocos Island. They left behind eleven men (three English and eight Negroes) that Clipperton said had 'deserted'.

Welcome aboard! Always glad to find another pirate West of the Mississippi. You should post pictures of your contributions to the franchise. I'd love to see your work.

January 30 - On this day in 1560, Acquitan Classisq, commander of the ship Sweepstake, attacked the French ship Jacques de Octe and "handed over to the Marshalsea for safe custody, under strong and strict imprisonment". Classisq was found "guilty of felonies, robberies, murders, illicit extortions and lamentable conspiracies". Also on this day in 1649, the ship Garland of the Royal Navy of Topsham, carrying garments and other possessions of the late Charles I, together with some personal belongings of his fugitive Queen and the wardrobe of the Prince of Wales, wrecked at Godrevy. She was taking shelter off St. Ives in a great storm and dragged her anchors. Only a man, boy and wolf-dog survived out of about sixty passengers and crew. And on this day in 1670, Captains Buffon, a barbary corsair from Amsterdam, and Captain Jut arrived without a prize. Captain Jut commanded the 40 gun ship De Bloempot (The Flowerpot), crewed by 50 christians and 300 moors. This ship was burned by admiral Van Gent.

Scupper! Caught and hung? I thought you were simply in the Indies wreaking havoc. Welcome back to the Pub.