Slopmaker Cripps

Where can you find those drawings? Thanks, Adam C.

I do, but not on this run. Once I can get ahold of some correct red kersey, I'll be doing the slop contract breeches in the near future. The November run will just be trousers or petticoat breeches. Other items will be offered in various runs in the future. Cheers, Adam

Aye, I'm still trying to work on the picture issue. Unfortunately, I don't have a digital camera at this time. The slop-hose are also called petticoat breeches. I apologize for labeling them slop-hose, but I mostly do War of Jenkins Ear living history down here along with the pirate stuff, and that term is more appropriate. The trousers I can make in a few different styles depending on your impressions need, just need to contact me and discuss what you'd like. I'm flexible, and can change my patterns if needed. Cheers, Adam P.S. The only thing that Frank is wearing of my construction is the 1727 ticking waistcoat, made of actual linen ticking.

Shipmates, I got to thinking about how everyone is participating in the shirt making course (awesome idea Greg, BTW) to add an authentic item to their wardrobe. Well, since I don't need another shirt, I figured that I'd help everyone finish out their authentic wardrobe. So, I've decided to make the November run at Slop Shop be for Slop hose and trousers. This way, by the time the shirts get done in the course, you will have some authentic breeches to go with it. The run will start out with just 3 slots for a pair of slop hose, and 3 more for a pair of trousers. You can find all the details about the run at the website. http://slopshopreproductions.freeservers.com/ Cheers, Adam C., Slop-man

Wash it before hand if you're planning to wash the shirt in the future. Otherwise, when you go to wash/dry it, the fabric will shrink, and sometimes as my shipmate found out, rip out the seams. Always pre-wash the material before you cut it. Cheers, Adam C., Slop-man

The ASC's are for full length sleeves. And Kass is right, they are no problem when working. I've worn them with the sleeves down, and sometimes rolled up (it gets pretty darn hot down here) and either way you have the same amount of movement in the arms. Also note that I'm usually rowing, pulling on the lines, etc. while shipboard since I'm not physically suited to be a topman. On shore, however, I do just about every kind of work with no problems in regard to the sleeves. Just my experience, and as mentioned before, everything points to long sleeves being the only option. Besides, it makes common sense. If you're hot, then roll them up. But a short sleeve shirt wouldn't serve you well when it's cold. It's good to just have the option. Cheers, Adam

Deadeye, The earliest 3/4 length sleeved shirts I have found reference to are 19th century sailors undershirts. A lot of the guys who do Civil War navy wear them. I have yet to see anything about 3/4 length shirt sleeves in the 17th or 18th century, though if someone has the primary sources, I am very interested in seeing them. Cheers, Adam

Greg, If you need any help just let me know. Always glad to help whenever needed. Cheers, Adam P.S. How did you figure 8 weeks? That's extremely long for a shirt....even 100% handsewn.

Deadeye, Aye, I do. Just shoot me an email. I can also help you with the handstitching also, seeing how I never knew how the operate a sewing machine when I started making historic garments. provincialnavy@yahoo.com Cheers, Adam

Well, Seeing as I am a wide, girthy, mammal myself I reckon I can do jumbo jack the sailor sizes. Cheers, Adam C.

Greg, Sounds great. BTW how are things going? Haven't heard from you in months. Deadeye, Aye, I had a period in there where I was forced to stop production. Many different reasons, which I won't wase forum space with. I should have things back up and running in the next month, so just keep an eye out for updates. Cheers, Adam C.

Aye, when I said dandified I meant painted, fancy rope work, carvings, all that kind of stuff. Anything other than wood and the utilities holding it together. Mostly they were just boxes with a latch to keep thieves from lifting the lid. In fact, Frank told me that one of the documented sea chests he examined was a blanket box the guy brought from home that was originally at the foot of his bed. As I said, all sailors back then tended to be practical. In fact, it is my opinon that sailors are the most practical people of any age. So, when putting together an impression, practicality and simplicity are really the way to go. addendum- when I say "painted" above I am referring to pictures and that kind of thing, not a couple coats of paint to cover up the natural wood (which is correct, but you have to choose colors wisely). Cheers, Adam

Everyone, Just thought I'd drop a line to let everyone know the re-opening of Slop Shop Reproductions will occur here in the next few months. However, we are changing things around a bit. Instead of offering all the various styles that we did beforehand, we have decided just to make the Slop Contract garments. I have been making these style of garments for awhile for my Royal Navy shipmates, just never offered them openly. More details about what slop contracts we will be using and the details thereof will be posted on the website when we can finally get things going. Another change is that we will be offering the garments in runs. This will produce better service for both the consumers and myself. Also, due to the cost of the specialized materials to make the garments, I will not be making them 100% handsewn as in the past. They will be expensive enough to construct as is just from material costs. I do, as always, handsewn buttonholes, topstitching, and all the other pertinent places so that my customers can have the most authentic looking garments without turning their rent money over to me. Anyway, please keep an eye on the website in the next couple of months as the re-opening develops. http://slopshopreproductions.freeservers.com/ Cheers, Adam C., Slop-man & Ordinary Seaman Frigate Squirrel; "The Fish-Broth Society"

Master Studley, Do keep in mind that's a 17th century english snapsack, and not a real sailors sea bag/ditty bag. Just a friendly note. Cheers, Adam C.

Looks to me they're sea chests just like the others, just with their lids open. The slanted wall style of sea chest wasn't around until the very late 18th and early 19th century. Frank Rodriques did a lot of research on 18th century sea chests while he was working at the National Archives in Britain, and he found that most "sea chests" were similar to period boxes or blanket chests. Some were even just crates. So, it's just something to think about. It seems to me that people tended to want things strong and functional instead of dandified. Cheers, Adam

Seems they changed the days it'll be up my way.....looking at Friday/Saturday right now. Cheers, Adam C.

She'll be up my way tomorrow of Friday... Already been kicking up some dangerous sailing conditions around here, and I'm amazed we haven't been called out to get some sorry landsman you thinks they're a sailor yet. We'll see. I've actually been enjoying the stormy weather, gosh knows we needed it. We'll see if I'm whistling the same tune later this week..... Cheers, Adam C., Slop-man & Ordinary Frigate Squirrel; "The Fish-Broth Society"

Dang, If I wasn't already committed to another event, then I would be there. I hope you all have a good time. Cheers, Adam C., Ordinary Seaman Frigate Squirrel; The Fish-Broth Society

In the schedule, it says there will be a pirate encampment. Where will this be? Is there a registration process we need to go through? Are we allowed to set up in there? My shipmate and I would like to come and set up, but need to know who to contact and how things are working for the event. Cheers, Adam C., Ordinary Seaman Frigate Squirrel; The Fish-Broth Society

Mr. Studley, Even though we are right here in Fernandina, we did not participate in the Shrimp Festival event this year. We were busy sailing other waters elsewhere for a group that wanted us to do a display for them. More than likely we'll have SOME presence at this coming festival, but I'm not sure who all will be participating. I'm currently working on our upcoming events schedule, and when I get it done, you'll be welcome to fall in with us anytime. Feel free to shoot me an email if you'd like me to keep you updated on our ventures. Cheers, Adam C., Ordinary Seaman

My crew strives for authenticity, though we're still out to have fun. We're based out of Fernandina Beach, Florida, though we welcome anyone who's willing to travel and join us for events. We do events all up and down the coast between Charleston and St. Augustine, and we try and do a longer trip at least once a year (like this year, we went to Williamsburg). Just shoot me an email or something if you're interested in learning more. Cheers, Adam C.

Those aren't slop hose the guy on the right is wearing. You can see the knee band and where they are gathered into the knee area. They're just 17th century breeches, and going out of style. I like his monmouth cap though. Looks like it's been stretched out and beaten over the years, thus causing it too fit looser on the head except where the brim is turned up causing the cap to grasp the head. Interesting picture.

I just call them "Slops" as that was what the sailors back then called them. And no, "slops" are not just breeches, they're the whole garb. The only time that I know of where they were called slops were the 16th century sloppes which were the baggy knee breeches. However, late 17th and 18th century, I call the whole fitout slops, as they did, and the breeches "slop hose" according to Bailey's Dictionary (1736) who described them as " Slop Hose: A sort of widekneed breeches worn by seamen." Cheers, Adam C. Slopmaker

Well seeing as Blackbeard is my 12th great grand uncle....I'll pipe in. It was my grandmother who actually found the connection. Unfortunately she died while I was to young to have the slightest interest in history. According to my Dad, she used to brag that we had no "black sheep" in our family, and when she found out that blackbeard was in the family she was in a state of shock for days. Guess she didn't like scoundrels much. But anyway, here's the lineage taken straight off our family tree she made up. I'm starting with Baron Owen Theach and working down to myself. Baron Owen Theach had two sons. One named John, and the other Edward, soon to be the notorious blackbeard. John immigrated to North Carolina while Edward began his privateering and pirating career. But while Edward pursued his "career".......... John Theach married Elizabeth Weeks. Their daughter, Elizabeth Theach, married Willoughby Adams. Their daughter, also named Elizabeth Theach, married Baron John Davis (also from Wales). Their daughter, Cecelia Davis, married a man by the name of Pope. We don’t know his first name. It may have been Clinton. This was about the time of the American Revolution. Their son, Owen Clinton Pope, married Sarah Sinquefield. Their daughter, Mary Wilde Pope, married Ephraim Jordan. This was about the time of the Civil War. Their daughter, Martha Elizabeth Jordan, married Thomas Turlington. Their daughter, Sally Mae Turlington, married William Bailey Greene. Their daughter, Martha Sue Greene, married John Charles Cripps. Their son, also named John Charles Cripps, married Diane Johnson. And their son is moi. Adam Cripps, Slopmaker, ordinary seaman, and 12th great grand nephew of Blackbeard. Cheers, Adam C. Slopmaker

JoshuaRed, Thanks man. I sent you my reply in a private message due to not wanting to start anything on this forum (again). I'm not into bickering and fighting anymore. Leading by Example is a better way. Cheers, Adam C. Slopmaker Fish-Broth Society