Pirate Petee

Thank you GoF, I hope I can. Sometimes I feel like Indiana Jones looking for the Grail or the Lost Ark. Now I really don’t think that Pirates wore the riding boots. Although possible, not probable. I do believe that there is a type of tall leather boot, not as form fitted as a riding boot, but baggier, looser, more ship friendly that they could have worn on and or off shore. Oh my gosh, those are some frightening looking pirates, not as scary as that Peter Pan guy, but close. Those are the guys that give us none Living History types a bad name, I mean jeesh, they could have done a bit better than that. P.S. Thanks for the info of the painting. P.S.S. If that is anyone from the pub, I didn't mean to offened.

Micheal Jackson? WTF? Hide your children.

Hes wearing my boots.

Yes, I think we or I was suffering from a case of Peteeitis, or what ever the disorder is called. Which brings me to another question, I was refering to any boot with the upper flap as a "bucket boot", just for generalization, but what of the different styles. I do have other illustrations I'll try to get up tomorrow.

Ain't nothin wrong with that.

No, they are period. Let me find them. Foxe has the other part of that pic, but yes its bucket boots with a Justa whatsit. I have more, but I'm at work and don't want to scan them in right now.

Can we have a picture of that, please?? Although I have never heard them been called princess shoes. Kass, I hate to disagree with you but bucket boots were worn with justa corps or forck coat what ever you want to call it. That I do have pictures of.

Blackbeard You won't want to miss this. this looks flippin badass.

Hey, I wear the princess shoes too. My point is that wearing of the boots would be dressing down. Also like I said earlier, that I'm not sure a pirate would want to dress up at all, calling attention to himself.

That would be an 19th Century, good eye. Not period true, just showing that sailors did have and wear boots. Know I don't think that they would have worn them to show that they were successful, after all I think they would have wanted to draw the least amount of attention to themselves. What I am saying is that if they wore them it would have served a purpose or thats all they would of had and or personal preferance.

Well I do like to consider myself a boot enthusiast, I don’t think I’m playing devils advocate. I mean I wear both, buckle shoes and “Bucket Boots”. I do try and back it with historical fact, which let me tell you friends is an up hill battle . With the lack of documentation, as with a lot of history its comes to educated guesses. Das, during the GAoP they were worn, but for more of a practical purpose, riding horses and less for fashion. I myself can personally see a practical purpose for a pirate or sailor for that matter to wear them, not all the time mind you. Foxe, I believe his name would have been Charles Moore, and I believe it would have been on a merchant ship, they say it’s a “clipper” ship, not sure what they mean by that, also I believe his wife set up a boarding house in Liverpool. I am guessing it would have been in the late 1800’s. Upper right hand corner, not the stiff fitted cavalry boot, but a baggier leather boot with folded tops.

Good, point, I guess one needs to take into consideration what the artist is trying to do.

Touché , if there was anybody, there dead now, but I would say it were more likely than geting first hand info about 289 years ago. What I meant about "overlapping first hand experiance" was that Someones Grand father could have been alive at that time. Also heard this once" What’s the difference between an American Man and an English Man. The American thinks 100 years is a long time and the English think 100 miles is a long way." Not sure if I told that right. Speaking of which, my great great grand father, or something like that, was a captain of some type of ship. I know he was from Liverpool and he died at sea. Anyway if I were able to give you a name how hard would it be to come by some information?

Early 19th century was still some 75 - 100 years AFTER the GAOP. Look at the fashion changes that have occurred between 1905-1930 to the present day; a comparable period of time. Boots seem to have been "in" during the buccaneering era, "out" during the Golden Age, and "in" again during the early 1800's. I recall reading in a book about Admiral Nelson, c. 1805, one officer advising a younger colleague to change from boots into shoes before battle: the high boots would afford nil protection but would make it that much harder for the surgeon to remove musket ball, splinters, etc. from his legs. Capt. William True it was a distance away, but the people in the early 1800’s that were illustrating these portrayals of pirates lived a lot closer to the time period. There would have defiantly been first hand information overlap. Even though the truth tends to get fuzzier the farther you get from the source, they were a lot closer to the source.

Gotcha.

See, I told ya there was a purpose for them. I have absolutely no idea what we are talkin about now.

I got to admit, a girl with an English accent, man she scores some high points right there.

Your never lonely when you got voices.

Telephone game.

Sorry, I read that wrong.

Ah, but you could wear Chuck Taylor All Stars in 1917 and you can still wear them now. True certain types of Bucket Bots would be very uncomfortable, not meant for walking in, while others were. A certain style of bucket boot has been around from early 17th century to mid 18th.

I could of sworn that I have seen an engraving with him in an "justa-thingy" and "tri-corn"

I can understand why a re-enactmebnt group wouldn't wear them, it would take away from the groups authenticity as a whole. Not like I’m a 100% down to the T authentic Re-enactor anyway . I don't know why I debate it so much. Maybe for personal approval on an individual persona level. On the pic of the Vasa boot, I was just wondering what that little corroded oval thing was on bridge of the boot. True about the fishermen, just lookin for sefaring men and the benefits of wearing a boot.

I totally agree that a Whole group of reenactors wearing boots would be a bit silly. I could see one or two though, out of a larger group. Me personaly, I could see wearing something that goes above the ankle for protection, Stubbing a toe, rope or powder burns, and splinters just to name a few. I'm not talking the splinters that go flying like shrapnel, but the ones left over from a fight that were sticking out all over the place. But thats just a personal opinion. And again I have both in my kit bbots and shoes.

I found one a little late though. "Method of making Leather impervious by Water (1795) The New England fishermen preserve their boots tight against water by the following method, which, it is said, has been in use among them above an hundred years. A pint of boiled Linseed-oil, half a pound of mutton suet, six ounces of clean Bees-wax, and four ounces of Rosin are melted and well mixed over a fire. Of this, while warm, not so hot as may burn the leather, with a brush, lay plentifully on new boots or shoes, when they are quite dry and clean. The leather is left pliant. Fishermen stand in their boots, in water, hour after hour, without inconvenience. For three years past, all my shoes, even of calfskin, have been so served; and have, in no instance admitted water to pass through the leather. It is also a good Salve --a Basilicon. [From The American Almanac for the year 1796. Pr. Abraham Blaudelt. New Brunswick, N.J. 1795.]"