Mission

Say, if you come across items related to surgery...

Most people aren't in here quite as frequently as you are, Swashbuckler. Give Mark some time to reply.

Who knew Jack knew how to navigate? Useful little monkey, that.

“…I knew the Custom, not to appear before great Men with an empty Hand. I desired Leave to lay a little Present at his [the nabob of the city of Tatta] Feet, which he permitted. It consisted of a Looking-glass of about 5 Pounds in Value, a Gun and a Pair of Pistols well gilded, a Sabre Blade and Dagger-blade gilded, and a Glass Pipe for his Tobacco, and an embroider’d Standish for it to stand in. He then sent for all who had accompanied me into the Room, and shewed the Present I had made him, magnifying every Piece of it, and after some Encomiums on my Valour and Generosity, told me, that I was a free Denison of Tatta, with the Addition of an Indulgence of being free of all Custom and Tax on all Goods that I had brought or should export, and that whoever bought any Part of my Cargo, and did not pay according to the Agreement made for Payment, I should not be liable to seek Justice at the Cadjee’s Court, but to imprison my Debtors, and if that would not perswade them to give Satisfaction, he would sell their Wives, Children or nearest relations to make good their Deal.” (Hamilton, p. 110-1)

Hey, I think Foxe brings up fair and well-documented points. (I'd much rather know the truth than find myself feeding people info that is based on a story that was written 150+ years after what actually happened. )

I've never heard anything about the social problems women might encounter in such an environment. If the topic really interests you, you might want to check out David Cordingly's book on Seafaring Women. (I expect the problems on nearly any ship during this period would be similar.) Cordingly's pretty objective from my experience and would probably give as fair an assessment as you're going to find. (Plus you can get it for cheap on Amazon used.)

Hey Swashbuckler, check out this thread.

I believe this list has been brought up before, but I just stumbled across it again. There's a Dictionary of Traded Goods and Commodities, 1550-1820 on the British History Online Site. Granted, pirates would not be interested in all the traded goods and commodities, only those that could be readily sold. It also contains an excellent listing of medicines and the various terms used for the different medicines, which will be of infinite use to me in the future. (Most medicine names were written in abbreviated Latin and each author seems to have had a different idea about just how the terms should be abbreviated.)

I love the internet. The whole thing is on-line. I am putting in paragraph breaks to make it more readable. (The Ruparel was Sawbridge's ship.) "Narrative of Mr. Henry Watson, who was taken "prisoner by the pirates, 15 August, 1696." On 14 August, 1696, I embarked on board the ship Ruparrel, bound to Bombay, having freighted on her thirty-five bales of coffee, etc., and other goods on the Calicut, merchant, which was to sail in her company. On 15 August both ships were taken by a pirate which came out of the Babs. It was proposed to the Captain of the Ruparrel that she should be redeemed at Aden for 35,000 pieces of eight, and it was so agreed upon, though I advised to the contrary, because neither he nor his owners had ever been or had any correspondents at Aden; hence they could not expect the money to be provided and the Governor would be greatly to blame if he permitted it to come on board, this being the best way to spoil the trade of the port, encourage pirates to use these seas, and so to ruin the traffic of Mocha, Aden, etc. However, the ship was brought to Aden, when a native merchant and another young merchant-freighter (upon whose credit the money was apparently to be procured) were sent ashore, but after staying two days there was no sign of their getting the money or of their coming off themselves. On the third day the Captain was sent ashore with some lascars [indian sailor or militiaman] to hasten off the money, lest the pirates should burn the ships, as they threatened to do. That night two fires were seen ashore, which were supposed to be the two boats, and next morning a shot was fired as a signal that the ship would not be redeemed. Thereupon they fell again to plundering the ship, which I thought had been effectually done before. On 22 August about eleven o'clock the ships were set on fire in sight of the people of Aden, first the Calicut, then the Ruparrel with the English ensign flying. The lascars were sent away on floats, and the mate, gunner and myself were carried on board the pirate-ship, which was a prize taken from the French, formerly called the St. Paul, but now the John and Rebecca. The master of the Calicut proposed to them to plunder Congo in Persia, and they accordingly proceeded on the voyage. On the 22nd September we arrived at Tompo, called by the pirates Antelope Island from the great number of antelopes there, from whence they sent their boats to view Congo; but learning from two fishing-boats, captured in the night, that six Portuguese men-of-war were lying there, they resolved to stay a while in the hope that these might depart shortly. They careened their ship and killed great quantities of antelopes, until being weary of that kind of flesh and having nothing but stinking beef and doughboys (that is dough made into a lump and boiled) they weighed anchor on 16 October and came down again to Cape Mussington. There they plundered a small fishing town and got good store of dates and salt fish, but returning on the 20th they saw four Dutch ships and fled for fear of them into Cape Mussington, turning up next day towards the Island aforesaid. Off Hisnies they took a Frank, that told them of two great ships, supposed to be English from Europe, at Gambroon, which scared them not a little. On the 22nd they arrived again at Tompo and on the 25th sent boats to view another island up the Gulf. These had not been long gone before a boat was seen to come and view the ship, which they suspected to be a spy from Congo, as she in reality was. That night the mates and gunners of the Calicut and Ruparrel contrived to escape in a small boat, which made them think their designs frustrated. Thereupon they called for me and threatened to make me fast [tie him up, I believe] and beat me, and afterwards turn me on shore naked on a bare rock, or maroon-key as they called it, without food, wood or water. I told them that they knew my daily solicitation to them to be put on shore, that I knew nothing of these men's going or I should certainly have escaped with them. This abated their rigour and villainous design against me. They would have weighed and gone away that night but for their unwillingness to leave behind them their boats and men, which came not back till the 30th. During my residence with them they were very kind to me in giving me my clothes again, with leave to sell them. Afterwards they put it to the vote whether I should bring the money or not, and at about one o'clock they gave me a boat and ten Arabs, whom, knowing something of their language, I persuaded to carry me to Gomron, where the East India Company has a factory. I landed there at sunrise on 2 November, and found the four escaped men already there. During my residence with the pirates, whose chief rendezvous is at an island called St. Mary's near Madagascar, I understood they were supplied with ammunition and all sorts of necessaries by one Captain Baldridge and Lawrence Johnston, two old pirates that are settled in the above islands, and are factors for one Frederick Phillips, who under pretence of trading to Madagascar for negro slaves, supplies these rogues with all sorts of stores, consigning them to Baldridge and Johnston. These two are both of them married to country women, and many of the others are married at Madagascar. They have a kind of fortification of seven or eight guns upon St. Mary's. Their design in marrying the country women is to ingratiate themselves with the inhabitants, with whom they go into war against other petty kings. If one Englishman goes with the Prince with whom he lives to war, he has half the slaves that are taken for his pains. I have often heard the commander and many of his men say that he took the ship from the French near the river of Canada, and that they had a commission from the Governor of New York to take the French. They fitted their ship from Rhode Island, and the then Governor of New York knew their designs as also the Governor of Rhode Island. Another pirate-ship of equal burden was fitted out there at the same time with this, which Hore commands. The Captain of the other ship is Richard Glover, brother-in-law to Hore. He also was in the Gulf of Mocha to leeward of us when I was taken by Hore, and came on board to see us prisoners and to filch what they could from our ships, knowing from us that no more ships would come from Mocha. Glover would have persuaded Hore to return to Mocha, burn the ships in the port and plunder the town, to which Hore complied not; so she remained in the Gulf, and what is become of her since I know not."

By all means, enumerate. It would be a useful reference for everyone (perhaps even including yourself). You're quite right! I am going with the idea that no one was left to tell what happened, which is probably more rare than common. Of course, when it comes to details like what sort of ship they had and such, these facts may or may not have been reported. An editor in a books I read was opining that the style of period manuscripts was not to focus on some of the things that we today would like to know more about. I recall everyone being quite excited by a (rather terse) description of how a tent was put together during a careening because we didn't have much else to reference.

Thank you for finding that! (Now I want to see if I can find Henry Watson's report - he's a ship's surgeon!) As I said, the editors site several historical accuracies, usually in Hamilton's second-hand histories, so you are likely correct. “The Reason of so intense Heats proceeds from the Nearness of the Sun in these Months [May – September in Muskat], who sends his Beams almost perpendicularly down on the Sides of the Mountains, which being all naked, and nothing but an hard black Rock appearing, the Sun heats them to such a Degree, that between 10 and 11 in the Forenoon, I have seen the Slaves rost Fish on them. And the Horses and Cattle, who are accustomed to that Food, come daily, of their own Accord, to be served their Allowance, and when they have breakfasted, retire again to Shades built for them; and yet their Beef and Mutton, that are partly nourished by that Sort of Food, have not the least Savor of Fish. And the Reason why Fishes are so plentiful and cheap in the Markets, is by the easy and odd Way they have in __ catching them, or rather conjuring of them, for I have seen a Man and two Boys catch a Tun weight in an Hour or two. The Man stands on a Rock, where the Sea is pretty deep near it, and calls Tall, tall [Footnote 35: The fisherman’s call is the Arabic, ‘ta’al, ta’al’ meaning ‘come, come’.], for a Minute or two, and the Fish come swarming about the Rock. The two Boys, in a little Boat, shut them in with a Net about 20 or 30 Yards long, and 3 or 4 deep, and, drawing the Net near the Rock, keep all in, and, when People come for the Fish, he asks them what Sorts they want, and puts an Hoop-net, fixed to the End of a Pole, into the Water, and serves every Body with what Kind they ask for, and when he has done, he hales out his Net, and give the rest their Liberty.” (Hamilton, p. 68-9)

Yes, I would agree it is as good as any we have, but there could well be a lot of unrecorded events regarding pirates. (They probably weren't crowing about their thefts...) I am most curious what sorts of government and company documents exist regarding loss of ships. I would think those invested in a merchant vessel would want to know its fate. OTOH, when a ship disappears en route, they may have never known the cause if it was traveling through less populated places. OTOOH, from my understanding pirates generally hung around land, where I think the chances would be greater of someone who lived near where they operated would know the fate of a ship. Then again (we're running out of hands here), that someone may not have had any way to report it or known who to report it to. It seem to me that several variables existed that could result in the loss of a ship: weather, mutiny, shipwreck due to bad charts, scurvy and disease at sea... I vaguely remember you stating that the fate of many lost ships was better known that I suspected in a previous discussion we had.

I think I recall Ed Fox having some information about this. Of course, our information about Golden Age pirates is pretty spotty at best.

Aha! The artist is Reinier Vinkeles, who lived 1741-1816. While using Google Image search, I also found this engraving by the ever-popular artist 'Anonymous' which was done in 1701, which I think should be posted somewhere and here is as good a place as any. (Someone should let Ratbeard aka. Redbeard know that we have period evidence that putting small animals in one's mouth is accurate.)

Nice photo of a carpenter working on a ship there! (Be he Peter the Great or not.) Thanks! Do you happen to know the source of that?

I'd be interested to learn who captured Sawbridge's ship. Curiously, Hamilton does not seem like much of a whiner. You want a significant degree of whining in a Journal, check out Edward Barlow! Jeez that man could complain! (Made for great fodder in my historical presentation when I was explaining how challenging the merchant sailor's life was, though. )

The editors cite several other inaccuracies in the book, so it could all just be heresay. Hamilton wrote the book quite some time after the events in it took place so he may also have his facts confused. (For my notes, I read these books to find reference to medicine, food and medical problems that occurred during voyages such as illnesses, wounds and other issues. However, some of the stories are pretty entertaining, so I am reprinting them here.) Who did capture Sawbridge's ship?

Yes, Jen, that is most enlightening. I'm not really looking for help with anything, I was just throwing a topic out there to generate some discussion. (If Michael wasn't helping me with my clothes, who knows what I would be wearing? Probably stuff bought at Ren Faires... ) I particularly like your statement, "There are people now days who insist on being up with the current trends well into their old age, and others who couldn't care less even in their youth." I think we tend to focus too narrowly at times on certain styles and wondered if there wouldn't be variances in styles then as there are now. I don't think our psychology is all that different now from what it was at that time, although our experiences certainly are. It also occurs to me that clothing made today may not last as long, although I have no proof for that. It may just be that they were more willing (due to necessity and upbringing) to patch and re-patch and re-use old material as you say.

Ah, thanks for reminding me, Captain Jim! I meant to post one yesterday and forgot because I was busy and this top had fallen off the current list. I found this one interesting because of the amount of effort Avery's pirates seem to have expended to create their little paradise. “The Pirates, for many Years, infested the Mouth of the Red Sea, committing frequent Robberies and Barbarities. Captain Evory was the first that led the Way in Anno 1695 and the Pirates finding great Booties, purchased with small Danger __ from the Traders into the Red Sea, had a Project to be Masters of the Key of that Door, so they found the Island Prim, which lies within Gun-shot of Babelmandel, to have a good commodious Bay for the Security of their Shipping; upon which Consideration, they began to build regular Fortifications, and dig for fresh Water, and, with much Labour, they dug thro’ an hard Rock, 15 Fathoms deep, but found none, but brakish Water, wherefore they desisted, and removed to St Mary’s Island, on the East Side of Madascar, as I observed before, and are since removed, for more Security, over to the main Island, and there they fortify themselves by Marriages into noble Families of that great Island, from whence they come into India, and cruise in those Seas. In Anno 1696 they met with a Ship from Bombay, commanded by one Sawbridge, who was carrying Arabian horses for Surat. After they took the Ship, Sawbridge began to expostulate with them about their Way of Life. They ordered him to hold his Tongue, but he continuing his Discourse, they took a Sail-needle and Twine, sewed his Lips together, and so kept him several Hours, with his Hands tied behind him. At length they unloosed both his Hands and Lips, and carried him on board their Ship, and, after they had plundred Sawbridge’s Ship, they set her on Fire, and burned her and the Horses together. Sawbridge and his People were set ashore near Aden, where he died presently after. Captain Evory was not so inhumane; for the Year before, he took a large Ship belonging to the Mogul, and got a Booty of 2,600,000 Rupees, which amount to, in Sterling Money, about 325,000 Pounds. He freed the Ship, and let her go, without torturing the People, but carried a young Mogul Lady with him, and some of her female Servants, who had been at Mecca to perform a Vow, laid on her by her Mother on her Death-bed.” (Hamilton, p. 50-1)

You have been here a long time.

Excellent point. I was not taking the necessity of the times into account. The suit of sailor's clothes that Jen Dobyns found a link to in the Museum of London seems to bear that out. And in Emily Cockayne's book Hubbub: Filth, Noise, and Stench in England, 1600-1770 she says, “Poorer citizens rarely bought new items of clothing, but made do with second-, third- and fourth-hand clothes. The second-hand market was a thriving one.” (Cockayne, p. 77) Still I wonder what those who could afford new clothing wore as they got older and had less interest in the latest fashions.

No, I am curious if older people wore a different, more comfortable style of clothing than the fashion plates that are posted here when we start talking about some aspect of clothing style for a particular period in time. Take a close look at what people today who have left the Athlete and Warrior phases of their life and gotten to the point where they don't care so much about external trappings. They wear simple, comfortable clothes. Wouldn't it make sense that this would be true in any period where fashion was an important consideration? (Forgive me, but I am being philosophical regarding clothing. There's no real goal to my bringing this up, I just thought of it yesterday morning while I was out walking.)

Like I said, if they speak to you, go with them. My opinions are just my opinions. (They should be worth to you just what you paid for them. )

Here's a story of pirates from the annals of the East India company... (Some paragraph breaks were inserted for readability.) "...in Anno 1720 when two of our East-India Ships were watering there [Johanna], with and Ostend Ship in their Company; they agreed to stand by one another ins case of Assaults, or engaging with the common Enemy, but when two Pirates drew near, the Greenwich and Ostender weighed, and stood to Sea, and left the Cassandra to shift for her self, who was obliged to engage the smallest Pirate (being a Ship of 24 Guns, Dutch-built) in the Bay, and soon after they began, the Cassandra ran aground on some Rocks, and the Pirate striving to board her, was also taken up by some Rocks, not above 20 Yards from the Cassandra. The Pirate's Head lay towards the Cassandra's Broadside, and they pelted one another furiously, many falling on both Sides, but the Pirates, finding too hot Work on their Decks, were forced to quit them, and run down into the Hold for Shelter. Captain Mackraw, who commanded the Cassandra, seeing the other Pirate approach near him, and manning all his Boats to reinforce his Comrade, thought it a good Time for him, and who else could get ashore, to embrace the Opportunity, and accordingly they got into their Boats, and saved their Lives. The Inhabitants showed much Humanity to the Distressed, and carried them above a Dozen of Miles up in the Country, for Fear the Pirates, in their made Fury, should have murdered the poor Men that escaped from their Ship. The Pirates, soon after they had Possession of the Cassandra, got her aflote again, she having received little or no Damage; they also got their own Ship off, but she was __ very much shattered, and disabled in her Masts. Captain Mackraw, being a Gentleman that was well versed in Conversation with men of any Temper, ventured on board the Pirates, and they were so much taken with his Address, that they made him a Present of that Ship which he had so bravely battered, to carry him and his Crew to India; in the mean while, the Greenwich came to Bombay in September, who brought the Account of the loss of the Cassendra, and in November, Captain Mackraw arrived himself with his new Ship, and his Ship's Company all in Rags, but were soon equipp'd by the Benevolence and Generosity of the Governor Mr Boone [Footnote 16: Charles Boone, President and Governor of Bombay from 1715-22. One of the few energetic and honest officials of the [East India] Company.] who was a Gentleman of as much Honour and good Sense, as any that ever sat in that Chair." (Hamilton, p. 30-1)

Ever since I got my Robert Land shoes, I have pretty well stopped wearing tennis shoes in the off-hours. The shoes I used to have were very poorly made (I bought 'em cheap) and, being diabetic, I had to be concerned with my feet so I switched to tennies once the public had left the building. As for white socks... what on earth are you talking about? You'll have to post a photo of that one, cuz' I don't recall wearing period inappropriate socks with my kit at an event.