Swashbuckler 1700

Hey this 17th C beggar has charf around his (perhaps) wounded eye Rembrandt Harmensz.(1606 Leiden - 1669 Amsterdam)

I think that the eye pach is no a thing that would need really much evidence... De lezo apparently had no patch but he had eye that did not look so bad.... imagine ugglier looking eye wound that migth be thing covered by an eyepatch....

I've highlighted this because I think it's an important point. I don't know of any really decent evidence about what Blackbeard did before turning to piracy, but it's more or less irrelevant - he, and every other pirate of the golden age, must have done something, whether logwood cutting or privateering. A significant porportion were seamen on merchant ships and at least a few that we know of were in the Royal Navy. But they weren't pirates when they did it. What's important is what they did after they became pirates. Most (all?) pirates robbed passing ships of their provisions at some time or another. Not just provisions but clothing and ships' equipment too, and of course, of their cargoes and portable wealth. This is the act of a parasite. But pirates, like everyone else, were unable to live entirely outside the economy of legitimate commerce, and when they traded with passing ships, which they did on a fairly regular basis, they were symbiotes. Colonial merchants in particular often found trading with pirates to be highly profitable because pirates, disbarred from most normal legitimate markets, were usually willing to pay top dollar, and the extra profit was worth the risk for many people. The trade which occurred at sea between pirates and unscrupulous merchants is naturally one of the grey areas of history, because neither side was much interested in keeping detailed records, but there are enough glimpses for us to know that it occurred. In 1718, for example, an unnamed ship set out from New Providence specifically to trade with pirates anchored nearby: we know about it because they were caught. In the same year one North American colonial official wrote to the Council of Trade and Plantations that 'the Pirates themselves have often told me that if they had not been supported by the Traders from thence with Ammunition and Provisions according to their Direction, they could never have become so formidable, nor arrived to that degree that they have.' Earlier, in the 1690s, Adam Baldridge's trading post on St. Mary's conducted a flourishing trade with the pirates based there, but the profits went back to New York, from where Baldridge was supplied by NY merchant Frederick Phillipse. On occasion pirates traded directly with merchants on land, the most spectacular example of which is probably Blackbeard's importation of 50+ slaves into North Carolina in 1718. North Carolina was a plantation colony in desperate need of slaves, but had no slave market of its own nor any established deep-water port through which slaves might be imported, so Blackbeard supplied a very definite niche in the market. Without him, NC planters had to purchase their slaves from South Carolina or Virginia, in both of which places they found the slaves poor quality and expensive. There is also evidence that England, la Buse and Cocklyn gathered several hundred slaves which they intended to sell to the Portuguese at Principe, until Howell Davis's little (and fatal) interlude there shut that market to pirates. Then, of course, pirates who were lucky enough to retire with a pocket full of gold (and there were probably more of them than is generally acknowledged) usually attempted to get ashore somewhere, where their gold eventually found its way into the legitimate economy. When four pirates managed to get ashore in Virginia in 1720, for example: 'their first care was to find out a Tavern, where they might ease themselves of their Golden Luggage. They soon found a place to their mind, where for some time they lived very profusely treating all that came into their Company, and there being in the House English Women Servants, who had the good fortune by some hidden Charms, to appear pleasing to these Picaroons, they set them free, giving their Master 30 Pounds, the price he demanded for their time. Their Extravagant way of living soon discovered they were not Passengers from London, as they pretended, but rather Pyrates, accordingly they were taken up and Commited on suspicion, as such, to the County [Jail].' [American Weekly Mercury, 17/3/1720] Thomas Tew's company were well known for the amount of money they spent in New York, and the companies of Edward Condent, John Taylor, and Henry Every all managed to retire in the colonies or Britain with substantial amounts of money to their credit. So, as Daniel said in the original post (more or less) I think the aim of pirates was to be parasitic, but the reality is that they were symbiotic. (And for the Marxists out there, just as capitalist as anybody else). Is picaroo so old term?

Good points. Now I say what I know about pirates "helping the society" (would parasites do that?) Many pirates had already contributed something in return as their served they nation as privateers. And if speaking buccaneers they helped their land's economy and ports like Port Royal. And that sometimes was the case in later times as well Captain Quelch said "They Should take care how they Brought Money into New England To Be Hanged for it." (but Quelch did not give anything to Portuquese that he robbed) I have read (was it Cordingly's book) that Edward Low was a logwood cutter too. In almost all ships had as far as I know (what does not sometimes mean too much ) animals like hens or hogs.... pirate could get food in other ways as well as stealing.

To continue posting pictures of gaop hats: Tricorn hat and unifrom of Charles XII (of Sweden) who was in killed siege in Norway in Great Northern War in 1718. picture is just from wiki

I have seen them in Napoleonic vessels I meant things like here. see the side. But how old tradition is that net in ship's sides?

Interesting I have known for a long tine that 1707 flag was different than modern ones but I hate when in movies etc there is the wrong flag like in potc 4 ......

Interesting that union jack was not privateer flag (they had bloody flags but what other flags they used? personal?) The fact that modern one is different than the 1700s one is forgotten in many movies e.g in Potc 4 Here I am answering to myself Foxe said this is one flag tread " Many European privateers used their municipal or civic flags as identification."

Thomas Child was a 15 year old member of Charles Harris' crew Pre-teen children might be a different matter (though I don't know how old the two "boys" captured with Bannister were). *transcribed by Tony Malesic Opening old tread here I remenber that Lowther had drummer boy in his crew but I cannot remember were read it...

Interesting that union jack was not privateer flag (they had bloody flags but what other flags they used? personal?) The fact that modern one is different than the 1700s one is forgotten in many movies e.g in Potc 4

Flag conversation I love it Are people meaning this flag with eyepatch. Ship is nice but flad isn't Being perfectionsit (again) I and (many other) could say someting about accuracy of this Anne Bonny statue (whatever) (is that real human or doll?). well only that sword is out of the period and sash is just too big and baldrick classic hollywood style.... that is after all museum... I have not visited there unfortunately.....

There was nice article about those same bone finds in local history magazine.

About yellow flags: this is navy signal quide from 1715.

I know Pirate Brethren well enough. And I hope no one minds that I am not reenactor. It has no real matter since I have similar interests ..... I ask about clothing since that is thing that info is hard to find in booke etc. But I have also made questions about ships, weapons, flags etc.

late 18th C Retired sailor Following pictures are from 1799 so later that gaop but they are sailors ship's carpenter cabin boy sailor Ships' cook purser Midshipman Lieutenant captain admiral Not gaop stuff now....

So what is all that "cutlass was born during 17th C" junk I have read?

Everybody asks that sooner or later...... I am not actual reenactor but just a fellow who is interested in many things especially pirates. I have studied pirates for around 11 years and I am only 17 years old. I am member of pirate site/ game "Before the mast" like some other users here. I hope that I am not ignored while I am not actual reenactor I have similar lust for information and this is an nice place since this king of information can be found only here.

Do you have any pictures?

Thanks for the reply (I bet I test you nerves) It is odd that later slop contracts have less stuff than 1690s ones So there were colored ones as well as white.

So many sources say that they were used like Joseph Haycock's slop shop. But what were sailors Frocks?

While I know little about Jacobitism (I have read wiki and "kiddnapped" ) I know that pirates and jacobites are related. Mist the man (propably) behind GHOP was a jacobite...I think that there is a study of jacobite pirates made by some historian...

It is confusing that the "cutlass" is older term than the cuttlas sword we know At least if we believe what is said here http://www.thepirateking.com/historical/cutlass.htm

Well as far as i know buccaneers were consired pirates only 1670 onwards and when there was peace between Spain and England. I think Morgan hanged some when he was a lieutenant governor of jamaica.

Indeed e.g. England had 34 gun ship it must have been 3 masted....

This practically period pic shows that seamen alike would brag if he could afford