Capt. Sterling

Try contacting the folks at the fort down in St. Augustine Florida, I had all of ten minutes to chat with them and learned quite a bit. They said alot of differences boiled down to Catholic versus Protestant as well and that no self repecting English/Welsh pirate be he a church goer or not, would have leaned toward copying in any way shape or form a Spanish Catholic.... as according to the folks at the fort, they were some of the only "civilized" folks still wearing earrings during the GAoP period the rest of Europe and England were NOT.... Like I said, only had about ten minutes but if any one is interested the soldiers down there seem to be pretty detailed about their kit and their research.... Just a thought. Hector

It's called Fuller's Earth and I believe you can find some herehttp://www.cineshoppe.com/fullers1.htm. It's usually dusted or spread over clothing, sometimes rubbed in, to achieve a dirty look. Hector

Great thanks! Appreciate the help! Hector

When and where? Hector

http://www.cpaulcoker.co.uk/page5.html What about this one? Hector

Well she's obviously not a pirate then.... hector

What about The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders by Defoe? I haven't read this one yet, only seen it done on the tube. And Fanny Hill is a brilliant book for that sort of "research" . Hector

Ouch :angry: I should do my own homework, but I'm too busy sewing justacorps and sleeved waistcoats.... And Foxe has recommended a bunch of books that I need to get started on...... :) Hector

Does anyone know the actual average height for crowns and width for brims circa 1695-1710? Hector

I have an original pair of 18th century Grice pistols made in London. They look very close to some of the pistols on GOF's website. Now, I know Grice still made weapons circa the American Revolutionary War, but does anyone know how early they started making pistols and would they, therefore, be suitable for GAoP? Thanks for any info. Hector

Does anyone know who the contact person/persons is/are for this event? I would appreciate a name and email address if possible. Thanks very much. Hector

Thanks BlackJohn Banyans were considered undress wear, but not necessarily robes as we think of robes today. Many business men wore them at work and could even visit certain other business men in their banyans. There were loose rules on when and where to go out in them... For instance, say, the Govenor of Williamsburg could receive callers wearing his banyan, but those calling upon him would be dressed properly. A tradesman/shop owner could wear his in shop and go out to another shop where the owners were of equal/lesser station still dressed in his banyan as long as the other shop was within a building or two's distance or directly across the street. If it was across town, he'd put on a proper coat. So onboard ship, it would seem very suitable for the captain to wear his outside of his cabin, if he indeed had a banyan. Silks as well as Indian cottons were usually used for the banyan's fabric. Now off to get a cup of coffee..... Hector

Rumor has it that Williamsburg has come out with a period correct chocolate, which they serve with cyanne pepper... makes one wonder as either Waller or Picard claim that between all the coffee and chocolate of the time, most of London would have been on a full time high!! Hector

Are you ship wrecked on an uncharted island? Hector

Look you there now Mistress Kass! Me thinks you dress very manly indeed in that fine hunting attire, at least from the middlings upward! :)

Because they are hot. That is, if we're talking pirates in the tropics and not the arctic. Ever wear even light gloves in the summer? I ride horses and, trust me, you take them babies off as soon as you dismount. At least I do. But you wear them when you're riding - ie, when you need them? Gloves were also a fashion item for the times. My question is, also being a rider, when gloves are wet they can also be very slippery so being around water.... Other than warmth on board a ship, would gloves be useful? Did pirates need gloves for protection during work? Hector

Well, and unfortunately I don't know how this developed or how far back it goes, but in fox hunting, the stock tie actually doubled as a bandage in case of accident out on the hunt. The stock pin, worn even by men, worn with the opening part downward so as not to have it open accidently and stab the rider in the chin, was also used to help secure the bandage or "hold bits" together if needed. I would assume the modern tie evolved directly from the cravat but if that was worn originaly "as a spare bandage" I have no clue. But one wonders when one knows the history of fox hunting attire. Just a thought Hector

Waller claims "Teeth' is listed in the bills as a cause of death. Mortality was high among infants at teething stage." "Septicaemai and abscess could kill." "Tabacco was thought to cure toothache. Alternatively, The English Housewife advised: Take sage, rue smallage, fetherfew, wormwood, and mint, of each of them half a handful, then stamp them well all together, putting thereto four drams of vinegar, stir them all well together, then put it between two linnen clouts, of the bigness of your cheek, temples, and jaw, and quilt it in a manner of course imbroydery. Then set it upon a chassing-dish of coals, and as hot as you may abide it, lay it over the side where the pain is, and lay you down upon that side, and as it cools warm it up again, or else have another ready to lay on." "If you keep your teeth from rotting, or aching, wash the mouth continually every morning with the juyce of lemons,'The Queen's Closet Open'd advised, 'and afterwards rub your teeth with a sage leaf, and wash your teeth after meat with fair water.' The returning court at the Restoration had introduced toothbrushes from Paris, but there is little evidence that they were widely used. Toothpicks were part of the toilette. It was possible to have the teeth scraped, but it was a painful and costly business. Extraction must have been all too tempting for those suffering toothache. False teeth, of human or animal origin, were available, but were so ill-fitting that speech became pretty much incomprehensible." Pgs. 103-4. 1700 Scene from London Life... Maureen Waller. Both Waller and Picard are a generalized history of the times but both help point you in the right direction and get your feet wet for life in general. And if you read over both their references and Waller's bibliography, you can find names of original authors and their articles....for more indepth, first source research.... Hector

Waller claims "Teeth' is listed in the bills as a cause of death. Mortality was high among infants at teething stage." "Septicaemai and abscess could kill." "Tabacco was thought to cure toothache. Alternatively, The English Housewife advised: Take sage, rue smallage, fetherfew, wormwood, and mint, of each of them half a handful, then stamp them well all together, putting thereto four drams of vinegar, stir them all well together, then put it between two linnen clouts, of the bigness of your cheek, temples, and jaw, and quilt it in a manner of course imbroydery. Then set it upon a chassing-dish of coals, and as hot as you may abide it, lay it over the side where the pain is, and lay you down upon that side, and as it cools warm it up again, or else have another ready to lay on." "If you keep your teeth from rotting, or aching, wash the mouth continually every morning with the juyce of lemons,'The Queen's Closet Open'd advised, 'and afterwards rub your teeth with a sage leaf, and wash your teeth after meat with fair water.' The returning court at the Restoration had introduced toothbrushes from Paris, but there is little evidence that they were widely used. Toothpicks were part of the toilette. It was possible to have the teeth scraped, but it was a painful and costly business. Extraction must have been all too tempting for those suffering toothache. False teeth, of human or animal origin, were available, but were so ill-fitting that speech became pretty much incomprehensible." Pgs. 103-4. 1700 Scene from London Life... Maureen Waller. Both Waller and Picard are a generalized history of the times but both help point you in the right direction and get your feet wet for life in general. And if you read over both their references and Waller's bibliography, you can find names of original authors and their articles....for more indepth, first source research.... Hector

oops Liza Picard's Restoration London, from poverty to pets, from medicine to magic, from slang to sex, from wallpapers to women's rights. I'll see what Waller says about it in her 1700s book as well..... Hector

Here you go, quoting Picard... pages 104-105.... "It is just possible that dental health was better in the 17th century than in ours. Recommended daily care included scraping away plaque. Sugar was known to cause caries. Sugary snacks had not been invented. If a child's teeth grew in crooked, there was no orthodontist to fit a brace, but at least the enamel was not constantly assaulted by sweet foods and drinks. " "Oil of clove was used to deaden pain; with of course bleeding, purges, cupping on the spine and blisters behind the ears. Once extraction of a tooth became unavoidable-and operators seem to have had a curious reluctance to get in there and pull, unlike midwives-a large pair of pliers should do the trick. But it might still be possible to kill the nerve by cautery, and apply strong acid to make the tooth fall apart on its own." "False teeth could be made of elephant ivory, hippo tusk or ox bone." "Implanting teeth from a donor (there was a glut of human teeth on the market after the Plague), or from a less visible site in the patient's own mouth, was practised, with what permanent success is unknown. Instead of implantation, the tooth might be anchored to its neighbours by silver wire, or silk thread. The French were better at false teeth than the English." "When caries did occur it was thought to be due to a worm in the tooth..."

Yikes teeth, have to look it up but seems like they did better than the egyptians in this area.... how about the no-nose club?

Yikes Plunkett and McCleane, interesting story but very much a mixture of modern ideals where clothing is concerned. If you truly want to do a highwayman impression stick with typical pirate gear just replace the slops with breeches and you can wear boots, or gaiters, but by the end of the 17th century turn into 18th century, bucket tops were pretty much reserved for the military and pretty darn heavy and stiff, just too awkward if you had to make a dash on foot if your horse took a ball. I'd opt for a more slender cuff on top of a much softer riding boot.... just a thought.... OH and a little birdie mentioned there JUST MIGHT be a proper greatcoat pattern coming out in the future sometime.... as for silk brocades, I read of a highwayman who robbed a lord of his coat. The coat was very fancy, highly decorated and later identified because the highwayman insisted on wearing it.... he was arrested. But if you do want to do such finery try googling silk brocades or embroidered silk fabric. I have only found really nice samples at the better fabric shops, not places like Joann's. As these shops are individually owned, I, unfortunately can't say "oh try such and such in your neighborhood!" Hector

Oh forgot about this one and this has the big cuffs as well. By the way split cuffs along the botton seem were common as well as closed up until the 1730-40s I believe. Hey guys how do you post pictures on this site? I'm have the darnest time of it. I could scan the 1680s coat and post it if someone would explain the posting proceedure... can't even get a picture to take for the member's personal page... I'm sure I'm missing something... DUH! Any way back to leather coats.... I can't say much about the earlier 18th century but later on in the 18th century leather coats became some what popular for hunting attire.... I honestly can't say how well a leather coat would do in sea water or sea air for that matter..... Hector

Let me rephrase that, in the past Fashion conscious folks in most cases copied the top fashions to the best of their ability. For instance legend has it that the Fontage/Commode headdress of the ladies developed when one of Louis's mistresses hair got messed when out riding... she supposedly quickly tied it back up in a certain way and the King found it charming and then supposedly other women tried to copy the style and developed the high headdress of lace and wire and other frou-frou... Who knows how many other fashion trends developed perchance because of such a silly incedent.... geeze they need spell check on this list... Any way it seems that many of the gentlemen's fashions often originated in something partical... but NOT ALL.... The full bottom wig for instance is said to have started because Charles II was rapidly turning gray or even losing his hair. So, they say that he began wearing wigs and everyone else who wanted to ape the King and had the money to do so, did.... until it was all the rage.... Wigs were quite valuable as well so much so that the English actually had, according to either Picard or Waller, slang for pinching them. Hector