Tartan Jack

If taking other times (extra GAoP in the widest 1650-1725 dating) into this discussion too . . . I'd throw in a whole slew of generations of the MacNeil of Barra Scottish clan chiefs. They were one of the more powerful clans, yet were on the REMOTE and tiny rock of Barra- the rock in the North Atlantic that is the FURTHEST west pebble in the Western Isles. Basically, they were a powerful naval force and completely independent from the much larger MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, clan. Sometimes siding with them and sometimes against. I've argued in Scottish-history circles, that the MacNeils operated as essentially independent, Scottish pirate lords- through MOST of Scottish history. As a family of "Pirate Lords," one would HAVE to look into the MacNeil of Barra lineage.

Anyone know of the source used saying the Concorde was British built originally? As I recall, the ship is named/renamed after what English speakers call the "Edict of Nantes" (and NOT the modern plaza in Paris, built decades AFTER the ship was destroyed on that Carolina sandbar). For easy and simplicity, rather than as a great source (easy to "get the picture," rather than a real source)- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Nantes

STRONGLY agreed! My favorite is the one that blew up while everyone was drinking, at anchor in a bay, and he was lucky to survive . . . The Oxford, killing 250, while Morgan dined w/ captains of his flotilla on its aft-deck. HAHAHAHAHA

As I recall, the very term "Pirate King" derives from a play (and book?) about Avery/Every that came out not long after he vanished/slipped away. I'd say he is a primary root-source for the concept with Morgan and Jennings (with a healthy dose of Hornigold mixed in to the concept) as key secondary sources for the concept, as they were prominent leaders/heads of a large pirate base/settlement (at least in the later public mind of the idea, rather than reality). Conclusion: the very concept is a loose mix of real and fantasy. It NEVER happened in reality or anything close to it. As for Morgan actually BEING a pirate, it is all perspective. I'd doubt Morgan EVER considered himself a pirate, rather always seeing himself a an agent of the interests of England and the crown (the kingdoms weren't united yet, so the Welshman Morgan served the English king). To his victims, and the Spanish government he was certainly seen as one. As for Jennings (and Hornigold), New Providence was more of loose democratic confederation (and somewhat socialistic-capitalistic hybrid) than a monarchy or oligarchy (to use political terminology). The set up was unlike anything today, so parallels to the popular mind is hard to make). Jennings was kinda the charismatic uniter of the "Flying Gang" in Nassau, while Hornigold was a mentor to many of the better pirates there. I think the two together were key to the New Providence group, serving in separate and necessary roles to provide what unity there was in the Nassau/Flying Gang group. Neither was really a "Pirate King" or "Pirate Lord" in the common, popular sense understood today.

Thanks for posting that. Interesting.

That's only 3 hours from me. Idea for a central date-theme: - Blackbeard's blockade (summer and HOT) - The hanging of Bonnet and Worley and their crews (November). They were hung on the site now occupied by the Battery, in between the shore low-high tide area was filled in and a wall built to support a defense cannon battery. There are LOTS of cannons there from the 18th and 19th C (closed off and sealed muzzles), plus a stone engraved w/ a paragraph on the hangings. A "memorial service" loaded w/ historical content would be interesting and a GREAT PR/news event. Or: Combine the 2 ideas and have a "casual" one-day event in November that also acts as PR for a larger 2-part (one pop-pirate and the other historically-correct period) event in the summer. The November one could be done shortly w/ the other a year or 2 away.

I'll add that on a rolling ship in rolling seas . . . The angles would be less noticeable.

Missing the guns . . . Fix:

Well . . . The items were worth more than that . . . Many were STEALS! Still, that's much needed funds for the Santa Maria. (Maybe, I'm just a bit upset I had written down the wrong work schedule and missed out on making my planned bid on the sword due to suddenly realizing it and running of to work. THAT was worth much more than the $150-ish it went for. That alone should have been $250 or much more. Matt would have charged more like $400 for it direct from him.)

Very true.

HAHAHAHAHA That reminds me of our old 95 Chrysler Cirrus (another version of the "cloud car" line) . . . Hit 3 times, had a tornado form directly overhead and got pelted w/ hail, had a tree fall across it (branch pressed down on hood making a HUGE dent, compressed suspension, and tree trunk was suspended over the roof, while the only damage was minor scratched and a dented hood), went through 2 transmission computers (was on third when sold), had various really odd mechanical and electrical issues, and a leak that made a wet shot in the middle of the front floorboards (from under the center of the floormats). Despite all that, it just wouldn't die . . . I just didn't trust it making 40-60 trips (each way) to larger cities, that I commonly must make. I started calling it "Flying Ocra, by Timex." (Flying Orca being its normal name, based on a "Flying Orcas" poster and the fact the light green color and shape looks just like a piece of ocra.) We sold it to a local friend of my wife's family for half its book value, telling them all the problems. I still see it around town 3 years later. He's amazed at its tenacity too, but happy as it is just perfect for them. Oh, and its now on its 5th transmission computer and had a number of other repairs. Still, MUCH cheaper for him (got a good, cheap mechanic) than a new car . . . and reliable enough. Ocra (mentally, flip the ocra over): Cirrus cloud car (not ours, but looks just like it:

You know what I mean . . . Descendant or the like.

HAHAHAHAHA It's usually Mission or me (bringing back up an information thread when the subject comes up again). This time . . . it wasn't.

One of Foxe's posts on size: From- http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=10853&view=findpost&p=266912 Foxe "With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707

For those who don't know . . . Flags of the period were HUGE. For an ships ensign, that would actually be quite small. Most were more like 20-30 feet long. For larger ships, even bigger. In the film Master and Commmander, look at the size of the flag on the French ship. That is pretty typical of the period, not as over-sized as many think. In reality, 3x5 is tiny for a ship flag and wouldn't hardly be visible at any distance. Signal flags were about 9x9 and they were supposed to be strung up in "chains" (several at a time on one length) to convey a message. The Nationals were much, much larger. Take a look at this thread on ensign (main national flag on a ship) size: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=10853 William, It looks good! I like. How big did it end up? 2 double widths would make it about 10' at the hoist and how long?

Talk about reviving an OLD thread! This one was 30 November 2005, 4.5 YEARS ago . . . Anyways, my "real name" is the one I use on here, w/ the period-nickname given by Foxe. John "Tartan Jack" And the name that I have NO IDEA where it originally came from (seems to have been invented around 1691, probably of Scots who fled Scotland- to the Americas and England, by the occurrences around that period): Wages Used to also be spelled Wagers and Wager. In the very early 1700s, there was a Royal Navy Admiral named "Admiral Wager," who was stationed in the Caribbean. I'd like to know more about him! (I wonder if we are physically related )

I'll take a "stab" at explaining the origins of these: Cup Hilt? The handle/hilt of a rapier, which has a large rounded half-circle above the handle. It looks like a bowl or cup. So, it became known as a "cup hilt." Match lock? A matchlock is gun-lock (firing mechanism) that is designed to hold a lit piece of match cord. It was largely replaced w/ a "flintlock" that uses a piece of flint striking a bent plate that also serves as the cover for the pan. For a decent explanation (found by Google looking for the below images): http://www.silcom.com/~vikman/isles/scriptorium/firearm/match.html A matchlock: Flintlock: Dog lock? An early flintlock, wherein the safety catch mechanism (to keep the flint part pulled back when cocked) looks like a dog's head. Basically, an early flintlock. This page seems to have decent comparative pictures of different lock-types: http://pirates.missiledine.com/guns.html

Checkers is game played on a chess board, but using red and black round, short cylinders. Does checkers also mean something else to the Dutch?

Interesting . . . Looks like cards. Suites: Ruiten (diamonds, red) What does the Dutch name mean? Harten (hearts, red) Looks like same term, different languages. Klaver (clubs, black) I assume the Dutch means "clover," which is exactly what it looks like- (Why Clubs?) Schoppen (spades, black) A spade is a term for a small, hand-sized shovel. And then form high to low: Aas (Ace) Koning or Heer (King) Koningin or Dame or Vrouw (Queen) Boer (Jack) Tien = 10 Negen = 9 Acht = 8 Zeven = 7 Zes = 6 Vijf = 5 Vier = 4 Drie = 3 Twee = 2 I looks like the English and Dutch terms for those are basically the same (Koning means king, koningin means queen, and boer means farmer and Jack was often used likewise in English) Now, what English terms are you wondering about?

As of now, I am planning to use Michael Bagley's tetra-tent (tarp). I could use a "roomie" under there just fine. Let me know.

I'm wishing I was there . . .

A fathom is, basically, 2 yards (or the width of 2 outstretched arms). As such, it is a convenient "ballpark" measurement (to use a COMPLETELY un-nautical term). I have wondered of the word's original origins and etymology. Was a sea-term first, then transferred to land or a land term used by sailors (and continued in use long after the land use became "double yard" . . . ? (Yes, I HAVE heard people speak of measurements in "double yards," as in "That's a good 6 double yards" for 35-40 feet/12-ish yards. That was in the North Carolina mountains.) Edit: After looking it up in an etymology book, the term "fathom" comes from an Anglo-Saxon/Old English/Old Saxon term meaning "embrace." It was spelled: "faetm" or "fæðm" It was used for mines well into the early 20th C.

I thought the biggest one was the one in the Kremlin in Moscow. Though, it has never been fired and the balls made for it are wider than the barrel . . .

I'm pretty sure the Sparrow design is his, but not the construction.

I was wondering who else on here names their cars? I've named mine for many, many years. Previous cars: 85 Audi 5000- "Spectre" 87 VW Vanagon- "Ghost," renamed "Spectre II" 90 Miata- "Polar Bear" (when white), then repainted and renamed-> "Fenix" (Still own the Miata, which looks like a 1960s Lotus racer) For a while had a 1996 Crown Vic named "Cruiser" (was my grandfather-in-law's car, originally named "Papa's Cruiser"- after we got it we dropped "Papa's") -It died and the Scion xB replaced it (Thank YOU!) Borrowed 94 Dodge Ram- "Constipated Pig" Work box truck at time of 1996 Olympics-> "Moby Dick" (Several trucks rented and driven since have also been named Moby Dick as well) Penske trucks (rented by employers of family)- CheeseBlock, Cheddar Wife: 95 Chrysler Cirrus- "Droopy," renamed "Flying Okra" (after an inside joke developed and it was decided the car looked like an okra and a poster w/ the line "Flying Orcas" and leaping killer whales) 97 Ford Taurus- "Blue Oval" (The car was blue and it was the design where Ford when "oval-happy," also a common nickname for Ford) 06 Grand Caravan- Queen Anna's Revenge (based on Blackbeard's ship and wife's name) 2009 xB-> 2 names, in the spirit of many WW2 fighters. Besides . . . I need one for "pirating" and another, kinder and gentler one for "peaceful" activities Albatross -From several sources: - Alba- the old Gaelic name for Scotland- a subtle Scottish reference. (This is actually where I first came up w/ the name, honestly.) - Thorpe's ship in "The Sea Hawk" was the Albatross (reference, but different, to Drake's Swan and Golden Hind, formerly the Pelican) - Period appropriate and in the spirit of the age - Albatrosses have a long association w/ sailors (even if the exact nature and superstitions is debated, esp. since the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" poem) - I like birds . . . and the Albatross seems appropriate to the Scion - The Albatross matches my interest in small to mid-size cargo planes, like the C-130, C-123, C-7, C-47, and the like. The wing/body lines actually resemble the C-130 and C-123 (see film "Air America")! - Plus, Albatross was the name of the flying ship (w/ helicopter propellers) in Jules Verne's "The Clipper of the Clouds"/"Robur the Conqueror" Spectre III - Reference back to my first 2 vehicles, plus the silver "vanishes" in certain road and lighting conditions - I have a GREAT emblem for this one, but not exactly "kind and friendly" Basically, Albatross is the main name, while "Spectre" is it's "other" . . . - I'm going to make a graphic of a kilted (Wallace tartan) albatross, a bit anthropomorphic cartoon-ish. I debated literally dozens of names before I decided on these. Ex. Aluminum Falcon, Reiver, Thistle, Rover, Ronan, Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Momo-San, RatBat, Dirk, TaRDis, Jack's Rabbit, Orca (and several orca-related names inc. SeaWolf), Gray Watch, Cutlass, and many, many more.