BILLY BONES

I'm selling two sea service pistols, 1 short model, and one long one w/belt hook. These have only been fired probably ten times in a movie, and only blank loads. I'm looking for 150.00 for the short one, and 175.00 for the one with the belthook. They have been slightly aged. If interested, contact me.PISTOLS FOR SALE! I'll send you pics. Thanks! BB

Blackbead, NICE! I do appreciate the opportunity, but as you said, it's not quite what I'm looking for. Thanks again, BB

I'm not sure this is in the correct heading. I'm looking to change careers a little bit, and am hoping one of you on the account, may be writing a book that requires illustrations having to do with the history of piracy. I tend to illustrate in an authentic manner, am currently painting for a pirate and seafarer's library --- Any literary types need pictures? Let me know. BB

Voyer's site should be revamped in a year or less. It's no longer owned by Voyer, but will have expanded info and more pics.

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite ladies in the pub, and the first I ever actually wrote to (You were my first--sigh). Not a source of pride for you perhaps, but I meant well. I still have a sort of geriatric crush on you (me--not you). XOXO BB

Thanks!

I sent Black Mab a belated Secret Santa gift about 2 months ago, and haven't heard if she received it. I've sent her PMs etc. She hasn't posted since Jan. 4th. The gift was rather large, and she had stated once that she didn't always get her packages. Curious. Now I'm a little worried about her.

Well,well,well! Birthday wishes from all of my favorite pyratical ladies!!! What sea rover could ask for more? I thank all of you, my dears.

Should ya sell the place, where are you moving to? Where would you like to move? What's the capitol of New Hampshire?

Are you sure you want 182? There's a photo of an indenture dated 1712 listing naval ordnance issued to the Royal Navy. No dimensions or anything about a particular musket.

I have it, but I'm totally inept at sending pics. Let me see what I can tell you.

Maybe I've missed something. I do know I can't get John's pics, but I wouldn't get a leather cap out of Foxe's example. It appears to be a red cloth cap with the bottom folded up to expose the tan lining. Someone mentioned the workmen's cap, and I think it's a variation of that. Hard leather caps certainly existed in the military in this period, but I can't see a sailor wearing one. I've been wrong before.

Foxe, Maybe I spoke out of turn. I believe I was referencing the often quoted and mutinous Gearge Wood, who in 1769, described walking the plank in his confessions to a priest in Newgate. I don't have the Newgate chronicles at hand, to check on this, and it probably doesn't matter. His supposed description in itself, would indicate that the practice was something out of the ordinary. Of course, any early evidence that this ocurred would be by word of mouth, but why, if the confession happened, would Wood fabricate such an ocurrence, and make the description of the act so detailed? He said this, reportedly, on the way to the gallows. There again, why would a priest fabricate such a confession? By the way, I finally looked up your website on the subject, and see that you've used the very illustration I talked about above. As stated before, the illustration was not used in the first edition (1837) of "The Pirates Own Book". It was certainly drawn in that period, and the clothing would indicate the 1820s-30s. BB

My Gosse comment was rather tongue-in-cheek. Let me get back to you on the other. Pretty hectic around here for a Sunday morning.

The last entry, I swear !!! I have found references to walking the plank, but all of them occur in the late 18th and early to mid 19th centuries, well out of the "Golden Age", and nowhere near Captain Bonnet's period.

Interestingly, or at least to me (and probably Foxe), the first known illustration of "walking the plank" is present in the 1924 reprint of "The Pirate's Own Book", in fact, it's the first illustration in the book. I then referred to my 1837 copy, and the illustration isn't there. If you read the preface added to the 1924 reprint (Maritime Museum), it states that they added illustrations to the original from early 19th century sources. It seems odd to me that you would cave and add an engraving of what was even controversial in 1924, being "walking the death plank", to a classic 1837 pirate history. It doesn't give the original source of this illustration, but I've seen it used in several books published since 1924. I'm checking some of my early "Capt. Johnsons" now to find the original source of this illustration, which may actually have started the "walking the plank" enigma. Foxe? Any thoughts? Who cares?

Stede Bonnet and walking the plank are also briefly mentioned by Phillip Gosse, in "The Pirate's Who's Who", but he sites no documentation---but hey, it's Gosse!

Just then, Billy wobbles in, sees Merry dancin' with Richards, and feels a pang 'o jealosy, although Merry doesn't seem to know Billy exists. If Bill would only stop drinking long enough to propose a consort. Sigh

Not to be nit-picky (why am I saying that, when, of course, I'm going to be nit-picky?)but a sword has a scabbard, a knife a sheathe. I really just wrote this so I could get to the next level in the Pub.

Thanks! This helped me solve a problem I had with my decorations. BB

Silent, I'm down near Portland. I'm sure we'll run across each other at some point.

1953 for me. My time's coming.

I shall participate again this year. Count me in.

Now, as far as the sandal question, I was wearing the same rope sandals as armorer on the Flying Dutchman. After they broke in a bit, it seemed they didn't slip at all. Then one night as we wrapped, I was going down a long ramp with my arms full of weaponry. That was it mate. My foot slipped like I was on ice, my knee crumpled, and I slid down 30 feet of ramp that had anti-slip deck tape all over it. I still have trouble walking sometimes, but I didn't drop a gun. The sandals were wet, and stayed wet for quite a while. I sure wouldn't wear them shipboard again.

This is a rather unusual topic for me, but if you like the game Metroid, the new one for the Wii has some pretty cool pirate ship boardings. I don't play, but my son does, and I'm a kibitzer (I like to watch). Anyway, last night I dreamt of Metroid, but the pirates were of our ilk. No space aliens, just Blackbeard. Was this worthy of a topic? It is plunder, I suppose, since someone might actually want the game now.