greetings from blackbeards crew

[Dutchman]

hello all, allow me a quick introduction. I am Dutchman from Blackbeards Crew based out of Hampton, Va. I have been lurking for about a year on the site and due to a shift of positions amongst the crew have taken the roll of pressgang master. Part of the assignment was to get the crews name active on the boards again. I look forward to keeping you all up to date on our activities and hopefully meeting many.

-dutch

[Shipwreck John]

Welcome aboard Dutch. Most of the normal crew is off at PIP. Wish I was there with em but the trade kept me at the home port. You'll find good company here mate

[HildeKitten]

Welcome aboard.

[Rumba Rue]

Welcome to the Pub!

Keep your arms and legs about you, just hand over the booty.

[Black Anne]

Welcome!

[callenish gunner]

Ahoy Dutchman!!! Hail and well met! If ye be a lurker you know the drill ...the first round on the pub be on ye. make mine a fine black Barbados Rum.....Good to see the crew represented in these waters lad

[Kenneth]

Welcome to the Pub......

[Dutchman]

aye thankyou for the warm welcome. indeed a round is on me. While rum is the prefered choice, I must offer a bit of period ale that was brewed by one of ours at a recent event. OHHH t'was good indeed. Of course, that was a sampler and we hope it will return durring the festival.

[Jacky Tar]

As ye hav seen fit t' offer some ale, instead o' rum, I'll be acceptin' some. Welcome t' the pub, Dutch!

Tell us more 'bout yer crew, an their activities along the east coast, sir.

[TheBlackFox]

Hello m'friend,

Please update us on the Hampton Blackbeard Festival this upcoming season!

[Dutchman]

aye projects indeed. Fox, tis a pleasure to see you again sir. hope things are going well- i should have a draft ready in a couple of weeks for you. anyhow crew stuff . . . . lets see. A big project this week, but we can't tell you about it till we can, but i will when i can.

As far as the festival, Of course the battle of Ocracoke and the encampment with the fire and gathering Saturday night. We now have two boats coming that will fit above the bridge so expect some action close to shore . . .. hopefully. We have a couple of new folks helping cookie in the firepit- yummy.

Our only concern is the hotel is rumored to be coming down, again just a rumor but still enough to send up a red flag. Among our new folks (fox wait till you see em- they are all great!!!!) are some folks with ren-faire/ F&I/ Rev war background and we are adding lots to the camp itself. To really appreciate the changes, folks will just need to come to the festival. The name was changed last year (thanks to red tape) to Blackbeards pirate festival.

Outside of the festival, we are doing more local research and actually finding some stuff that is not widely known. (nothing earth shattering just local color)

fair winds-

dutch

[LadyBarbossa]

Ahoy, Dutchman... I fancy that name. Mighty intreguin'. Dare I ask how ye came to gain such a name.

Now, pray, be careful none of 'em send ye flyin'!

Any drink ye see fit fo' this Lady, mate. A pleasure t' meet thee.

Rev War folks, eh? Dear God in heaven if I may know any of 'em. :)

~Lady B

[Dutchman]

ah me dear lady B tis a pleasure indeed to share a cup with ye. The name came to be after a heavy night of drinking- imagine that!!!- and what our crew calls a rum epiphany (sp?) where someone does something stupid to the inhumane enjoyment of the rest the crew. The best way to get the rest of the story is to come to the festival and find madam grace as she named me.

Yes, we are in a great location to tap rev war folks and darned if we did not get a gaggle of them this last go around. We lay smack in the middle of historic colonial VA. All but two of the last group pressed for service have either reenactment or ren-faire backgrounds.

-dutch

[Mary Diamond]

Welcome aboard, Good Sir, and Good Evening!

I look forward to making your acquaintance at this coming Blackbeard's Festival ~

[Capt. Sterling]

Ahoy Dutchman! The Crewe of the Archangel is looking to attend the Blackbeard festival in full force... will need more than our share of land for camping... please keep us posted as to all the necessary details. And who might we be needing to contact in regards to a proper hanging?

[Dutchman]

well well well- two from the Archangel in one night, and an offer fer a proper hanging to boot. tis indeed a pleasure and I'm pleased to inform ye that the right person to contact has replied. Is this the same hanging as the lockhouse?? I have seen footage of one and we are indeed interested. We even have a pretty danglin from tree. the problem is we will need to work it into the storyline of the festival, we just can't randomly go round lettin folks swing now can we. As well, in full force is how big?? As folks who attended last year know, we moved the camp and filled the expanded site up before all arrived!!! An added fear is the one hotel close to the waterfront may be gone at some point.

Capt. Sterling, I see you are from virginia. I would be most humbled for a face to face if you are anywhere east of richmond area.

In the meantime, If'n you would be so kind as to contact me via the crew site at www.blackbeardscrew.org through the pressgang masters contact I will be more than happy to make sure we all have a grand time. Info that i'm looking for is approximate number of people coming, how many camping versus hotel, how big of a footprint you need, any special tallents.. ie the hanging, and a resume of past events including a pic or two of your general camp and crew members. Please do not think us snobs, we would just like to know whats coming and where we are going to fit them.

best regards,

-dutch

[Capt. Sterling]

Will contact you via the link as you requested... a sit down to discuss the event could be arranged some time in the future if you like....and if worse comes to worst I can always send my secretary as no one knows me or the way I think, better than she does.... as to working the hanging into the scenario, I don't see it as being difficult.

Some crewe photos so you can get the idea of what we portray....

Indentured servant Bess Haggerty

Maddogge

Sterling and one dead midshipman

Silkie and Mad Mary

from left to right, Sterling, Pete Straw, Rats and Mr. March

a hanging

Jack

Just to give you an idea... unfortunately I do not have a current group shot, but can send you more pictures of individual crew members if you require them...

[Dutchman]

OUTSTANDING!!!! . I am on the phone now with boatswain and will have him lookee see-ee. Capt. rest assured we do not steal other crew ideas so we will need to do some figuring and talking with the planning folks to see how to make it happen for you. One immediate question. We are try to keep this as family friendly as possible. How does a hanging normally go over in a P/C touchy feely world?

-dutch

[Capt. Sterling]

So far we have had tremendous success with them, the lads in our group have been doing them for over a dozen years with their Wild West events... we always take the time after a hanging to show the kids exactly how it is done. Along with the usual warning of this should not be done at home and why.... usually tis the kids themselves that start chanting "hang him" before anyone else... also the hangings do not have to end with the death of the victim.... they can easily be rescued before the bitter end.

[Rats]

Surely we have much better images depicting members of Our crew. Perhaps even a Slideshow......?

even with a bum shoulder..... Can't keep a deadman down!!!

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g215/jef...nt=b438fb21.pbr

[Dutchman]

rats, got the e-mail and slide show. I'm going to forward it to the committee members for review. tis good stuff -now if'n we can find an extra acre or two . . . . .

[Capt. Sterling]

What was the tree situation like? If we can string hammocks and tarps, we take up a whole lot less space?

Can I take a drive over to review the grounds again after the holidays?

[Dutchman]

capt, I don't remember if you were there last year. I was a bit busy and missed alot of folks!!! The camp was moved from the walkway under the bridge to the back side of mill point park. The city says it is two acres, but by the time you figure on the stage, sidewalks, green thrones, and such there is not a lot of space left for camps and the period vendors!! There are a couple of large trees and we use them for shade- possibly a hanging this year if we can convince the powers to be. There are small trees but they are decorative (myrtles and such) and would not fare well with hammocks. If you google earth or mapquest Mill Point Park in Hampton, It will provide a pretty good view of the area. If you happen to be in the area let me know and stop by otherwise save the gas and ill be more than happy to answer what i can for you.

-keep the questions coming-

-dutch

[Capt. Sterling]

Will do with the questions and unfortunately we were not there in 2007 but in 2006... I think I will make the drive over after the holidays... I need to pick up some evidence in Williamsburg any way... I will need hotel and modern camping info as well...