Primary Sources

[Milamber]

where can i find pirate/privateer documents, maps etc... (websites etc...)

[TalesOfTheSevenSeas]

Boy have I got a goldmine for you!!

I did a huge amount of research over the course of a year, transcribing or copying old pirate, privateer and nautical documentation to form a collection of nearly three hundred old documents. I have some absolute GEMS and I would be happy to share them.

These come from a variety of sources, all original sources are more than 70 years old, so they are public domain and OK to reproduce. They are from naval records, ship's logs, excerpts from pirate survivor's narratives, military records, prison records, newspaper articles, personal letters, eye-witness accounts at hangings, descriptions of keel hauling and much more. There is some truly amazing stuff in here.

They are all stored on Pan Historia. In order to access them you will need to register (it's free) and create a character.

http://www.panhistoria.com/addnewlogin.php

After your character is created, you can access part one of the documentation here:

http://www.panhistoria.com/Stacks/Novels/r...181&i=192&t=192

....and part two of the documentation here:

http://www.panhistoria.com/Stacks/Novels/r...181&i=932&t=932

I started compiling the 50 juciest of these into a hard-copy resource book, along with brief narrations of my own to suppliment the original documents. After you've seen some of the stuff in here, let me know if you think this book would be a worthwhile project to continue. I've been so busy I'd kinda shelved it for a while.

Here are just a few of the titles of the documents I have on file-

Statement Made on the Gallows by Pirate Charles Gibbs, April 22nd 1831

How to Manage a Fight at Sea" - 1627

Necessary Instructions for a Sea-Gunner -1691

Ransom Note of Richard Glasspoole

Humorous Note on 1800 Marriage At Sea of Man(80) to Girl (13)!

How to Make Grenadoes By Hand" -1691

Newspaper Account of the Death of Jean Lefitte -1823

Excerpt From the Log of the Schooner "Economy" Recounting a Pirate Chase - 1828

Lt. Maynard's Letter About Blackbeard's Death, Insults, Beheading ....and His Beard - Pub. 1719

Amazing Account of Accused Pirates Found Not Guilty - 1847

Account of a Mermaid Sighting by Christopher Columbus' Crewman - 1493

Court Martial At Sea of Sailors Accused of Sodomy - 1761

Excerpt From a Privateering Journal 1785 - 1782

The Articles of Agreement of the Sloop "Revenge" - 1778

Excerpt from the Narrative of Phillip Ashton - Pirate Partying - 722

Young Man on the Endeavor Crew Buys a Virgin for 3 Nails and a Knife

How to Deliver a Baby on Board - 1884

Pirate Poem from a Ship's Log

1809 Record of the Plight of Women Captives of Chinese Pirates

Royal Pirate Pardon - 1717

Humorous Statement by Pirate John Walden aka 'Miss Nanney' - 1720

Description of Incarcerated Pirates Joking About Their Own Hanging in 1722

Description of Granuaile (Grace) O'Malley When She Appeared Before the Queen At Court

Description of Keel-Hauling - 1780

[TalesOfTheSevenSeas]

Here is an on-line full text account of pirates Ward and Danseker

Ward and Danseker Account

There are other on-line journals and accounts, as well as books on sailing and rigging and a ship-board medical journal.