Pirate Myths and Reality

[Fox]

What ho Colonials,

As some of you are doubtless aware I will shortly be travelling to your shores to present to attendees at the Pirate Parley on the Pamlico (DETAILS HERE) on the subject of 'Pirate Myths and Realities'.

Naturally, I have many ideas of things I'd like to talk about. Too many, in fact, so I'd value some input from folks here on the kinds of topics you'd like to be addressed. It's not a reenactment event, so I'd like to steer clear of many of the topics common here in Twill (the debates about bucket boots or earrings for example are, ultimately, of limited specialist interest, for example).

So, any thoughts?

[Commodore Swab]

My first thought would be ship design. What ships pirates would have acquired, how they may have modified them, and how "pirate hunters" would of sought ships to combat them.

[wes1761]

The selling of cargo and the buyers that were breaking the law and almost encouraging piracy by purchasing said cargos, from lumber to fabric.....and spending of the doubloons as opposed to the great buried hoard or treasure ship.

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

If I were able to attend, it would be very interesting to know about all the different types of valueable cargoes that were taken, and not just gold and silver, kind of echoing Wes's post. If it could be tied to the shore smugglers and black-market as wes said, that would be really informative for me at least. Hope this is some help.

Bo

[MarkG]

If I were able to attend, it would be very interesting to know about all the different types of valueable cargoes that were taken, and not just gold and silver, kind of echoing Wes's post. If it could be tied to the shore smugglers and black-market as wes said, that would be really informative for me at least. Hope this is some help.

Bo

Bricks of tea and spices were very valuable. These were often worth more than their weight in gold (keeping in mind that gold is very dense so these would take up more room). Tobacco was also a valuable commodity, especially if sold in Europe instead of the Americas.

Then there were slaves. Pirates who took slave ships often sold off the slaves.

[hurricane]

removed.

Edited April 9, 2011 by hurricane

[Fox]

... what rings true with most of the audiences I speak with about the topic is the true life aboard a ship, and how it was incredibly stinky, cramped, the food was rotting, ...

I suspect that might be a bit of a myth in itself

[Jack Roberts]

Yes I would echo others interest in cargoes. I would also love to hear some things on prices of goods sold. An average "take" on a given prize.

Part of my personal research has been on prices of goods bought and sold. As I'm trying to figure out how to refit and re-vittle a ship and what the costs would have been.

[Grymm]

Sir! sir! He said tea bricks sir!

[jendobyns]

Sir! sir! He said tea bricks sir!

You caught that too, did you? Haven't we been there before?

And I just left a room full of people who could have weighed in on that topic! But today we were focused on beer, wine and cyder

[jendobyns]

... what rings true with most of the audiences I speak with about the topic is the true life aboard a ship, and how it was incredibly stinky, cramped, the food was rotting, ...

I suspect that might be a bit of a myth in itself

As one of the presenters pointed out today, myths get perpetuated all the time because they get repeated. And no matter how many times something is repeated, if it's not the truth, it's still not right.

[Fox]

Sir! sir! He said tea bricks sir!

[Arnold] Master Grymm, if you have something to add to the class please raise your hand and wait to be asked. Do not leap about in your chair like an excited baboon. Now, perhaps you'd like to explain to the rest of the boys the cause of your ejaculation. [/Arnold]

[Grymm]

=o)

[Grymm minor]

Sorry Sir. There is no evidence at all for tea bricks in Europe or The Americas in the 17th and 18thC sir.

As is/was being discussed here https://pyracy.com/in...483#entry398483 . [/Grymm minor]

Edited April 12, 2011 by Grymm

[Grymm]

Sir! sir! He said tea bricks sir!

You caught that too, did you? Haven't we been there before?

And I just left a room full of people who could have weighed in on that topic! But today we were focused on beer, wine and cyder

now Cider is a subject I'm very fond of, especially with the warm spring weather we've had here over the last week....A Chiltern pub garden, pint of cider and a goodbook, heaven

Didn't some pirates rob fishing boats in the Atlantic when things got a bit 'hot' in the West Indies?

[Fox]

Didn't some pirates rob fishing boats in the Atlantic when things got a bit 'hot' in the West Indies?

Yes indeed. Several pirates chose to hunt amongst the Newfoundland fishing fleets. Many of the vessels had been set out from Topsham and other West Country ports...

[Capt. Sterling]

damn, but you gave such a great talk about how to improve one's impression... hmmm privateers out of the question? oh bring current photos

Edited April 13, 2011 by Capt. Sterling

[Bos'n Cross]

personally....i wouldnt mind hearing mr.fox's thoughts on a better impression........

[Fox]

personally....i wouldnt mind hearing mr.fox's thoughts on a better impression........

Ah, then you'll have to get the first round in...

[Capt. Sterling]

Israel are you actually planning on making the trip down?

[Bos'n Cross]

hhhhhhhhheeeeeecckkkkk yeah!......................... i cant miss an opportunity to beat someone with questions! ..........especially if it leads to an improvement of my impression and furtherance of knowledge........just a nudge in the right direction and i read the rest on me own....

[MarkG]

=o)

[Grymm minor]

Sorry Sir. There is no evidence at all for tea bricks in Europe or The Americas in the 17th and 18thC sir.

As is/was being discussed here https://pyracy.com/in...483#entry398483 . [/Grymm minor]

The question was what sorts of cargo was valuable.

Tea was a valuable cargo.

Tea was being made into bricks at the time.

So the debate is where this particular form was used during the GAoP. I was quoting someone from a group that claims to be the most accurate pirate group anywhere. Apparently I made a mistake.

That said, I am really offended by all of the "Look what he said! Isn't he an idiot!" on what is at best an obscure subject.

My minions will be waylaying you in a dark alley. My seconds will be calling on you.

[Fox]

That said, I am really offended by all of the "Look what he said! Isn't he an idiot!" on what is at best an obscure subject.

I genuinely don't think that that was the intended message, rather I think it was addressing a valid point in a humourous banter kind of way. However, I apologise freely for any offence inadvertently caused by my response.

(And I would take with a pinch of salt anything said by anyone claiming to be 'the most accurate pirate group anywhere' - it's quite a claim to live up to!)

[Grymm]

=o)

[Grymm minor]

Sorry Sir. There is no evidence at all for tea bricks in Europe or The Americas in the 17th and 18thC sir.

As is/was being discussed here https://pyracy.com/in...483#entry398483 . [/Grymm minor]

The question was what sorts of cargo was valuable.

Tea was a valuable cargo.

Tea was being made into bricks at the time.

So the debate is where this particular form was used during the GAoP. I was quoting someone from a group that claims to be the most accurate pirate group anywhere. Apparently I made a mistake.

That said, I am really offended by all of the "Look what he said! Isn't he an idiot!" on what is at best an obscure subject.

My minions will be waylaying you in a dark alley. My seconds will be calling on you.

No offence meant, more putting myself up as a tea nerd/teachers pet, guess I've been watching too many editions of QI.

http://www.qi.com/tv/clips/series_D.php

I have been researching the tea brick thing in fact it's become somewhat of an obsession (Well one amoungst many) and best evidence for the production of teabricks is mid to late 19thC as an export from China and India to Tibet and Russia.

The smuggling of tea was as big if not bigger in Britain as it was in the Colonies, tax on tea here was 5/- a pound from 1680 making the cheapest 'legal' tea 7shillings a lb as opposed to the smuggled stuff at 2/- to 2/6 lb. Late 17th and 18thC smugglers bringing tea into Britain used 'packets' or 'dollops' oilcloth bundles bound up and weighing around 40lb a throw, size of a medium suitcase, each member of the landing team was expected to carry at least 2 sometimes up sheer cliffs before loading onto the pack horses/mules for the trip inland. They then stop at various points and divvy'd it up into smaller bags of 1 and 2lb for distrribution by local agents enroute, the bulk ending up in a big town of city. From the descriptions it's loose not bricked.

And my choice of weapons is handbags at dawn.....

[Capt. Sterling]

I was quoting someone from a group that claims to be the most accurate pirate group anywhere.

In THIS country?!?... **snort**

[MajorChaos]

personally....i wouldnt mind hearing mr.fox's thoughts on a better impression........

he might use a bigger hammer to leave a better impression

/runs away quickly before getting hit.