#Pirate History

[k-wame]

I rather envy you. I remember what it was like the first time I met him…It's something quite indescribable. I imagine you're having it as we speak. ↳ BLACK SAILS | S2.E1 · IX

[usnatarchives]

Real pirate names for #TalkLikeAPirateDay! 🦜🏴‍☠️

ARRRR, the disappointment! This list of mostly non-piratical pirate names (John Desfarges, Peter Morel, Robert Johnston, Charles Dickinson, etc.) come from the case file of United States v. John Defarges, et. al. for charges of piracy, from the records of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. New Orleans. More documents from this case, including the indictment and witness affidavits are available in the online catalog.

[ltwilliammowett]

Barbecue

Many people do it in the summer, ok, the die-hards also do it in the winter, the barbecue. This word actually has a maritime background. The name is derived from the French term boucanier, which means "meat smoker", and this in turn from the Spanish barboka, "to cook over a grill".

The Buccaneer was a Picturesque Fellow: illustration of a pirate, dressed to the nines in piracy attire. By Howard Pyle, 1905

The Arawak, people of the Caribbean, used this term to describe a type of grill on which they smoked meat (preferably manatees) over a small flame with green wood. The buccaneers during the 17th century had adopted this type of grilling for the wild pigs they hunted on the coasts before moving on to bigger catches at sea.

The innocent and enjoyable pastime of barbecuing in one's own garden therefore has some roots in the bloody history of piracy in the Caribbean.

[cuddlytogas]

maybe it's just the Radical Rediker talking, but there's something pointed in the way that, say, popular pirate media like Pirates of the Caribbean dilutes the pirate's freedom to "bring me that horizon" as opposed to, say, "plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power" (Bartholomew Roberts).

broadly speaking, most pirates chose the life in order to escape and revenge the hard labour, corporal punishment, overworking, and unequal pay of merchant/navy/privateer ships; or the privations of their sudden unemployment once a war was over, ignored as soon as their ability to die for the state was unneeded. yes, many were thugs, but, consciously political or not, they were responding to a particular, material reality.

the pirate's desired freedom was from the effects of exploitative modes of statehood and capital production. but popular media usually shifts this into a general desire for freedom: freedom to roam, freedom to love (usually merely a cross-class white, heterosexual union), or freedom from the personal pressures of social norms. it's a vague, ahistorical, post-Enlightenment, libertarian ideal rather than a response to a real social and economic situation.

to be clear, this only really applies to specifically the late golden age of piracy, in the first quarter of the 18th century. earlier generations of pirates/buccaneers often displayed nationalist/religious motives, and were lauded, tolerated, or even encouraged by the French and English states for aiding their fights against the Spanish and Portuguese. only the last gasp of age of sail pirates had a truly anti-national energy, and both figured themselves, and were figured by the imperial powers, as the enemies of all nations.

but if we are to valourise the late golden age pirate, at his best, his ideals were for true democracy, and the abolition of nation, hierarchy, and labour exploitation; not "the horizon". he was striking out in response to specific political, social, and economic oppressions, rather than a general individual restlessness, and that reality - and its similarities to our own - are important.

I dunno, I just... have a lot of thoughts about the defanging of piracy in modern media. obviously there were a lot of things bad about them, too, and the level of egalitarianism varied between individual people and ships. but again, if we're going to be valourising them anyway... there were idealists. and they weren't subtle about they wanted.

"I shan't own myself guilty of any murder", said William Fly in 1726. "Our captain and his mate used us barbarously. We poor men can't have justice done us. There is nothing said to our commanders, let them never so much abuse us, and use us like dogs. But the poor sailors --"

[shipwreckedwithcaptainmarrow]

Sinking of the 1715 Treasure Fleet

On the 31st of July, 1715, the famous 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet, consisting of twelve treasure galleons, was nearly entirely destroyed by a hurricane off the coast of Spanish La Florida, around 2 a.m. near present day Vero Beach.

The vessels had been carrying over seven million pesos worth of gold and goods from Veracruz when the fleet went down, with two of the ships being lost to open ocean, while the others were crashed into the shallow shoreline up and down the Florida coastline.

(A depiction of the Urca de Lima, one of the vessels of the fleet, wrecked upon Florida shores in the series Black Sails)

The Nuestra Senora de la Carmen was laden with gold bars, doubloons, and silver. An equal amount of wealth was on board the Nuestra Senora del Rosario in 1,000 chests, and the Senora de la Concepcion (also known as Urca de Lima) carried hundreds of chests of coinage as well. The Nuestra Senora de la Regla carried 1,300 chests of nearly three million silver coins, gold coins, chests of uncut emeralds and pearls, and Chinese porcelain.

Over 1,000 sailors would perish from the hurricane, including General Don Juan Esteban de Ubilla, commander of the fleet. In total, eleven vessels went down.

About half of the fleet’s Spanish sailors would survive the incident, and would create a salvage camp upon what is now North Hutchinson Island, and began collecting what treasure they could while waiting for rescue. Aid in the form of food, clothes, and tools came from St. Augustine to the north, sending a relief expedition.

(Myself visiting the site of the 1715 Salvagers' Camp earlier this year)

However, news of what transpired spread fast, and many pirates in the Caribbean and along the American coast flocked to the site for the treasure that was ripe for the taking. First on the scene was English privateer Captain Henry Jennings, along with crewmate Charles Vane in the Bersheba, along with four other vessels.

Jennings had been granted a commission from the governor of Jamaica to “Execute all manner of acts of hostility against pyrates according to the Law of Arms” with instructions to harm no one other than pirates. However, after learning the location of the salvage camp, from a Spanish mail ship, they would ignore their commission's rules and instead lead a ground assault at the still struggling camp - the plunder of which would become Jenning’s call to piratical fame.

(Treasure from the plate fleet. These pieces in particular, amid other artifacts, were discovered by diver Christopher James. Note that while mostly what is pictured are artifacts from the 1715 fleet, the keys and padlocks are from a later date) Today, those visiting the site of the Salvagers' Camp will find the McLarty Treasure Museum, a small maritime museum dedicated to the 1715 fleet. Beyond the museum is a boardwalk through overgrown dunes and out to a lookout post overlooking the coastline with a helm, mast, and a plaque for the fleet.

(My photos of the helm and sight at the lookout station) My venture to the site earlier this year was a success, was well-received by those operating it and they may have me return at some point to do an educational program with them.

[chaospixiemagic]

Truly … I am in love with these pirates. All of them. This show is absolutely killing it and it is a MASTERCLASS in storytelling. If you haven’t started watching … fix that. Catch up. This tale is heartbreakingly beautiful 🥹

[the-golden-vanity]

My current read is Daphne Palmer Geanacopolous's The Pirate Next Door, a book about the women, families, and onshore lives of the buccaneers of the Golden Age of Piracy. The chapter on Sarah and Capt. William Kidd was later expanded into the book The Pirate's Wife, so between the book and the fact that I just bought a bottle of Thrasher's Spiced Rum (far and away my favorite spiced rum—you can taste every individual spice in it, and it tastes like Christmas), I was moved to make a glass of this: a rum punch served to Captain Kidd on the fateful day in 1688 when he received a privateering commission from the Governor of the Leeward Islands.

[hang-on-lil-tomato]

[devils-acre]

Historically accurate Armando Salazar :) with a lazy background

Research:

I keep trying to find military uniforms from the 1720s but, like I expected, no museums care about the first quarter of the 18th century so I sadly couldn’t find any references. I did however find this portrait with similar buttons to Armando’s coat:

And also used this illustration of Calico Jack from 1725 for inspiration!

I’ve never seen anyone roll up the cuffs of their coat like that, so I assume either it was the artist’s interpertation of what a pirate would do, or something like that. Either way I thought it was cool! I also gave him the shoulder gun-holster thing. On second thought I probably should have drawn him with multiple pistols, maybe?

I decided not to give Armando a wig so I could draw his beautiful hair. I can’t tell you if this is something pirate captains did or not because from what I’ve seen no one knows and I’ve seen illustrations with and without wigs.

Ok, that’s it! If I got anything wrong or you happen to know anything else about 1720-1730s fashion please tell me!

[valkyries-things]

GRACE O’MALLEY // PIRATE

“She was one of the most famous pirates of all time. From the age of 11, she forged a career in seafaring and piracy and was considered a fierce leader at sea and a shrewd politician on land. When she was young, she wanted to travel on an expedition with her father, she was told she couldn’t go as her long hair would get caught in the ship’s ropes. To embarrass her father, she cut off most of her hair which earned her the nickname “Grainne Mhaol” which means Bald Grace. To this day, she is seen as a symbol of Ireland and an inspiration for many songs, theatre productions and books.”

[theresastarmanwaitinginthesky008]

Most people know Stede and Ed are both based on real people.

Less people know that Stede Bonnet was hung to death in December 1718 and Edward Teach was killed in battle with sailors November 1718.

And S1 is set in 1717.

This worries me for s2 or future seasons.

[barbossas-wench]

Piracy and Enlightenment

There's the historical connection between enlightenment and pirates

We all know the pirates are lawbreakers but there's a connection between enlightenment and Piracy on the same time

Piracy had been a very long time to this day, especially Golden Age of Piracy dates from 1650s-1730s

Age of Enlightenment (or Age of Reason) dates from 1685-1815 was a movement with intellectual and philosophical influences and effects.

The movement's main ideas are humanity, reason, descience and liberty. The Enlightenment influence two grandest revolutions, the American revolution and French Revolution. The two revolutions influenced other countries independence in following years

Also, there are enlightened ideas of modern democracy, including vote for rights

Pirate government system is modern democracy. They have voting election to elect new captain or new second mate.

Some enlightened ideas about natural human rights (life, liberty, and property). Enlightened philosophers wanted to improve human conditions on earth than concern with skepticism

In Piracy, being aboard on pirate ships are more civilized than life on merchant ships that merchant sailors were treated poorly there. Piracy also offered to poor men who are unemployed. Pirates may be respect to each other despite their different backgrounds.

Since American Revolution influenced by enlightenment ideals, some pirates help America free from Britain

Pirate code was influenced by enlightenment as US Constitution, despite they have different similarities on their own and each other. And it has significant on process of American democracy.

So that means Pirates are enlightened rebels on the sea

[ltwilliammowett]

Why America never got the metric system

Unlike the European metric system, the Anglo-American system of measurement, also known as the imperial system, has no reference to the decimal system. The measurements are therefore not based on each other as decimals. And anyone who is not used to this system simply finds it hell.

So it is no wonder that in the 18th century, the idea of a group of French philosophers to introduce a standardised, simple and precise system of measurement fell on receptive ears. The metric system they proposed avoided the inaccuracies and problems caused by merchants buying in one unit but selling their goods in another. Scientific measurements could be made more precise and the international exchange of knowledge simplified.

But why didn't the system become established throughout the world? According to "legend", pirates or to be more accurate privateers thwarted its introduction in the United States of America.

In 1793, the scientist and aristocrat Joseph Dombey was sent from France to talk to the then US Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, on the other side of the Atlantic. In his luggage he had a rod that measured exactly one metre and a copper cylinder called grave that weighed exactly one kilogram. Jefferson had previously spent time in Europe as a diplomat and was open to the ideas of the Enlightenment and the metric system. There was therefore justified hope that he would convince Congress to adopt the new system.

However, Dombey was blown off course by a storm during his crossing. His ship was driven into the Caribbean and fell into the clutches of British privateers. They captured Dombey and destroyed his equipment or sold it. The unlucky botanist died a short time later.

The grave of 1793, an early version of the kilogram. It’s possible this object, now owned by the NIST museum, was once pirate treasure.

France sent a second envoy on his way. He reached the USA in good health. But in the meantime, Jefferson was no longer Secretary of State. The future US president had a crisis of purpose at that very time. After exhausting disputes, he had withdrawn from politics.

His successor in office, Edmund Randolph, had little interest in the idea of turning existing norms in the USA upside down. And while many countries in the rest of the world introduced the metric system, the Americans still use the confusing imperial system to this day, even though the metric system has also been accepted there.

The Metric System, by Jennifer Fandel

The Metric System: America Measures Up, by Glen Anderson, Paul Gallagher

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/09/19/pirates-yes-pirates-may-be-why-the-u-s-doesnt-use-the-metric-system/

[devious-little-milkmaiden]

Imagine if OFMD season 2 had Anne Bonny and Mary Read... and they were (as some historical evidence suggests)... lesbians

[shipwreckedwithcaptainmarrow]

On the 22nd of November, 1718, Blackbeard would be killed off the coast of 'Ocacock' Island, along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Robert Maynard and his men had arrived the evening before, the fifty-seven men hidden aboard two chartered merchant sloops, and would wait for sun up before approaching the anchored sloop, Adventure, at Springer’s Point.

Blackbeard and his men were unaware of what was coming that morning, as reports state that in the aftermath of the battle that it was obvious that they had spent the night carousing, with the shoreline littered with campfires, sailcloth tents and awnings, and remnants of their last haul (consisting mostly of sugar and cocoa). Its been estimated by some that this was a temporary stop, another night on dry land before plans of heading to St. Thomas to pick up a letter of marque, enabling Blackbeard to once again perform legal privateering in the Caribbean; but this assumption is often disputed by historians as an addendum to make the reader want to sympathize with the villain.

The Ranger and the Jane, the outfitted merchant sloops, would make a hard turn larboard and make their way to Blackbeard’s anchorage. As for Blackbeard noting it, it would still be hard to tell what the intent was as the ships approached in the early light, as the island was a common stopping point for many travelers in need of fresh water. It would become apparent though once his crew would spot the glint of muskets and cutlasses and a number of men swarming the upper decks.

The Adventure sloop had nine mounted guns, but Blackbeard’s crew of sixteen men was severely outnumbered, three to one. According to accounts, Blackbeard reportedly would call out “If you shall leave us alone, we shall not meddle with you.” to which Maynard would reply “It is you we want and we will have you dead or alive.” The approaching ships would fly the British White Naval Ensign, but its authenticity would be questionable, as in theory anyone could fly any flag they had managed to have gotten a hold of.

Blackbeard was cornered in shallow water with no wind to escape. As a result, the order was given and the Adventure let loose a broadsides of “swan shot, spick nails, and pieces of old iron,” killing 11 and wounding 9 of Maynard’s men aboard the Ranger, lowering Maynard’s forces to forty-six. The ensuing battle would take an hour, a series of sailing maneuvers and gunfire, concluded by a final six minute battle of hand to hand combat, once the crew of the Adventure approached close and boarded the Jane.

More men rushed up from below to meet the boarders, and shortly afterwards, Blackbeard and nine of his crew laid dead on the decks, while Maynard and 11 of his men would only suffer injuries. The remaining six pirates would surrender, now that Blackbeard had fallen. These crewmembers would later be taken to Hampton, Virginia, by early 1719.

The fall of Blackbeard is a tale that many historians have taken artistic liberties with, many embellishing the story of the battle with many colorful tidbits, such as Blackbeard being a savage opponent, that he had been shot multiple times and cut repeatedly before finally going down in battle. The tale of the battle could also be fabricated with other claims, stating that he was a vicious foe, making their success all that more impressive. Or, its more likely those additions to the story were added in by Charles Johnson in his General History of the Pirates in 1724 as yet another colorful addition to help it sell. A number of times, Blackbeard had been shot before falling in melee combat.

The facts are that Maynard and his men had killed Blackbeard on November 22nd, with Blackbeard outnumbered, 16 to 57, and his broadside was able to reduce their numbers by 11 before boarding, where he and 9 others went down. The amount of re-tellings of this event are staggering, all with new ideas proposed, what was going through Blackbeard’s mind, what his intentions were, and many more minute details to the battle that could be fabricated. Chances are though, that someone is right about something.

Blackbeard’s head would be severed from his body while lifeless upon the deck, and displayed on the bowsprit as a trophy for the return trip back to Hampton, Virginia. His body would be tossed overboard. Folklore would even go on to state that the pirate captain’s headless body swam around the Ranger three times in search of its head before finally sinking to the depths, and rumors would persist of Blackbeard’s skull being used as a drinking chalice later on before dissappearing into someone’s private collection.

In any case, the waters around Ocracoke became the permanent resting ground for arguably history’s most famous pirate, the waters of which are now home to a multitude of legends regarding Blackbeard’s unresting soul seeking both his lost head, and his fabled “buried treasure.” Some folklore claims that his headless body later washed ashore Ocracoke and became buried on land.

Some would state that Blackbeard’s demise on this date brought about the end of the Golden Age of Piracy, or the beginning of the end - the loss of such a character striking the morale of other pirates out to sea, knowing that they were not in fact invincible. Accounts of piracy however would carry on well into 1730, with some more famous pirates who had yet to even begin their careers.

(Pictured is Blackbeard as portrayed in Black Sails by Ray Stevenson, a depiction of his final battle [from Netflix’s The Lost Pirate Kingdom, although they have depicted Maynard’s vessel too large], and an illustration of the Jane and Ranger’s angle of approach by Kevin Duffus in his 2008 book “The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate”)