Plunderin with Bootstrap Ginny – Page 2

Dead Man’s Chest

Pyrates and sea chests are almost synonymous. Almost. There are some fairly well-known pyrate chests, and those are the ones I’ve been plunderin’ lately. Namely, the mysterious chest of Billy Bones of Treasure Island fame; Blackbeard’s medicine chest adventure in Charles Towne; the infamous chest of Captain William Kidd; and the chest of Captain ThomasContinue reading “Dead Man’s Chest”

No Smoking Below Decks

Yes, Bootstrap Ginny, pyrates loved to smoke. An excavation on the Caribbean Island of Barcadares revealed that “…Pipes (made) make up 36 percent of the artifacts found at the pirate site, compared with 22 percent at the Ridge Complex and 16 percent at Port St. George.” https://www.livescience.com/15866-caribbean-pirates-archaeology.html Pipes and cigars were the preferred methods ofContinue reading “No Smoking Below Decks”

X Marks the Spot

Buried pyrate treasure is, I’ve been told repeatedly, a myth. But, it’s a persistent myth, isn’t it? For me, the more that I’m told that pyrates did NOT bury treasure, the more my pyrate-sense (similar to Spidey-sense), tells me that they did. Am I just perpetuating my own pyrate-get-rich fantasy? Am I just a stubborn,Continue reading “X Marks the Spot”

Gunpowder Tattoos

Ahoy, mateys! I was out plunderin’ the other day and came across something that was unexpected: The many…more than I thought…uses of gunpowder. Get yourself some grog; here we go! You probably know that gunpowder was used to make a pyrate ship’s guns, muskets, and flintlock pistols go boom. But do you know how muchContinue reading “Gunpowder Tattoos”

Sea Dogs

My pyrate crew recently invaded…erm…took an extended visit to Mexico Beach, Florida. Great times were had (with minimal aggressive negotiations), and while there, I managed to locate and seize what is now my favorite tunic…erm…t shirt. Sidenote: I really am excited and in love with my Sea Dog t shirt, but I feel obligated toContinue reading “Sea Dogs”

The Fenwick Pyrate

Treasure! ARRR! When I began plunderin’ for the Fenwick Pyrate it was in pursuit of an alleged pyrate ghost, pyrate treasure, and a secret pyrate tunnel. Alas, the plunderin’ did not reveal any of those things. Well, there’s a tunnel and maybe a pyrate. In 1692, British privateer Robert Fenwick arrived in Charles Town onContinue reading “The Fenwick Pyrate”

The Fiery Dragon

Yer probably familiar with the ship names of some of the more (in)famous pyrates from the 17th and 18th centuries: Henry Avery’s The Fancy, Bartholomew Roberts’ Revenge, Sam Bellamy’s Whydah Galley, William Kidd’s Adventure Galley, and Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge. Intriguing names, to be sure, but when I stumbled upon a pyrate ship that hadContinue reading “The Fiery Dragon”

Redbeard, King of the Sea

Whence on the sea’s horizon comes that roar? Can it be Barbarossa now returning From Tunis or Algiers or from the Isles? Two hundred vessels ride upon the waves, Coming from lands the rising Crescent lights: O blessed ships, from what seas are ye come? (part of a poem by Turkish poet Yahya Kemal BeyathContinue reading “Redbeard, King of the Sea”

Blackbeard’s 300-Year-Old Book

I was wunderin’ the other day if pyrates kept captain’s logs? Journals? Did pyrates actually write anything about their adventures? I have heard rumours that some pyrates DID keep journals and logs, and while I was plunderin’ that subject, I stumbled across a Smithsonian Magazine article about a 300-year-old book that was found aboard Blackbeard’sContinue reading “Blackbeard’s 300-Year-Old Book”

Corsairs, Buccaneers, and Pyrates…Oh My!

Ever get a wee bit curious (or confused) with all of the different pyrate monikers? Corsair, buccaneer, kingpin, freebooter, raider, marauder…what, if any, is the difference between them? Well, I went to plunderin’ and did myself an educate on this very topic! ARRR! So, a “pyrate” seems to be a generic term for all ofContinue reading “Corsairs, Buccaneers, and Pyrates…Oh My!”