Lorebook for the Golden Age of Piracy

1. #1Barque

   Keys: barque, bark, Barque, Ship, Bark

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   Before the 1700's the name was applied to any small vessel. Later it applied to a small ship having three masts. The first two being square-rigged, and the third ( aft mast ) being fore-and-aft rigged. Fast ship with shallow draft. Favorite of Caribbean pirates. Crew around max. of 90.

2. #2Brig

   Keys: Brig, Ship, brig

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   A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. To improve maneuverability, the aft mast carries a small gaff rigged fore-and-aft sail. The brig actually developed as a variant of the brigantine. Brigs were fast and maneuverable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. When used as small warships, they carryed about 10 to 18 guns. Due to their speed and maneuverability they were also popular among pirates, although they were rare among American and Caribbean pirates.

3. #3Brigantine

   Keys: brigantine, Brigantine, Ship

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   The brigantine had no lateen sails but was instead square-rigged on the foremast and had a gaff-rigged mainsail with square rig above it. The main mast of a brigantine is the aft one. The brigantine was generally larger than a sloop or schooner but smaller than a brig.

4. #4Caravel

   Keys: caravel, Caravel, Ship

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   A small ship meant for trading. Originally lateen-rigged they later developed into square-masted ships and were used by the Spanish and Portuguese for exploration. Around 80 feet long.

5. #5Carrack

   Keys: carrack, Ship, Carrack

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   Before the advent of the galleon, carracks were the largest ships. They often reached 1,200 tons. They were used for trading voyages to India, China, and the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese. They were 3 masted with square sails on the fore and main masts and lateen-rigged on the mizzen. They had very high fore and aft-castles. She carried an immense amount of power and thus was able to easily fend off pirates. Only through surprise could one hope to take one of these towering giants.

6. #6Corvette

   Keys: corvette, Corvette, Ship

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   The term corvette seems to have begun with the French Navy in the 1670s, to describe a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate and larger than sloops-of-war. Most sloops and corvettes of the late 17th century were around 40 to 60 feet in length. They carried four to eight small guns on a single deck. These early corvettes grew quickly in size over the decades, and by the 1780s they reached lengths of over 100 feet.

7. #7Cutter

   Keys: Cutter, cutter, Ship

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   Cutters were widely used by several navies in the 17th and 18th centuries and were usually the smallest commissioned ships in the fleet. A cutter is a small single-masted boat, fore-and-aft rigged, with two or more headsails, usually carried on a very long bowsprit, which was sometimes as long as half the length of the boat's hull. The rig gave the cutter excellent maneuverability and they were much better at sailing to windward than a larger square rigged ship.

8. #8Dutch Flute

   Keys: Fleut, fleut, Ship, flute, Flute

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   Dutch flutes were early 17th century merchant ships, similar in design to a bark (barque). These were inexpensive to build, and could carry a large cargo.

9. #9East Indiaman

   Keys: east indiaman, East Indiaman, Ship

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   Designed out of the experiences gathered from long and arduous voyages to india. This class of ships were one of the largest merchant vessels of there era, having three masts and weighing 1100 to 1400 tons. Built from the early 1600's to the end of the 1700's, to transport goods between Asia and Europe. They were usually well armed with cannons to defend themselves.

10. #10Frigate

    Keys: Frigate, frigate, Ship

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    Frigates were a class of warship which was only second in size to the Ship-of-the-Line (Man-O-War). Frigates were three-masted with a raised forecastle and quarterdeck. They had anywhere from 24 to 38 guns, and were faster than the ship-of-the-lines. Frigates were used for escort purposes, and sometimes to hunt pirates. Only a few pirates were ever in command of a frigate as most would flee at the sight of one.

11. #11Fuste

    Keys: fusta, fuste, Fusta, Fuste, Ship

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    A favorite of Barbary Corsairs, it was a small ship with both sail and oars. It was fast, long and had a low profile.

12. #12Galleon

    Keys: Galleon, Ship, galleon

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    Galleons were large ships meant for transporting cargo. Galleons were sluggish behemoths, not able to sail into or near the wind. The Spanish treasure fleets were made of these ships. Although they were sluggish, they weren't the easy target you would expect for they could carry heavy cannon which made a direct assault upon them difficult. She had two to three decks. Most had three masts, forward masts being square-rigged, lateen-sails on the mizzenmast, and a small square sail on her high-rising bowsprit. Some galleons sported 4 masts but these were an exception to the rule.

13. #13Galley

    Keys: Galley, Ship, galley

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    They had one deck and were mainly powered by oars. They were costly to maintain and fell into disuse. However they were still being used by the Barbary corsairs in the Mediterranean. As they were meant to carry soldiers they were used in a few large-scale raids. There was a version of the galley used in the Atlantic by the English. They had a flush deck and were propelled by both oar and sail. They were rigged like frigates. Captain Kidd made his name in one of these, the "Adventure Galley".

14. #14Guineaman

    Keys: Guineaman, Ship, guineaman

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    A guineaman was a large cargo ship engaged in trade with the Guinea coast of Africa. Many were specially converted or purpose built for the transportation of slaves, especially newly purchased African slaves to the Americas. Their hulls were divided into holds with little headroom, so they could transport as many slaves as possible. Unhygienic conditions, dehydration, dysentery and scurvy led to high mortality rates on average 15% and up to a third of captives.

15. #15Junk

    Keys: junk, Ship, Junk

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    The word junk derives from the Portugues junco, which in turn came from the Javanese word djong, which means ship. The ship has a flat-bottom with no keel, flat bow, and a high stern. A junk's width is about a third of its length and she has a rudder which can be lowered or raised providing excellent steering capabilities. A junk has two or three masts with square sails, made from bamboo, rattan or grass. Contrary to belief, the junk is capable of operating in any seas as she is a very sea-worthy vessel.

16. #16Ketch

    Keys: ketch, Ketch, Ship

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    A two mast vessel with a large sail on the mainmast and a smaller mizzen. Historically the ketch was a square-rigged vessel, most commonly used as a freighter or fishing boat in northern Europe, particularly in the Baltic and North seas. During the 17th and 18th centuries, ketches were commonly used as small warships.

17. #17Pink

    Keys: Pink, pink, Ship

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    There are two classifications of Pink. The first was a small, flat-bottomed ship with a narrow stern. This ship was derived from the Italian pinco. It was used primarily in the Mediterranean as a cargo ship. In the Atlantic the word pink was used to describe any small ship with a narrow stern, having derived from the Dutch word pincke. They were generally square-rigged and used as fishing boats, merchantmen, and warships.

18. #18Pinnace

    Keys: Pinnace, pinnace, Ship

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    The Dutch built pinnaces during the early 17th century. They had a hull form resembling a small "race built" galleon, and were usually square rigged on three masts, or carried a similar rig on two masts, like the later "brig". Pinnaces were used as merchant vessels, privateers and small warships.

19. #19Schooner

    Keys: Schooner, schooner, Ship

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    The Schooner has a narrow hull, two masts and is less than 100 tons. She is generally rigged with two large sails suspended from spars reaching from the top of the mast toward the stern. Other sails sometimes were added, including a large headsail attached to the bowsprit. She had a shallow draft which allowed her to remain in shallow coves waiting for her prey. The Schooner is very fast and large enough to carry a plentiful crew. It was a favorite among both pirates and smugglers.

20. #20Ship of the Line

    Keys: Ship of the Line, man-o-war, ship of the line, Man-O-War, Ship

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    Man-O-War ships were the "heavy-guns" of the naval fleet. At first they resembled galleons in design, but carried awesome firepower with an average of 60 guns. Over the course of time, they developed into larger and heavier beasts. They were designed to be large enough for use in line of battle tactics, hence there name. In the 18th century they ranged from fourth rate ships of 50 guns, up to first rate ships of 100 guns. Most were around 1,000 tons and had 3 masts, which were square-rigged, except for a lateen sail on her aft-mast. Only the three major sea-powers of the time (Spain, England, and France) had an extensive use of these ships.

21. #21Sloop

    Keys: Sloop, Ship, sloop

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    The Sloop was fast, agile, and had a shallow draft. They usually had a speed of around 12 knots. Her size could be as large as 100 tons. She was generally rigged with a large mainsail which was attached to a spar above the mast on its foremost edge, and to a long boom below. She could sport additional sails both square and lateen-rigged. She was used mainly in the Caribbean and Atlantic. Since piracy was a significant threat in Caribbean waters, merchants sought ships that could outrun pursuers. Ironically, that same speed and maneuverability made them highly prized and even more targeted by the pirates they were designed to avoid.

22. #22Snow

    Keys: Snaw, snow, Ship, snaw, Snow

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    A snow or snaw was a type of brig often referred to as a snow-brig. It was typically a merchant vessel, but was a common form of sailing rig for small two-masted sloops. Snows carried square sails on both masts, but had a small trysail mast, sometimes called a snowmast, stepped immediately abaft the mainmast.

23. #23Xebec

    Keys: chebec, Shebec, Xebec, shebec, Ship, xebec, Chebec

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    The xebec was favoured among Barbary pirates for she was fast, stable and large. They could reach 200 tons and carried from 4 to 24 cannon. In addition she carried from 60 to 200 crewmen. The xebec had a pronounced overhanging bow and stern, and three masts which were generally lateen-rigged. In addition to sails she was rowed.

24. #24Captain

    Keys: Captain

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    Most pirate captain's were democratically elected by the ships crew and could be replaced at any time by a majority vote of the crewmen. They were expected to be bold and decisive in battle. And also have skill in navigation and seamanship. Above all they had to have the force of personality necessary to hold together such an unruly bunch of seamen.

25. #25Quartermaster

    Keys: Quartermaster

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    Most British and Anglo-American pirates delegated unusual amounts of authority to the Quartermaster. The Quartermaster was elected by the crew to represent their interests and he received an extra share of the booty when it was divided. Above all, he protected the Seaman against each other by maintaining order, settling quarrels, and distributing food and other essentials. If the pirates decide to keep a captured ship, the Quartermaster often took over as the Captain of that ship.

26. #26Sailing Master

    Keys: Navigator, Sailing Master

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    This was the officer who was in charge of navigation and the sailing of the ship. He directed the course and looked after the maps and instruments necessary for navigation. Since the charts of the era were often inaccurate or nonexistent, his job was a difficult one. It was said a good Navigator was worth his weight in gold. He was perhaps the most valued person aboard a ship other than the Captain because so much depended upon his skill. Many Sailing Masters had to be forced into pirate service.

27. #27Boatswain

    Keys: Boatswain

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    The Boatswain supervised the maintenance of the vessel and its supply stores. He was responsible for inspecting the ship and it's sails and rigging each morning, and reporting their state to the Captain. The Boatswain was also in charge of all deck activities, including weighing and dropping anchor, and the handling of the sails.

28. #28Carpenter

    Keys: Carpenter

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    The Carpenter was responsible for the maintenance and repair of the wooden hull, masts and yards. He worked under the direction of the ship's Master and Boatswain. The Carpenter checked the hull regularly, placing oakum between the seems of the planks and wooden plugs on leaks to keep the vessel tight. He was highly skilled in his work which he learned through apprenticeship. Often he would have an assistant whom he in turn trained as a Carpenter.

29. #29Master Gunner

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    The Master Gunner was responsible for the ship's guns and ammunition. This included sifting the powder to keep it dry and prevent it from separating, insuring the cannon balls were kept free of rust, and all weapons were kept in good repair. A knowledgeable Gunner was essential to the crew's safety and effective use of their weapons.

30. #30Mate

    Keys: Mate, Ship's Mate

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    On a large ship there was usually more than one Mate aboard. The Mate served as apprentice to the Ship's Master, Boatswain, Carpenter and Gunner. He took care of the fitting out of the vessel, and examined whether it was sufficiently provided with ropes, pulleys, sails, and all the other rigging that was necessary for the voyage. The Mate took care of hoisting the anchor, and during a voyage he checked the tackle once a day. If he observed anything amiss, he would report it to the ship's Master. Arriving at a port, the mate caused the cables and anchors to be repaired, and took care of the management of the sails, yards and mooring of the ship.

31. #31Sailor

    Keys: Sailor, sailor

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    The common sailor, which was the backbone of the ship, needed to know the rigging and the sails. As well as how to steer the ship and applying it to the purposes of navigation. He needed to know how to read the skies, weather, winds and most importantly the moods of his commanders. Other jobs on the ships were surgeon (for large vessels), cooks and cabin boys. There were many jobs divided up amongst the officers, sometimes one man would perform two functions. Mates who served apprenticeships were expected to fill in or take over positions when sickness or death created an opportunity.

32. #32Small sword

    Keys: Weapon, Small sword, sword

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    A traight bladed short sword was designed mainly as a thrusting weapon, and was normally used for dueling. This sword weighed about two pounds, and was thirty to forty inches long. Some skill was needed to weild this sword in anger. And it could be broken if used against a heavier blade.

33. #33Spadroon

    Keys: Weapon, spadroon, sword, Spadroon

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    A light sword with a straight blade. The style became popular among military and naval officers in the 1790s, spreading from england to europe and the united states. Hilts were often of the beaded or "five-ball" type with a stirup guard. The blade usually had a broad, central fuller and a single edge, often with a false edge near the tip. This sword was used for slashing and thrusting. Some spadroon's can also be double-edged as well.

34. #34Cutlass

    Keys: Weapon, cutlass, sword, Cutlass

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    The pirate cutlass in swashbuckling lore is perhaps one of their most popular weapons. It had a blade length of about two feet, and was straight or slightly curved with a single edge. Strong enough to hack through heavy ropes, canvas, or flesh and bone. It's short broad blade proved to be an ideal tool for hand to hand fighting in the confined area of a ship. Making this sword a favorite weapon among caribbean pirates.

35. #35Rapier

    Keys: Weapon, Rapier, sword, rapier

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    Rapiers were usually about a foot longer than the smallsword, and were used in much the same way. One of the more difficult swords to master, it's blade could also break when used against a heavier sword. Because of it's size and the space needed to properly use it, the rapier probably was not used much by pirates as a boarding weapon. But rather for it's intended purpose of dueling.

36. #36Cavalry saber

    Keys: Weapon, cavalry saber, Cavalry saber, sword

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    These swords weighed around four pounds, and were about forty inches in length. The cavalry saber had a straight or curved single edged blade that was designed mainly for slashing. There size and the confined area aboard ships made it difficult to use these large heavy swords efficiently.

37. #37Dagger

    Keys: Weapon, dagger, knife, dirk, Dagger, Dirk

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    The dagger was eccentually a small knife much the same as it is today. It was small enough to be hidden under clothing. And deadly in cramped areas where there was no space to swing a sword. Daggers weighed between one and two pounds, and were twelve to eighteen inches in length. They were carried by most sailors and pirates because of there small size and variety of uses. Such as in cutting rope, sail, and food to eat. Daggers also served as the last means of self-defence in a fight. A dirk was just a specific type of small dagger. It was designed to be used mainly as a thrown weapon.

38. #38Boarding axe

    Keys: Weapon, Boarding axe, axe, boarding axe

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    Common and popular on ships for fighting fires and boarding parties alike. It was used by pirate crews as often as the cutlass. The boarding axe helped pirates climb the high wooden sides of a large ship. It was also very useful in cutting through the rigging lines, bring down the enemy ships sails. The boarding axe weighed around four pounds, and was roughly two to three feet in length. They were a handy tool in opening closed doors and hatches while boarding. The axe was used effectively as a deadly hand to hand fighting tool as well.

39. #39Boarding pike

    Keys: Weapon, boarding pike, Boarding pike, pike

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    Pikes were basically long spears with a wooden handle and metal point. The ship board version of the pike was usually slightly shorter than it's land based counterparts. They could be thrown at a target, or used held by the sailor while fighting. The boarding pike weighed around six pounds, and was between four to six feet in length. It was a common weapon on board a ship. They were often kept in racks around the base of the ships mast. Because of there length, they would have been most effective against swords and knives in a boarding action.

40. #40Musketoon

    Keys: Weapon, musketoon, rifle, Musketoon

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    This was a shorter version of the musket type rifle. It was less accurate than it's longer brother. But because of it's short barrel, it was easier to use while fighting in the cramped conditions aboard a ship, where accuracy was not as important. It used the standard flintlock firing mechanism of the time. The musketoon weighed between ten and fifteen pounds, and was around two to three feet long. Many had a large bore diameter that would normally be loaded with multiple pistol type balls which spread as the shot traveled. The musketoons damage could be quite devastating at close range.

41. #41Blunderbuss

    Keys: Weapon, rifle, Blunderbuss, blunderbuss

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    The blunderbuss was much like the musketoon in that it was a close range weapon. Some fired a very large ball. While most were loaded with a cluster of pistol balls, nails, glass or just about anything else that was in good supply. It was very deadly with these anti-personnel loads, and could mame and kill several people with a single blast. The blunderbuss weighed between ten and sixteen pounds, and was two to three feet in length. It had a large barrel bore diameter of around two inches. The barrel was flared outward at the end like a funnel.

42. #42Musket

    Keys: Weapon, Musket, rifle, musket

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    Early muskets used the old matchlock firing mechanism. But these were replaced by the flintlock which was more reliable, especially in the wet conditions aboard ships. The flintlock musket weighed between twelve and eighteen pounds, and was about four to five feet in length. The older matchlock muskets were usually slightly longer and heavier. Although the standard muzzle loaded musket had a smooth-bore barrel, some muskets used a rifled barrel which greatly increased there accuracy at longer range.

43. #43Flintlock pistol

    Keys: Weapon, Flintlock pistol, flintlock pistol, pistol

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    A favorite weapon among pirates for it's small size and light weight. An ideal weapon for personal defence and in boarding enemy ships. The firing mechanism was exactly like the larger flintlock rifles. Most fired a single shot and were loaded through the front of the barrel. Reloading was such a lengthy process that pirates would often carry several pistols and various bladed weapons into battle.

44. #44Grenade

    Keys: Weapon, grenade, Grenade

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    An early form of hand grenade that was in common use by 1700. They were also called powder flasks. The ones used by pirates were normally small hollow ceramic balls with a fuse sticking out. These weighed about two pounds, and were roughly four inches in diameter. Grenades could also be made of iron, glass or wood. Common items like small glass bottles may have been used by some pirates to make them. Most were filled with gunpowder and small metal objects, which exploded into fragments. The explosive result could cause great bodily damage, and might totally demoralize a merchant ship crews will to fight on. Some may have been stuffed with tar and rags to creat a fire or smokescreen effect. The grenades fuse was lit just before being thrown at there intended target.

45. #45Cannon

    Keys: Weapon, Ships cannon, Ship's cannon, ship's cannon, Cannon, ships cannon, cannon

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    There were several different sizes and types of ship cannon. These guns also fired a variety of shot types. By the end of the 17th century, cast-iron had replaced bronze as the most common metal used in making cannon. This material made it much easier and less expensive to produce them in large numbers. Cannon usually required a crew of three or four men to effectively fire and reload. Taking a couple of minutes for a trained crew to repeat the firing process. It took a lot of practice and training for a gun crew to be effective. The main guns were normally placed along the sides of a ship. Battle tactics for attacking another ship were usually a broadside style attack. This required a ship to expose it's side cannons to the enemy ship, then fire all of these guns repeatedly.

    A ships cannon was referred to by the weight of the shot that it fired. The cannon itself usually weighed around two hundred times the weight of the shot it fired. Hence, an 8 pounder cannon weighed some 1600lbs, but fired a 8 pound ball. The weight of gunpowder needed was approximately half the weight of the shot fired. Ship cannon were made in various sizes from small 2 pounders, to large 24 pounder ship wreckers. Shore fortifications often boasted even heavier cannons. The big 32 pounders were commonly used for this. A typical gun size on a pirate sloop or small schooner would be 4 to 8 pounders. They could fire a cannonball over 1,000 yards. But the maximum effective range was more likely 100 to 200 yards.

46. #46Swivel cannon

    Keys: Weapon, swivel cannon, cannon, Swivel cannon

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    Swivel guns or patarero were small cannon that were mounted on swivels along the railing of a ship. They were mainly used against personnel on the deck of an enemy ship before boarding, or in a defensive role to repel boarders. The guns were generally loaded with grapeshot just before battle. Then lifted into there swivel socket mounts which were strategically located around the railing of the ship.

47. #47Belaying pin

    Keys: Weapon, club, belaying pin, Belaying pin

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    The belaying pin was designed to be used to secure the ropes of the ships rigging, and not as a weapon. It was usually made from a dense hardwood that could best weather the wet and salty elements found aboard ships. They generally weighed about four pounds, and were between one to three feet in length. These large wooden pins were located all over a ship, which made them easily accessible. They could inflict considerable bodily damage when used as a club type weapon.

48. #48Marlinespike

    Keys: Weapon, Marlinespike, pike, marlinespike

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    The marlinespike was a tool made of metal, wood, or bone. It had a round blade with a sharp point, and typically had a round handle that could be used for pounding. This spike was intended to be used to separate strands in ropes, and they were commonly used in securing rigging lines.

49. #49Port Royal

    Keys: Jamaica, Port Royal, Town, Pirate haven, Caribbean

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    Port Royal, Jamaica stood as one of the most popular ports of call for thieves, prostitutes and pirates of every stripe. The small harbor’s association with marauding began in the mid-1600s, when Jamaica’s governors offered it up as a safe haven for pirates in exchange for protection from the Spanish. Contemporary accounts describe a seamy harbor overrun with gambling, prostitution and drink, where hard-living mariners often squandered thousands of Spanish reals in a single night.

50. #50St. Mary’s Island

    Keys: Town, St. Mary’s, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Pirate haven

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    Beginning in the late 17th century, well-armed bands of freebooters used the African island of Madagascar as a base of operations for raids on European and Asian shipping, most famously St. Mary’s Island on the northeast coast. St. Mary’s boasted a population of around 1,500 and served as a vital supply base for pirates like Captain Kidd, Thomas Tew and Henry Every. As part of an underground shipping arrangement, many St. Mary’s-based buccaneers would attack ships carrying exotic goods from India, and local traders would then sell the booty to crooked merchants in cities like New York and Boston.

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