Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime Piracy

Cindy Vallar, Editor & Reviewer
P.O. Box 425, Keller, TX  76244-0425

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Within these pages of Pirates & Privateers, you'll find articles on all aspects of maritime piracy from ancient times to modern day. Pirate Articles is an annotated list of all the articles I've written. Pirate Links is an annotated list of the best web sites that specialize in piracy and life at sea from early days through the Age of Sail. The Book Review pages house the reviews on the latest fiction and non-fiction pirate and maritime books for children and adults. Other highlights include specialized bibliographies, piratical places to visit, pirate dates in history, piracy quotes, and information about The Rebel and the Spy, my current novel-in-progress that started me on the path of piracy.

If you'd like to be notified when I post a new article, as well as to read the latest pirate-related news that doesn't appear here, subscribe to the Pirates and Privateers Newsletter. If you'd like to read a sample of my newsletter before you subscribe, click here. Subscribers never miss out on the latest happenings at Pirates and Privateers.

As always, if you have a question about pirates, please write and ask. If you'd like me to write about a particular pirate or subject, let me know. One cautionary note to those searching for genealogical information. Historical records about pirates are rare. Much of what is known comes from government records, including court trials, and the few first-person accounts written during a particular time period. This information rarely contains details pertinent to what you need to identify and/or learn about ancestors. The simple fact is that the vast majority of pirates' names remain unknown. I cannot answer this type of question, so rather than contact me, you should check genealogical depositories and websites, as well as national archives.

A special note to teachers and students: Answering questions and locating information is something I love to do. If you need help with a project or report, please contact me. Should you use any of my articles or reviews, please let me know and remember to include the proper citation. The majority of material contained within this website is copyrighted.

   
Fair winds and following seas,

Cindy

also known as The Pirate Lady

 

Click banner to listen to my interview

 

(Site updated 19 August 2019)

September Article Pirate Ships of the West Pirates have many different weapons at their disposal, but the most important and the one that sets them apart from an ordinary highwayman is their ship. This article explores those used in the west, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries. Part one examines the three traits pirates sought in their vessels. Our study of ships continues in part two. Aside from theft, we explore other means of acquiring vessels and what types pirates preferred. Pirate Quotes of the Month Wherever we want to go, we go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and hull and a deck and sails. That's what a ship needs. But what a ship is . . . what the Black Pearl really is . . . is freedom. -- Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean It shall be deemed piracy for any ships to lay wait, or pursue, or take any of our enemies' ships or goods upon those coasts, but by commission from our high admiral, or authority from him. -- Governor Windsor's instructions from London upon arrival in Jamaica, 1662

The Bonnie Bookaneer's September Book Reviews The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake Historical Fiction, 18th century Reviewed by Irwin Bryan For God and Glory by Joel Hayward History, Biography, 18th-19th centuries The Royal Navy 1793-1800 by Mark Jessop History, 18th century The Second Gate by Brian Wyvil Time Travel, 21st & 18th centuries Fata Morgana by Thomas J. Radford Science Fiction, Future Life of a Smuggler by Helen Hollick History, 18th century The Pirate World by Angus Konstam History, 18th century Pirates and Privateers in the 18th Century by Mike Rendell History, 18th century

Upcoming Appearances

	If you would like the Pirate Lady  to speak to your group, please contact me. For information on upcoming workshops, click here.

For additional appearances, visit Thistles & Pirates.

 
 
Pirate and Maritime News

Discovering Pirates Dossiers d'Archéologie (number 394) is devoted to discovering pirates. Historians and archaeologists explore what we now know about pirates. The articles, in French, cover a wide range of topics. To view the table of contents or to purchase click on the link above. Available in either print or digital formats. Where the Pirates Sailed Kristopher, a young man with an interest in pirates, discovered some treasure while hunting for information on the Internet. He thought readers and visitors to Pirates and Privateers would enjoy visiting to see what he found. Not only does it discuss the many places in the West Indies where pirates could be found, but it also recommends some articles about the pirates themselves. We hope you enjoy! And thank you, Kristopher and Ricky, for alerting us to this web page. During his 200th episode, host Phil Johnson shared that he is turning his popular pirate podcast over to Nick Hoffman. Nick, who is a pirate curator and comedian, will begin broadcasting with the 205th episode. Phil has done a remarkable job introducing pirate fans to guests who share their interest in and knowledge of buccaneers with others. I had the pleasure of being one of his first guests. Recent podcasts have spotlighted authors Guy Chet, Mike Hawthorne, and Stephan Talty, as well as Dan Blevins Catalano of The Devil's Gauntlet, a pirate ship that he plans to use to assist military veterans in overcoming PTSD and addiction. The episode guide contains links to all present and past episodes of Under the Crossbones. You will be missed, Phil, but we wish you fair winds and following seas, in all your future endeavors.

Pirate & Maritime Events, Exhibits, & Courses

Events Tall Ships 22-25 August 2019 Erie, Pennsylvania Pirate Day 24 August 2019 Museum of the Waxhaws Waxhaw, North Carolina Midwest Pirate Fest 24-25 August 2019 Papillion, Nebraska Tall Ships Challenge 30 August - 1 September 2019 Brockville, Ontario, Canada Brotherhood of the Black Pirate Festival 31 August  - 1 September 2019 Llancaiach Fawr South Wales, United Kingdom Eastport Pirate Festival 6-8 September 2019 Eastport, Maine Tall Ships & Ocean Festival 6-8 September 2019 Ocean Institute Dana Point, California City of Oaks Pirate Fest 14 September 2019 Dorothea Dix Park Raleigh, North Carolina Pirate Fest 20-21 September 2019 Northglenn, Colorado Pirate Sail 21 September 2019 Hudson River New York City, New York Pirate Festival 21 September 2019 Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania Tybee Island Pirate Fest 10-13 October 2019 Tybee Island, Georgia

Exhibits, Courses, & Performances J. M. W. Turner Watercolors 5 October 2019 - 23 February 2020 Mystic Seaport Museum Mystic, Connecticut Discover the Vikings 29 June - 29 September 2019 The Beacon Museum Whitehaven, UK The Vikings in Northumbria 11 June - 28 September 2019 Open Treasure Durham Cathedral Durham, UK Vikings: Beyond the Legend 18 April - 20 October 2019 Royal Alberta Museum Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Pirates, Privateers and Buccaneers 20 March - 28 September 2019 North Myrtle Beach Historical Museum North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Visitors' Reviews Your resource links are impressive. I look forward to learning more on your site. Thanks! -- Bad Hombre

The Articles

Being a Pirate (or How to be one)
History of Piracy
Modern Piracy
Notorious Pirates (or Who was who)
Piracy Around the World
Pirates and Literature
Privateers
Wooden Sailing Ships

The Links

Activities for Young Pirates
Archaeology
Education
Exotic Ports of Call
History
Modern-day Piracy
Notorious Pirates
Pirate Literature
Piratical Books Online
Ships and Sailing
Treasure Troves
 

The Bookaneer

Latest Reviews
Five-Star Reviews
Books for Young Pirates
Books for Apprenticed Pirates and Young Adults
Fiction Books for Adults
Nonfiction Books for Adults
 

Special Resources

Pirate Adventures  and Pirates Adventures 2010 and Pirates Adventures 2017
Fun places for pirates in need of rest & relaxation
(Updated April 2017)

The Age of Sail
Examines merchant ships, maritime commerce, and seaports

Before the Age of Sail
Examines ships prior to the seventeenth century

Barbary Corsairs Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on the Barbary Corsairs

Canadian Piracy Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on piracy and privateering in Canada

Modern Piracy Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on piracy today
(Updated August 2019)

Pirates and Death
(PDF chart listing pirates and how they died)
(Updated April 2018)
 
Piratical Dates
Events in history related to pirates and the world in general
(Updated August 2019)

Pyrate Surgeons Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on pyrate surgeons and medicine at sea in the Age of Sail

Wooden Sailing Ships
Inside look at a wooden ship

Pirates and Privateers Site Map
 

The majority of the artwork on these pages is copyrighted by the artists.
To obtain permission for their use please go to ClipArt.com.

The backgrounds used on Pirates and Privateers are from WebGround.
 
 

The Rebel and the Spy

The Rebel and the Spy, my current Novel-in-Progress, centers around Jean Laffite and the Battle of New Orleans.  Below are links to places depicted in the novel and a resource list for those seeking information on Jean Laffite, Pirates, Ships in the Age of Sail, the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson, and many other subjects.

Jean Laffite's Haunts

New Orleans and Piracy Resource List
(Updated December 2018)
 

Each month I alert readers to the posting of my latest piracy article and book reviews, new additions made to the site, and interesting tidbits about piracy. If you'd like to receive the Pirates and Privateers monthly newsletter, just complete the form below.

Note to subscribers: If you fail to receive your newsletter, it's possible that your e-mail provider returned it to me for one of several reasons: they deem it to be junk mail; your mailbox is over quota; access to your account is denied; or you changed e-mail addresses and forgot to notify me of the change.  Contact me and we'll try to solve the problem.  If your newsletter bounces two months in a row and you don't contact me, I just delete you from the subscriber list.

Copyright © 2000-2018 Cindy Vallar

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