Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime Piracy

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

---

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 24 October 2019)

November 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 concludes in part four, which discusses how pirates armed their vessels and what artifacts have been unearthed that show us what life may have been like aboard a pirate ship. Please note: There will be a delay in the publication of the December article. Look for Guest Columnist Tanner Price's offering on Zheng Yi Sao around 1 December. Pirate Quotes of the Month Considering the boldness of this fellow, who last year with no more than a sloop of 10 guns and 60 men, ventured into Trepassey in Newfoundland where there were a great number of merchant ships, upwards of 1,200 men and 40 pcs. of cannon, and yet for want of courage in this headless multitude, plundered and burnt divers ships there, and make such as he pleased prisoners. -- Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia on Bartholomew Roberts' attack in June 1720 On board the Pirate Sloop is Major Bennet, but has no Comman[d], he walks about in his Morning Gown, and then to his Books, of which he has a good Library on Board, he was not well of his wounds that he received by attacking a Spanish Man of War, which kill'd and wounded thirty to forty men. After which putting into Providence, the place of Rendevouze for the Pirates, they put the afore said Capt. Teach on board for this Cruise. -- from an account of Blackbeard's seizure of a ship in the Delaware Bay from Boston News Letter November 1718, with information on Stede Bonnet

The Bonnie Bookaneer's November Book Reviews The Barbary Pirates by Angus Konstam History, 15th-17th centuries The Cutty Sark Pocket Manuel by Arron Hewett and Louise Macfarlane History, 19th century Pirates by Peter Lehr History, 8th-21st centuries True Colors by Ozgur O. Sahin Historical Fiction, 17th 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

New Recommended Pirate Link At The Pirate Glossary, Careena the Sea Wench presents an overflowing treasure chest filled with words to round out a pirate's vocabulary. Within the pages of this website you'll learn about famous pirates, in addition to lexicons dealing with phrases, ships & ship anatomy, finances, flags, merriment & misery, name-calling, places, weaponry, and measurements. She also includes artwork and diagrams to illustrate some of the words. Category: Treasure Troves Rating:

Pirate & Maritime Events, Exhibits, & Courses

Events Pirates of Emerson Haunted Theme Park 4 October - 2 November 2019 Pleasanton, California Nautical Nightmares 25-27 October 2019 Mystic Seaport Mystic, Connecticut Pirate Invasion 25-27 October 2019 Flagler Beach, Florida Haunted Pirate Fest & Mermaid Splash 26-27 October 2019 Boynton Beach, Florida Pirates Week 1-3 November 2019 Cayman Brac 7-11 November 2019 Grand Cayman 15-17 November 2019 Little Cayman Cayman Islands Blackbeard's Ball 3 November 2019 St. Augustine, Florida Lantern Light Tours 23 November - 22 December 2019 Mystic Seaport Mystic, Connecticut Boarded 30 November - 28 December 2019 San Diego Maritime Museum San Diego, California

Exhibits, Courses, & Performances Pirates of Emerson Haunted Themed Park 4 October - 2 November 2019 Pleasanton, California J. M. W. Turner Watercolors 5 October 2019 - 23 February 2020 Mystic Seaport Museum Mystic, Connecticut Christmas at Pirates Voyage 1 November 2019 - 4 January 2020 Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show Pigeon Forge, Tennessee De Wind Is Op! Now through 15 May 2020 New Bedford Whaling Museum New Bedford, Massachusetts

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 October 2019)

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

This RingSurf Pirate Ring Net Ring owned by  Thistles & Pirates.  Previous 5 Sites     Skip Previous     Previous     Next  Skip Next     Next 5 Sites     Random Site     List Sites