Breech Block from swivel gun resembling QAR example 2016

[Jim McDougall]

In 2016, from the site of Queen Annes Revenge, the pirate Blackbeards flagship, sunk near Beaufort, North Carolina in 1718, a breech block was recovered which was from deck swivel gun. Presumably this was from one of these guns colloquially known as 'murderer' and from one of very similar forms produced typically by metalworkers near ports, often producing anchors and other metalwork needed for vessels.

As the QAR actually foundered as it navigated through the narrow inlets and channels, which were ever changing in the dynamic water patterns in these areas, and subsequently sank. While generally held theories insisted that Blackbeard, who had intended to surrender to the governor, scuttled the vessel in downsizing his crew, evidence has been found suggesting this was actually an accidental shoring. Archaeologists found 'ketch anchors' set in various spots
around the site suggesting attempts were made to maneuver the vessel off the shoal.

For this reason, while the obviously heavy cannon were abandoned, the much lighter deck swivel guns were taken. The breech block found was below decks in an ordnance area, still loaded. As QAR conservators worked with this breech block for over a year, I had the pleasure of communicating with Erik Farrell who was one of them and tried to assist in identifying what type of deck gun this breech clock might have come from.

Ultimately it seems that they determined the gun was likely French, which made sense as the QAR, while built in England, was taken by the French and renamed The Concord.

However, most a most astounding thing occurred as the conservation of the block revealed, used as wadding in the chamber, were book pages!!! and still legible!! after immersion for 298 years!

Tenacious effort finally revealed the title of the book, a first edition of the 1712 voyages book by Capt. Edward Cooke, " A Voyage to the South Sea and Round the World, Perform'd in the Years 1798, 1709, 1710 and 1711".

Of the 16 small fragments still feasibly readable, 7 had legible words, with one word being 'Hilo'. While this could not have referred to the location in Hawaii as that name was not used until 1778, there was a Spanish colony in Peru named ILO. Apparently there were expeditions there in which Capt.,Woodes Rogers had led the ships 'Duke' and 'Dutchess', and Cooke had participated.

This is where it gets interesting......Woodes Rogers had been a pirate who finally seeing his future dismal in that profession, decided to change his ways, became a governor himself and actively, a 'pirate hunter'.

This did not win 'points' with his pirate colleagues, among them likely Blackbeard himself. Whether they actually met or not is unknown, but news travels in certain circles of course.

As well known, there are often spiteful perspectives in these circles of individuals in conflict.It is almost impossible to tenuously speculate the potential that Blackbeard himself might have directed or placed himself the use of specifically chosen pages reflecting Woodes Rogers as WADDING in loading this chamber! This recalls through many campaigns and conflicts gunners scribing messages, sarcasm and threats on ordnance being discharged at the enemy.
It seems unlikely that such compelling pages would randomly end up in this situation.

With my example breech block, it seems to be in accord with the type of chamber found on the QAR (except obviously the neck ) In researching these I found an incredibly similar example shown in "Scottish Weapons and Fortifications' (ed. David Caldwell, 1980) as one of these from Fife, Scotland, late 16thc), in which my example does have the same neckless opening.

I acquired mine from my late friend Fernando about 2 years ago, and if I may, as I always think of him especially on this topic, hope this missive might be regarded as a tribute to him. While we were often at odds, he always kept me on course, and I learned a great deal from him, our friendship always prevailed.

The material from the QAR project is from: "Message in a Breech Block: A Fragmentary Printed Text Recovered from Blackbeards Queen Annes Revenge"
Erik Farrell, K. Kenyon, K. Smith, S. Watkins-Keeny, R. Brown
North Carolina Historic Review 95(2) 2018, pp231-248.

[urbanspaceman]

Error, see next post.

[urbanspaceman]

Fascinating. Thanks Jim.