Whydah Galley

M ELEY · 1st December 2018, 02:40 AM

Great shipwreck stuff, BV! That must have been exciting to find!

-Jim McDougall-
"It would seem the Portuguese interest in procuring natives was in a sense to preclude their use in such sacrificial horror, though the grim travesty of slavery was in actuality far from 'humanitarian'. Whatever the case, this commerce carried on with other European participants, and the Whydah ship was actually named for the slave port of Whidah on this coast.
Blackbeard's vessel, the Queen Annes Revenge was formerly a French slave vessel as well. Another shipwreck well known was the slave vessel 'Henrietta Marie'."

Exactly, Jim! Just as I go on about in my novel series, most folks don't know that most pirate ships had crews of African slaves turned sea dog. Many of the slave ships were taken by the pirates as they made the 'pirate round'. The exported goods from Africa (gold, ivory, textiles, etc) were taken by the pirates and it was up to the scalawags to decide what to do with the "Black Ivory". Many were just sold back into slavery by the rovers, but many were offered freedom (not a complete and equal freedom, mind you, but a better life than the one they were about to receive!) if they joined the crew.

Blackbeard, Bartholomew Roberts, Laurens DeGraff and Sam Bellamy were just some of the famous thugs from history that had African crews (many of them making up 50% or more of the total crew!!). Many of these former slaves didn't get equal treatment as the white pirates did (less of a share of treasure, no decisions in their next destination or prey, etc), but some had remarkable power.

Blackbeard's head man was a mate named Black Caesar, who was given strict orders to light the powder magazine by Teach in the event of their ship ever being taken. In 1718, off the coast of Okracoke Island,NC, Blackbeard was struck dead and his ship was taken by Lt. Maynard. Caesar dutifully rushed to the magazine, but was restrained by others in finishing his mission.

Getting back to the Whydah, which was taken by Bellamy off of West Africa, the bronze 'anklets' were to be used for trade, but never made it to the 'Coite Ivor', instead lingering in the hold until a hurricane took the ship off Wellfleet. These bronze rings represent a dark tale from history, but their presence is still an important reminder to the past.

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1st December 2018, 02:40 AM	#25
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Great shipwreck stuff, BV! That must have been exciting to find! -Jim McDougall- "It would seem the Portuguese interest in procuring natives was in a sense to preclude their use in such sacrificial horror, though the grim travesty of slavery was in actuality far from 'humanitarian'. Whatever the case, this commerce carried on with other European participants, and the Whydah ship was actually named for the slave port of Whidah on this coast. Blackbeard's vessel, the Queen Annes Revenge was formerly a French slave vessel as well. Another shipwreck well known was the slave vessel 'Henrietta Marie'." Exactly, Jim! Just as I go on about in my novel series, most folks don't know that most pirate ships had crews of African slaves turned sea dog. Many of the slave ships were taken by the pirates as they made the 'pirate round'. The exported goods from Africa (gold, ivory, textiles, etc) were taken by the pirates and it was up to the scalawags to decide what to do with the "Black Ivory". Many were just sold back into slavery by the rovers, but many were offered freedom (not a complete and equal freedom, mind you, but a better life than the one they were about to receive!) if they joined the crew. Blackbeard, Bartholomew Roberts, Laurens DeGraff and Sam Bellamy were just some of the famous thugs from history that had African crews (many of them making up 50% or more of the total crew!!). Many of these former slaves didn't get equal treatment as the white pirates did (less of a share of treasure, no decisions in their next destination or prey, etc), but some had remarkable power. Blackbeard's head man was a mate named Black Caesar, who was given strict orders to light the powder magazine by Teach in the event of their ship ever being taken. In 1718, off the coast of Okracoke Island,NC, Blackbeard was struck dead and his ship was taken by Lt. Maynard. Caesar dutifully rushed to the magazine, but was restrained by others in finishing his mission. Getting back to the Whydah, which was taken by Bellamy off of West Africa, the bronze 'anklets' were to be used for trade, but never made it to the 'Coite Ivor', instead lingering in the hold until a hurricane took the ship off Wellfleet. These bronze rings represent a dark tale from history, but their presence is still an important reminder to the past.