A Pirate’s Life for Me Piracy in Colonial North Carolina

What is a pirate? Someone who attacks, without legal authority, both ships and maritime cities Someone who attacks, without legal authority, both ships and maritime cities Also known as “sea thieves” Also known as “sea thieves”

Famous Pirates in NC Blackbeard Blackbeard Edward Low Edward Low Calico Jack Calico Jack Stede Bonnet Stede Bonnet Captain Charles Vane Captain Charles Vane

Famous Women Pirates Mary Read Mary Read Anne Bonny Anne Bonny

Blackbeard Real name was Edward Teach Real name was Edward Teach Born in 1680 Born in 1680 Ship’s name was “Queen Anne’s Revenge” Ship’s name was “Queen Anne’s Revenge” Had a heavy, black beard Had a heavy, black beard Before battles, he would light pieces of slow-burning rope under his hat so that smoke would pour out Before battles, he would light pieces of slow-burning rope under his hat so that smoke would pour out Killed in Ocracoke in 1718 Killed in Ocracoke in 1718

Edward Low Captured many ships in NC waters Captured many ships in NC waters His ship flew a black flag with a red skeleton His ship flew a black flag with a red skeleton Terrifying because he was so mean to his captives Terrifying because he was so mean to his captives Scary looking because he had knife scars all over his face Scary looking because he had knife scars all over his face

Calico Jack Real name was Capt. John Rackham Real name was Capt. John Rackham Liked to dress in brightly colored clothes Liked to dress in brightly colored clothes Anne Bonny and Mary Read sailed with him Anne Bonny and Mary Read sailed with him Caught in Jamaica Caught in Jamaica

Stede Bonnet Didn’t become a pirate until he was middle aged Didn’t become a pirate until he was middle aged Called the “gentleman pirate” because after he captured a ship, he took its crew safely back to shore Called the “gentleman pirate” because after he captured a ship, he took its crew safely back to shore Was double-crossed by Blackbeard Was double-crossed by Blackbeard Caught near Charleston, SC in 1718 Caught near Charleston, SC in 1718

Captain Charles Vane Became famous for robbing Spanish ships Became famous for robbing Spanish ships When he refused to fight a French warship, his crew called him a coward and sent him overboard in a small boat When he refused to fight a French warship, his crew called him a coward and sent him overboard in a small boat When he got a new ship and crew, it was wrecked in a hurricane and he was the only survivor When he got a new ship and crew, it was wrecked in a hurricane and he was the only survivor A friend eventually turned him in while he was in Jamaica A friend eventually turned him in while he was in Jamaica

Mary Read Born in England Born in England Dressed as a boy Dressed as a boy Joined Capt. John Rackham’s crew Joined Capt. John Rackham’s crew Was friends with Anne Bonny Was friends with Anne Bonny Died of fever Died of fever

Anne Bonny Born in Ireland Born in Ireland Raised in Carolina Raised in Carolina She had a fiery temper She had a fiery temper Was married to James Bonny for awhile, but got tired of him Was married to James Bonny for awhile, but got tired of him Fell in love with Calico Jack and joined his crew Fell in love with Calico Jack and joined his crew Was friends with Mary Read Was friends with Mary Read

Some Pirate Lingo Booty = pirate treasure Booty = pirate treasure Double-cross = to betray, deceive, or cheat someone Double-cross = to betray, deceive, or cheat someone Hard tack = a hard, moldy biscuit Hard tack = a hard, moldy biscuit Jolly Roger = a pirate’s flag with skull and crossbones Jolly Roger = a pirate’s flag with skull and crossbones Maroon = to leave in a deserted place Maroon = to leave in a deserted place Scurvy = a disease caused by too few fresh citrus fruits Scurvy = a disease caused by too few fresh citrus fruits

Symbols Used on Pirate Flags A smiling devil’s face means torture A smiling devil’s face means torture Crossed bones means someone will die Crossed bones means someone will die A skeleton’s head means death A skeleton’s head means death A bleeding heart means you will have bad luck A bleeding heart means you will have bad luck

A Pirate’s Life Sometimes it was fun and exciting, but it was also very hard Sometimes it was fun and exciting, but it was also very hard Pirates had many jobs on the ship, including fixing/cleaning weapons, mending torn sails, mopping the deck, and pumping water from the ship’s hull Pirates had many jobs on the ship, including fixing/cleaning weapons, mending torn sails, mopping the deck, and pumping water from the ship’s hull Sometimes, an injured pirate became the cook because he couldn’t do the other jobs Sometimes, an injured pirate became the cook because he couldn’t do the other jobs

A Pirate’s Life Because there were no refrigerators, pirates either had to catch fish or they had to eat dried foods like crackers or salted/smoked meat Because there were no refrigerators, pirates either had to catch fish or they had to eat dried foods like crackers or salted/smoked meat The food was often infested with bugs and mice, and the water was stale and slimy The food was often infested with bugs and mice, and the water was stale and slimy If a pirate got scurvy, his gums became swollen and bled, his hair and teeth fell out, and he finally died If a pirate got scurvy, his gums became swollen and bled, his hair and teeth fell out, and he finally died

A Pirate’s Life Pirates also had to follow rules: Pirates also had to follow rules: –Everyone got equal amounts of treasure, except for the captain, who got more –Gambling was not allowed –Women were not allowed –If you hit a shipmate, you got whipped –If you stole from a crew member, you would be punished or left on shore

Would you have liked to be a pirate???