Ship's Log

What an awesome fun time was had by all. Grace, Dutch, Pern & Don Juan  joined Captain Sinbad aboard the Meka II as gunners,  Dutch had his foot sawed off and his body thrown overboard.  The crowd cheered! We had a new pan weilding wench this year! Wilhelmina (Adam) fought off Taz (Shadow Players) and Hatchetmeg captured Captain Sterling with her rake. What a victory for the militia & townspeople! The good Captain did manage to escape but was again apprehended and brought to trial. Of course he was hanged as any good pyrate would have been. Maddog demonstrated to the crowd the proper way to hang a pyrate and advised not to try this at home.  Cutter did his usual fantastic job demonstrating his surgical skills, Long Tom accompanied Cap'n Pern on stage to teach the landlubbers to talk like a pyrate, Willoughby put on a stellar performance with her wonderful shanties (accompanied by Arden,  Rusty Cutlass & Skip Henderson) and Stan sold out most of his wares. It was a grand time for all and Hatchetmeg even won the Most Buxom Wench Award!! Huzzah! Special thanks to Sondra Reed and her assistant Rachel for all the hard work they did to make this special event a success!

WOW!!! That is what is being said about this event.  On Thursaday we set up the BBC encampment and got ready for a great weekend.  Hachett Meg was in charge of the camp and she did a great job with everything.  Cutter, Snake, Cookie, Don Juan, Grace, Capn Pern, Clive,Dutch,Long Tom,Constible,Madam Christine,Willoughby,Maureen and Mingo were all in attendance. 

Friday there was school of the sailor demos, Crew of the Vigilant did cannon drills and education for all there so we could work together with each other on the cannon line....great idea.  Then came Dorian from Colonial Navy.org explaining his organization and mission.  Shanty school by Willoughby and a new shanty or two.  CJ from the Adventure came and explained the living history they do on the boat all year round in Charlestown, SC.  Cutter did his surgical medicine and some knot work by Capn Pern. 150 first graders from one of the local schools came to the museum for an all day field trip to make boats and learn about blue crabs.  They also got to go through our schallywag school and loved it.   Would like to thank Captain Sterling and his crew for the help and Also the crew of the Vigilant.

Saturday came bright and early and it started off with a bang. Blind boat races, BBC crew was Capn Pern as the blind oarsman, Grace as the Naviguesser and Clive as the human fender.  We almost won against the crew of the Arch Angel who cheated and well there was only one rule....there is no rules....So we fought like sailors till the end and lost our heat.  The races continued all morning long not sure who really won but we had a blast.  Watch Willoughby's video it is funny.  They next game was the hawser relay and that was a real challenge. 

Schallyway school three times that day and Cannon demo's rounded out the day.  We then got cleaned up and set up for the concert.  The York River Symphony was great and Mingo we thank you for all your hard work.  Cookie cooked his magic with the pig on the grate all night and had help with the pig watch from others in the camp.  The dinner was excellent and the music was wonderful and we had a great time. 

Sunday clean up and goodbyes.  Thanks to Dutch for a great event and everyone who helped to make it a success.  Hope to attend this event again next year... Maybe in May...lol

 

The dinner was held on the patio of the Museum and started at 5pm and was over at 8pm.  Grace, Black Ross and Headshot were in attendance and over 150 people were there dinning on Chicken, hotdogs, hamburgers, fruit and tater tots.  The children and parents got a taste of the living history that was going to be there in the morning in the encampment.  I played many rounds of spillikins and gave away prizes to the winners.  All seemed to have a good time and then they were shuffled off to the stage to see the group C-shells perform till it was time to go home.  Thanks to Lori and Meg for all their help with tables and canvas.

Grace

Governor Printz Park on the Delaware River was the site of Blackbeards Crew Invasion on International Talk like a Pirate Day on September 19th, 2009.    The Riverfront Ramble occurs in Brandywine Country at 5 separate locations Governor Printz Park, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Ridley Township Marina, Chester's Wharf at Rivertown, and Marcus Hook.

Blackbeard's Crew invaded Governor Printz Park for the 3rd year setting up camp along the beautiful, serene Delaware River.  Living history displays were set up for Seamanship and  Navigation played by Garrat Gibbens, Jesse the Cutter provided education on the Medical Care of Pirates, Madam Grace crafted an incredible ham chowder for 18th Century cooking, Constable Heartless demonstrated the use of pirate weapons with a very comprehensive arrangement of small arms and long guns,  Dutch and Hatchet Meg showed off the Luna Project to a very interested Audience, the crowds got lots of opportunities for photo ops with Don Juan Cortez, Jack Tarr, and Cookie incarcerating countless scallywags in the pillary or enlisting them as helmsmen on the ship's wheel, or heaving a treasure chest up with the block and tackle.

A boarding party consisting of Garrett Gibbens, Jack Tarrr, and a pressed seaman from the Vigilant Crew, Lou, raided John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.  Much to the surprise of the visitors of the park.  There were snakes and turtles (Jack Tarrr got very hungry) and Parrots were every where.  Lots of photo ops with the locals and telling stories to the kids.  We passed out treasure all around and let everyone know about the other events that were happening.

Next the crew conducted a school for Scallywags with a port and starboard watch.  We taught 24 young scallywags the ways of the pirates by teaching them to talk like a pirate (the best thing was it was on International Talk like a Pirate Day).  How to load and fire a musket and swing a cutlass, and finally how to haul on a line and sing a shanty like a true skallywag.  They all graduated with certificates!!

Finally Blackbeards Crew and The Vigilant Crew provided fireworks entertainment with cannon fire during the fireworks at Commodore Barry Park.

Well Belayed all!!!

For the second time, the Town of York was raided by Blackbeard's Crew. On Saturday May 2nd a very favorable impression was made upon all the citizens and shop owners along the Riverwalk area of Yorktown.

The "Crew" established their base camp near the Old Post Office and provided many a visiting scalawag with education on various topics including Weapons and Tactics, Apothecary, Surgery, Shanties, Navigation, Seamanship, Sewing, and for the first time Dance.

Many an image was created by visiting folk with their loved ones incarcerated in the pillory.

The ever popular Scalawag School of Aspiring Pirates ran twice and we were loaded to the gunwales with new recruits both times.

Several of the "Crew's" popular skits from the Hampton Blackbeard Festival were performed .  Israel Hands made a lasting impression of his face upon a small tree during his encounter with Barnaby Wilde. And English Sailor Jake was abused by the good decent hard working town women during the course of his recruiting efforts.

This one day event drew a large crowd to the Riverwalk area over the course of the day and the "Crew" has been invited back for another raid next year.

Not that we need an invite. Ha! Ha! HA! Hello! Pirate!!!!!

 

Back to the Days of the Privateers in Baltimore.  You couldn't ask for a better venue one block from the old Fells Point district with cobblestone streets, a view of the Baltimore Harbor, watching sugar being stowed in the hold below.  The Pride of Baltimore sailing majestically in the background.

Members of Blackbeards Crew joined forces with the Crew of the Vigilant and the Crew of the Archangel to put on a show in Baltimore.  The Bos'n and South did some presentations on Seamanship, Navigation, Ginger played Colonial Games with the visitors, and Cookie helped demonstrate food preparation, Crewman South lead the training of three groups of powder monkeys in the arts of the skallywag and issued them certificates of training.

Kittyhawk Heffwit shared some tent space with Nicodemus to show off the Colonial Seaport Foundation material and added a  new member to the CSF at the Constellation level!!!

The Bos'n, Cookie, and South joined forces with Duncan McGuyver, Captain Sterling and Crews to capture the tallship "Lioness" that was being guarded by a regiment of Lobsterbacks.  Using KittyHawk Heffwit as bait she distracted the guards while we boarded the ship.  A battle insued during which one of the Bosun's pistols misfired.  While trying to clear the weapon the other crew members escaped leaving the Bos'n to be captured.  Ash
returned to rescue the Bos'n and was also captured.  This upset the Bos'n as now crewman Ash was captured.  When the Bos'n yelled at Ash for returning, Ash explained that he was coming back to rescue him.  The Bos'n realized that Ash selflessly put himself in harms way to rescue the Bos'n which pulled on his heart strings so much that he grabbed Ash and hugged him before the Lobsterbacks were able to put shackles on them.  The Lobsterbacks were so taken aback by the scene that the Bos'n and Seaman Ash seized the opportunity to escape.

As the "Lioness" attempted to escape the Schooner "Farewell" manned by Gun Crews from Blackbeards Crew with "One Eyed Jack" and the Crew of the Vigilant with "Baby" gave chase.  The Bos'n and Cookie were on the foredeck with "One Eyed Jack" between the two of them they fired off about 20 rounds of shot at the Lioness.  The "Pride of Baltimore"  Blockaded the Harbour to prevent the Lioness from being able to escape.  After a severe pounding on the "Lioness" by the "Farewell" and the "Pride".  The crew aboard the "Farewell" was able to capture the "Lioness" and bring her back to port.

This successful battle led to the Tavern Walk through old towne Baltimore for a celebration.

Cookie did the Puddin Dance

We were a big success with the military members and their spouses as we invaded the Fort Eustis Club Saturday night.  The crew busted in on the commanding officer's speech, took him hostage (we gave him back really!), and livened up the place.  We entertained the crowd with songs and music led by Mingo, Clive, South, and Constable. Cap'n Pern's witty humor and Pete's piratical personality were enjoyed by all.  Constable escorted a few people to the brig, received a few marriage proposals, and had his beard tugged on "Is that real?" Jesse, South and Pern helped show off items for the auction.  Their "persuasive" manners helped increase the funds raised for the benefit which made our host very happy.  The pirates even managed to coercive a few buxom ladies and one gentleman to join us in a dance. Ok, don't get the wrong idea, I was the one to "coerce" the gentleman.  The dance made for some memorable moments, especially since some of our pirates had on their "sea legs" rather than their "dancing legs". 

Several people said they were looking forward to visiting us at the Blackbeard Festival and that we made their night!  It's good to be a pirate!

Ginger

On Wednesday February 25th, 2009 Blackbeards Crew invaded the Hampton Tavern known as "Marker 20"  The Crew is in need of Doubloons and supplies to make repairs to their ship the "Luna"  Currently being renovated by the Colonial Seaport Foundation.

Word got out that there would be many patrons with padded pockets interested in sharing their wealth to speed repairs to the "Luna"  So a boarding party lead by the "Bos'n"  Garrett Gibbens descended upon "Marker 20" about 1800.  What ensued over the next two hours could only be described as "Great Fun!!!"  The patrons of Marker 20 were harassed by pirates and wenches.  They gave up their doubloons, some willingly, some not.   But everyone knew it was for a good cause.  Our very own Pyrate Pete and Annie Mannel-Deux, stood guard behind the bar to serve the thirsty patrons.  While The Dread Pirate Willoughby Caught lead Shanties for everyone to join in.  Rusty O'Toole used the puppy dog eyes technique to coax the patrons out of their doubloons.  As a fundraiser Blackbreards Crew will be able to contribute $557.80 to the Colonial Seaport Foundation to help fund the "Luna" Project.  See www.colonialseaport.org.

John Glass, the founder and past Quartermaster of Blackbeards Crew was there to educate the visitors on the "Luna Project" currently underway at the Colonial Seaport Foundation.  On display were Models of Rigging as it will be on the Ship, A complete colonial Sloop model and photographs of the project as well as some living history tools that are used for presentations.

Well Belayed to Blackbeards Crew.