A Pirate’s Life for MeA Pirate’s Life for Me

Piracy in Colonial North Piracy in Colonial North CarolinaCarolina

What is a pirate?What is a pirate?

• Someone who attacks, without legal Someone who attacks, without legal authority, both ships and maritime authority, both ships and maritime citiescities

• Also known as “sea thieves”Also known as “sea thieves”

Famous Pirates in NCFamous Pirates in NC

• BlackbeardBlackbeard

• Edward LowEdward Low

• Calico JackCalico Jack

• Stede BonnetStede Bonnet

• Captain Charles VaneCaptain Charles Vane

Famous Women PiratesFamous Women Pirates

• Mary ReadMary Read

• Anne BonnyAnne Bonny

BlackbeardBlackbeard

• Real name was Edward TeachReal name was Edward Teach• Born in 1680Born in 1680• Ship’s name was “Queen Anne’s Ship’s name was “Queen Anne’s

Revenge”Revenge”• Had a heavy, black beardHad a heavy, black beard• Before battles, he would light pieces of Before battles, he would light pieces of

slow-burning rope under his hat so that slow-burning rope under his hat so that smoke would pour outsmoke would pour out

• Killed in Ocracoke in 1718Killed in Ocracoke in 1718

Edward LowEdward Low

• Captured many ships in NC watersCaptured many ships in NC waters

• His ship flew a black flag with a red His ship flew a black flag with a red skeletonskeleton

• Terrifying because he was so mean Terrifying because he was so mean to his captivesto his captives

• Scary looking because he had knife Scary looking because he had knife scars all over his facescars all over his face

Calico JackCalico Jack

• Real name was Capt. John RackhamReal name was Capt. John Rackham

• Liked to dress in brightly colored Liked to dress in brightly colored clothesclothes

• Anne Bonny and Mary Read sailed Anne Bonny and Mary Read sailed with himwith him

• Caught in JamaicaCaught in Jamaica

Stede BonnetStede Bonnet

• Didn’t become a pirate until he was Didn’t become a pirate until he was middle agedmiddle aged

• Called the “gentleman pirate” Called the “gentleman pirate” because after he captured a ship, he because after he captured a ship, he took its crew safely back to shoretook its crew safely back to shore

• Was double-crossed by BlackbeardWas double-crossed by Blackbeard

• Caught near Charleston, SC in 1718Caught near Charleston, SC in 1718

Captain Charles VaneCaptain Charles Vane

• Became famous for robbing Spanish shipsBecame famous for robbing Spanish ships• When he refused to fight a French warship, When he refused to fight a French warship,

his crew called him a coward and sent him his crew called him a coward and sent him overboard in a small boatoverboard in a small boat

• When he got a new ship and crew, it was When he got a new ship and crew, it was wrecked in a hurricane and he was the wrecked in a hurricane and he was the only survivoronly survivor

• A friend eventually turned him in while he A friend eventually turned him in while he was in Jamaicawas in Jamaica

Mary ReadMary Read

• Born in EnglandBorn in England

• Dressed as a boyDressed as a boy

• Joined Capt. John Rackham’s crewJoined Capt. John Rackham’s crew

• Was friends with Anne BonnyWas friends with Anne Bonny

• Died of feverDied of fever

Anne BonnyAnne Bonny

• Born in IrelandBorn in Ireland• Raised in CarolinaRaised in Carolina• She had a fiery temperShe had a fiery temper• Was married to James Bonny for Was married to James Bonny for

awhile, but got tired of himawhile, but got tired of him• Fell in love with Calico Jack and Fell in love with Calico Jack and

joined his crewjoined his crew• Was friends with Mary ReadWas friends with Mary Read

Some Pirate LingoSome Pirate Lingo

• Booty = pirate treasureBooty = pirate treasure• Double-cross = to betray, deceive, or Double-cross = to betray, deceive, or

cheat someonecheat someone• Hard tack = a hard, moldy biscuitHard tack = a hard, moldy biscuit• Jolly Roger = a pirate’s flag with skull and Jolly Roger = a pirate’s flag with skull and

crossbonescrossbones• Maroon = to leave in a deserted placeMaroon = to leave in a deserted place• Scurvy = a disease caused by too few Scurvy = a disease caused by too few

fresh citrus fruitsfresh citrus fruits

Symbols Used on Pirate Symbols Used on Pirate FlagsFlags

• A smiling devil’s face means tortureA smiling devil’s face means torture

• Crossed bones means someone will Crossed bones means someone will diedie

• A skeleton’s head means deathA skeleton’s head means death

• A bleeding heart means you will have A bleeding heart means you will have bad luckbad luck

A Pirate’s LifeA Pirate’s Life

• Sometimes it was fun and exciting, but it Sometimes it was fun and exciting, but it was also very hardwas also very hard

• Pirates had many jobs on the ship, Pirates had many jobs on the ship, including fixing/cleaning weapons, including fixing/cleaning weapons, mending torn sails, mopping the deck, and mending torn sails, mopping the deck, and pumping water from the ship’s hullpumping water from the ship’s hull

• Sometimes, an injured pirate became the Sometimes, an injured pirate became the cook because he couldn’t do the other jobscook because he couldn’t do the other jobs

A Pirate’s LifeA Pirate’s Life

• Because there were no refrigerators, Because there were no refrigerators, pirates either had to catch fish or they had pirates either had to catch fish or they had to eat dried foods like crackers or to eat dried foods like crackers or salted/smoked meatsalted/smoked meat

• The food was often infested with bugs and The food was often infested with bugs and mice, and the water was stale and slimymice, and the water was stale and slimy

• If a pirate got scurvy, his gums became If a pirate got scurvy, his gums became swollen and bled, his hair and teeth fell swollen and bled, his hair and teeth fell out, and he finally died out, and he finally died

A Pirate’s LifeA Pirate’s Life

• Pirates also had to follow rules:Pirates also had to follow rules:– Everyone got equal amounts of treasure, Everyone got equal amounts of treasure,

except for the captain, who got moreexcept for the captain, who got more– Gambling was not allowedGambling was not allowed– Women were not allowedWomen were not allowed– If you hit a shipmate, you got whippedIf you hit a shipmate, you got whipped– If you stole from a crew member, you If you stole from a crew member, you

would be punished or left on shorewould be punished or left on shore

Would you have liked to Would you have liked to be a pirate???be a pirate???