Coins were widespread in the 17th and 18th centuries in a time when no real paper money was in use. The denominations of the coins of the time might seem unusual to us today, but decimalisation of the coinage didn’t occur in the United Kingdom and Ireland until 15th February 1971. Before that date the currency of pounds, shillings, and pence had totally different values. The British pound sterling and the Irish pound were subdivided into 20 shillings, each with a value of 12 old pence, giving a total of 240 pence in a pound. With decimalisation, the pound kept its old value and name, but the shilling was abolished and the pound was divided into 100 new pence. Between 794 and 1200, the silver penny was the only denomination of coin in Western Europe until larger coins were introduced in the mid-13th century.
Pirates Creed
Pirates Creed is a dynamic duo composed of two best friends, known as the Navigator and the Quartermaster. They’re the masterminds behind the band’s unique sound, blending “grog rock” and “Sea Grass” music with a pirate twist. These two musicians have a long history of performing together, having met while playing in another pirate band at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. They decided to join forces and create Pirates Creed.
Thomas Tew
Thomas Tew was one of the most well-known Red Sea pirates active in the 1690s. It is thought he was born in 1649, but it is unsure exactly where. Suggestions include Rhode Island in the American colonies and Northamptonshire in England, although evidence seems to be lacking for the latter. Whether from Rhode Island or not, it is believed Tew had family in Rhode island. He was thought to have been married with two daughters, one of whom was named Amity, living in Newport, Rhode Island. He is best known, along with other infamous pirates such as Henry Avery and William Kidd, for sailing the Pirate Round, a sailing route followed by certain pirates during the late 17th century leading from the western Atlantic, running parallel to the Cape Route around the southern tip of Africa until Madagascar. From there one could reach targets in the Red Sea and India.…
Pirates and privateers
The terms pirate and privateer are unclear to many people, but there was a clear distinction which was made between the two in the past, even if a shadowy grey area did exist for many people. In fact, during the Age of Sail, one man’s privateer was often another man’s pirate. First we must look at what a pirate is. The word itself is derived with the Greek peiratēs, meaning brigand, and like a brigand or bandit there were no restrictions on whom they attacked. They were outlaws plain and simple, possessing no legal commission, or one which covered the specific act of aggression they carried out. They often had their own flags, usually only flying the flag of a nation under false colours to trick their prey, although those pirates who considered themselves patriots might have flown the flag of their own nation too. They usually obtained their vessel by means of mutiny or capture.…
