One of two flags reported to have been flown by Black Sam Bellamy, known as the Robin hood of pirates, by Thomas Blanket, one of the eight pirates on trial after the wreck of the Whydah in a storm. It was a flag that seems to have been common to members of the Flying Gang of Nassau and was possibly flown before Bellamy captured the Whydah. “They spread a large black Flag, with a death‘s Head and Bones a-cross.” The Trials of Eight Persons Indicted for Piracy, Boston 1718. According to the article The Pirate Ship Whydah: Pirate strategy on the Field Museum in Chicago’s website, this flag is also mentioned by Thomas Baker, one of Bellamy’s crew, although no sources is given: “…they spread a large black flag, with a Death’s Head and Bones across, and gave chase to Cap’t. Prince under the same colours.”
The popular images in film and literature of what pirates wore does not generally correspond to the reality of the period, and is usually based more on 19th century depictions. Howard Pyle drew many interpretations taken from a combination of contemporary South American dress and what 19th century seamen wore. Not a great deal is known about what pirates actually did wear as no pirates were directly painted by artists, but we can assume that most pirate crews were probably indistinguishable from other seamen of the time. Sailors clothes were known as slops and were cheap, baggy, and durable. Uniforms weren’t introduced until 1857. Jackets and trousers were often painted with pine tar to make them water resistant, giving sailors the name tars. Clothing was a much sought after and pirates would often steal it when a ship taken, so they usually wore the clothes of ordinary sailors supplemented by those stolen from more well-off victims, which were often auctioned off at the mast.…
