Ships Log: John Levique Pirate Days, 4-14-09

On the road,

A much as I love havin' a permanent store, I do sometimes love traveling ta new events n' seeing old friends. Well I got away on sunday to set up a small table of me Molly Roger wenchware at the 8th Annual John Levique Pirate Days at Johns Pass. I hear saturday be mighty busy, but sunday turned out ta be very slow. Here be some wenches engaged in a cat fight n' the West Coast Mutineers with Ms Florida. Damn me eyes, but after a hot n' humid day of vending, I be ready fer my air conditioned shop back in St Augustine.

Ships Log: 4th In Garb Pub Crawl, 6-12-09

Curse ye n' the ship ye came in on,

The fourth In Garb Pub Crawl be a grand success, we even had some lubber who came not in garb to have a fun time. We made a detour ta the Cast N Anchored this time to harass innocent lubber walking down Cuna Street.This month we taught how to curse like a pirate in addition to singing drinking songs and period games. Join us if ye be in St Augustine on the second friday of the month. This month's featured cause be the Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Ships Log: Drake's Raid of St Augustine , 6-7-09

Burn the town,

In 1586, England and Spain were at war n' Sir Francis Drake fired upon St Augustine, forcing Governor Marquez n' his people to flee. Immediately, Indians looted the town. When the English arrived, they took what the Indians left behind, and it is said the killing of an English soldier by the Spanish rearguard prompted Drake to issue his dreadful orders- "burn the town!"

I love re-enactments. We all get to get in garb, fire some black powered, sword fight n' have some fun. But the Devil be angered by some event that I must voice out. Two little boys get dressed up as pirates and visit the Drake's raid encampment. They are unfriendly told to leave the area immediately. The boys n' their mother show up in my shop, purchase a few items to become more authentic but not enough to gain access. Is this the best policy to encourage youngsters to delve into history. I firmly believe in being inclusive vs exclusive. Let people come with what they have, educate them, and slowly over time they will upgrade n' become more authentic. A change in attitude will help greatly in our towns coffer as well as its merchants.


If historical correctness is so important, then the great re-entactment of the brave Spanish defense of the city gates and reguard action throughout the city and its last stand in front of the Government House is a total fabrication. Most of the city ran into the wood before the English arrive, a few sniper were left to slow the English. Why be costume Nazi, what does it buy us? In a time of a depressed economy for St Augustine as well as the entire US, we need to become more attractive to get at the few traveler about.

Ships Log: Sail Jacksonville , 5-29-09

Sail on dar larboard bow,

I took a half day ta attend Sail Jacksonville fer me love of real tallships. Here be two of my favorites, the frigate HMS Bounty n the privateer topsail schooner The Pride of Baltimore II.

Where dar be tall ship, dar be buccaneers, rouges n scalawags causing trouble. I meet many an old maties n' end up drive up saturday night to party with them. Wenching, Fighting N Drinking, a Pyrates Work be never done. Arrrrgh! me thinks I have another shirt ta design.

Ships Log: Folio Weekly Pirate Article , 6-2-09

The blood rags,

That would be my artwork on the cover maties. They got more right than wrong about me. They did get my name, address, calendar, pub crawl, Molly Roger n' writing fer Pirate Magazine right. But I don't have a Fu Manchu mustache o' blouse that sell for $100. I do have blouses that sell for $39 and bodices from run from $30 to $139. Even bad press can be good if it get people to come in to Pirate Portraits N Treasures, arrrrgh!

Overall they wrote an article to stir up controversy between who the City of St Augustine is at odd with Pirates. The city claims there have never been any pirates in the oldest city in the new world. Plus they only tell of how the evil English privateers attacked the city many times, but say nothing of Spanish privateers taking English prizes. Initially the Spanish crown did not recognize privateer's letter of mark and hung them just like any other pirate. One countries privateer is another counties pirate, for the results are them taking of merchant ships and sacking of coastal cities. When Spanish n' England were at war, the city of St Augustine almost starved if it were not for Spanish privateers who took English merchantmen filled with supplies. They should be celebrated like Robin Hood.

I agree with the Destination Master Plan report which states focusing all arrr tourism around the Spanish Colonial history alone is like forcing feeding yar kid's veggies. I would rather have the City of St Augustine embrace a wider range of historical endeavors rather than build a plastic water park. People come here for history, let give it to them in buckle loads instead of a very narrow city approved one. If the City is starving for income, it will have to attract more tourist. If the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie is film here, we should board the treasure galleon n' claim arrr share of the gold, instead of focusing on how is not historically correct. Alternative history can be as powerful as real history, since history is always told by the winner. Most of arrr pirate history come from the English, it might look different from the Spanish, French or Dutch perspective. St Augustine was only second to Havana as a Spanish privateer port, who also supplied many French privateers who were at war with England.

Ships Log: Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festive , 5-2-09

Love me innards,

It be grand ta finally get a day away from me shop ta venture out and visit dar Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, which feature the Fernindino Pirates.

Amelia Island is the only U.S. location to have been under eight different flags.
French 1562-1565 : The Island's first recorded European visitor was the French Jean Ribault on May 3, 1562. He named the island "Isle De Mai." Two years later, Rene de Laudonniere founded Fort Caroline nearby.

Spanish 1565-1763
The Spanish under Pedro Menendez defeated the French and founded St. Augustine in 1565. During their long dominion, the Spanish concentrated on educating and converting the Indians, and the Island name of "Santa Maria" was derived from a mission here. The mission and settlement were destroyed in 1702 by the English. Oglethorpe renamed the island "Amelia" after the daughter of George II.

English 1763-1783 :The Island became known as "Egmont" from Earl of Egmont's large indigo plantation. Revolutionary forces invaded in 1777 and 1778.

Spanish 1783-1821 (with 3 interruptions) After the Revolution, Britain ceded Florida back to Spain. Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807, which closed U.S. ports to foreign shipping, made the border town of Fernandina a center of smuggling and piracy.

Patriots 1812
With secret U.S. blessings, the so-called "Patriots of Amelia Island" overthrew the Spanish and hoisted their own flag on March 17, 1812. They replaced it with the U.S. flag the next day, but Spain demanded return of the island. The Spanish completed Fort San Carlos in 1816.

Green Cross of Florida 1817
To liberate Florida from Spanish control, Sir Gregor MacGregor seized Fort San Carlos in June, 1817, and hoisted his Green Cross standard. After his withdrawal, the Spanish attempted to regain control but were repelled by forces led by Jared Irwin and Ruggies Hubbard.

Mexican Revolutionary Flag 1817 :Irwin and Hubbard were joined by the pirate Luis Aury, who gained control and raised the Mexican rebel flag. U.S. troops occupied the island in December, 1817, and held it "in trust for Spain."

National Flag of the Confederacy 1861-1862 :Confederates took over Fort Clinch in April, 1861, but federal troops regained it in March 3, 1862, and occupied Fernandina for the duration of the War.

United States 1821-Present :Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821. Work began on Fort Clinch in 1847. In the 1850s, Fernandina moved from Old Town to become the terminus for Florida's first cross-state railroad. Organized by Senator David Yulee, the railroad ran from Fernandina to Cedar Key.


Lot of people attend this very well run event. The shrimp be good n' I found another olde treasure chest fer me store, yarrr!

Ships Log: Nina & Pinta visit St Augustine , 5-9-09

Columbus sailed the ocean blue,

The Nina and Pinta (really the Santa Clara) are historical reproductions of 2 of the original ships that Columbus sailed to the New World. They are visiting in St Augustine from May 8 to 19 for lubbers to visit, $6 admission fee.

Dar Ancient City Privateer boarded the two tallship in mass, as that's what pyrates do, arrrrgh!

Ships Log: Black Raven Maiden Cruise, 5-9-09

Ta be at sea!

It grand ta have the wind ta yar back, sea spray in yar face n' salt air in yar lungs. I took the 6:15 sunset cruise on the first day of crusing, so technically it was the 3rd cruise n' not the maiden voyage. While not a reproduction tall wood ship, the Black Ravenis best steel tourist pirate ship on ocean. Unfortunately tall ships can't break even in the tourist business as they require more crew member, more up keep, and have less passenger capacity.

Overall the cruise be pleasant n' informative. As it be dar first day at sea, they still need a bit more work on their interaction with passengers. When they get dar liquor licensee n' permit to fire black powder on the water, it will be much better. You can purchase ticket for the Black Raven at my shop: Pirate Portraits N Treasures, dar horizon looks golden with more pirate attraction is this olde port town.

Ships Log: 3rd In Garb Pub Crawl, 5-8-09

What do ya do with a Drunken Sailor,


The third In Garb Pub Crawl be a smaller group but just as fun as the two. We made a detour ta the Cast N Anchored this time to harass innocent lubber walking down Cuna Street. As always we be singing sea chanteys n' playing period games. Join us if ye be in St Augustine on the second friday of the month. This month's featured cause be the Project Special Care. Here be a group photo taken by Fran in front of Ann O'Malley's.

Ships Log: On the Cover of St Augustine Record, 5-8-09

Makin' a Splash,

I made it on the Cover of the St Augustine Record, the main local rag fer the oldest city in America. The paper photographer took a photo of me and Joseph O'Steen N Wife at the St Augustine Marine when the Black Raven first arrived into port on 4-22-09.