New England's History of Misbehavior: Pirates of Old New England

Outcasts & Dissidence: New England's History of Misbehavior

From the origins of the term “Matey” to the pirate captain who had the cook burned alive because he thought he would cook well, this tantalizing story of New England Misbehavior is that of pirates.
The Golden Age of Piracy was from the late 17th Century into the early-mid 18th Century, which aligns perfectly with the colonization of New England and, being a coastwise region, New England was a hotbed for pirate activity.
Sources:
The ‘Clotilda,’ the Last Known Slave Ship to Arrive in the U.S., Is Found, Smithsonian Magazine, May 22, 2019, by Allison Keyes. The Clotilda is one of the last known imports of enslaved humans to reach the Americas. Although it has no New England provenance, other voyages of the sort certainly did. This article helps to debunk misinformation about exactly how long slave piracy and trafficking occurred. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/clotilda-last-known-slave-ship-arrive-us-found-180972177/ Retrieved July 31, 2023.

Black Jacks: African American Seamen in the Age of Sail, by W. Jeffrey Bolster, 1997. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. This is really a phenomenal book about a little-known piece of Black history and is absolutely worth a read for anyone interested in Black history or maritime history. It will absolutely change your perspective on both.
Kaz Rowe: Blackbeard & Stede Bonnet - The True History Behind Our Flag Means Death. April 22, 2022. Kaz has a relatively unapologetic and candid perspective on queer history while keeping healthy skepticism about unfounded claims. This episode does a wonderful job explaining matelotage and hush-hush matters of pirate culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dmka6e0iaQ Viewed August 6, 2023.
Cleveland Clinic. Scurvy: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment. For yar scurvy dogs who like science. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24318-scurvy Retrieved August 2, 2023.
Pirates of New England: Ruthless Raiders and Rotten Renegades, by Gail Selinger, 2017. Globe Pequot, Guilford, Conn. This book is another absolute must-read for anyone into maritime history. It is gripping and well-written, with an astounding bibliography. Selinger covers more pirates, context, and culture than I could squeeze into here so I strongly suggest you grab a copy.
Here's the super sketchy Town of Penobscot, Maine, article on an insecure server about pirate booty in Maine. I'll take a 10% cut on booty found, please. http://www.penobscot-maine.com/treasurestories.html Retrieved August 12, 2023.
Homicides of Adults in Maine, 1630-1692. Ohio State University. Speaking of hidden treasure, this must have been quite an undertaking but it is thoroughly fascinating. https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=001937964751197728343:79s3ohkyvig&q=https://cjrc.osu.edu/sites/cjrc.osu.edu/files/maine_homicides_1630-1692.doc&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjHmpnf1ciAAxV1kokEHS5XC8QQFnoECAAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw24z5VXGTk5TiOCGBfvBKRN Retrieved August 4, 2023.
Pirates, The Lives and Adventures of Sundry Notorious Pirates, by Captain Charles Johnson and C. Lovat Fraser, 1922. Robert M. McBride and Company, New York. I found this on scribd.com and it is utterly glorious, with its illustrations and old-timey eloquence. Sources like these should come with a pinch of salt, but it's what we have

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