Pirate Facts

Why did pirates wear earrings?

Earrings were used by seamen, especially warriors such as pirates, for very practical reasons and not for decoration.

Some pirates believed that wearing an earring would improve or cure bad eyesight, they believed that the precious metals in an earring possessed magical healing powers (Much like the Q-Ray bracelets people where).
They were given to young sailors as a symbol of their first crossing of the equator, and their purpose was to protect the eardrums during battle.
The pirates, especially hose who fired the ships’ cannons during closed combat with the enemy, dangled wads of wax from their earrings to use as earplugs.
But the most popular and supported reason is it covered the cost of the burial. Earrings made of silver or gold would be worth enough to pay for a sailor's funeral if his body washed ashore. It is said that some pirates even engraved the name of their home port on the inside of the earring so that their bodies could be sent to their families for a proper burial. So if a man died on a ship, the earrings would help to cover the cost of transporting the body home so that he wouldn't be buried at sea or on foreign soil.

Pirates' Articles

The articles

Many of the pirates used to have strict rules of conduct. Usually such rules were written down in articles and signed by every member of the crew. These rules usually included a description of how the spoils from a succesful attack were to be divided. In the articles the punishment for breaking one or more of these rules was also laid down. These were usually very harsh punishments.

Example 1

The Articles of Bartholomew Roberts' Crew

Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity may make it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted.
Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes, because over and above their proper share, they are allowed a shift of clothes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar in plate, jewels or money, they shall be marooned. If any man rob another he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.
None shall game for money either with dice or cards.
The lights and candles should be put out at eight at night, and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour they shall sit upon the open deck without lights.
Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at all times clean and ready for action.
No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death.
He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.
None shall strike another on board the ship, but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in this manner. At the word of command from the quartermaster, each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn and fire immediately. If any man do not, the quartermaster shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their aim they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draweth first blood shall be declared the victor.
No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of f1,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately.
The captain and the quartermaster shall each receive two shares of a prize, the master gunner and boatswain, one and one half shares, all other officers one and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one share each.
The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day only by right. On all other days by favour only."

Example 2

The Articles of Captain George Lowther, & His Company

The Captain is to have two full Shares; the Master is to have one Share and a half; ?he Doctor, Mate, Gunner & Boatswain, one Share and a quarter.
He that shall be found Guilty of taking up any unlawful Weapon on Board the Privateer, or any Prize, by us taken, so as to strike or abuse one another, in any regard, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the Company shall think fit
He that shall be found Guilty of Cowardize, in the Time of Engagement, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority shall think fit.
If any Gold, Jewels, Silver, &c. be found on Board of any Prize or Prizes, to the value of a Piece of Eight; & the Finder do not deliver it to the Quarter-Master, in the Space of 24 Hours, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority shall think fit.
He that is found Guilty of Gaming, or Defrauding another to the Value of a Shilling, shall suffer what Punishment the Captain and Majority of the Company shall think fit.
He that shall have the Misfortune to lose a Limb, in time of Engagement, shall have the sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds Sterling, and remain with the Company as long as he shall think fit.
Good Quarters be given when called for.
He that sees a Sail first, shall have the best Pistol, or Small-Arm, on Board her.

Example 3

The Articles on Board the Revenge - Captain John Phillips's

Every Man shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full Share and a half in all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain and Gunner shall have one Share and quarter.
If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the Company, he shall be marroon'd, with one Bottle of Powder, one Bottle of Water, one small Arm, and Shot.
If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marroon'd or shot.
If at any Time we should meet another Marroner that Man that shall sign his Articles without the Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
That Man that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Moses's Law (that is, 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare Back.
That Man that shall snap his Arms, or smoak Tobacco in the Hold, without a Cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted without a Lanthorn, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.
That Man that shall not kep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.
If any Man shall lose a Joint in time of an Engagement, shall have 400 Pieces of Eight; if a Limb, 800.
If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.

Famous Pirate Ships

Famous Pirate Ships	Type of Ship	Guns & Crew	Captains of the Pirate Ships
Queen Anne's Revenge	guineyman	40 cannons & 200 men	Edward Teach ( Blackbeard )
Adventure Galley	merchant	34 cannons & 150 men	Captain Kidd
The Revenge	merchant	20 cannons	Captain John Gow
The William	Sloop	6 cannons	John Rackham ( Calico Jack ), Anne Bonney &Mary Reade
Victory	Galley	Unknown	Edward England
Fancy	Unknown	34 cannons & 180 men	Edward England
Fancy	Man of War	49 cannons & 150 men	Henry Every ( Long Ben )
Royal James	Sloop	Unknown	Ignatius Pell
Royal Fortune	Frigate	42 Cannons	Bartholomew Roberts ( Black Bart )
Great Fortune	Unknown	26 Cannons	Bartholomew Roberts ( Black Bart )
Great Ranger	Warship	32 Cannons	Bartholomew Roberts ( Black Bart )
Amity	Unknown	Unknown	Thomas Tew
Liberty	Unknown	Unknown	Thomas Tew
Delivery	Unknown	16 cannons & 50 men	George Lowther Delivery
The Rising Sun	Unknown	35 cannons & 135 men	William Moody
The Ranger	Sloop	10 cannons & 60 men	Charles Vane & George Lowther
Margaret	Unknown	Unknown	Samuel Burgess

Sources:

http://www.piratesinfo.com

The History of Pirates

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/Pirates/tp/Ten-Facts-About-Pirates-Of-The-Golden-Age.htm

http://www.sellgoldnsilver.com/entertainment/pirate-treasure-fact-and-fiction/

http://brethrencoast.com/