Pirates & Privateers Presentation


Pirates & Privateers Presentation
Friday mornings, 10:00 a.m., June through September
WEATHER PERMITTING

Fort Phoenix, south end of Fort St., Fairhaven, MA
Presentation held near fort flagpole and cannons.
Also presented by appointment for groups

See a short promo video here:

Is there really pirate treasure buried by Captain Kidd on Sconticut Neck? Why might you become a privateer instead of joining the Navy? What’s the deal with the parrot on the shoulder?

Hear tales of pirates, Revolutionary War era privateers, and historical Fort Phoenix, presented by Greybeard, an 18th century gunner from the privateer sloop Broome, Abigail Black, a ship’s doctor who grows herbal remedies in her village garden when she’s not at sea, and Caleb the Powder Monkey, a lad who knows how to load and fire a cannon. 

Learn which pirate lore is really just myth based on fiction and what stories are true.  (On Cape Cod, many people thought the tale of “Black Sam” Bellamy’s wrecked ship full of treasure was just a legend until the ship was discovered in 1984 just 500 feet off the shore of Wellfleet.) Find out the difference between pirates and “legal” privateers. Do you know when you “talk like a pirate” you’re just copying an actor from a 1950s Disney movie? Would you like to know more about treasure maps and walking the plank?

Firing Swivel OH

The pirate lore is enhanced by true stories of privateering in and around Buzzards Bay during the American Revolution. During the war, privateers vessels such as the Broome, Sally, Black Snake, Friendship, and Hornet, manned with local sailors, aided the rebellion against the Crown by capturing enemy ships in far greater numbers than the Continental Navy did. One of the most celebrated actions was the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War in May 1775, led by captains Nathaniel Pope and Daniel Egery. Eventually the local wharves were full of vessels captured by privateers. Such actions eventually provoked the British raid on our harbor in September of 1778.

These stories are told in detail during the Friday morning program.

OH StudentsThis fun interactive presentation includes a demonstration firing of a black powder swivel cannon, a demonstration of early medical practices and more. While being fun and informative for adults, it is also appropriate for class field trips for grades 3 and up as well as for scout troops, clubs and home school groups.

To pre-arrange group tours or class field trips for days other than Friday mornings, call 508-979-4085 or email FairhavenTours@fairhaven-ma.gov to check on availability. Group tours are booked on a first come first served basis. Please note that dates toward the end of the school year in May and June fill up quickly. Be sure to plan early.

 

 

Fort Talk

There is no charge for the Pirates and Privateers presentations, but donations are accepted for the Tourism Gift Account.

You may visit Greybeard & Companie’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/GreybeardCompanie/

Other tours are shown here: TOURS

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