Table Setting
Forks, knives, spoons, and plates engraved with the pirate's name, have been found at the Whydah wreck site.
Kenneth Garrett National Geographic
Though Hollywood has attempted to glamorize the life of a pirate, life aboard a pirate ship was anything but glamorous. Pirates lived in cramped, filthy, rat infested quarters. The rats were in everything, eating the food and the ship's hull. The food stores would rot or become infested with bugs. Fresh water didn't stay fresh long. A ship is a floating island with no means to provide for itself while at sea. This is why pirates would restock their food and water supplies by attacking and looting other ships.
Much of a pirate's life consisted of repairing and maintaining their ships. Rare periods of relaxation were filled with card games, though gambling was generally forbidden, singing, dancing, and drinking. Underwater archaeologists have uncovered brandy and wine bottles, pewter plates, tankards, and eating utensils. Most pirates ate with their fingers but a fork on a pirate ship was considered a symbol of wealth. Forks, knives, spoons, and plates engraved with the pirate's name, have been found at the Whydah wreck site.
Clay Pipe
Smoking on board was dangerous due to the threat of fire on a wooden ship not to mention the magazine stored a few feet beneath the decks.
Kenneth Garrett National Geographic
Smoking on board was dangerous due to the threat of fire on a wooden ship not to mention the magazine stored a few feet beneath the decks. Pirates wisely opted to chew tobacco rather than smoke however clay pipes have been discovered in the wreckage.
While at sea pirates generally wore one set of clothes until they were reduced to rags but while on shore leave they liked to dress as gentlemen. They tried to mimic the dress of rich merchants by wearing clothing items they had looted from captured ships. This generally included stockings, long coats, decorated waistcoats, shirts trimmed with lace and shoes with silver buckles. Some even chose to dress like gentlemen at their own execution.
~~ Lost at Sea ~~
