#sailors life

[postcum]

Pemmican>>>hard tack

[o-k-e-a-n-o-s]

[ltwilliammowett]

These drawings are part of the biography of Edward Coxere, 1647-1684

He was born in Kent in 1633, spoke several languages and served as a merchant seaman. His work covers his life and the adventures he had. Including his time on different ships in different countries and even his time as a slave in Tunisia. He died in 1694. This above is a copy from 1717 by John Mellar

And anyone who wants to read more can do it here: http://theappendix.net/issues/2013/4/the-many-lives-of-ned-coxere-were-british-sailors-really-british

[ltwilliammowett]

Let's dance the Hornpipe

This dance, although often known as Sailor's dance, is not a pure Sailor dance. The hornpipe is a traditional English dance piece with a lively tempo, originally notated in 3/2 time. Around 1760, the name changed to music in 2/4 or 4/4 time. It is named after the old wind instrument of the same name, which was especially common in Wales and Scotland. And there were several variations of it and the Sailor's Hornpipe is just one variation of it.

This watercolour by Richard van Lennep was painted on his voyage in topsail schooner Tryal vom Smyrna to Boston, 1807 and shows a group of men dancing in : Jack Tar, a sailors life, by J. Welles Henderson

"In Britain the Hornpipe is a dance held as original to this country. ... some of the steps have been used in the English country dance, particularly by the lower class of the people ... and few English seamen are to be found that are not acquainted with the Hornpipe ... Boys at school destined for the Navy make a point of learning it. Comic dancers coming here (from abroad) apply themselves with great attention to the true study of the Hornpipe and by constant practice acquire the ability of performing it with success in foreign countries where it always meets with the highest applause."

- G. A. Gallini: Critical Observations on the Art of Dancing. London 1770

British sailors dance a  hornpipe to the edification  of their Egyptian spectators, 1878 (x)

It may have been around - the late 15th and early 16th centuries - that dancing became associated with sailors and the sea. It is easy to understand that the small space required for the dance and the fact that no partner was necessary made it particularly suitable for dancing on board ships.

Dancing the Hornpipe, by George Green 1878 in: Jack Tar, a sailors life, by J. Welles Henderson

Samuel Pepys mentioned the dance in his diary and called it "The Jig of the Ship". And it is recorded that Captain Cook ordered his men to dance the hornpipe to keep them in good health in the confines of the sailing ships of the time.

Ashore, sailors performed the hornpipe to entertain themselves, often as part of the frolic of a "run ashore", after a few drinks, to attract the attention of women, or out of sheer bravado. Thus, along with the sailors' distinctive dress, language and body adornment, tattoos, the hornpipe became another recognisable cultural symbol of being a jack in the harbour, albeit very clichéd.

[ltwilliammowett]

A Sailors life, by William Ward and Thomas Stothard 1798

The first one are Sailors in a Storm, the second Sailors in a Fight, then Sailors in Port and the last one A Sailor's Return in Peace

[ltwilliammowett]

Sailor’s clothing

To say it right off the bat. Until 1857, there was no standard uniform that applied equally to all, and the men wore simple clothes that were practical for the sea. Should a man, freshly pressed, have no other clothing. So he could buy some from the Purser, even if they were very expensive. Usually, when a comrade died, the men bought clothes and other belongings from him to rework them for themselves. But it could happen that a captain demanded a certain kind of clothing on his ship, like for example on the HMS Tribune. There the crew wore,blue trousers, over it a blue jacket with gold buttons in a row. A light flannel waistcoat and on the head a small green hat with gold leaf painted on it and a black ribbon with the name of the ship on it.

The following list is not a specified and general list, it is more a list of clothes that were seen on sailors of the 18th century or early 19th century.

Trousers: the most were long and then white, striped or even plain blue. They were made from duck, linen or jean. Ocasionally breeches were worn too

Shirts: were made from linen or jersey, either plain white, striped, red or blue chequered pattern

Waistcoat: made of linen in red, yellow or striped

Shoes: usually black, with silver buckles or barefoot

Sea boots: very rare and if worn, then they were usually knee high and made of leather

Stockings: mostly woollen or  sometimes silk

Headwear: a tarred sennet (straw) or felt hat, alternatively a woollen hat or a cap with flabs to protect the ears

Petticoat breeches: these are knee long, made of linen, wide trousers which were worn over the breeches to protect them. Alternatively an apron made of linen, felt or leather could be worn

Belt: leather or a simple rope with a sheath for a knife

Neckerchief: Made of Silk, in various colours, black become common after 1805

Short jacket:  Usually a blue one with brass buttons, sometimes with white braidings over the seams for utilitarian purpose, i.e. to strengthen the seams rather than denoting a mark of rang

Foul weather coat: a longer tarred jacket

[thefeedercaptain]

Another sailing, yay!

Just a couple of days to another sailing trip. This time a course of handling catamarans I wanted to attended in the spring. Miraculously it came now.

[ltwilliammowett]

Eat my Hat

Now it was difficult to smoke aboard and if it was possible, then only at the smoking lamp or at the galley and at permitted times. Therefore, many chewed their tobacco. Pipe and tobacco were usually not carried on the body but kept in the ditty bag or sea chest so that nothing happened there.

Three Sailors having a break at the galley, smoking a pipe and having some tea or coffee, HMS Union of London, by unknown 1823 (x)

Chewing tobacco, on the other hand, was kept on the man because it could be consumed in between. Only the storage was a bit more difficult, because it was not so easy to just put it in the pocket if they had to reckon with losing it while working aloft. That's why the Sailors put their chewing tobacco under their hats and the linings became then soaked with sweat and tobacco juice over the time.

Now there wasn't always tobacco to buy, or the gentleman didn't have enough money to buy it, so he took the linings out of the hat and chewed it instead. Hence the exclamation "eat my hat".