How did pirates sleep?
When on the high seas, any one who wasn't a captain would sleep out in the open, either in a hammock or on the floor. There were however, 'pirate havens'. Regions of the Indian Ocean and Madagascar were often safe places for pirates to stay, outside of the law and state governance.
Bedtime was set at eight o'clock each night and all lights and candles had to be put out at that time. If any of the crew stayed up drinking, it had to be done up above on the upper deck. All pistols and cutlasses/knives were kept clean and in good working order. No women were allowed on board.
The Bathroom Was Just a Hole in the Plank Called 'Head'
Pirate ships didn't have toilets. Instead, they had “heads,” which were basically holes cut into planks that emptied into the water. The plank and hole were usually located at the head of the ship.
Pirate captains and higher-ranking members had private sleeping quarters, while common sailors had to sleep in one room. Some of them slept on hammocks. Others slept on the floor. It was easier for them to sleep on hammocks because they swayed and rocked with the ship's movements.
For a very long time, sailors were lying on sacks filled with leaves, on piles of straw or in rare cases on a mattress made of horsehair and all of those started to foul after a few days. Sheets only hid the worst and the terrible smell couldn't be covered at all.
In general, the life of a pirate was often short lived. Many pirates lost their lives during battle, or became ill and passed away. On average, the life expectancy for pirates was no more than two years. Oftentimes, their families never even knew what had happened to them.
Though pirates have existed since ancient times, the Golden Age of piracy was in the 17th and early 18th centuries. During this time more than 5000 pirates were said to be at sea.
Other ways of wiping before the invention of toilet paper
They were abundant, they were soft and they were easy to handle. Sailors used something called a 'tow rag'. A tow rag was a long piece of frayed rope that dangled in the water. The ropes were tied to the part of the ship that was used as a toilet.
Pirates Did Not Brush Their Teeth!
The toothbrush that we use today was not invented until 1938; long after pirates sailed the seven seas. If pirates ever did clean their teeth it would have been using a "chew stick" which was not a very effective way to keep teeth clean and free of plaque.
How often did pirates take a shower? Water-water everywhere, but none to take a bath in. During the period of the pirates no one even the gentile took what one would call a regular bath. Even when bathing was common, the Saturday bath was in vogue.
Why did pirates rarely bathe?
When it came time for pirates to clean themselves, they most likely jumped into the ocean. Despite the abundance of seawater, bathing wasn't a common occurrence amongst the pirates. They felt leaving the ship was dangerous and saltwater irritated their skin.
Pirates had a limited supply of fresh water, so they would bathe in the ocean. Taking a dip in the ocean doesn't sound all that bad, but they would often time use whale blubber as soap. Not only were pirates walking around smelling like whale blubber, but they also ran into many diseases.
Vegetables and meat were usually pickled or salted to preserve the food. Ships on long voyages relied on biscuits, dried beans and salted beef to live. For drinking, seamen chose beer or ale rather than water.
In sailing ships, the toilet was placed in the bow somewhat above the water line with vents or slots cut near the floor level allowing normal wave action to wash out the facility. Only the captain had a private toilet near his quarters, at the stern of the ship in the quarter gallery.
Sailors on the old sail-ships often didn't wear shoes while aloft, since it allowed them to better climb the ropes of the riggings; while shoes might slip. But while on deck, it's a bad place to get a splinter. As for later sailors, they naturally wore shoes since they didn't use sails that required sending men aloft..
- Red sunrise.
- Jonah.
- Unlucky days.
- Sirens and Scylla.
- Albatross.
- Banana.
- Whistling.
- Ceremonial ship launching.
However, it is worth noting that the average height of individuals in the past, including pirates, was generally shorter than it is today. Historical records suggest that the average height of men in the 17th and 18th centuries ranged from about 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) to 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm).
Privateers, buccaneers and corsairs: why not all pirates were created equal. During the Age of Sail, one man's privateer was another man's pirate. But what was the legal difference?
Captain Jack Sparrow is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and franchise.
Blackbeard or Edward Teach (c. 1680-1718) is one of the most infamous pirates to have ever lived. Known for his fearsome image and daring acts on land and sea throughout the West Indies and along the North American East coast, his legacy has been the inspiration for many depictions of pirates throughout history.
What nationality were most pirates?
Most pirates were English (35%), but other nationalities were also represented: colonials from America-25%, colonials from the West Indies-20%, Scots-10%, Welsh-8%, and Swedish/Dutch/French/Spanish-2%.
How did the Golden Age of Piracy end? The Golden Age of Piracy experienced a slow decline from 1726 onward. Colonial ports got bigger and developed better governments; pirates were offered pardons for their actions; and privateering was made illegal. All of these factors contributed to the decline of piracy.
We're going to start with the Stone Age (about a million years ago for all you Gen Z's reading). Butt wiping in the Stone Age started off on a rocky road (pardon the pun) as yes you may have guessed it, for thousands of years stones were the go-to wiping method.
One of the more popular early American wiping objects was the dried corn cob. A variety of other objects were also used, including leaves, handfuls of straw, and seashells. As paper became more prominent and expendable, early Americans began using newspapers, catalogs, and magazines to wipe.
1. Mullein aka “cowboy toilet paper” Even hard men want a soft leaf. If the cowboys used the large velvety leaves of the mullein (Verbascum thapsus) plant while out on the range, then you can too!
