{"title":"Historical Pirate Ensigns","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"short-and-merry-life","title":"Bart Roberts Ensign","description":"\u003cp class=\"ydp7fbde42dMsoNormal\"\u003eEver wanted to make Forbes top 10 or 20 list? The hardworking pirate Black Bart’s success in the early 1700’s was enough for him to make the #5 spot on the Forbes top 20 highest earning pirates almost 300 years after his death.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eBy the time Bartholomew died in 1722, he had plundered close to $32 million. As was the case for most pirates however, this money went out as fast as it came.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWhy?\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eLive for today, for tomorrow we die was the philosophy - life was short as a pirate, a short and ‘merry’ life indeed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydp7fbde42dMsoNormal\"\u003eBartholomew Roberts began his sea faring career as a normal sailor around the age of 13. Born in Wales, UK he grew up in an island nation wholly familiar and extremely adept at cruising the seas and in naval trade.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eWith most of his life spent at sea, by the time he reached his mid 30’s, he had gained a good sense of the trade and was a navigator aboard a slave ship named\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePrincess\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThis ship was captured by the pirate Howell Davis in 1719 and Bart Roberts was among the few men spared and forced to join the pirates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydp7fbde42dMsoNormal\"\u003eCaptain Davis was also Welsh and took a liking to Bart, making good use of his navigating skills.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe crew was also fond of him, seeing him as good luck because the pirates had several good looting sprees after Roberts joined them. This affinity by the crew put him in the right place at the right time.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eJust 6 weeks after joining the pirates, he was elected captain when Howell Davis was killed in battle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydp7fbde42dMsoNormal\"\u003eHaving fate deal him this hand of cards, he made the best of it, allegedly stating “that since he had dipped his hands in muddy water, and must be a pyrate, it was better being a commander than a common man.”\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eAnd so began the life of Black Bart the pirate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydp7fbde42dMsoNormal\"\u003eHis formal training as a sailor aboard more traditional merchant ships probably set the foundation for his famous Pirate Code.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHe required fairness, order and discipline among his crew which ultimately made him not only well liked, but extremely effective as a pirate.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eHe was resigned to his lot and made the best of it.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe very best of it in fact; he went on a streak of extremely lucrative raids and hits in the Caribbean making all of his $32 million in just three years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydp7fbde42dMsoNormal\"\u003eThis rational awareness of how to be good at one’s job combined with the short, bloody trade of piracy was manifest in his infamous black flag that Roberts designed himself.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe flag was likely more a personal statement of Roberts recognizing his mortal reality rather than something to cause fear in the hearts of his victims. The flag depicts Roberts and Death holding up an hourglass. Death is armed and Roberts is not.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eRoberts knew with what the glorious life of a pirate captain would ultimately reward him.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWhatever Roberts’ feelings and purpose in the design his efficacy as a pirate did make any who saw this flag tremble in fear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydp7fbde42dMsoNormal\"\u003eFor the patriot resigned to his or her fate today, the Bart Roberts Ensign patch is a reminder – ‘be good or be good at it.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3x2\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoven for amazing detail\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHook Backing \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRe-release: August 2020\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Texas 144.1","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":7037887676482,"sku":"","price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0010\/3841\/7986\/products\/bart-roberts2.jpg?v=1598917388"},{"product_id":"emanuel-wynn","title":"Emanuel Wynn Ensign","description":"\u003cp class=\"ydpcd87036aMsoNormal\"\u003eVery little historical information is available about the pirate Emmanuel Wynn. Subsequently, history has no dashing tales of him to tell or insight as to his life as a pirate in the north Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydpcd87036aMsoNormal\"\u003eWynn skirmished with the HMS Poole in the summer of 1700, well before the golden age of piracy about 20 years later.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eDuring this encounter with Wynn, Captain Granby of the HMS Poole described Wynn’s flag as \"a sable ensign with cross bones, a death's head, and an hour glass.\" Thus historians ascribe Wynn’s Ensign as one of the first, if not the first edition of the now infamous Jolly Roger flag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydpcd87036aMsoNormal\"\u003eThe skull and crossbones have long been clearly associated with a warning of death with whatever they adorned.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe hourglass was familiar to sailors and land dwellers alike as it was the time keeper of the day. No doubt the designer, be it Wynn or someone else, merged these icons of Death and Time into succinct image to instill immediate fear and more importantly submission into the hearts of those unfortunate enough to encounter Wynn and his crew.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe simplicity of the design made its message universal to the multi-national vessels Wynn hunted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ydpcd87036aMsoNormal\"\u003eTime is fleeting and death approaches.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eAdd our Emmanuel Wynn patch to your historical collection and let it warn others of your commitment to action.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3x2\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHook backing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRe-release: August 2020\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/weaponized.design\/products\/vinyl-decals\"\u003eVinyl Decal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Texas 144.1","offers":[{"title":"Subdued","offer_id":43854405632066,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Original","offer_id":43854405599298,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0010\/3841\/7986\/files\/wynn-flag-subdued.jpg?v=1781377527"},{"product_id":"henry-every","title":"Henry Every Ensign","description":"\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHenry Every, “The Arch Pirate”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHenry Every, Henry Avery, Jack Avery, John Avery, Benjamin Bridgeman, and Long Ben were all the names of one infamous pirate in the late 17\u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecentury.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThat’s a lot of names to keep track of, but who cares what name people call you when are the richest pirate ever and you retire before being caught or killed? Henry Every’s beginning and end are both unclear and lost to time, but there’s zero doubt of his impact on piracy history with tantalizing tales of looting and high seas treachery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThought to have been born an Englishman in the early 1650’s, Henry took to sea life in the British Royal Navy, merchant ships, as well as slave ships. Eventually he wound up as first mate on a Spanish commissioned warship\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCharles II\u003c\/i\u003e. The unhappy, mostly English crew supported his mutiny of the ship within just a few months of his joining in May of 1694. The newly minted pirate renamed the well-armed ship the “Fancy” and set off to test the waters of piracy.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Fancy successfully attacked European merchant vessels around Africa before sailing to the lawless coasts of Madagascar. Along the way, Every sent out a declaration of his intent to spare English ships but he never lived up to that promise.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe lying didn’t stop there as he later wrote a Bill of Exchange upon a fictitious bank for provisions for his crew. His quick rise to fame and terror was enough to garner the respect of other, more experienced pirates who gave him the nickname “The Arch Pirate” or “King of Pirates”.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eSeveral of these pirate ships banded together for a short time under his command to attack the Indian Mughal sea convoy returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt was this attack on the Indian fleet that landed is his largest score. After several skirmishes with Indian ships, the Fancy was able to subdue the\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGanj-i-Sawai\u003c\/i\u003e, the flagship of Aurangzeb, the Mughal lord. On this ship was over 600,000 British Pounds worth of gold, silver, and jewelry.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eEvery surviving member of the crew earned about 1,000 Pounds which at the time was worth 80 years of honest sea pay.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eNaturally, many of the crew, along with “Long Ben”, chose to retire.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eTheir score was worth tens of millions of dollars in today’s currency and they’d be able to live comfortably – if they could stay under the radar.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eAfter dealing with the captured vessel’s occupants in a very traditionally pirate way and making off with such an enormous haul, the Indians as well as the British put a bounty on Every’s head. The Indian government closed all ports to English vessels until Every was found, igniting the world’s first manhunt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDespite the large bounty on his head, Henry Every was never found and it is unclear what became of him. Several of his crew were captured and tried for piracy, however. Most were acquitted but five of them were hanged in England.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eRecently the coins thought to have been plundered in the Maghul event turned up in the New England and eastern US seaboard area. He and his crew likely tried to spend the money for day to day expenses while on the run.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe flag attributed to the richest pirate ever to have sailed is a modified Jolly Roger with a profiled skull sporting a bandanna and an earring on a black or red field. There aren’t any reliable accounts to confirm this design as his, but his short tenure as a pirate doesn’t make this a surprise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAdd our patch of the richest pirate to have ever sailed the seas to your collection to remind you that you can go big AND go home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3x2\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHook Backing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRelease 4\/12\/21: \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Texas 144.1","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39295798411330,"sku":"","price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0010\/3841\/7986\/files\/henry-every-ensign2.jpg?v=1745502408"},{"product_id":"the-jolly-roger","title":"The Jolly Roger","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the few authentic Jolly Rogers in existence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe term Jolly Roger comes from the historic claim that \"Joli Rouge\" (\"Pretty Red\") is a reference to a red flag used by French\u003cspan\u003e privateers.\u003c\/span\u003e This is attributed to red blood, symbolizing violent pirates, ready to attack and kill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePirates are known for their cunning ability to stalk a target and take it down ruthlessly. Death follows them; whether it is unfortunate passengers or resisting sailors or the pirates themselves, the grim reaper typically had a healthy harvest each time pirates set sail.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Roger’ is an old English word for a ‘wandering vagabond’ which certainly fits the typical pirate. These ‘rogers’ possessed sharp wit to remain alive and with death always at their door, they probably had a cynical mindset too.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e‘Live as much as you can today, there may be no tomorrow’.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThat pirates living in the 1700s, the heyday of piracy, sailed about with the name “Jolly Roger” for their black flags is a testament to the dark humor of the trade and an ironic reference to their less than jovial nature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeeing the crude human skull and two femur bones beneath it on a black field hoisted upon a mast would leave no question about what was afoot with an encroaching ship. Usually, some measure of quarter would be given if the ship and crew put up no fight with the Jolly Roger hoisted.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eBut should anyone try to flee or fight, the time of mercy was over.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVariants of the Jolly Roger were found among many famous pirates (144.1 has produced several of these), each putting their own spin on the imagery of death using some form of the skull, a skeleton or bones. All of them capitalized on the well-founded fear the black flag created among sailors and citizens in port to shake the confidence and undermine the will to fight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn modern times, the idea of offering no quarter in a fight is often expressed with a phrase along the lines of “Hoist the black flag”. That is, no prisoners will be taken in the upcoming struggle. Many can relate to this today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Jolly Roger patch is a historical nod to the men who were resolute and determined to conquer, albeit for usually less than honorable reasons. But we can admire their adherence to strength, unfailing desire to win, and absolute commitment to fight for their cause.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2.5x2.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWoven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHook backing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRelease: 1\/5\/2021\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/weaponized.design\/products\/vinyl-decals\"\u003eVinyl Decal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Texas 144.1","offers":[{"title":"Subdued","offer_id":45182087495746,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Historic","offer_id":45182087462978,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0010\/3841\/7986\/files\/jolly-roger-subdued.jpg?v=1788991897"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.texas144-1.com\/collections\/historical-pirate-ensigns.oembed","provider":"Texas 144.1","version":"1.0","type":"link"}