Mayflower Society Pirates Ashore Day 2016 in Plymouth MA
Pirates Ashore day will be held on Saturday May 21st on the Plymouth waterfront. The Pirates are returning to Plymouth on Saturday May 21st , 9:30am and they’re bent on mayhem. That’s right, in 1646 three shiploads of English privateers sailed into Plymouth harbor flush with Spanish gold andrich cargoes they had seized in the Caribbean. These sailors were hungry and especially thirsty. In the words of Governor William Bradford: “The Captain and eighty lusty sailors came ashore. They drank so much they behaved like ‘madmen’. Though some of them were punished and imprisoned, they could hardly be restrained.”
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The New Plimmoth Gard, The Mayflower Society,and three pirate reenactor groups will re-live this tumultuous chapter in Plymouth history on Saturday, May 21st right on Plymouth Harbor and Downtown. Rain date is May 22nd.
Expect lots of exciting action as visiting pirates spend their captured gold on wine, beer and ‘strong water’, all the while being watched by the local Gard, who are trying to maintain some decorum in the town. A fight later in the day results in the death of one sailor and the pirate Captain is tried for murder. Three pirate groups will be ‘invading’;all are very experienced and versed in the history of this event. Come see their encampment at the Mayflower House, 4 Winslow Street.
The day begins at 9:30 when The Old Colony Club fires their cannon to alert the Plymouth that three unknown ships have sailed into the harbor. See them fire adjacent to the State Pier.
At 10AM thepirates arrive at the State Pier on their shallop (landing craft), and are met by the New Plimmoth Gard. The pirates convince the Gard that they are loyal English Privateers, and should be admitted to the town to spend some of their captured Spanish gold on food, drink and supplies. Both groups walk up North Street and encamp at the Mayflower Society House, 4 Winslow Street.
Visit thepirate encampment at the Mayflower House to see sword play, musket and pike drills, exhibits and more throughout the day. Also look for disorderly pirates at local establishments on Main Street and at the Waterfront, with the Gard doing their best to maintain order.To quote Bradford: “They spent and scattered a great deal of money among the people, but more sin (I fear) than money.”
At 11AM witness the first of several fights between a rowdy sailor and his pirate Captain at the Waterfront. They will fight again at Noon on Main Street, and despite the whipping given the sailor, they fight a third time at the Mayflower House at 1:30. This is no exaggeration here, Gov. Bradford describes all three fights.
The poor sailor dies of his wounds and is buried by his shipmates. Then at 3PMthe Captain is tried for murder by a Plymouth Council of War. Will he be convicted, and will the rest of the pirates overrun the town? Be there to find out.
Join the pirates and Gard celebration at The Full Sail, 47 Court Street at 6PM, featuring a special cask from local brewer IndieFerm.
Many thanks to our participants and sponsors: The Mayflower Society, NewPlimmoth or Gard, Crew of the Mermayde, Free Men of the Sea, Crew of the Raven, Old Colony Club, Pilgrim John Howland Society, Pilgrim Progress, Full Sail Pub, Independent Fermentations, Craft Beer Cellar, and Pilgrim Belle.
any great places -caus
Have Lunch or dinner the Plymouth Waterfront kid friendly and casual Cabby Shack, Waterfront Bar & Grille or the Ultimate in seafood Woods Seafood
