"The Quarter Master"
The Quartermaster was elected by a pirate crew to protect their interests,
and to act as a check-and-balance on the power of the captain. He was the
most important officer aboard a pirate ship, insofar as day-to-day operations
were concerned.
His duties included settling quarrels, punishing minor infractions of
the Articles, regulating provisions, inspecting weapons,
assigning work details and battle stations, and taking loot into custody
to ensure that it was appropriately shared. He was considered the voice
of the crew on those matters that did not require the calling of a council.
Election to this position meant that the pirates respected the candidate
as a trustworthy, intelligent and responsible man. It was therefore not
unusual for a quartermaster to eventually command his own ship. The first
quartermaster of Bellamy’s crew was Palgrave Williams.
After being elected commander of the Marianne, Williams was replaced
by John Fletcher. When the Whydah was captured, however, Richard
Noland was elected as the new quartermaster.
Many of the quarter-master’s duties required bookwork, and so a
good quarter-master needed to be literate.
To that end, we include writing instruments and cargo-related artifacts in
this section of the online museum.
CLICK TO VIEW ARTIFACTS:
Seal (A#1149)
Seal
Stylus (A#23121)
Stylus Extension (A#137666)
Ink-well (A#14824
Gold Scales
