Episode 50 18th Century British Mercantilism - Now with More Pirates

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Listen to "050 18th Century British Colonial Mercantilism - Now With More Pirates" on Spreaker.

Link to the Episode:

The colonies did NOT have massive silver mining and refining operations.  Where were we getting all that flashy table ware?  Before delving into what went on to the colonial table, I had never asked the question.  As far as I knew, rich colonial people just want shiny things for the table and *POOF!* stuff like that just appears.

 

But rummaging around in monetary policy of the 18th century… Oh, pirates were fencing Spanish Silver.  Despite there being a coin shortage, there were actually an unusually high number of silversmiths in the Mid-Atlantic Colonies.  The story just gets weirder, and my goodness, Great-Great-Grandmama’s table service was from stolen Spanish Booty?  It is more possible than you might think.




The punch bowl Revere made for the Sons of Liberty
This plain style reflects the Classical Revival sensibilities of the group.
Revere's earlier work had been influenced by the Baroque style. 


a set of tongs made from Coin Silver - so definitely Spanish
Treasure Ship booty at some remove.

Paul Revere - by John Singleton Copley (1768)
at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Other Fun facts about Revere - 

His father, Apollos Rivoire Sr. (Paul Revere's recorded name was Apollos Rivoire, Jr.) was one of the Huguenot refugees I've mentioned in other places.


Revere lived to the age of 84 and died in 1818.  He had inherited his shop from his father in 1754 - so was well established before joining revolutionary rumblings.  He was married twice and was the father of 16 children.

Media:

Books on Pirates, Governors taking regular bribes, the New York slave trade with Madagascar and more!


Goodall, Jamie H. L. Pirates of the Chesapeake Bay - From the Colonial Era to the Oyster Wars. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2020.

Goodall, Jamie H. L. Pirates. & Privateers from Long Island Sound to Delaware Bay. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2022.



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