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Home , Robin Hood (ship), Sea shanty

In The Age of (1571 – 1862), tall ships transported passengers and cargo across dangerous and often uncharted . Though there were fortunes to be made for those who were disciplined, skilled and lucky enough to succeed, the risks were great and many never returned. These massive ships required skilled workers, wood from hundreds of trees and miles of rope to build. They also required a large crew to work together to haul their heavy . The Age of Sail was an exciting and dangerous time for those who sailed for distant ports on voyages that often lasted years. Most of the (and pirates) of the era were young, some as young as 14, with an average age of 25 and an average life expectancy of just 35. At Save the Harbor/Save the Bay we want all the young people who take part in our free programs to know that young men and women of every race and nationality played important roles in our maritime past, and that that there are plenty of opportunities for them today on Boston Harbor, our waterfront and the . To learn about some of the exciting things young people are doing on Boston Harbor this summer, visit our youth and beach program blog, Sea, Sand & Sky at www.blog.savetheharbor.org

Robert Smalls (1839-1915) Mary Read (1685-1721) Ching Shih (1775-1844) the First African American Navy Captain Fearless Female Pirate The World’s Fiercest and Most Successful Pirate In 1862, Robert Smalls used the cover of the Mary Read was a young woman who dressed as a Ching Shih cleverly leveraged her way out of darkness of the night to smuggle a group of slaves boy to get work on ships. When her ship was hijacked poverty and into the command of the most feared onto a Confederate Navy ship and quietly slip out by “Calico” Jack Rackham, she was inducted into his pirate fleet of her time. She quickly gained a global of Charleston Harbor. In a dazzling feat of defiance pirate crew. When bounty hunters boarded Calico reputation for her undeniable success in , the and bravery, Robert Smalls brought the stolen ship to Jack’s ship, Calico Jack and the other male pirates ruthless efficiency of her fleet, and her merciless the Union, along with weapons and military secrets. cowered below , while Mary, as skilled at fighting leadership. In the early 1800s, it was quite uncommon Abraham Lincoln cited Smalls’ actions as one of the as she was brave, successfully fended them off. Despite for a woman to work on a ship, let alone lead a reasons he decided to allow freed slaves to join the her valor, Mary, along with the rest of Calico Jack’s battalion of 80,000 pirates on 12,000 ships. Ching Shih Union military. Smalls was later given a position in the crew, were all captured and sentenced to be hanged. defied all odds and used her wit and business acumen Union Navy, and became the first African American However, Mary was pregnant, and was allowed to live. to hoist herself out of poverty and into the pirate hall Navy Captain. Smalls served in the South Carolina Unfortunately, Mary developed a fever and died in of fame; she is widely regarded as one of the world’s Congress for 21 years, holding office in both the prison a few months later. most successful pirates. House and the Senate.

El Pirata Cofresí (1791-1825) Paul Cuffee (1759-1817) Eleanor Creesy (1814-1900) The Puerto Rican Robin Hood , Activist, Trailblazer Navigator and Two-Time World Record Breaker Cofresí grew up in the late 1700s in Cabo Rojo, Paul Cuffee was a pioneer of the freed slave When Eleanor Prentiss was a young girl growing Puerto Rico, a town by the sea. As a boy, he heard emigration movements and a vocal abolitionist. He up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, she dreamed of many exciting stories about life at sea, and dreamed began his career as a whaler, and later became a traveling around the world. Her father taught her how about making a life for himself on the water. However, maritime trader. When he was 27, Cuffee was arrested to navigate, and she married Captain Josiah Creesy in he never imagined that he would one day grow up to for publishing a petition for abolition. He also was 1841. All her dreams began to fall into place. When be one of the world’s most famous pirates, notorious the first free African American to have an audience Josiah captained the ship the on a for stealing from the wealthy and antagonizing the with the president at the White House, and also was journey from New York to San Francisco, he brought government. In 1824, Puerto Rico issued anti-piracy the founder of the Friendly Society of Sierra Leone. Eleanor as his navigator. During the journey, Eleanor statutes as a result of the devastating economic losses In 1815, Cuffee boarded 38 African Americans on navigated the ship through treacherous passages and from piracy. Cofresí and his crew were captured twice, his ship headed to Sierra Leone. These passengers they set a record for the fastest journey recorded on but escaped and continued to attack government and were the first African Americans who, of their own that passage. Eleanor and Josiah broke their own merchant ships, giving portions of their plunder to the volition, returned to Africa as part of a Back to Africa record two years later, and it was upheld for over 100 needy. emigration movement. years. aul Away Together

What is a Sea Shanty? Sea Shanties and Teamwork

Sea shanties are maritime work During the Age of Sail, that are traditionally sung during shanties helped sailors work together. hard work on ships. The songs are Cooperation was particularly important intentionally composed to have a strong on board these massive ships; if sailors rhythmic swing to coordinate the sailors’ all worked together at the same time, actions in time with the harmony. They they could accomplish massive feats. are used as timekeepers for fishermen As you can see in the picture of The and sailors, and because they are used Flying Cloud to the left, raising all those for many kinds of work, there are many sails was far from a one man job, so kinds of sea shanties, each with its own sailors would use the cadence of sea tale and rhythm. shanties like Haul Away Joe to help them efficiently work together to raise the sails. The Flying Cloud The clipper ship Flying Cloud was built in 1851 by master shipbuilder Donald McKay in his East Boston shipyard. In 1854, the ship set a speed record of 89 days and 8 hours for the voyage from New York to San Francisco around , which was held until 1989, more than 135 years! You can find two memorials to Donald McKay on Boston Harbor today. The first is a large obelisk at Castle Island that is clearly visible to all vessels entering the port. The second is the McKay Pavilion, at Piers Park in East Boston.

At Save the Harbor/Save the Bay we sing sea shanties like Haul Away Joe to remind us of an important lesson. When we all pull in the same direction we can get almost anything done. That’s how we transformed Boston Harbor from a national disgrace into a source of opportunity and civic pride. We believe that it is also how to strengthen our community and our city today. So sing with us and celebrate all we’ve accomplished together on Boston Harbor and beyond.

Draw Yourself Sing Haul Away Joe

Imagine yourself as a Pirate Captain and draw your portrait! Way haul away, we’ll haul away together, Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!! Way haul away, we’ll haul away together, Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!!

Louis was the king of France before the revolution Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!! Then he got his head cut off, it spoiled his constitution Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!!

Way haul away, we’ll haul away together, Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!! Way haul away, we’ll haul away together, Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!!

When I was a little lass, the Harbor was a sewer Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!! Now it is the city’s gem, a joy to every viewer Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!!

Way haul away, we’ll haul away together, Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!! Way haul away, we’ll haul away together, Way haul away, we’ll haul away JOE!!

Read more historic and recent verses from our blog Save the Harbor Save the Bay would like to thank all of our foundation funding Sea, Sand & Sky - tinyurl.com/haulawaytogether partners, corporate sponsors and the thousands of individual donors whose generosity and support makes all our free programs possible. Now it’s your turn. Write a verse of your own (and/or draw a picture of yourself as a sailor or pirate) and share it with #savetheharbor on Facebook or Thanks as well to our Director of Strategy & Communications Bruce Berman, Twitter (or email a photo of this page to [email protected]). 2017 Artist in Residence Olga Karyakina, Senior Staff Assistant Ian James, Curriculum Coordinators Melissa Miller and Carolyn House and our team of For inspiration, watch our Boston Harbor Historian David Coffin perform talented interns and volunteers for bringing this project to life. Haul Away Joe at https://tinyurl.com/singhaulawayjoe

A special thanks to Sail Boston, for bringing the Parade of Sail and the Festival of Tall Ships to Boston Harbor in 2017, and to our partners at Bay State Cruise Company and Mass Bay lines for making it possible for us to share this ______extraordinary event with the region’s young people and their families.

You can find our more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the work we do to ______restore, protect and share Boston Harbor on our website at www.savetheharbor.org