On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:54:51 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Skull and crossbones was not a common private signal used by pirates.

Um...no?

All Pirate Flags had some element of the skeleton and a fair majority
feature the skull and crossbones as a central element - or at least
the ones the more famous of the Pirates that remain intact. Those
that are part of the oral history follow the same format as those
remaining flags that are still part of the historical record.

Certainly not even beginning to approach the almost universal use
suggested by Hollywood.

How many ways can I say this...

Um...no?

The historical accuracy of the pirate flag can be traced quite
adeguately. Intimidation of the enemy or victim was an important part
of the Pirate's arsenal - the flags were designed to conjure up fear
and dread. Combined with the reputation of not showing mercy the
Pirate could intimidate an enemy to surrender sans resistance. Much
easier for the Pirates.

The images were often associated with a known pirates reputation or
could be used to display specific warnings. For example, Bartholomew
Roberts bore a grudge against the island colonies of Barbados and
Martinique, so in their waters he used a flag showing a pirate figure
standing on two skulls. Under one were the letters 'ABH' (standing for
'A Barbadian's Head'), and under the other was 'AMH' (for 'A
Martiniquan's Head'). The threat was clear.

I'm not going to get into the whole history of naval identification
and the evolution of red and black privateering flags into the Pirate
flag because it would stretch into a zillion words and it just ain't
worth it.

Suffice to say that the term Jolly Roger is derived from the French
(Jolie Rouge or Jolly Red) used by French privateers and/or Middle
English for Roger (begger or vagrant). There is also some discussion
about the term "Old Roger" relating to The Devil or Evil One. In any
case, there was an evolution from privateering flag to Pirate flag
when privateering was banned by law.

This is not to say that there wasn't any variation in the base design.
It is also true that, historically and by oral record, the only Pirate
to fly the classic Skull and Bones was Edward England. The first
reference to the modified Skull and Bones was Emmanuelle Wynne who
flew a black flag embellished with a skull, crossed bones and an
hourglass. Henry Every flew a basic skull and crossed bones, though
with the skull turned to the side on both a red and black flag. All
these were used prior to the turn of the 18th century. While there
isn't any surviving evidence, there is existing evidence that
additional emblems on the basic red or black Skull and Bones flag were
increasingly associated with piracy and different symbols were in turn
associated with individual pirate captains.

The common symbol was the skull, the symbol of death. It was also
frequently depicted in association with crossed bones which were
powerful death symbols of those times - evidence of this is prevelant
in grave markers of the times. During these times symbolism in art and
everyday life was powerful laced with incredible meaning. For
example, dancing skeletons meant dancing a jig with death, a
fatalistic reference the flyer didn't care about his fate. Others,
such as raised toasting glass and weapons indicated the same type of
death defying bravado.

In any case, the skull, skeleton and such were common identities of
Pirates and were indeed used.

Edward Teach - Horned skeleton and spear with bleeding heart.

Edmond Condent - Three Skull and Bones.

Edward England - Skull and Bones.

Henry Every - Skull sideways with Bones.

Christopher Moody - Winged hour glass, weapon, Skull and Bones

Jack Rackham - Skull with crossed swords.

Jean Lafitte - Skull and spears, Skull and Bones with some kind of
Voovo symbol.

Etc., etc., etc.

The "Yo-Ho" logo chosen by Harry at least addresses the reality that
it's all bogus and silly.

Well, on that we can agree. :)

But a hell of a lot of fun.