8. They didn’t really make people walk the plank. Although walking the plank is common in contemporary pirate lore, most pirates just killed people straightaway. When they did torture their prisoners, it was usually through keelhauling (dragging a tied sailor in the water from the back of the ship), marooning a person on a deserted island or remote sandbar, or lashings with a leather whip.
9. Pirates didn’t always bury their treasure. Some pirates didn’t bury their treasure right away because they wanted their share of the loot beforehand. And a pirate’s treasure didn’t always include gold or silver; most of it was food, lumber, cloth, and animal hides.
10. Each pirate ship had its own set of rules and code. Almost every pirate ship had their own set of guidelines that all pirates had to agree to. This included how the loot would be divided, who had what chores, and what was expected of everyone. Believe it or not, one of the most common rules was no fighting onboard. If two pirates had a disagreement they’d have to wait, and fight on land.
Arrr, matey, did yar learn anything new? Do you have a pirate fact or myth you’d like to share? Tell us on Facebook or tweet it to us on Twitter—let’s talk pirate together.
Love pirates? Visit our interactive Pirates of Nassau Museum in the heart of downtown Nassau. Spend a whole afternoon (or day!) learning about pirate life, board the Revenge—a replica pirate ship—and buy yourself a pirate keepsake.