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The Difficulties of Researching the Time of 1650 to 1750

Captain_Python

Captain_Python

Rogue Scholar
I have been trying to research the time period of 1650 to 1750. I have looked from all over the Internet for facts. But in the end, the Internet only gives minimal information. The Internet cannot answer deep questions for this time period. For research of this time period, it will be digging into books and old collections of articles from the original time period. If you take a look at Pirates of the Burning Sea's Efforts, you will read that they have scoured many Libraries, gone to the Smithsonian Institute, and much more. But there is one thing that you need that POTBS has, <u>MONEY</u>. If someone is serious in researching this time period, they better have money to find the facts. So as a suggestion to you historians out there, think ahead of yourself on how dedicated you are to this study. This time period needs as much money and time put into it as any hobby anyone has. There are some time periods that you can find most things you could possibly want on the Internet or Common Library (I have noticed that the American Civil War has grown that big). While this time periods requires you <u>BUY</u> books from the internet, like on Amazon.com. Not to discourage you historians, but it is hard to get past the level of knowledgeable in this time period without buying books.
 
It is difficult to research this time period - and earlier - due to the fact that there were still very few written records - who was educated? The wealthy, royalty, and to a minimal extent, the military. Who kept records? Military, royalty, the wealthy. Did much survive in the way of records? Only if it was printed on good paper with good inks. Who had good paper and good inks? Again, wealthy, royalty, military...

It all goes back to money.

The only true way to research what was happening with someone like a common sailor is to look at the aural tradition - folksongs... A lot of what we know about common folk from these eras is in the songs that have survived long enough for someone with good paper and good ink to set them down in an archive...

Putting a lot of this on the internet is a `time-consuming` and costly task for ANYONE, not to mention the expenses involved. Much of what is on the internet today is graphical, but before graphical browsers began to be used on the internet, all you had was universities exchanging information - TYPED info, not any pix or graphics - via modem connections.

The internet is still a great repository of information, but it is far from perfect...
 
I have to admit that the internet has helped me immensely over the years doing research.
Many of the sources I use include estate inventories, wills, and so forth on geneological websites. Other records are available off the net include journals from various websites (do a title search, the book may just be online).
Depending on the subject matter, a keyword search will produce results. I also refer to other period journals when referencing clothes, weapons, foods, etc.
Other primary sources include period drawings available from many historical websites.
You may also wish to try national, state, or local historical societies, university websites (archaeological info), and so forth.
Your local library may just have a few good books to start with, for example, the `Time-Life` series "The Seafarers" has a lot of great period artwork. I refer to the Oxford English Dictionary for definitions of period terms.
Most importantly, use primary sources for references and documentation, modern historians tend to take material out of context, fabricate material, or even plagiarize (one well known national historian I met sadly became known for this).
Since I'm a former weapons puke, I have many references regarding weaponry of the time frame.
Hope this helps. Is there any area we're looking to research?

Yours, &c.

Mike
 
No problem Captain P!
My current area of study is William Augustus Bowles, privateer of the 1790's/early 1800's and "Director General of the Muskogee Nation". There isn't much in any local library about him, but I have found some great info on him in the state library online. Heck, he even had his own flag.
Lot's of great information on the PA forum, thanks for the hard work!

Yours, &c.

Mike
 
Yeah the internet is good if you know what to look for and where to look. Beyond that I peruse lots of used & rare book shops, and scour the bibliographies of the books I have to locate further sources. And yes, I do spend a good bit of money on books. You have to, to build a suitable library. But on the bright side, a good book is NEVER a waste of money unlike so many other things.
Luckily most of the major works on piracy are available in paperback at a good price. Visiting sites like the Whydah museum, Williamsburg, Barbados, etc are also excellent ways to pick up books that aren't widely available in commercial places like Amazon or Borders. University libraries are also a good spot.
Just keep diggin' and you'll find stuff!
 
Here's an excellent informational link - Sir Christopher found it (THANK YOU!), and I am passing it along -

<a href="http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/marit.htm" target="_blank">http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/marit.htm</a>

It's the Maritime History and Naval Heritage homepage... Some really cool stuff there - some of it's a little late for your targeted time period, but there is some great info there, just dig in and you'll see. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
Do `inter-library` loans through your local library. You can pull a REAL book from ANY library in the US. If you need a different book not in a pulic library you can try a trick i did after graduating college. Audit a class and `inter-library` loan through the university library. This allows you access to the ENTIRE PLANETS university libraries and also those of the Vatican. This is where true knowledge is to be found instead of these crappy "this is the original text" internet pages that are typed with ALOT of errors inluding dates,places, and proper spellings. Try it, i swear you'll get the best results. (my wife is a librarian by the way so I know how much they actually WANT to help you find information)
 
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