Captain Freeman and Pirates on Cape Cod

by Donna Cain

We recently had the pleasure of visiting  the new Pirate museum on Cape Cod, the Whydah Pirate Museum.  In all honesty, we went because our grandson Trenton was visiting, and we thought he would enjoy learning  about pirates. I was unsure of what to expect but thought it would be commercial and not education. Boy was I wrong!

This museum is impressive! It’s an interactive science museum that features really authentic looking pirates ( they must be wax as they looked so real), a life-size replica of the ship Whydah and real treasures…there was even a chest of silver coins! The best part was learning about the discovery and how Barry Clifford uses a scientific process to remove the artifacts from the concretions that form around the treasures. These artifacts have rested under 50 feet of water and 20 feet of sand, holding 300-year-old secrets that Clifford and his team are only starting to unearth.

Hoping to someday meet Clifford, as he is quite an adventuresome archeologist! His work is impressive, and he has teamed up with National Geographic to share his authenticated pirate coins, pistols, swords, and other artifacts with the world. Back then, Clifford says, “My goal was adventure. If it wasn’t adventurous, if it wasn’t dangerous, I basically wasn’t interested. It was in a place called the graveyard, where over 3,000 ships had wrecked and it had really tantalized my sense of adventure, along with the other guys I was involved with.” One of those “other guys” was John F. Kennedy Jr.

The Whydah was a fully rigged galley ship built by the British. During one of its voyages in 1717, it was captured by the famed pirate Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. The Whydah and its crew pirated 53 vessels, collecting their riches and treasures during the Golden Age of Piracy. During an infamous storm off the coast of Wellfleet the Whydah ship sunk in 1717; there were only 2 survivors. The Whydah’s legend was passed down among generations throughout the cape as its treasure laid just 500 feet off the shore for over 250 years.

 

How lucky are we to have this 12,000-square-foot “treasure trove”  museum on Cape Cod!

Thinking back to our Captain Freeman who was born in 1820 and commanded many clipper ships in the mid 1800’s and after doing some “pirate research”, I found that there was a decline in piracy from 1730-1900. How lucky for Captain Freeman.

He did, however, survive several mutinies and fires onboard that are chronicled in his journals. We have recently made the Captain Freeman Inn our home and as we are remodeling and preserving this beautiful building, I find myself thinking back to how it must have been for Captain Freeman and his family in the 1800’s. His daughter Phebe was known to travel often with her father during his sea adventures on many different Clipper ships. Can’t quite imagine how Mrs. Freeman felt about her husband and daughter leaving for months at a time.

Brewster is a wonderful place to explore, as our historical town is filled with many quaint building including our popular old fashion store- the Brewster General Store, which is just a few steps from the inn.

Consider a getaway to our lovely inn and include a trip to Yarmouth where you can visit the Whydah Pirate Museum and our favorite miniature golf, Pirates Cove.

What trip would be complete without an ice cream from Cape Cod Creamery.

 

This innkeeper is very much looking forward to our summer season. We have made many changes to the inn over the winter months including 3 new baths, redecorated tea room, a new salt water heated pool, new garden and fun game area included corn hole and croquet. Happy Spring everyone and look forward to hosting you at our Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast.