Pirates and privateering were a significant part of Chesapeake Bay history and the development of Virginia and Maryland.

The Chesapeake Region may not have been known for rum, but pirates?  

Pirates and privateers were a major presence in the Chesapeake Bay for nearly 200 years, and the area’s history is rich with stories of piracy.  Learn about the history of piracy on the Chesapeake Bay during the colonial period. The Chesapeake Bay was at the center of economic development in colonial times with ships carrying priceless cargo.  Find out how piracy impacted the shipping on the Bay and colonial trades.

The Dorchester Skipjack Committee

The Dorchester Skipjack Committee owns, preserves and operates the skipjack “Nathan of Dorchester” so as to promote Cambridge and Dorchester County’s maritime heritage by offering educational on-the-water experiences on a historically maintained boat.

What to expect:

Find out who the characters were in this fascinating maritime history.

David Rose

David Rose

David Rose is a resident of Cambridge and has a deep interest in the history of the Chesapeake Bay and its importance to the history, economy, crafts, cuisine and folkways of the area. David and his wife moved here from the Lehigh Valley after he retired from the State of New Jersey. His interest in history preceded his move to Maryland. He was involved in a variety of historical reenactments portraying periods covering the English Civil War, the Founding of Pennsylvania, the Colonial Period, and the mid-19th Century. He is currently a Board Member on the Dorchester Skipjack Committee which owns and sails the Nathan of Dorchester and volunteers as a crew member and docent.

David Williams

David Williams

David Williams is a Skipjack Captain, wood worker, and amateur boat builder and restorer. His fascination with all things boat related started at an early age spending summers on the shores of Lake Erie. David retired from Ford Motor Company in 2017 and he and his wife live near Cambridge Maryland. Beside captaining the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester, David is Head of Education Development for the Richardson Maritime Museum in Cambridge, a member of the Cambridge Rotary, the Dorchester Art Center and the Wednesday Morning Artist Group.

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