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Watches, Bells and Daily Routine |
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As the Picaroons and privateers were private concerns, in general they did not have lieutenants to command each watch. Rather the Master, Quartermaster, Bosun each would take a watch. Muchof daily life aboard ships would be the same, however, be it a merchant vessel, privateer, or naval vessel. |
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Daily Routine |
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Watches The period of time that each division of crew either is on deck (on duty), or below decks (at ease). Also refers to the officers and crew of each of these divisions. Usually crews were divided into two or three watches. |
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On a Royal Navy vessel, a lieutenant commands each watch, Although a Warrant Officer, not commissioned, the Master was qualified to stand a deck watch, or command a naval vessel engaged in operations other than combat. |
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Afternoon Watch
(1200 to 1600 hours)
Traditionally the day starts at noon with the entering of the day, date, and observation on the log board. (observation taken just before noon)
The bell was struck eight times , The crew is piped to dinner.
The crew receives the first half of the grog or ration afterwards on deck.
Two Bells, the Officers dined.
Three Bells, the watch on duty was called to their stations.
The other watch(es) were at ease, unless all hands were called to drill (fire, boarding, gunnery, etc.) |
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Ship's Bells
The bell was used to note the passage of time during the watch, and the bell was struck each time the Watch-glass (half-hourglass) was turned. |
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For Example;
Afternoon Watch
Eight Bells at 1200 hours
One Bell at 12:30
Two Bells at 13:00
Three Bells at 13:30
Four Bells at 14:00
Five Bells at 14:30
Six Bells at 15:00
Seven Bells at 15:30
Eight Bells at 16:0 |
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First Dog Watch and Second (Last) Dog Watch
(1600 to 1800 hours) and (1800 to 2000 hours)
Evening meal and second grog or beer rations served (by watches of crew)
Just before sunset, the drummer beat to quarters, assembling the whole ship's company at their battle stations for inspection. Men then were released, and recovered their hammocks from the netting. |
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First Watch
(2000 hours to Midnight)
Eight Bells, Lights extinguished. Master at arms begins his series of nightly rounds. |
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The Boatswain's Call |
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Middle Watch (or Graveyard Watch)
(Midnight to 0400 hours)
Morning Watch
(0400 to 0800 hours)
Eight Bells, the Carpenter and Boatswain begin their repair work. Cook lights fires and begins breakfast.
Two Bells, the watch begins to wash the decks and polish the the planks. Decks were dried while others polished the brightwork, and still others flemished lines.
Six Bells, the first Lieutenant to supervise remaining work for the day.
Seven Bells, Boatswain's mate pipes up all hammocks, and the crew stores their hammocks in the netting. |
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Forenoon Watch (0800 to 1200 hours)
Eight Bells, Captain comes on deck. Captain confers with First Lieutenant, and releases crew for Breakfast.
One Bell, new watch comes on deck. Crew bags and chests brought on deck by this watch, so lower decks can be cleaned. The watch worked in messes (divided by the mess tables that each group uses at dinner) Eachmess may work at assisting the cook, stow provisions in the hold, shift ballast, repair duties, or maintenance. The Captain reviews the Gunner's, Purser's, Boatswain's, and Carpenter's accounts, and examines the Midshipmen's logs, and Confers with the Lieutenants.
Six Bells, Captain may call hands to witness punishment and order the boatswain to rig a grating for a flogging. |
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Before Public Address systems, there had to be a way to pass orders aloft and below. Much like a bugle or fifes and drums were used on the battlefield, the Boatswain's (Bo'sun's)Pipe or Call was used for such purposes.
Learn more here |
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Learn To Identify a Vessel By Her Rigging |
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Baltimore Clipper - American name for a fast schooner or brig-rigged vessel, with raked masts and a sharp bow (35 - 120 feet / 90 to 200 tons) |
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Barge - a naval flag officer's boat, or one fitted as such for ceremonial purposes. A long, narrow boat, generally with no fewer than ten oars. |
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Barky- sailor's slang for a vessel well liked by her crew. |
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Barque (Bark) |
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- A vessel of three or more masts, the mizzen-mast being rigged fore and aft, the foremast and main-mast rigged square. |
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Brig - |
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a two-masted vessel, square-rigged on both masts with a large main staysail, but lacking a course on the main yard. The sheet of the Fore-and aft brigsail is secured to a boom. |
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Bumboat - a scavenger's boat, used to remove filth from ships in the Thames. A boat used to carry merchandise to sell to the ships in harbor. |
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Cutter - |
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A fast single masted scout ship, considered seaworthy, first used by the British Navy in 1763. Also, when belonging to a ship of war, a ship's boat broader and shorter than a barge or pinnance, for rowing or sail. |
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Frigate - |
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a fast, fully rigged ship with a raised quarterdeck and forecastle. usually of 20 to 50 guns, and used for communications and scouting. |
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Gig - a light, narrow, clinker built ship's boat, for either sail or rowing. |
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Galley - a low, sea-going vessel propelled by oars. Common for fighting in the Chesapeake, or for use by the captain of a Man-of-war. Used as a warship in the Baltic until the 1790's. |
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Jolly boat - a ship's boat, smaller than a cutter, with a bluff bow and a wide stern, usually hoisted at the stern of a vessel. |
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Ketch - |
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strongly built two masted vessel. an open forward section made them useful for mounting large mortars. |
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Launch - largest ship's boat of a man-of-war. more flat bottomed than a merchant's longboat. Often with one fore-and-aft sail. |
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Lighter - a vessel used for the purpose of resupply for ships involved in a blockade, or ships that are unable to enter a harbor. |
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Man-Of-War - a vessel armed for war and carrying three decks of great guns. An armed ship of a national navy. |
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Pram - a flat bottomed boat (or lighter) to transport cargo French; A small, flat bottomed ship with two or three masts and mounted with 10 to 20 guns |
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Punt - flat bottomed craft with square ends. |
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Schooner - |
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a vessel with two masts, rigged with fore-and-aft sails on all lower masts. See also Ketch, as a Ketch could be Schooner-Rigged. |
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Sea Shanties - worksongs of the seas |
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Shallop - a boat used in shallow waters or between ships, either sail or oar propelled. a large, heavy boat with one fore-and-aft rigged mast. |
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Ship - a vessel of three or more masts, all square rigged, having jibs, staysails and a spanker. |
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Sloop - |
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originally a term for any vessel that was relatively small and did not fit any other category, by 1760, it refered to three masted ships with 14 -16 mounted guns. By the early 1800s, it refered to either Square-Rigged Sloops of three masts, OR two masted BRIG-Rigged Sloops |
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Sloop-ofWar - A U.S. Navy designation during the 1800s of a ship with one deck of guns, of any Rigg. The USS Constellation, for example, is shipp rigged, but designated as a Sloop-of-war. |
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Snow - similar to a brig, but set a course on the main, and having no staysail, but with a loose-fitted fore-and-aft sail set on a snowmast. |
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Wherry - a wide sailing barge with a single mast and a large mainsail. |
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Xebec - a large two or three masted vessel of shallow draft and an onverhanging bow and stern. |
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Main Menu |
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Daily Life on Tall Ships Menu |
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