PIRATE & OYSTER TRADITION
When the seas were ruled by the sword and cannon a small village emerged from the
sands of Cape Cod to become a world famous destination. Pirates and gentlemen alike
freely mingled, driven to Wellfleet for the secluded harbors and the promises of rich bounty
that would be found below the surface. Inns and taverns were packed with travelers from
around the world, and there was always a plentiful supply of fresh shellfish to go around.
Today a lot of people know about the storied pirate Sam Bellany and his treasure ship the
Whydah sinking within sight of the bluffs off Marconi. But few know the twisted fate of The
Irate Hellfish….Yaaarrrrr! As legend has it The Irate Hellfish was captained by the one
eyed pirate Ronny Shuckwell. It was his coastal exploration north of the Caribbean that
brought him to Wellfleet. It was there that Capt. Shuckwell was introduced to his first
“Wellfleet Oyster.”
For Capt. Shuckwell his first Wellfleet Oyster would not be his last. This mouthwatering
sensation became a passion for the once compulsively disciplined pirate. You see Capt.
Shuckwell did not reach his fill of raw oysters when it became time to return to the seas of
the Caribbean. As the ship was about to set sail the captain’s lust for oysters drove him to
pack his hull to the brim with his tasty shellfish.Within minutes of departure the crew
became panicked when they noticed that the hull was weighed down. As a result The Irate
Hellfish began to list suddenly to one side. Quickly realizing the stock of shellfish was too
much for The Irate Hellfish to handle the crew made the decision to throw the shellfish
overboard. Seeing his precious booty being hurled over the side Capt. Shuckwell became
angered and ordered his men to stop...but they would not. So the pirate did what he had
to do under such circumstances….he threw all the remaining crewmen overboard.
Breathing a sigh of relief Capt. Shuckwell quickly shot down a delicious Wellfleet Oyster.
He felt calm yet energized. He was going to be able to keep his shellfish and return to the
Caribbean…or was he? Suddenly the ship began to fill with water. Even without the
crewmen the weight of the shellfish was too great. Alas the shellfish pirate lay beneath the
sea with his precious treasure.
Today we pay tribute to Capt. Shuckwell and his passion for Wellfleet shellfish by naming
our company
Pirate Shellfish.
When the seas were ruled by the sword and cannon a small village emerged from the
sands of Cape Cod to become a world famous destination. Pirates and gentlemen alike
freely mingled, driven to Wellfleet for the secluded harbors and the promises of rich bounty
that would be found below the surface. Inns and taverns were packed with travelers from
around the world, and there was always a plentiful supply of fresh shellfish to go around.
Today a lot of people know about the storied pirate Sam Bellany and his treasure ship the
Whydah sinking within sight of the bluffs off Marconi. But few know the twisted fate of The
Irate Hellfish….Yaaarrrrr! As legend has it The Irate Hellfish was captained by the one
eyed pirate Ronny Shuckwell. It was his coastal exploration north of the Caribbean that
brought him to Wellfleet. It was there that Capt. Shuckwell was introduced to his first
“Wellfleet Oyster.”
For Capt. Shuckwell his first Wellfleet Oyster would not be his last. This mouthwatering
sensation became a passion for the once compulsively disciplined pirate. You see Capt.
Shuckwell did not reach his fill of raw oysters when it became time to return to the seas of
the Caribbean. As the ship was about to set sail the captain’s lust for oysters drove him to
pack his hull to the brim with his tasty shellfish.Within minutes of departure the crew
became panicked when they noticed that the hull was weighed down. As a result The Irate
Hellfish began to list suddenly to one side. Quickly realizing the stock of shellfish was too
much for The Irate Hellfish to handle the crew made the decision to throw the shellfish
overboard. Seeing his precious booty being hurled over the side Capt. Shuckwell became
angered and ordered his men to stop...but they would not. So the pirate did what he had
to do under such circumstances….he threw all the remaining crewmen overboard.
Breathing a sigh of relief Capt. Shuckwell quickly shot down a delicious Wellfleet Oyster.
He felt calm yet energized. He was going to be able to keep his shellfish and return to the
Caribbean…or was he? Suddenly the ship began to fill with water. Even without the
crewmen the weight of the shellfish was too great. Alas the shellfish pirate lay beneath the
sea with his precious treasure.
Today we pay tribute to Capt. Shuckwell and his passion for Wellfleet shellfish by naming
our company
Pirate Shellfish.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Wellfleet is riddled with a rich Pirate Tradition. As fur traders from Europe took advantage
of the American wilderness, Pirates took advantage of the ships headed back, loaded with
furs and other goods worth small fortunes. Cape Cod, acting as a natural port and
protective barrier, was a perfect haven for such Pirates.
Wellfleet's most famous Pirate is Captain Sam Bellamy of the Whydah. Bellamy wrecked
the galley off of Wellfleet April 26th 1717 sending 140 Pirates to their graves. Six more
were later convicted of piracy and hung in Boston. The majority of the treasure aboard
the ship is still yet to be found. According to the Whydah expedition website the ship is the
only confirmed pirate wreck ever discovered. A National Seashore trail leads straight to
the foundation of a genuine Pirate tavern on Great Island in Wellfleet.
Recently inspired Pirates in Wellfleet have included, the true pirate Brian Ramsdale, and
our good friend "Yellow Beard" Caleb Potter. These local Pirate enthusiasts have inspired
us all to live a pirates life. Bellow is our Pirate beginnings and the legend of Pirate Shellfish
of the American wilderness, Pirates took advantage of the ships headed back, loaded with
furs and other goods worth small fortunes. Cape Cod, acting as a natural port and
protective barrier, was a perfect haven for such Pirates.
Wellfleet's most famous Pirate is Captain Sam Bellamy of the Whydah. Bellamy wrecked
the galley off of Wellfleet April 26th 1717 sending 140 Pirates to their graves. Six more
were later convicted of piracy and hung in Boston. The majority of the treasure aboard
the ship is still yet to be found. According to the Whydah expedition website the ship is the
only confirmed pirate wreck ever discovered. A National Seashore trail leads straight to
the foundation of a genuine Pirate tavern on Great Island in Wellfleet.
Recently inspired Pirates in Wellfleet have included, the true pirate Brian Ramsdale, and
our good friend "Yellow Beard" Caleb Potter. These local Pirate enthusiasts have inspired
us all to live a pirates life. Bellow is our Pirate beginnings and the legend of Pirate Shellfish
Pirate links
| Great shots of Wellfleet Click the Clint |
"I am A Free Prince, and I
have as much authority to
make war on the whole
world, as he who has a
hundred sail of ships at
sea, and an army of
100,000 men in the field.
This my conscience tells
me."
1717 Capt. Sam Bellamy
have as much authority to
make war on the whole
world, as he who has a
hundred sail of ships at
sea, and an army of
100,000 men in the field.
This my conscience tells
me."
1717 Capt. Sam Bellamy
