14. Sleeping Quarters

On all ships, during the age of sail, the Captain had the large cabin at the stern (or back) of the ship. He had a regular bed or sometimes a bed on gimbals so that the bed always stayed level.  Many times a Telletale compass would hang over the Captain or Navigators bed or hammock  and was used to keep an eye on the ships heading while they were resting.  

The Officers had small, windowless cabins between the captain’s cabin and the rest of the ship with bunks fixed onto the hull. 

The Crew slept in hammocks below deck that were slung from the deck overhead. Large ships had a Berthing Deck. On smaller ships the hammocks were hung in and amongst the Mess Area.  Hammocks were stowed when not in use. This was the first duty of a crew member upon waking. 

Space on board ship was extremely limited so sailors and pirates could not carry many belongings with them during voyages. Those who owned more than the suit of clothes on their backs used canvas Sea Bags and wooden Sea Chests. 

On larger ships a sailor or pirate might bring a Sea Chest.  Made from wood, the Sea Chest was not only his storage locker, it served as table, seat, workbench and was often decorated lavishly in his free-time aboard ship. The one thing on a Sea Chest that was almost always made by the sailor were the rope handles at either end, called Beckets. 

Sea Bags were often used on smaller ships or shorter voyages. A Sea Bag is a canvas duffle bag.  A sailor stowed his personal effects in the big canvas bag and lashed his hammock to it and then stowed it on a hook aboard ship.  He could also hoist it over his shoulder and in effect move his entire home and complete inventory of earthly possessions from ship to ship.  

At this stop notice the difference between a vintage Sea Bag and Sea Chest.  Also notice the Telltale Compass mounted above the hammock.