Barnegat Bay Pirates - Tuckerton, NJ - Pirates on Waymarking.com

Even before early settlers came to this area in 1698, the indigenous Lenni Lenape Indians frequented this area for fishing and clamming. Settlers were attracted to this area by the vast protected waters of Barnegat Bay and the bounty it provided. The town, which sat along the Tuckerton River, beared many names before officially being renamed Tuckerton in March of 1789. Some names included "Andrew Mills", "Middle-of-the-Shore", "Clamtown", "Quakertown", and "Fishtown". On March 21, 1791, Tuckerton became the Third Port of Entry of the United States.

The Tuckerton Seaport Museum, located in historic Tuckerton, New Jersey is a working maritime village and museum. This 40-acre open-air museum, once known as the Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen’s Museum, includes 17 historic and recreated buildings reflecting the nature, people and maritime history of the area. Exhibits include displays, recreations, demonstrations and media.

Tucker's Island Lighthouse, one of the most prominent buildings of display, is a reproduction of the lighthouse built on Tucker Island in 1868. On October 10, 1927, the Tucker's Island Lighthouse fell into the Ocean. This iconic piece of the museum offers exhibits of New Jersey maritime history and its people: including pirates, lighthouse keepers and the US Lifesaving Service.

On the second floor of the lighthouse, exhibits about the local "Mooncussers and Barnegat Bay Pirates" explain how New Jersey, divided in stance on the Revolutionary War, saw the rise of both Patriot Privateers and Loyalist privateers raiding the shallow marshlands of the Barnegat Bay.

New Jersey's privateers were local businessmen that knew how to navigate in the shallow of the marshlands. The "Mooncussers" would set lighting on the shallows to attract ships to the shoals, then raid and plunder. Loot was often divided right in the taverns of shore towns like Tuckerton.

The museum was arranging diaplys during our visit, I am sure the exhibit on Pirates will just get better. For now, you can see a replica of a short cannon, common on the privateer ships of the period. And...a comical "Famous Pirates of Tuckerton" photo cutout can put you (well, mostly your kids) in the infamous reputation of being a pirate. aaarrrggh.

Site Description: Museum Exhibit Date of Pirate Activity (Estimated): 19th Century Reference Web-link or Book Title: www.TuckertonSeaport.org Site Admission (If needed): 8 Hours Available (If needed): Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm Additional Information (optional): Pirating in the Barnegat Bay required skillful, shallow water techniques and cunning.

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