A deeper look into the Chastun Mosquito Fleet

The Mosquito Fleet a group of seaman in handmade bateau sailboat with quilt sails that harvested enough seafood to supply and the entire City of Charleston and surrounding Sea Islands daily from 1860 to 1940 then staggering to maintain till 1970's.
The City of Charleston was in ruins in the 1860 to the 1900 because of the Civil War and 90% of the residents in Charleston were Blacks and Native Americans. When the beauty of the Mosquito Fleet got its name it was way after CIVIL WAR but have been in operation before the Civil War. After the Panic of 1837 some slave of the sea island were released from in servitude for various reason, i.e. mainly financial reasons.  Since the laws were still SLAVE or DIE, the newly freed slaved travelled south. During the Seminole And Gullah Wars, more blacks escaped into freedom by the waterways. During the Civil War the blacks assisted in feeding the troops and their family with the waterway techniques thus leading up to the mass community of fishing vessels and kayaks. Contrary to Popular Belief, Blacks were not evacuated during the Civil War as the history books teach, they was hiding and fighting for survival.

     The Mosquito dynamic fleet made its way rowing in perfect harmony and rhythmic to the chants of homeward bound and good day harvest, swarms of sea birds like sea gulls and pelicans surrounded these small flat bottom boats awaiting the free meal of the throw-a-ways. The Throw-a-ways in Seashore Farmer language means the ones not needed. The throw-a-ways are not needed for various reasons are too little or to old or maybe pregnant, be mindful in the Gullah culture everything has a use and purpose and a reason.  The seaman were skilled boatman a craft passed down traditionally in the Gullah Geechee Communities, which is typical with most organic cultures. The skill of fishing as well as the skill of boat making was passed as well as the skill of sewing were maintained and held in protection even in difficult times. Yes, Gullah Men Sew. It is documented that some of the best Tailors in the City of Charleston were African Men, ask Bluestein Menswear in operation since 1883.
    First who were the men and woman of the Mosquito Fleet. No, it is not common for the woman to man the bateau boats but it was common to sell the fish at the markets, woman have done both. Now lets talk people, these captains and co captains of these mini ships were residents of the Sea Islands. The families who are involved in the waterways now were most likely to be the fisherman of the past unless forced to pick up another trade.  These were highly trained seaman who could navigate the ocean without navigational tools. The gifts of learning the waterways and to inherit a trade of navigation made these fisherman and their products highly prized. The history of the seaman in Oral history of the Gullah Geechee people is traced and researched back to times before colonialization of the indigenous people. African people have been navigating the oceans before they were capture to make the boats and ships for the European nations.
Departing from the downtown area for fishing is not a logical route for the fish and other sea creature lay in the shallows or in the ocean. The  boatmen from James Island and Johns Island would meet up in deep waters with the men from the Wando and  Awendaw area and together they would enter the Charleston Harbor, with their catches. The boats of the Mosquito Fleet was a motley crew, which showed the talent of uniqueness for the different styles in boats construction. All had one time in common "Guaranteed won't leak". Coming from a culture base where everything has a purpose or use and the enhancement of creativity from lack of access to proper material, and living in a society where purchasing things brand new was not likely because of RACIAL DISPARTIES, the boat builder did the best they could with what they had to work with. Most of the boats were constructed from scratch from recently cut or recently fallen Pine, Oak and/ or  Cypress Trees. Some of the old and abandoned civil war life boats were fixed and upgraded to survive on High winds and strong currents of the Atlantic Ocean. Some boats were patched together from old broken flat bottomed boats. All the boats were sailboats with oars. The sails were made from various types of materials. Some woman gave the men some left over materials from sewing duties from home and housework and this gave birth to the quilted sails or as commonly known patchwork sails.

    In knowing the history of Gullah Quilts, they tell a story or a chapter in ones life. What was the stories the Mosquito Fleet sails told?  Did the sails tell and chart the gigantic catches or how that captain named Spunky Shrimp got his name?

   Living in Charleston as a fisherman was very successful for the newly free social class creating a new age middle class.What made life easier to deal with was the journey home. Homes still hidden in Swamp and old plantation lands with Family away from the hateful things and people who degraded them as they willing sold their Catch of the Day in the markets and directly to the home, yet still dealing with laws that inflicted anger and rage on their people.  Using the natural skills passed down for survival, helped to elevate the fisherman to new class but time will tell and the laws will change because of the gross and disgusting idea that newly free enslaved people "needed to stay in their place"grew among the Charlestonians, specifically with Bankers, Loans offices and Insurance Companies.
    Now working as a boatman was one of  three parts, 2 onshore and 1 offshore. We are familiar with offshore it is the joy of harvesting from the seas. We are not so familiar with the onshore trip the Market. Yes, the City Market once referred candidly to as the Black Market.  The fish carts were handmade carts with a compartment for cutting and cleaning the fish. The actual purpose of the cart were to deliver the fish from the sea to the market. A concept that became entertainment to most, stories circulate of the memories of  fisherman singing about the fresh caught fish and what kind if fish. “Fish, fish, fish,” the singer would cry. “Oh, de porgy walk, and de porgy talk, De porgy eat with a knife and fork. Porgy, Porgy. Freeesh fish.” Once they fisherman made themselves down these narrow street to the bustling City Market, they unloaded the fresh catch to the Fish stands that lined the market street along with meats, clothing, and vegetables. The men would meet up with woman who sold fresh truck vegetable from the farms. Here is where we found most interesting in the oral discover, the husband and boyfriends were the fisherman and the wives and girlfriends were farmers. This type of two job household elevated the households and the communities, which is an uncommon household structure in this society but once again the mentality functioned on a different way of life pattern.
       The economic growth of the Sea Island owners was a threat to the surrounding area as the businesses became successful Sea Islanders purchased more lands thus creating wealth and the establishment of independent community neighborhoods. The land purchased were identified as unlivable, Marsh, etc. it was about the land. But those who had more power controlled the access to items for only merchants made it very hard to want to do business as the Mosquito Fleet and other African descent. For example buying wood for ship building, net mesh, even paint were difficult to purchase from manufactures.  Daily life was difficult as the ideology of the fisherman grew in the reality of HATRED and DEGRADATION grew as well. Yes, everyone loved the fisherman, but the small time fisherman was now under attack.  The Mosquito Fleet was the beginning of commercial fishing industry and competition was right around the corner.
Hurricane Gracie 1959
Natural devastation from storms and hurricane Gracie took out most of the Mosquito Fleet. The outstanding question is What happened to the Mosquito Fleet of Charleston. Well, without having access to insurance polices and bank account and new law that prevent the usage of organic ways to build boats. That is what decimated the numbers from hundreds of fisherman to a mere hundred.
It is commonly known about the racial discrimination and Jim Crow laws, but it also affected the blacks in Charleston through simple laws like Permit Regulations.  These also affected the small independent farmer/ fisherman in recent times, i.e. 2016.

      In order to understand the answer you have understand the environment, black life is not a vacuum. So here is the scenario that majority of the blacks in Charleston( probably around the world) faced during the "Mosquito Fleet" time (1860-1950). After Civil War, During Reconstruction and the Application of the JIM CROW LAWS (1865-1957). Do you have the scene in your mind. I would have put a picture but that will incite pain and anger so back to the situation.  I lost my boat due to a natural disaster, I can't go to the Bank even though I got money. I can't get insurance because the individual companies have Policies that permits them from issuing insurance to me. OK. Well I got land so I will just do build me a new boat, myself. But hold up. A law was passed in a meeting that I was not aware of and I was not allowed to go into anyway said they are creating for ORDER a permit system for EVERYTHING. But I (a citizen do not know, yet.)Which means in order to build my boat from my tree on my land and fish in my lake, I have to get a permit. OK here the problem.  I could not get a permit because I need an ID. I could not get an ID because you have to read and write but I can not read or write because the laws did not permit me to go to SCHOOL. So do to continuous frustration and running around in circles, most ex fisherman took up another trade or took their trade back to the Sea Island. The descendants who remained with the crafts later opened Backman' s Shrimp Company, Wando,  There it is, part of the answer to WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MOSQUITO FLEET?
Since the Mosquito Fleet help to expand the fish/ seafood market and now due to other circumstances was no longer able to maintain existence.  The entrance way for the new age shrimper or fisherman with more technical equipment and boats eventually squashed the Mosquito Fleet out of existence.

The pylons of the Mosquito Fleet docks still remain but unused. "General Pinckney deeded land on the banks of the Cooper River to the fleet so they would have a highly visible space to dock and show off their catch. This land was to remain in the possession of the fleet as long as there were living members to use it. Sadly, it now sits in the hands of the Port Authority fenced off and unused, surrounded by high rise condos and port terminals."

 
To The families of the glorious and adventurist seaman who charted areas still undocumented without navigational tools, I say THANK YOU. Without the sacrifices, we would not have these wonderful stories of determination and success despite outstanding odds. Those who still remain true to the art in the world of fishing, We say THANK YOU. The Gullah art of Boat making and skillful trade for Seashore Farming slowly dwindling but in existence, so I say relearn the trade and the history.

Thank you to all who have inquired to keep the memories alive and for writing the stories and doing the research.

Explore the Sea Island: Sol Legare, opened my eyes to a world within a world right next door

On April 23, 2016  The doors to the Seashore Farmer's Lodge will open this year to give the people a chance to understand  the preserved Gullah and Southern Culture of the Enslaved and Free Africans in the lowcountry. This will be hosted by local Gullah Geechee descendants.

Have you ever wondered what was down the Road pass the Harris Teeter on the way to Folly Beach. It is a living Gullah Geechee Community, The Sol Legare Island Community.
Have you driven down Sol Legare Road to the Boat Landing or  on the right before you get to Backman's Seafood and seen the big white house sitting solely in a open yard next to a giant pecan tree. Well that is not a house, that is a independent museum dedicated to the preservation of the Gullah Geechee and African American Culture and Native American Culture. It is called the Seashore Farmer's Lodge Museum and African American Culture Center. I can go on to do the spill of the history and more but that story has been told. For more on the in depth, I thought BeBestby did a fabulous historical layout check out.
What is a Seashore Farmer? A Seashore Farmer is a fisherman or a seaman. They harvest most of their products from the marsh and creeks and ocean. The people of this regional area are famous for water farming. The history of rice is being preserved and most know its cultivation in the lowcountry.  The Seashore Farmers would also trade and sell food with the neighboring areas and Johns Island creating mini markets within the hidden communities.  There are several interdependent seashore farmer's that exist within the community today. The farmer's created outdoor markets and farm stands with goods of everyday use for the local and surrounding communities. The history of the City Market is tied to the Sol Legare Island and Battery Island areas, with the first farmers and fisherman that began selling products on the city markets were families. The farmer's names are in the history books and have been long forgotten from the lips of the writer but in oral history their story still lives on.
Did they practice VOODOO?
The religious history of the lowcountry Gullah Geechee people is hidden away from the public or masked inside the common accepted faiths i.e. Christianity or masonic ways for preservation from religious exploitation. As I discovered it is still very well hidden, only specific people will speak and others will mock, but no one will give leads to the deeper connection of the Gullah people true spiritual history.   However, the upper deck of building is one of the first masonic lodges on the Sea Island. Not just any masonic lodge but truly a cover for the secret African society: Poro and Sande. In the griot stories, it is hinted to the secret societies within the Gullah Geechee culture. These were West African secret "masonic" societies that have been secretly passed down generation to generation and hidden in the accepted masonic lodge and away from the persecution of the public society. During my research, the residents are very skeptical and skittish in their response about the secret society and the upper deck of the lodge. Some did expose the truth in a nod.

The history of Africans culture is very complex; every time the surface is scratched it reveals other layers. I wonder why are the residents remain quite about the deep history. In digging for answers we found an connection. The Poro, or Purroh, is a men's secret society in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and the Ivory Coast, introduced by the Mande people(the area in which the Gullah Geechee people are direct genetic descendants). Poro is sometimes referred to as a hunting society and only males are admitted to its ranks, hint to the Rights of Passage: hunting. The female equivalent of the Poro is the Sande society,  is  reserved for females, but members of the Poro are admitted to certain ceremonies.


I took a tour and was truly impressed with the Griots and the Artifacts, most of all I was loving the area and the people. So friendly and encouraging, it makes you feel like home.  Visiting with the locals is always fun and exciting. The community is starting to look to open their doors more to the public and we will keep you posted on the expansion of more of the Explore the Sea Island. Every time I go the  museum I learn something new.  I got my tickets, Do YOU? Now we plan the FOOD!!

Explore the Sea Island : A Walking Tour and Gullah Lunch

Did you know that the Gullah Geechee in the Low country, close to City of Charleston, has their own Museum called Seashore Farmer's Lodge Museum. The Museum is the heart of Sol Legare Island.

The purpose of the explore the Sea Island event is to give the public and opportunity to come inside and view artifacts, documents, and knowledge that is not possess by any on of the other museums. The opportunity to walk the Hallowed Battleground. The history knowledge given is both oral and performed by the Storyteller Guide aka Jele. The storytellers Parks and Brown will lead the event with memorable entertainment. Listen to the story as they were passed down traditionally. The Seashore Farmer's Lodge Museum has a unique quality not found by any others museum in the surrounding area. The tours are impressive and eventful but most of all memorable. The Explore the Sea Island is just a sneak peak into the life of a Gullah Geechee in the past and in the present.  The tour will end with an authentic lunch. The menu will be posted on the day of the event. The dishes are prepared by the local Gullah Home Cooks, who have inherited the trades from their ancestors of the past.  All dishes are generational and authentic. The event is hosted by A Taste of Gullah and the Seashore Farmer's Lodge Museum and Culture Center. The tickets are on sale $25 in advance and $35 on April 23, 2016,

https://squareup.com/store/a-taste-of-gullah-charleston.

The contact information is Giovanni Richardson  tasteofgullah@gmail.com  843-530-4242.

Beer and Crabs part 2

The question of Who is the Chef for the Island Crabs Event?
TOG responded: No Professional Chef  follower replied: All these great chefs in Charleston and you did not get one.
TOG respond: with All those greats chefs in Charleston and NONE cook food from the Lowcountry, so we don't want any.
The search for authenticity in the restaurant downtown is a waste of time. There is no authenticity for Gullah foods, forgot it on the peninsula. So there will be no professional chef at the crab stations. what? why? We pride ourselves on our ability to produce authentic foods and historical traditional meals so we will not allow for non traditional professional chefs to cook because no professional chefs in the downtown Charleston make traditional Gullah dishes. In order to provide the skill of authenticity, we had to search out community cooks in the regional area. That is a real challenge. This is no way an attack but a recognition of reality. Cooking Lowcountry styled Gullah Geechee authentic meal is a serious skill. Authentic recipes can be tweeked but most recipes that started out as authentic have been recreated and now renamed "lowcountry dishes". That in itself is another story.
Community cooks are long-term traditionalist or train in the culture of authenticity, they operate major Gullah events like funerals or church dinners. They also cook for large amounts like family reunion and parties. Spicy Hot birn ya mout up station ran by Taylor Ladson descendant of the historical Ladson House. Da Candyman will run the fried crabs station.  Garlic Crabs will be handled by Ramon the horticulturist.
A Taste of Gullah  have an obligation to provide authentic meals. We had opportunity to review the different cooks and those preparations methods. This is one of the many events highlighting the Gullah /Geechee way of life authentic traditionalist.
www.tasteofgullah.com
Island Beer And Crabs

Beer and Crabs: a combination unlike any other

As the men come out the creek with white buckets and make a motion to the woman, who respond by getting up from their place overlooking the children at play. A long whistle comes from down the way and the children stop. At the same time without warning, the children scatter gathering small wood branches and any type of paper that can be found. Some one cries out for the Big Crab Pot. Laughter and fun and then the fire is lit and collectively the ingredients are placed in the new home; onion, seasonings, BEER and a little bit of water, a lid and now set your space. Stories are told mainly ghost stories as the children  wait for the boil of the pot. This is one of many experiences of a gullah crab crack.
Crab cracks are not rigid and stiff just like its ever-growing culture it evolves. Crab cracks literally translates as the eating of crabs, so it can take place in homes, back yards or at parties.
The Island Beer and Crabs is an onsode look at a gullah crab crack with a taste of different flavors crabs in the gullah region. Crabs flavors vary depending on mood and availability of ingredients. The four flavors presented at the Island Beer and Crabs event on August 1, 2015 are steam, garlic, spicy-hot and fried with a flour or traditional cornmeal batter. Basic Steamed crabs are seasoned with Backmans Crab Seasonings and prepared by A Backman Associate. Garlic crabs is a local favorite prepared with a oral recipes and prepared by local oral historian. Spicy-Hot and fried is another local favorite way of "crackin crabs".
Come out to experience a taste of gullah crab crack.
We thank everyone for their participation portion of the proceeds raised will be dedicated to the Friends Of Backmans fund for the Island Seafood Bash celebrating 65Year anniversary of Backman Seafood Company. Reminder all tickets purchased for the Original August 16date will be honored on the 8-1event . Cum crack wit we.
Www.tasteofgullah.com

Cultural Tours of the Gullah-Geechee

We talk about culture, we say we embrace it but if being different creates issues how is accepting the unknown even possible. The world was introduced to the exploring Africans prior to slavery or even the Mayflower. In fact, in the early 1460's, Sir Henry of  France acquired African ship building techniques designs and sailing instruction before  he constructed larger cargo and faster moving ship, with the intentions of transportation of the Slave cargo during the Middle passage. These ships were the ships that were used to spread the Gullah around the world. Some people question the truth of the Gullah people of the American Sea Island.

       When we learn about the Gullah of the Sea Island, most of what we learn is limited due to the fact that the information is limited to the public. Does this means that the people involve are incapable of retaining their own history or do the people who want to know more don't know who to get the information. The cultural is a oral cultural so the Oral Historians have most of the culture. In the past the Europeans called them "silly story", but the Africans knew these were "Jelle", "Griot,  Storyteller" tales told like the ancestors homeland of Sierra Leone. These stories were tall tales mainly morally based that required much acting out and pantomime for entertainment.  http://thegullahstoryteller.com/Welcome.html

      As we explore the travels of the middle passage slave trade, we understand the travels take us from the mother continent, Africa, to the sister continent, South America, Cuba, West Indies, Haiti, Barbados, Bahamas, Louisiana, Alabama and of course the Gullah concentrated States; Fla, GA, NC, SC. These areas have a common linguistic connection with the West African regions. In the world of the Gullah Elders, we call this Medu Neter, translated as Mother Nature. However in the African culture, nothing is not one levels because the culture is based on levels. As we learn the depths of the Gullah Geechee culture, we will understand that if the language has geographic connection so does everything else; food, music, celebrations, spirituality, historical and family.  

      Before the adjustment to the harsh conditions of living in the America, the Gullah-Geechee people thrived well with an abundance of skills in various backgrounds as seen in the inventions
and contributions from the Gullah to the Lowcountry. As we explore the travels of the Gullah people, we can see similar contributions in various areas.   We can document back to 10,000 BCE to find out the African skills and knowledge brought to America and Europeans world were many.  Here in the Lowcountry, we see an a lot of culinary contributions from the Gullah- Geechee people. The lowcountry is a common word used to describe the uniqueness of the culture in this area, but it is really referring to the Gullah-Geechee culture. The most popular finds are shrimp and grits, Frogmore stew(original recipe has actual frogs), Barbeque all these lovely dishes have been altered to be called lowcountry, but originally developed by the hands of the Gullah-Geechee.