Powder monkey

Article summary

ship of the line vessel during the American Civil War, circa. 1864 A powder boy or powder monkey manned naval artillery guns as a member of a ship's crew, primarily during the Age of Sail. Their chief role was to ferry gunpowder from the powder magazine in the ship's hold to the artillery pieces, either in bulk or as cartridges, to minimize the risk of fires and explosions. The function was usually fulfilled by boy seamen of 12 to 14 years of age, selected for the job for their speed and height: they were short and could move more easily in the limited space between decks and would also be hidden behind the ship's gunwale, keeping them from being shot by enemy ships' sharpshooters. Powder monkeys held no official naval rank on the ship. Some women and older men also worked as powder monkeys. Many of the powder monkeys in the Royal Navy were of the poor working class. The Marine Society encouraged youths to join the Royal Navy by providing clothes, bedding, and a rudimentary education. In the mid-1790s, it is estimated that the Marine Society was sending 500-600 boys per year to the fleet, although not all of these boys became powder monkeys. Of the boys who were recruited by the Marine Society, most had no other option than to join the navy, as their parents could not afford to raise them. However, a significant number had familial ties to the sea.…

Key claims

1. date of establishment: 1776 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of establishment is "1776". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1358550137