Blackbeard
Blackbeard is by far the most recognizable name of a pirate in history. Blackbeard actually grew up as Edward Teach. He was given the name Blackbeard on the sea because of his very long, thick black beard. The name Blackbeard is known for an intimidating, dangerous and ruthless pirate. Blackbeard’s rule of the seas took place in the 18th century. The history of his exploitations on the shores and waters of North Carolina are well documented. Most pirates consider the sea home, but when Blackbeard came ashore it was on North Carolina land. Blackbeard’s Beginning Teach served for several years on a pirate ship under another captain before, in 1717, he stole a ship for himself and formed a crew of his own. Teach and his crew, aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," captured a number of valuable cargoes off of the coasts of Virginia and the Carolinas.(“This Month in North Carolina History - The Death of Blackbeard,” n.d.) In or around 1718 Blackbeard and his crew captured two French ships, one which was full of sugar and cocoa. He sailed these shipped back to the North Carolina coast where he met Tobias Knight, the chief justice of North Carolina at the time. Blackbeard claimed he just came across the ships abandoned. During court proceedings, Blackbeard retold his ridiculous whale of a tale. The judgment was e was telling the truth. He was also given permission to keep the ships and cargo after he delivered sixty barrels of sugar to the Governor and twenty barrels of cocoa to Tobias Knight.(Zepke, 2005) Making it clear that laws could be broken and justice could be swayed with bribery. “Blackbeard was the boldest and most notorious of the sea rovers who infested the coastal waters of the English colonies in the New World in the Early 1700’s. His activities, and those of his contemporaries, are an integral part of the colonial history of the United States.”(Lee, 1984) |
Blackbeard's Flag
|
|
Blackbeard Lived and Died in North Carolina
There is a lot of Blackbeard history and folklores that are set on the North Carolina coast. He was familiar with the colonies and took refuge in early colonies like Bath. Ocracoke Inlet was Blackbeard’s favorite anchorage. All ocean going vessels bound for or leaving the settlements in North Carolina settlements passed by his base of operations here in the Ocracoke inlet. (Lee, 1984) It is in this location that Blackbeard lived as a smart, ruthless, fearless master of the seas. It is also in this inlet that Blackbeard lost his life in a battle against a sailor names Maynard. Blackbeard was widely feared for his violence and cruelty and cultivated a fierce appearance to intimidate his victims. This memorable description is from Charles Johnson's A General History of the Pirates, published in London in 1726: "This Beard was black, which he suffered to grow of an extravagant Length; as to Breadth, it came up to his Eyes; he was accustomed to twist it with Ribbons, in small Tails, after the Manner of our Ramilies Wiggs, and turn them about his Ears: In Time of Action, he wore a sling over his Shoulders, with three Brace of Pistols, hanging in Holsters like Bandaliers; and stuck lighted Matches under his Hat, which appearing on each Side of his Face, his Eyes naturally looking fierce and wild, made him altogether such a Figure, that Imagination cannot form an Idea of a Fury, from Hell, to look more frightful." (“This Month in North Carolina History - The Death of Blackbeard,” n.d.) Blackbeard is a legend known around the world, but he changed the colonization and the foundation of the North Carolina coast. Edward Teach was a powerful pirate in the 1700’s but there were many more pirates that helped to mold North Carolina. Everyone saw Blackbeard as the most ruthless of all pirates, but there is actually no record of him taking someone’s life by his own hand. (Zepke, 2005) Edward Teach was killed off North Carolina’s Outer Banks during a bloody battle with a British navy force sent from Virginia.(“Blackbeard killed off North Carolina — History.com This Day in History — 11/22/1718,” n.d.) |