Little is known about the origin of Blackbeard. Documents suggest both Bristol and London in England (GOD save the Queen!), the island of Jamaica, and even Philadelphia as his home. He is said to have operated out of Jamaica as a privateer during Queen Anne's War (1702-1713)previous to becoming a pirate !

Historical sources vary as to Blackbeard's real name. Popularly Known as Edward Teach, documents of the time indicate that his surname was most often written "Thatch." The name Drummond is mentioned by one early source, but this is not supported by the vast volume of other documentation.

Blackbeard began his piratical career under the command of Benjamin Hornigold. Hornigold's activities as a pirate can be traced back to 1714, but it is not known for sure when Thatch joined his crew. The earliest mention was in a ship's captain's report indicating his presence in Providence, Bahamas in March of 1717.

Blackbeard participated in the capture of over fifty vessels, some in association with the other pirate leaders, Hornigold and STEDE BONNET. Due to Blackbeard's terrifying image and reputation, most Captain's gave up without a fight when he attacked!

Following the loss of the "QUEEN ANNE'S REVENGE" off Beaufort Inlet, Blackbeard made his way towards Bath. There in June 1718 he received the King's pardon from North Carolina's Governor Charles Eden. However, the pirate soon returned to his former activities.

Blackbeard was eventually tracked down at Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina, by volunteers from the Royal Navy and killed in a brief, but bloody battle on November 22, 1718. His head was hung in Virginia as a warning to other Pirates.... Aye, but I pay's them no mind...

AARRGGHHH!

Thatch and Hornigold captured a French slave ship called the "Concorde" off the island of St. Vincent on November 28, 1717. Hornigold gave Blackbeard the ship and retired from piracy soon after.

French historical documents indicate that the "Concorde" was a 200 ton vessel with an original armament of 16 cannons. Thatch strengthened the armament of the ship to around 40 cannons, renamed her the "QUEEN ANNE'S REVENGE", and for the next six month's used the ship in consort with smaller sloops to harass shipping throughout the caribbean and up the eastern seaboard of North America. According to various letters and dispositions, Blackbeard ran both the Q.A.R. and a smaller consort sloop "ADVENTURE", aground off Topsail inlet(present day Beaufort Inlet)in early June 1718. According to reports left by some of the pirates who were present, Blackbeard did this in order to break up his company of 300 to 400 men. This effectively allowed the pirates to divide the plunder accumulated to that point among far fewer men; 40 or less by some accounts.

If the physical remains of Blackbeard's flagship have indeed been located, they will have lain relatively undisturbed and unnoticed off Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina for almost 280 years. The on-going field projects will take several years to complete and even additional years to accomplish the associated tasks of artifact conservation, interpretation, and analysis.

Like many, i suppose, Blackbeard has alway's been my favorite Pirate and truly one, if not the most infamous Pirate's of all time. I will try to supply more info on me Cap'n as i retrieve it. For those who were in the area of Morehead City, N.C., Nov.7th, the Blackbeard Festival down on the waterfront was lot's of fun. Lot's o' Pyrates walking along the dock's and little kiddie's aspirin' to be Pirates when they grow's up...aaarrgh!

(Pictures of Ben Cherry used with his permission)

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