BlackBeard

[Black Bart]

Does anyone know the origins of Captain Edward Teach? The Black, smokin bearded, pistol waiving maniac that menaced america and the caribbean?? I think he was of english descent.

[ginnerpirate]

Oh good Old Captain Blackbeard with his Ship "Queen Anne's Revenge," he is probarbly the most famous Pirate ever to sail the Spanish main. The number of spin off names like Redbeard etc that have come from him. Here's a link to a picture of his jolly rodger;
www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/pir-bbrd.html

[Black Bart]

Interesting facts about the 'King of Pirates'
hookBlackbeard was always well-armed with three braces of roostered and primed pistols, daggers, and two cutlasses.
hookIt is said that he had around 14 wives; weddings aboard ship were common.
hookHe once had himself and several crewmembers locked in the hold with burning pots of brimstone to see who could withstand the fumes the longest, and he won.

Blackbeard's stare It is truly ironic that very little is known with certainty about the most famous, most notorious pirate ever. Eyewitness accounts state that he was a large, tall man with a long black beard which he braided and tied with ribbons. To add to his imposing looks, he would light cannon fuses that had been dipped in lime water or salt peter and stuff them under the edge of his hat (some say in his beard). The smoke would encircle his head and certainly give him an intimidating flair.

It seems that Blackbeard rarely passed by an opportunity to build his reputation and persona as a devilish fiend, but first hand reports seem to suggest that was more of a carefully crafted tool of the trade. Most accounts suggest that he was generally kind to those who were cooperative with him but intolerant of those who were not. There is no record, however, of his murdering anyone in his plundering.

Blackbeard's true name differs between official records, personal accounts, and fictionalized history. Edward Teach or Edward Thatch or Edward Drummond was most likely born in Bristol, England around 1680 (Although some unverifiable reports say he was from Jamaica, London, or Philadelphia). Like many other young men of his time, he probably served aboard a British privateer in the West Indies during the War of the Spanish Succession (Queen Anne's War) and chose piracy over unemployment at war's end.
Map of New Providence where Blackbeard stayed

He arrived in New Providence, Bahamas in 1716 as an understudy of Benjamin Hornigold, and after a year of successful apprenticeship had acquired his own ship - the French slaver 'Concorde'. It was renamed the 'Queen Anne's Revenge' and fitted with around 40 guns. Queen Anne's Revenge Restaurant

The reports in 1717 of new governor Woodes Rogers' soon arrival and crusade against pirates brought differing reactions from Blackbeard and Hornigold. Blackbeard would head north to North Carolina and Hornigold would receive pardon and become the commander of an anti-piracy fleet. The village of Bath Town became his new home in January of Okracoke Inlet where Blackbeard was 1718, the town being a good place to sell plunder and to perhaps settle down. He sought a pardon and protection from Governor Eden, who welcomed the economic boost the pirates brought to the area.

Blackbeard was so amused when meeting gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet in late 1717 or early 1718, he took him into his company and added Bonnet's sloop the 'Revenge' to his flotilla. He was now in command of four ships and over 300 men. In May he captured the pilot boat and several ships off the port of Charles Towne, South Carolina and then set up a blockade, where he held important citizens as ransom in exchange for medicine. The pirate's brazenness was wearing the locals' patience very thin. They nevertheless gave him a chest of the medicines he demanded.

Blackbeard wanted to part ways with Stede Bonnet and most of his crew, so the recently-acquired loot would divide to larger shares. With Israel Hand's help, he staged the loss at Topsail (now Beaufort) Inlet, NC, of the 'Queen Anne's Revenge' on a sandbar and the 'Adventure' in rescue attempt. Bonnet went to governor Eden for a pardon with plans to privateer out of St. Thomas. Blackbeard himself then proceeded to Bath Town, perhaps received a second pardon, sold his loot, and bought a house. He spent the summer of 1718 trying out the lifestyle of a regular citizen but only managed to slowly irritate his neighbors. Party at Okracoke with Blackbeard For them, the last straw came when he held a weeklong party with many other pirates at Ocracoke in October.

In November 1718, Virginia governor Spottswood sent lieutenant Maynard with two sloops to attack, but both sloops were temporarily grounded in pursuit. After Blackbeard killed several of Maynard's men with grapeshot and grenades, his sloop Adventure was grounded, but he nevertheless boarded from thinking he had the advantage in men. Fight with Maynard Maynard's remaining troops rose from hiding spots in the hold and a fierce fight ensued. During the mighty struggle, Maynard himself shot Blackbeard in the shoulder, and another officer slit his throat. The officer then nearly decapitated him with a second blow.

When his body was inspected, it showed more than 25 wounds, including 5 from gunshots. His severed head was put on the bowsprit of Maynard's ship, which sailed back to Williamsburg with the remnants of the crew in custody. Thirteen of them were hung there in March 1719.

[Black Bart]

Captain Blackbeard’
Born 1680 - Died 1718

A native of Bristol, England. Is thought to be a learnered man born into a well-to-do family. After becoming a pirate he called himself Edward Teach. Considered by most, to of been the boldest & most notorious pirate infesting the waters of England's southern colonies in the early 1700's. His infamous deeds spread his name on both sides of the Atlantic.
Blackbeard served in Queen Anne's War, which lasted from 1702-1713. In the latter stages of the war he served as a privateer, sailing out of Kingston, Jamaica to prey on French ships for Britain.
When the war was over, Blackbeard, signed on with the pirate crew of Captain Benjamin Hornigold, sailing out of New Providence in the Bahamas. He proved a himself to be a formidable & fierce pirate, & requested he be given command of the captured French ship, the Concorde. Hornigold obliged. Blackbeard became its captain in 1717 & renamed her the Queen Anne's Revenge. The ship had already been outfitted with 20 guns, but Blackbeard increased her firepower to 40 guns.
Blackbeard's reputation began with his first attack as captain. This battle was with the large merchant ship, the Great Allen, off St. Vincent. After a lengthy battle Blackbeard took the ship, plundered the cargo, burned & sank it. His next encounter of record indicates he may have defeated the 'Scarborough", a mighty British Man-of-War armed with 30 guns. If true, the Scarborough escaped, but Blackbeard's reputation was made. He also took the Sloop Adventure during that battle, which became an important ship in his pirate fleet.
To enhance his reputation, Blackbeard, designed his appearance to reflect a forboding & formative appearance. He was tall, had a powerful physique & a bushy black beard from which he took his name. Before battle he'd braid his beard into little pigtails & tie them with colored ribbons. Immediately before battle he would light several long, slow-burning matches & tuck them under his hat, allowing wisps of smoke to curl up around his face. He outfitted himself with daggers, a cutlass & pistols that were primed, roostered & ready to fire.
Blackbeard victimized ships from the Caribbean to New England. According to legend he used several hideouts in North Carolina & that Ocracoke Inlet was a favorite. An anchorage inside Ocracoke Inlet is still known as Teach's Hole.
In May 1718, perhaps Blackbeard's most outrageous attack was upon the city of Charleston, S.C., which was the busiest & most important port in the South. Blackbeard's fleet gathered outside the entrance to the harbor & took several merchant ships, capturing gold, slaves & other valuables. He also took a member of Govenor Robert Johnson's council hostage & sent one of his lieutenants into town to get medicines & other supplies. The pirates paraded boldly through the streets, the captured populace were robbed of money & other possessions.
Blackbeard seemed to have had a mutually profitable relationship with North Carolina's Govenor Charles Eden. Eden & some of his associates are believed to have shared in some of Blackbeard's booty. Because of this they tended to look the other way.
Virginia's Govenor Alexander Spotswood feared Blackbeard would continue his pirating even though he had been pardoned by Govenor Charles Eden in June 1718 & was in semi-retirement. Pirates continued to attack along the Atlantic Coast & some of the larcenies were thought to be Blackbeard's work. Since it seemed clear Govenor Eden was not going to interfere with Blackbeard's operations, Spotswood convinced the British military, the Virginia Assembly & some of Eden's opponents to aid him in capturing Blackbeard, & put a price of 100 pounds on his head.
On November 22nd, 1718, Blackbeard met his death in a fierce battle off Ocracoke. Governer Spotswood leased two sloops, with British commanders & crew. Blackbeard was caught by surprise, short handed, & tricked to doing battle on the attacking vessel. On the blood soaked deck of the small sloop sent to attack the pirate, Lt. Robert Maynard confronted Blackbeard. Each pulled pistols & fired upon meeting. Blackbeard missed his mark while Maynard's shot plowed through Blackbeard. They continued to fight with swords, as Blackbeard moved in to finish him off with his cutlass, a British seaman joined the fight & slashed his throat, but Blackbeard fought on, in spite of bullet wounds & gashed neck, as yet another seamen joined in for the kill. Even while being stabbed, he roostered a pistol to continue the fight as he fell dead. His head was then cut off & hung from the bowsprit of Maynard's ship.
He never took marriage seriously & during his lifetime he had fourteen wives & fathered forty children. In 1691, he & a sizeable crew landed at Lunging Island in the Isles of Shoals off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. There he buried a large treasure of silver bars which has never been discovered.

[ginnerpirate]

Right, do we have anymore that we can talk about on this subject!

[Black Bart]

Who is your favourite Pirate Ginner Matey??

[VeggiePirate]

sorry but blackbeard the pirate was real?!?!

[Black Bart]

Absolutely!!! he was one of the first famous ones from the golden age of privateering.

[VeggiePirate]

oh sorry im new to pirate stuff lol

[CaptainHunny ♥]

:oh Black Beard, The Pirate who sailed the 7 seas! Like Captain Jack Sparrow!

[piratesnoopy]

ooh the villian That hunts my myspace Jack Sparrow stories! BlackBeard was AWESOME!