Blackbeard and His Piracy

Edward Drummond was Blackbeard’s real name but from where he came is not exactly known however it is said it was not North Carolina although claiming him as their own pirate. He was an honest seaman from the Bristol, England port so the guess would be somewhere there about Bristol, most likely. Bristol turned out more pirates than any other port and Blackbeard was the fiercest. He called himself Edward Teach yet found in records as Thatche, Tache and Tach.

He started his trade during Queen Anne’s war for about twelve years from 1701. Near the end of this war he was a privateer out of Kingston in Jamaica, attacking French ships. Living through the war he found a restlessness signing on with Captain Benjamin Honigold from New Providence in the Bahamas.

Overtaking a mighty vessel, Teach saught his opportunity to have his own ambitions come true and therefore convincing his captain of his capabilities the vessel was turned over to him and began his career of his own. This was his start to becoming the legend of piracy.

His former captain, Hornigold, then became an aid to the only governor in the colonies who was honest and went against the pirates and not to be bought off, Woodes Rogers. He, the former pirate now went as far as possible to see pirates caught, but not so the Teach. Re-christening his vessel “Queen Anne’s Revenge” and having forty cannons aboard he could attack and take over some of the biggest and best at sea. Hearing of his power and ravaging of vessels (burning the “Great Allan” after taking her goods) many were sent out just for him. “The Scarborough” a large vessel; thirty gun British warship, was closing in for the kill. After hours of exchanged fire with many killed; “The Scarborough” finally pulled away and brought Blackbeard’s title more feared beating out a war vessel!

Getting a bad reputation as a pirate was the best one could do as a pirate, making vessels just turn over their goods without a fight knowing they could not possibly win but maybe keep their lives. He did all he could to make his reputation evil for more profit with less effort. He was a tall powerful man and as one might guess his long black beard gave him his name. His beard was so long he would braid it before a battle and take ribbons to tie the ends and put some over his ears and somehow taking a match that was slow burning to drop down through his hat catching the ends of these braids and bring wisps of smoke up around his face for the enemy to see, making him look even more frightful.

Blackbeard finally was in command of a fleet of ships and haunted the sea between the mainland and West Indian Islands. They went to Cuba often to sell their goods. With all this adventure and places they went, North Carolina was their headquarters. The could not always come in at the same spots of course but Ocracoke Inlet was most used as a refuge it is said, with a house known as Blackbeard’s Castle it is claimed with today’s village of Ocracoke still known as Teach’s Hole.

Charleston, South Carolina was known as great hunting grounds just off port, so Blackbeard took nine ships with rich cargo almost before the colonists knew what was happening. Eight more ships were at bay afraid to move. Blackbeard in need of many medicines sent one of the prisoners with one of his men for verification that Samuel Wragg, a member of the Governor Johnson’s Council would be killed and his head delivered if all requests were not granted within two days. Additionally they would destroy every ship they had sitting in port at this time.

There was little choice since having no protection Blackbeard could have come to port and taken even what was there so they hurriedly filled the request amounting to a value of between 300 to 400lbs. A weather problem kept these with the supplies to make it back to the ship on time but Blackbeard had not killed the hostages and let them go after stripping them of all their goods including 6000lbs from Samuel Wraggs. Blackbeard lived for this excitement.There was well over 6000lbs in gold and goods from the ships cargo alone.

Blackbeard up until now has not seemed so bad, even as a thief and keeping his word to let these people go, but he also did crazy things like during a game of cards blowing out the candle and taking his two pistols under the table and started firing, hitting a friend, Israel Hands, in the knee making him lame for life, just to remind everyone who he was when things got boring.

Blackbeard lived off the sea for a while, he even married a teen who was dazzled with his wealth but soon sorry with him treating her no better than crewmen and after all there were several wives of Blackbeard’s, somewhere. Tales were that when his funds ran low he robbed anyone around and finally he was back on the sea looting again. These trips were along the coast and up as far as Pennsylvania. In North Carolina he was safest with his friend the governor Eden but many were tiring of knowing no ship was safe if Blackbeard decided he wanted the goods.

In 1717 ships were almost at a standstill, knowing their destiny to travel the sea. The people of North Carolina turned to the governor of Virginia for help knowing they could not their own. Blackbeard had received a king’s pardon claiming to no longer be a pirate so it must be proved that he was, and this came through a pirate William Howard who had once served as quartermaster under Blackbeard. He was now at trial and revealed that Blackbeard after his pardon had with many of his crew returned to piracy.

Sixty men were chosen to capture or kill Blackbeard and of course that was nothing; this would put no fear in Blackbeard even knowing, he lived for this! Captains Gordon and Brand with sailors from the “Pearl” and “Lyme” and there was “The Ranger” with a man from the “Lyme” in charge. Lieutenant Robert Maynard was given command of the larger sloop, Brand had overall command and a reward was offered for the capture of Blackbeard.

They set sail for Ocracoke Inlet, November 17, 1718, arriving on the 21^st with Blackbeard’s “Adventure” out from the bay in open water. As the sun rose Maynard attacked. He ordered smaller boats taken down from the ship to get in close and board the enemy ship. The firing started from Blackbeard’s ship. The larger ship followed the smaller ones to only be on a sandbar stuck solid. Maynard and Blackbeard exchanged harsh words.

Hoisted sails hastened and the “Ranger” was hit broadside with the crew still trying their best to dislodge her. The commander and several crewmen were killed instantly. The next aim was at Maynard’s sloop, their only weapons being muskets. Maynard knew if they didn’t get into the “Adventure” they would soon be blown out of the water. Another hit killed about twenty-one men and Maynard ordered all men below deck with only the pilot and one other on deck. Blackbeard seeing the empty deck took his ship up to this one almost void of men and ordered his men to cut whoever was alive into pieces.

As the men boarded the ship Maynard’s men and he burst from the hold. Guns blasted and swords slashed as men fought and died and screamed in agony. Maynard and Blackbeard came face to face. The both shot but only Blackbeard was hit. It hardly fazed him. Now they had swords in hand. Just as Blackbeard had Maynard in position for the death plunge one of Maynard’s men slashed Blackbeard’s throat, leaving this pirates aim falling to slash across Maynard’s knuckles. Even then, Blackbeard showed no signs of dying and pulled his pistol to reload; when suddenly, he fell dead.

Information from Raleigh Division of Archives and History

Department of Cultural Resources

by Hugh F. Franklin