BlackBeard

Blackbeard is a pirate famous along the North Carolina Coast. He was born in Bristol, England in 1680. His real name is Edward Teach. Blackbeard was Carolina’s most celebrated early resident. Blackbeard’s historical records say he lived in Bath, NC. Researchers believe Blackbeard took refuge in North Carolina sounds from his pirating days. Blackbeard got into pirating after Queen Anne’s War against the Spanish. During this war, the English licensed men as privateers, and they were allowed to capsize the Spanish ships they saw on their voyages. They could also take thing from the ship for their pleasure. Blackbeard was working and pirating out of the island of Jamaica. In, 1717, the English offered the pirates a pardon, which means to officially release from any, or any further, punishment somebody who has committed a crime or wrongdoing. In 1718, Blackbeard sailed into the Pamlico Sound and gave up pirating to the North Carolina government. He then bought a house in Bath and got married. He supposedly settled down with his pirating obsession, but could not. He went to pirate some more and got caught red-handed as he was plotting his next move. Researchers think this was a fake Blackbeard. It was shown on records that His ships sailed on the Atlantic coast from New York. Also his ships were found sailing from Philadelphia to the Caribbean. Blackbeard's house was found where researchers say he had a tunnel. In this tunnel Blackbeard hid his loot, or treasure. Edward Teach or Thatch, is not found in any historic records in England, Jamaica, or Carolina. There is not a record of Edward Teach purchasing a house or getting married in Bath, North Carolina. In fact, his name did not become Blackbeard untill about 5 years after his death. Blackbeard did not die untill November 1718, in combat. The remains of Queen Anne's Revenge were found in 1996 in Beaufort Inlet. Blackbeard is the most famous pirate in North Carolina. No one knows the real story of Blackbeard, expet him.

North Carolina: Land of Contrast History Book []