My guest for this episode is Captain Marrow, a pirate historian and enthusiast. His book, Pirate Ghosts & Buried Treasures of the Southeast Coast includes stories, legends, and folklore from Florida to Virginia.
Episode Overview
Blackbeard, whose real name was most probably Edward Teach, was a notorious English pirate who terrorized the seas during the early 18th century. His distinctive and menacing appearance, marked by a long black beard and slow-burning fuses tucked into his hat, contributed to his fearsome reputation. Blackbeard commanded a formidable pirate fleet, and he and his crew committed numerous acts of piracy, including hijacking merchant vessels, looting towns along the American East Coast, and engaging in brutal acts of violence.
One of Blackbeard’s most notable exploits was the blockade of Charlestown in May 1718. He and his fleet of pirate ships anchored at the entrance to the Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, effectively trapping the city and its residents. Blackbeard demanded a hefty ransom and supplies in exchange for lifting the blockade. This audacious move caused panic among the local population and authorities, who eventually met some of his demands to secure their freedom. The blockade of Charlestown solidified Blackbeard’s reputation as a cunning and ruthless pirate.
Blackbeard’s reign of terror came to an end in November 1718 during a dramatic battle off the coast of North Carolina. British naval forces, led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard, engaged Blackbeard and his crew in a fierce confrontation. Despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, Blackbeard fought on relentlessly until he was finally subdued and killed in combat. His severed head was then hung from the bowsprit of Maynard’s ship as a gruesome trophy. Blackbeard’s death marked the end of an era of piracy, and his legend has endured as one of the most iconic and notorious pirates in history.
Gallery
Sources
https://www.qaronline.org/ – North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.