"Queen Anne's Revenge." Graphic by Angel.
The “Golden Age of Piracy” has been reported as the reign of Terror for years after Britain’s war with France and Spain. During that period of time Blackbeard reportedly took over 40 vessels. Edward Teach, “Blackbeard” wanted to be remembered. It is important to understand that in Teach’s thinking you could kill the man but never destroy the legend.
“Blackbeard," Edward Teach, was born Edward Drummond about 1680 in Bristol, England. His parents were respectable, well-to-do, and traveleld in high artillery. His father told Edward, “When you’re old enough, you’ll be an army officer like your brother.” “No Sir, I’ll be what I want to be.” He was intelligent and personable enough to have become an Army officer, doctor, lawyer, planter, almost anything he decided to become. When his father asked him what he wanted to be, Edward answered, “I’m going to be a pirate.” Bristol was England’s second largest city located where the Avon River meets the Frome River, about eight miles from the Bristol Channel. Since Bristol had the reputation of flooding the seas with privateers and pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was not surprising that young Edward chose to follow the sea.
A Ship Resembling Blackbeard's Second Ship, "Queen Anne's Revenge." Blackbeard Stole This French Slave Ship Armed With Eight Cannons On Each Side. Usually prospective seamen shipped out as cabin boys at the age of twelve, but probably at his father’s insistence, Edward learned all he could before he enlisted. “No matter what you want to be, education will help.” Besides his regular school work, he devoured every book or pamphlet he could find about exploration and buccaneering.”
At the beginning of "The Golden Age of Piracy" Charles Vane was the most feared and reputed pirate. At a cavern where pirates hung out, Vane and Blackbeard met. Charles Vane pulled out his pistol to aim at Blackbeard during a discussion that King George was sending the English Naval Force to hunt down pirates. Vane had asked Blackbeard if he was afraid after claiming that he himself had no fear. Blackbeard did not give Vane the answer he was looking for and his right-hand man ceased the pistol from Vane. Later, Vane's right-hand man decided to join Blackbeard when asked. Blackbeard introduced Mr. Hans, now his new right-hand man to his crew and Ship (Sloop). Blackbeard spotted a French Slave Ship named La Concorde. The French Ship was 3 times the size of Blackbeard's Ship, however, Blackbeard reasoned that after a slave ship had been a sea two months the cargo and mostly likely many of the crew would be diseased. His hunch was correct. On board La Concorde Blackbeard read the ship's log. Fifty cargo had become diseased and the ship's crew was also diseased with dysentary. Blackbeard told Captain Dolce that he shood have more respect for humanity. Blackbeard ceased the ship La Concorde without a fight. He transferred the crew of La Concorde, including the French Captain Dolce to Blackbeard's Sloop. Renamed "Queen Anne's Revenge," Blackbeard had now the means to strengthen his reputation as the most feared Pirate on the Sea. The La Concorde contained 20 pounds of gold. All now belonging to Blackbeard. "Queen Anne's Revenge" was stacked with 8 cannons on each side of the boat. Intimidation would become a real means of taking other ships. Charles Vane, reportedly applied for amnesty after this was offered to all pirates.
Blackbeard’s personality did not seem to be able to bear a joke about him. Reportedly married 13 times his last wife, Mary Ullman made a joke about Blackbeard sleeping in his stockings after he had accepted amnesty and settled in Bath, North Carolina. This joke made in front of English government officials so infuriated Blackbeard that he took his then wife Mary Ullman with him back to his ship. Blackbeard remained at sea until his death and history does not report what happened to Mary Ullman after this incident.
Governor Spotsworth was so infuriated with Blackbeard’s continued antics at sea that he sent out two Ship’s commanded by Lt. Robert Maynard to hunt down Blackbeard and bring him in dead or alive. Lt. Robert Maynard was successful in his Mission. A brilliant move by Maynard when Blackbeard attacked the British ships with their cannons, Maynard ordered all his crew to go under deck. This made it look like Maynard’s Crew had been killed by Blackbeard’s cannons.
Blackbeard As Portrayed In The "National Geographic" Movie Blackbeard and his crew swung onto the deck of Maynard’s ship, and Maynard ordered all his crew on deck for the fight. Blackbeard and his crew, were out numbered. In this fight Blackbeard sustained 5 gunshot wounds and 20 cutlet wounds before he died in this final battle. Blackbeard was decapitated, his body thrown overboard and his head hung from the ship’s mask. On the day of Blackbeard’s death, all of his remaining crew was hanged.
Since Governor Spotsworth knew that King Henry III in 1243 issued the first marquee to give so to say, a “Pirate License.” He called them “Private Men of War” hence “Privateers.” They were to be considered as honorable. Due to this law and the fact that Blackbeard had accepted amnesty from England it took Governor Spotsworth more than a year to convince the King of England that he had reason to kill Blackbeard.
Blackbeard died November 22, 1718. By 1726, “The Golden Age of Piracy” was over. With the death of Blackbeard all incentive for pirates died.
On November 21, 1996 the wreckage of Blackbeard's ship, "Queen Anne's Revenge" was reportedly found in the waters along the ferry boat drive to Cape Lookout. The location of the wreckage was pointed out to us by the driver of the ferry as we spanned the 3 mile trip from land to Cape Lookout. From 1997 - 1999 divers salvaged what they could of the remains of "Queen Anne's Revenge." These recovered artifacts can be seen at the "North Carolina Maritime Museum" at 315 Front Street in Beaufort, North Carolina. Phone: (252) 728-7317.
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References:
1) Blackbeard, Terror of the Seas,
by Jean Day,
published by Golden Age Press, Newport, NC 28570, March 1997.
2) "National Geographic's" Movie on DVD
"Blackbeard Terror At Sea"
http://nationalgeographic.com/channel
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