Talk:Blackbeard

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I've made some edits to reflect how much of this article is poorly sourced (more needs to be done, especially with the death section). Folks, contemporary colorful news and literary accounts are not sourcing. Not from that time period. All that historians have been able to conclude about Blackbeard was that he was really good at using PR to intimidate you. They actually haven't been able to document him actually killing anyone.

Contents

[edit] Small Edit

Blackbeard appears in the popular japanese manga and anime, One Piece. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.168.131.27 (talk) 19:39, 30 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Massive edit

Okay, so some yardape replaced the article with a single one-liner. Reverted it back Almighty Tallest

[edit] Buried treasure

This article on Blackbeard states that he buried his treasue along banks of rivers, but the article on "buried treasure" states that William Kidd was the only pirate known to have buried his treasure. So maybe stories of blackbeard's buried treasure were just that - stories.


[edit] Kiera Nightly?

the caption under the picture of Blackbeard...no doubt this is a ruse?

[edit] Blackbeard's Flagship

Blackbeard's Flagship (Archaeological Institute of America) Adraeus 00:10, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] other beards

Blackbeard have also appeared in fiction in the cartoons Xiaolin Showdown and Duck Dodgers.

[edit] Paul Burchill

It says here that this man is his descendant, yet the page on that person mentions nothing about it. Especially since the guy is a professional wrestler who used the pirate theme, isn't it likely that it's utter BS? 65.35.93.97 08:01, 21 March 2006 (UTC)

I've run across a number of websites where people claim to be descended from Blackbeard. A couple had links to genealogy sites or family trees (so it said) but when you click the link it goes nowhere....Personally , I think anyone making that claim will be hard pressed to come up with anything convincing.... Engr105th 23:30, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] disambiguation

It just needs to be made. Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach)

[edit] Song about blackbeard/edward Teach

There is a song about Blackbeard called "The Gruesome Death of Edward Teach" by the band Scissorfight It is really good

Seconded on the Scissorfight song. It's from their album "New Hampshire" McFlynnTHM 14:04, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] References?

Some of this article, especially the portion just prior to Blackbeard's death, with respect to things he said, etc., sounds like hearsay. Are there any references? --XSG 15:21, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WHAT?!?!?!?!?!

What is this article? Its not funny, its stupid. I mean, "ARRGGGGGGG, I EAT YOUR SOULS!!!!!"

I hate people that do this on Wikipedia, because some of us work so hard to make articles then some random loser posts things like this. How about someone makes it so only people with accounts can edit?

When you say "some of us", are you referring to the folks who don't bother to sign their comments with ~~~~? —XSG 19:44, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Polite and understated man, wasn't he?

"Damn ye, ye yellow ___ ___ ___! I'm a better man than all ye milksops put together"

Funny, I didn't realize it was Wiki policy to censor articles down to a PG rating. I've Googled for the original quote and found nothing but this article, so I'd advise that someone more knowledgable than I either fill in the alleged quote, or snip it out altogether. Honestly, though! 82.166.53.176 18:59, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

its "sapsuckers" Streona (talk) 00:23, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Removal of link to outfit called Blackbeard's Cruises

Somebody named "BalthCat" (for whom I can't find contact information) deleted my link to an outside scuba diving outfit called Blackbeard's Cruises, then reported the erasure of my comments as "spam deletion."

Honestly, I have no idea why this is considered a big deal. There factually is a cruise company by this name. Are we all to pretend there is no such thing as the free market? I suppose I could write a separate article on the cruise company, but seems like that might be deleted too.

For the record, I am not affiliated with said company, but have greatly enjoyed my time patronizing it. Don't understand why I'm not allowed to report it's a popular option for scuba divers.

Responded on talk. - BalthCat 03:07, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Blackbeard's Ghost

I am reverting out this section because it is both unsourced and legendary. Legends about historical figures need context and reliable research. I reproduce the section here to see if anyone can provide sources and proper exposition. Robert A.West (Talk) 19:48, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

The ghost is said to walk the shores of the Outer Banks looking for his head. Often there are sitings of the headless pirate walking up and down the coast. Sometimes he is carrying a lanturn, so any siting of a strange light on the Outer Banks is referred to as Teach's light. Some witnesses who have seen the ghost say that they hear the sound of heavy boots walking across the beach, and every once and a while someone says that they heard a voice on the beach ask the question, "Where is my head?" Also, the ghost is said to swim in Ocracoke Inlet searching for his head. According to legend, the ghost of Blackbeard does not wish to see his partner the Devil, without his head on his shoulders. People say that Blackbeard is afraid that the Devil won't recognize him without it. As for where his head really is, when Maynard returned to Virginia, Blackbeard's head was set on a pole for many years. This was the practice of the day, because it was used to warn pirates of what was going to happen if they were caught. The head was then taken down from the pole. The skull was hollowed out and then covered in silver by a local silversmith. It was said to have been used as a punchbowl or cup. Then there was a message written into the silver across the forhead of the skull in Latin. The skull has been lost over the years. Several silver covered skulls have been found, but none of them can be proven to be Blackbeard's. To this day, the skull is still lost.

I believe this ghost story appears in Robert E. Lee's Blackbeard: A Reappraisal of His Life and Times. I don't have the book at hand, though. Anyone who does can put it back in.Pirate Dan 18:36, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The "Swimming Body"

There are varying accounts of what happened to Blackbeard's body after he was decapitated (that it "swam" or "floated" around the ship a number of times - two, three, seven, etc.). As this is purely legend, rather unlikely, and a solid source is doubtful, I removed it. Any thoughts on the matter? Arx Fortis 02:48, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

There is nothing wrong with reporting, myths and legends, provided that they are attested by reliable sources as legends and reported as such. Now, is this story a real, circulating legend, or a tongue-in-cheek tall tale? Absent sources, we can't tell which one. Robert A.West (Talk) 03:35, 12 July 2006 (UTC)
It was referenced in the A&E biopic Blackbeard's Reign of Terror. - RoyBoy 800 03:57, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

The point here is that even the legends don't mesh. In the past week the History Channel contradicted itself with one show's "expert" saying it floated around twice; another show's expert said it swam around three times. I found a 3rd reference that states it was seven times. The story is not even consistent enough to form a definitive "legend." If someone wants to add it back, that's fine, but it should include the fact that there are varying versions, none of which are corroborated by any of the accounts of the people who where there (including Robert Maynard). Arx Fortis 04:15, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

A&E has a reputation for spicing bios up a little bit, and most of them are not available on DVD, which makes verification chancey in any case. It's a cute point, though, so I would not oppose a properly referenced version. Robert A.West (Talk) 04:36, 12 July 2006 (UTC)
I think it is worth putting back in with an addition that points out sources vary. We aren't likely to get contemporary written references for this.Yomangani 09:44, 12 July 2006 (UTC)


I just reverted yet another of the swimming body claims that says "his head was screaming and cursing" while the body swam around the ship. This "legend" just varies too widely to be included in the article. There are no credible sources for this....and the different versions don't even agree with each other. I say we leave it out. Thoughts? Arx Fortis 22:52, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Claim that the sources Vary about what happened. the myth is one of the biggest known stories about Blackbeard and that story is better known to many more than Maynard. keep the myth, and say that some stories tell about how the head screamed. every book on pirates with more than three pages on blackbeard (that i've seen anyway) has this myth.

Technobabble1 (you didn't sign your post), while repeating a rumor, legend, etc. over and over again does not in and of itself make it truth, if you want to enter this information into the article, that's fine. However, cite your source (see WP:CITE). That will serve to disuade confusion over the widely varying accounts and will make it less likely it would be removed. Arx Fortis 23:04, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

I'm grateful for your acceptance. however my problem with your conditions is this I learned this legend around a campfire in cub-scouts i have forgotten the name of said storyteller who informed me of the legend. --Technobabble1 23:39, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

...and that's how legends come to vary from telling to telling. In your previous post you state "every book on pirates with more than three pages on blackbeard (that i've seen anyway) has this myth."....find one of those books and cite it. Arx Fortis 03:31, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

Oh yeah i forgot that, i forget what i say or write far too often. my mistake. --Technobabble1 16:48, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] His wives

"Blackbeard had over a dozen wives, most of which were common-law marriages." - Is this a documented fact, or is it part of the mythology surrounding Blackbeard? --Grumpy444grumpy 06:49, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

The answer is probably yes. It is well known that Blackbeard would go into town, get drunk, and find a woman. He would usually marry her in a day, then get up and leave the day after that. With Blackbeard's last wife, he married her and moved in with her house in Bath NC. He stayed there a few weeks but then he returned to piracy. There is another story that after getting married to one of his wifes, Blackbeard would take them to his ship and kill them, but that's probably not true. He would just leave them where he found them. At most it is said that Blackbeard had 14 wives My source for this was "Blackbeard The Pirate." by Robert E. Lee. Bcody 13:32, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
The story originates with Johnson's General History of the Pirates, which states: "he marry'd a young Creature of about sixteen Years of Age . . . and this, I have been informed, made Teach's fourteenth Wife. . . . [A]t a Plantation, where his Wife lived, with whom after he had lain all Night, it was his custom to invite five or six of his brutal Companions to come ashore, and he would force her to prostitute her self to them all, one after another, before his Face." No support for the idea that he murdered his wives, but pretty gruesome all the same.
Pirate Dan 22:06, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] His Birth

I have found no evidence that Blackbeard was born in 1680. Last I checked the year of his birth and place of his birth was unkown. The article also says that he was BELIEVED to have been born in 1680, and since that's not actual fact it should be changed to 16??. I would like to see some proove that he was born in 1680, if there is none then I think the date of his birth should be changed to 16??. Bcody 13:18, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

I concur. It should be changed back. Arx Fortis 23:21, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
Here's a secondary source confirming his d.o.b.: Blackbeard: The Real Pirate of the Caribbean (doesn't anyone ever check the reference heading?) ˉˉanetode╦╩ 09:39, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

About that secondary source: “Little is known for certain about Blackbeard's early life, but it is believed he was born around 1680”. (From Blackbeard: The Real Pirate of the Caribbean by Dan Perry, 1st line of Chapter 1: The Origins Of A Legend ) How is that a confirmed date (which at time of writing this is set at 23rd Nov 1675)? RadoxTheGreen 19:21, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

16?? works far as I'm concerned....But I want to engage in a little (very loose) speculation: He is believed to have served with a Privateer during "The War of Spanish Succession". This war occurred from 1701 to 1714. So his earliest possible participation in that war would be 1701. Assuming he's *about* age 20 when he goes off on the privateer adventure, and assuming he joined up early in the war, it puts him at *about* 1680 for his birth year...Now, thats very loose of course. But as additional argument, to captain a pirate ship I'd vote for him to be in his 30's versus, let's say, age 21. And I'd say he had to have at least several years at sea - at least some experience. But, conversely, a 65 yr old pirate (or seaman for that matter!) is probably unlikely - it was a brutal age to live in.
So we have a man with enough experience to lead a crew by 1716-1717, who was of fighting age from 1701 to 1714 (yeah, I know "fighting age" is loose too) and who couldn't have been too old (whatever that would be back then, taking in consideration the rough life) - and you get a 30-something guy. So maybe 1680 isn't far off at all....Heck, we don't even know his name, lol!....Engr105th 19:11, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

Place of birth doesn't remain consistent in article have found no links that he was born in New York or Denmark - Old Nol 19:02, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Confusing entry - evidence or fiction?

I've moved this entry here because I'm not sure what exactly the intent of it is, in order to fix it.

* in Chapter 3, Captain Teach, Alias Blackbeard from A General Historie of the most Notorious Pirates 1726 Captain Charles Johnson ( possibly Attributed to Defoe) a Facsimilie Edition, PIRATES printed 2000, Creation books ISBN 1-871592-36-4 this book relates the lives of many 17th and 18th century Privateers as written by a contemporary 3rd party witness. Considered by some to be the best early source of pirate stories and myths.

Is it supposed to be in the fictional references section, or should it (as "Historie" might imply) be a real reference? - BalthCat 22:13, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

  • Unfortunately, a lot of the historical "evidence" about Edward Teach derives from this book and found its way into history. Defoe (or Johnson) is accused of having evidence and fiction weaved together in a way that makes it almost impossible to figure out what has really happened. --Ginness (talk) 00:48, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
    • Heh, from my reading this seems to be a problem with pretty much every pirate. The earlier ones in the General History are more fact than fiction though - I believe. Although Johnson basically seems to have decided to write what are essentially some cool stories regarding some pirates (Mission). shasYarr!/T|C 02:00, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Blackbeard's flag not his flag?

From User:Jestapher 19:24, 30 October 2006:

The most recent change to this entry claims that Blackbeard's flag is erroneously attributed to Blackbeard. The text:

Blackbeard's flag, showing a skeleton, probably a similar figure to the devil, holding an hourglass and threatening a bleeding heart with a spear.

Was replaced by:

A flag often erroneously attributed to Blackbeard.

This change was made by User:MosheA with a comment linking to [1].

On that page it states:

Blackbeard is known to have flown the "deaths head"; Johnson's History of the Pirates shows his ship flying the skull and crossbones only. All other flags attributed to Blackbeard are fictional.

I did a small amount of Googling and couldn't come up with anything to substantiate that sentence. Most of the world seems to believe that this is indeed Blackbeard's flag. It would be nice to substantiate this change more, revert it, or to not present this claim as truth.

This opens up a can of worms. You're right that most of the world does believe that that is Blackbeard's flag, but an increasing number of experts now doubt it. The contemporary sources do not ascribe any flag like that to Blackbeard (although Johnson's General History describes a very similar flag to Francis Spriggs). The tons of secondary sources that attribute that flag to Blackbeard apparently are relying on an undated manuscript in Britain's National Maritime Museum, donated in the 1930s by Philip Gosse. Since the provenance of the manuscript before the 1930s is completely unknown, a lot of historians now reject it. But popular literature and the Internet haven't kept up with the latest research. Pirate Dan 18:42, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

From User:70.165.30.175 22:31, 28 June 2007:

Ed Foxe's website [2] clearly disputes many of the myths associated with pirate flags. Regarding Blackbeard's flag, he writes:

Period of operation: September 1717-November 1718.
Source: Flag 1: 1 is the flag usually depicted as Blackbeard's, but there is no period source to support this and the horns on the skeleton render it stylistically unlikely.
Flag 2: Blackbeard's flag is described in at least one Colonial Office document as a "Death's Head".
Flag 3: In an engraving of 1734 Blackbeard is depicted standing in front of a ship flying flag 3 [Skull with crossed bones] from the bowsprit.
Flag 4: This pennant is shown flying from the main mast of Blackbeard's ship in the same engraving as 3.
This is good information, however I wouldn't say it "clearly" disputes. None of the statements there are referenced. Not suggesting it's wrong, it would just seem best to find more sources. The current text about Blackbeard's flag says it "is often attributed" to him, which solves the original issue brought up by this discussion. It would be interesting to learn more about his flag than just that though. User:Jestapher 21 Jul 2007

[edit] Someone has put in a lot of erronous info in this article.

Some idiot has put in a number of "jokes" in this article. Adding long jonh silver, calling 911 and a few words about him taking you hostage if you read the article. Not that cool for something that's on the main page. Blackbeard

AND the main page also has a photo of JFK with next to it some text about Blackbeard so it looks like Blackbeard had his photo taken and looked like JFK and didn't have a beard.

[edit] Location of Queen Anne's Revenge disputed?

The introduction says that the Queen Anne's Revenge is "believed by some" to have run aground in Beaufort Inlet.

I realize there is some controversy about whether the wreck that's being excavated in Beaufort Inlet is really the Queen Anne's Revenge. But I never heard anyone dispute that Blackbeard did indeed run the ship aground there. Certainly his crewmen rescued by Stede Bonnet testified that Blackbeard ran the ship aground at Topsail Inlet, and every source I've ever seen says Topsail Inlet and Beaufort Inlet are the same. And Johnson's General History of the Pirates certainly bears the story out.

Why the ambivalent "believed by some" statement? Pirate Dan 18:14, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

dont use this sight. its terriable

[edit] scotland?

Recent edit says there is some belief that Blackbeard was born in Scotland. Any support for this? Is such belief supported enough to warrant inclusion in this article? Pirate Dan 21:59, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

I've been searching some Blackbeard sites, and I can't find any real "evidence" for an origin from Scotland. Then again, theres nothing that favors he's from England either - maybe other than the proportion of sailors from the two places circa 1700. These pirate articles are all 90% speculative ! Engr105th 02:49, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] highlander removed

Um, I took out the reference to Connor MacLeod having wounded Blackbeard during his last fight, as that is dumb. (for lack of a more vernacular statement) RumRunner 09:45, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Image error

I'd do it myself if I knew how, but the caption of the second image of Blackbeard, from Pirates of the Carribean, neither names the specific movie nor capitalizes the series name.Alternator 03:21, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

I'm seeking clarification from the photographer that took the picture. I assume it is from one of the Disney theme parks, not from the movies. I'll change it when the photographer replies. --Dan East 10:40, 15 August 2007 (UTC)
The photographer said the photo had nothing to do with Pirates of the Caribbean, and he has corrected the caption, --Dan East 10:33, 17 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The picture at the bottom

It's not James Purefoy. Oh no no no.81.86.76.6 20:52, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

I've changed it; thanks for the pointer. Pirate Dan 19:38, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Was this when he was a zombie pirate? Yarrrr!

Yarrr ye scurvy landlubbers, yon article say:

Teach began as a pirate under Benjamin Hornigold. In 1718, Hornigold retired, taking advantage of an amnesty offered to former privateers by the British government. Teach then took command of his own ship. During the next two years, Teach cultivated a reputation for cruelty, repeatedly preying on coastal settlements of the West Indies and the Atlantic coast of North America.

If Blackbeard died in 1718, was it his zombie that spent "the next two years" piratin' around the West Indies?

Arrrrr! 220.253.86.126 00:19, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

Right you are. I'm pretty sure that part was originally intended to refer to Blackbeard's service under Hornigold, and I've changed it to reflect that. Pirate Dan 19:15, 19 September 2007 (UTC)


While we're at it, I thought I'd mention that matches hadn't been invented yet in Blackbeards time. So he probably wasn't using them in his beard. Hemp would probably set his hair on fire so I doubt he was using that either. It's a nice myth though. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.21.138.210 (talk) 02:04, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

Matches had long ago been invented, both quick match and slow match. Slow match is what Blackbeard used. Safety matches weren't invented yet, but the article never claimed he used safety matches. Pirate Dan 03:29, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

I think more description is needed re: the "lit matches" part. What does it mean that he kept hemp and lit matches in his beard? How did he manage to weave burning matches into his beard without setting the beard on fire, and/or snuffing out the matches? How long did these matches last to allow one to light them, weave it into your beard, and then go into battle? 207.161.180.52 (talk) 00:02, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] What weasel words?

This article's been tagged since forever with the "Weasel Words" logo, but I've yet to see anyone clearly identifying what the weasel words are. What needs changed? When can we take this tag down? Pirate Dan 19:18, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Blockade of Charleston

I haven't read up on this since before the Internet was invented, but I think that Blackbeard held several coastal cities to ransom, usually for all the money he thought he could get. From the fact that he demanded medicine from Charleston, historians have inferred that a disease was loose among the pirates. Novelist Don Tracy in Carolina Corsair argues that Blackbeard was himself sick. I'd like to find out about the other cities. J S Ayer (talk) 04:22, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

He probably did want medicine, but it has also been suggested that his demand for opiods may have been for recreational drug use. Streona (talk) 00:27, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Historical Evidence - native speaker wanted

Hello there! I have added the paragraph about "Historical evidence". But as English is not my native language - in fact, I have learned it in school - I am not quite sure, whether the language is correct. May anybody run it through and correct it, if necessary? Thank you ---Ginness (talk) 12:35, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

Thank you; you did well; I have polished it a bit. J S Ayer (talk) 23:30, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Information on Early Pirating Life

It has come to my attention that Blackbeard's early pirating life with Captain Hornigold is mentioned in Hornigold's and Stede's articles but not on his own article. I have started this myself with a few sites I found in my search during a project. Please continue this if you can... Much appreciated! --Hougmaku 04:16, 1 April 2008 (UTC)

Also I would like if Blackbeard's actual career of piracy was posted and not just a single blockade and his death. Again, much appreciated! --Hougmaku 04:21, 1 April 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hougmaku (talk • contribs)

It has also come to my attention that the Adventure was grounded trying to 'save' the QAR which was ground by Blackbeard's own actions... Please fix this! --Hougmaku 04:39, 1 April 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hougmaku (talk • contribs)

[edit] Early Life paragraph

Under his Early Life, it says "Little is known about Blackbeard's early life."....This ought to be changed to "Nothing is known..." about his early life. Face it, we don't know a thing about this character! Engr105th (talk) 06:32, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Protection

So many people keep giving name checks to their friends and similar infantile vandalism that it may be time to protect this site against update Streona (talk) 12:28, 13 May 2008 (UTC)