Tuesday, September 19, 2023
International #TalkLikeAPirateDay , ye say? We've got a story, from right here in our own back yard, standing on deck.
After his death in 1718, Blackbeard’s (real name Edward Teach) head served as a physical reminder to warn others before pursuing a career in piracy. For a time, his head was displayed aboard Lt. Robert Maynard’s ship in the Chesapeake Bay. In 1719, Maynard sailed to Hampton to detain the remainder of Blackbeard’s crew, with Blackbeard’s head still hanging from his ship. The remaining members of Blackbeard’s crew were tried in Williamsburg, where they were found guilty and hanged. It’s possible Argall (the architect and builder of the Thoroughgood House) and Susanna Thoroughgood saw Blackbeard’s head on Lynnhaven River on its way to Hampton, and/or heard about the trial in Williamsburg.
Being a pirate wasn't always a plunderful life!
Photo of Blackbeard illustration in the Thoroughgood House Education Center