BEAUFORT – Blackbeard the pirate is widely remembered for the way he lived and the bloody way he died. Although Nov. 22, 1718, is the generally accepted date of his death, there is some question on that, according to N.C. Maritime Museum Blackbeard expert David Moore. It could be Dec. 3. All depends on what calendar is used, and Moore will give a free talk on Blackbeard’s career and disputed date of death at the Maritime Museum on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m.
“Most of Europe changed to the Gregorian calendar in the 1500s, except England and a few other countries,” Moore explains. “England changed to the Gregorian calendar from the Julian calendar in 1752, and during the 18th century, the Gregorian calendar was 11 days later than the Julian.”
Since that was the case, the death date of Nov. 22 would more accurately be Dec. 3, Moore concludes, as we use the Gregorian calendar today. Moore is one of a team of researchers examining the shipwreck of the presumed Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s flagship, near Fort Fisher. The wreck was located on Nov. 21, 1996, by Intersal, Inc., with information provided to Operations Director Mike Daniel by company president Phil Masters. Moore and archaeologists with the Underwater Archaeology Branch in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources have researched the wreck for more than 12 years.
The N.C. Maritime Museum is the repository for artifacts from the shipwreck, and exhibits artifacts after they have completed conservation. Some of the most recently conserved artifacts will arrive at the museum in January, and will be added to those exhibited. Among items to arrive will be Blackbeard’s cuff links, wine bottle, and a clyster syringe. About 250,000 artifacts have been recovered and all support that the wreck is Queen Anne’s Revenge.
For information about the talk, call (252) 728-7317. For information about the project call (919) 807-7389. The N.C. Maritime Museum, within the Division of State History Museums, and the Underwater Archaeology Branch, are part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural and economic future. Information is available at www.ncculture.com.