For centuries, history has pointed to North Carolina, or even England, as the birthplace of Blackbeard, the notorious pirate who terrorized the seas in the early 18th century. However, longtime Goose Creek mayor and local historian Mike Heitzler has put forward a bold new theory — one that places Blackbeard’s birthplace much closer to home, in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
A Bold Claim: Blackbeard Was Born in Goose Creek
In his newly published booklet, Black Beard the Pirate: A Historical Booklet, Heitzler challenges the widely accepted narrative that Blackbeard, whose real name has long been believed to be Edward Teach, was from England or North Carolina. According to Heitzler, Blackbeard’s true name was Edward Beard, and he hailed from Goose Creek, not the distant lands historians have long credited.
“The name was not Edward Teach. His name was Edward Beard. And he was not from England. He was from Goose Creek, South Carolina,” Heitzler asserts. He believes that “Teach” was an alias, not intended to confuse historians, but to protect Blackbeard’s family from the legal consequences of his piracy. During the pirate era, authorities often punished the relatives of pirates when the pirate himself could not be captured.
“He was protecting his family. That’s a good attribute, isn’t it?” Heitzler asks.
The Discovery That Sparked the Theory
Heitzler’s theory began as a casual conversation with fellow historian Alan Duffus at a book signing. Duffus jokingly referred to Heitzler as “the mayor of Blackbeard’s hometown,” and when Duffus suggested the pirate’s real name was Beard, Heitzler’s curiosity was piqued.
“I said, ‘Alan, I got a whole file on the Beard family,’” Heitzler recalled. That comment led Heitzler to dive into his extensive collection of local records, including court documents, parish tax rolls, and land grants. These records pointed to a Beard plantation located just west of what is now the Fox Bank neighborhood in Goose Creek.
“The Beard family lived just west of the Fox Bank community… they were neighbors with the Beards,” Heitzler explained.
The Real Blackbeard: A Pirate Family Legacy
Heitzler’s research goes beyond just family records. His booklet also delves into the personal history that shaped Blackbeard’s future as a pirate. Heitzler mentions an incident involving an Indian ambush that resulted in the death of Blackbeard’s older brother, a pirate himself. “His brother was a pirate. His father was a pirate… That’s going to help shape your personality too, won’t it?” Heitzler writes.
The booklet also challenges the common image of Blackbeard as an older pirate with a long, wild beard. Instead, Heitzler’s version of Blackbeard is that of a 15-year-old boy, which Heitzler believes better reflects his early life in Goose Creek. The cover of his booklet features a portrait of Blackbeard as a teenager, showing a young boy rather than the familiar grizzled sea captain most associate with the pirate.
Curiosity, Not Skepticism: Reactions to the Theory
Although Heitzler’s claim is controversial, he says the response from readers has been overwhelmingly curious rather than skeptical. “They read my book and they go, ‘I had no idea,’” he says. “And they’re not challenging it… because I was taught to do history where you have to back up your facts.”
Heitzler hopes his theory will spark further interest in the history of Blackbeard, particularly in Goose Creek, which he believes deserves a place in the pirate conversation.
Envisioning a Historical Marker
Heitzler envisions a historical marker in Groomsville, a community in Berkeley County, where he believes Blackbeard was born. “That marker would go to Groomsville. Because that’s where he was born. The birthplace and the home of Blackbeard the Pirate,” he says.
Whether historians agree with Heitzler’s theory or not, he believes Goose Creek has an important historical connection to Blackbeard that should be acknowledged. “Blackbeard is a fictional character to most people… To me, he’s a historical element that’s important to how people in Berkeley County survived and lived and matured and grew into who we are today.”
