The Black Beard Society is a genealogical and historical association for individuals connected to the history of Black Beard, argueably the most famous pirate who ever lived. Some of our members connect to the Black Beard history biologically (for instance, they may descend from one of Black Beard's crew members), while others connect to the story simply out of heartfelt interest in the historical events as they happened.
A primary focus of the Black Beard Society is to support and encourage ongoing research for the purpose of identifying and tracing the descendants of Black Beard's men, as well as others involved with his story (such as Governor Charles Eden, Secretary Tobias Knight, Black Beard's family, etc.), through the decades to uncover the story of the sons and daughters of the greatest pirate story of all time.
It is the mission of the Society to accurately present the true history of Black Beard — leaving behind three centuries of myth, legend and folklore that have painted a false picture of a bloodthirsty devil of the seas. The truth is far closer to young men engaging in illegal privateering in a time in which the fledgling colony was devastated in the wake of a four-year war with the indigenous population. It is time for North Carolina to reclaim Black Beard and his men as their own sons.