GOVERNOR EDEN AND BLACK-BEARD.
A. D. 1712 TO 1722.
With the conquest of the Tuscaroras and their allies, a great
danger was removed from the settlements in Carolina. Tom Blount
and his people were assigned a tract of land as a token of the
gratitude of the whites for their refusal to join in the war.
This reservation was first located south of Albemarle Sound, but
was afterwards changed to the region still known as the "Indian
Woods," in Bertie county.
1713.
2. In 1713, Colonel Pollock was relieved of his office as
Governor by the arrival of Charles Eden, with full powers from
the Duke of Beaufort, who was then Palatine. Governor Eden was
instructed by the Proprietors to discourage much expansion of the
settlements. He became popular with a large portion of the
people. He lived some years at Queen Annie's Creek, which town
was called Edenton, as a compliment to him. He afterwards bought
a place on Salmon Creek, in Bertie county, and dwelt there. This
place is still known as "Eden House."
1715.
3. In 1715 the same Yemassee Indians who had so signally aided in
the overthrow of the Tuscaroras, repeated, in South Carolina, the
bloody work of their old enemies in Albemarle. They were aided
by other tribes, and murdered many white people. The Indians in
the Bath precinct also, taking advantage of the alarm caused by
this outbreak in the southern province, raised the war cry and
murdered several white people on the Pamlico plantations before
they could be checked.
4. At the request of the Governor of South Carolina, Governor
Eden immediately sent a strong force of both cavalry and infantry
to aid the South Carolinians. Colonel Maurice Moore, who was the
brother of Colonel James Moore, the late commander against the
Tuscaroras, and had become a resident of Albemarle, was in
command.
5. The oldest statutes of which we have copies were enacted in
1715, at the house of Captain Richard Sanderson, in Perquimans.
Edward Moseley was Speaker of the House of Assembly and differed
with Governor Eden in many matters of provincial policy. Through
all his life as a public man he was intensely devoted to the
interest of the colony; and though warmly attached to the English
or Episcopal Church, was resolute in his advocacy of complete
religious liberty. He formed a strong party of men, who regarded
the Governor as simply the agent of the Lords Proprietors; and
therefore, to be vigilantly watched and checked in any innovation
upon established privileges.
6. There had been, for years, many crimes committed by pirates
upon the ocean just along the North Carolina Coast. They
sometimes extended their infamous practices to the sounds and
rivers. One Edward Teach, who was also called "Black-Beard," was
the chief of these bloody robbers. He had a fleet of armed
vessels; the largest of which was called Queen Anne's Revenge.
This formidable craft carried a crew of one hundred men, and
forty cannon.
7. Edward Moseley and others were clamorous for the arrest and
punishment of such horrid offenders against the law, and
denounced Governor Eden as their accomplice. It was brought to
the knowledge of Capt. Ellis Brand, who came in command of a
British squadron in Hampton Roads, that Teach was to be found
near Ocracoke.
8. Lieutenant Robert Maynard was ordered to go to that point and
capture the outlaws. He found the pirates, who saluted him with
so deadly a broadside that a large portion of the royal men were
slain. Maynard unfortunately got his ship aground in the action,
and his deck was terribly raked by his antagonists' fire. His
case seemed well nigh hopeless, when he resorted to a stratagem.
All of his men were ordered to go below, and soon the pirates saw
nothing but dead men upon the deck. They hastened to board what
they thought was another prize.
9. But Maynard and his men met them as they crowded upon the
deck, and after a bloody struggle, captured nine men, who were
the survivors of the prolonged and desperate conflict. Among
these was a gigantic negro, who was on the point of blowing up
the pirate vessel when arrested in his desperate purpose.
10. Black-Beard was slain during the battle, and Maynard sailed
away from the scene of his victory with the corsair's head fixed
upon his bowsprit. The captured offenders were carried to
Williamsburg, Virginia, and there tried and executed, as they
deserved to be.
11. In the early portion of the eighteenth century the whole
Atlantic coast of America was more or less infested by these
buccaneers. In some quarters they congregated in great numbers,
and made expeditions in which they laid cities under
contribution, and endangered all legitimate commerce in the new
world. They were as cruel desperadoes as have been seen in any
age of the world's history. After long and costly effort by the
English and other governments, they were driven from the seas.
QUESTIONS.
1. What reservation was given to the Indians?
2. Who became Governor in 1713? How had Governor Eden been
instructed by the Lords Proprietors? Where did he live?
3. What occurred in 1715?
4. Who was sent to aid the people of South Carolina?
5. At whose house did the Legislature meet? What noted man was
Speaker of the House? Give some description of Edward Moseley.
6. What famous pirate was ravaging the coast about this time?
7. Of what had Governor Eden been charged?
8. Who was sent to capture the pirate? Describe the battle.
9. How did the engagement result?
10. What disposition was made of the captives?
11. What is said of the Atlantic coast during this period?