[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Two very careful watchers of Blackbeard were Benjamin Franklin who was just about or now a 12 year old apprentice for a printer in Boston and Lt. Governor of VA, Alexander Spotswood. Both were interested in the defeat of Blackbeard's pirates. Spotswood feared that Blackbeard would start his pirate career anew and target Virginia shipping. He also felt that graft between some Colonial Governors and Blackbeard was an atrocious development and an afront to King George I. He had sent a hoofed party to NC's Governor Eden to bring home that point. Benjamin Franklin feared that Blackbeard would return to piracy, get caught, and be hung. Many, especially Spotswood, believed the adage that the only good pirate was a dead pirate and Franklin even put a spin on it. "Better to swim in the sea below than to swing in the air and feed the crow, Says Jolly Ned Teach of Bristol." St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum - Torture and Punishments

Blackbeard would often sail up the Delaware River to find a good site to anchor away from prying eyes and then catch a ferry to Philadelphia's waterfront to enjoy telling his stories of piracy on the High Seas. He frequented a store managed by Mrs. Bulah Coates at High Street, No 77 and at least one of his men retired to Philadelphia with Blackbeard's permission. Unfortunately for Blackbeard the Governor of Pennsylvania, William Keith, was well within Lt. Governor of Virginia Aleander Spotswood's orbit and there was soon (August 11, 1718) a PA warrant put out for his arrest. The pirate leader was shocked when he heard the news of the warrant. Now, Blackbeard would not continue trawling for wife No. 15 nor conduct his sermons on piracy from the pulpit of the local waterfront bars. Governor William Keith sent out two sloops under his agency to capture Blackbeard and his new sloop which Blackbeard had named Adventure after the previous ship Israel Hands had run aground at Beaufort Inlet, NC. Rather than stay where he was not wanted, Blackbeard bent to the nagging of his crew to resume their preying on merchant ships. They left Pennsylvania for Bermuda. Pirates in Virginia -- The Republic of Pirates

Today's Blackbeard tale using pulpit, trawl, agency, and orbit.