Charles Eden

Charles Eden, who had been appointed Governor of North Carolina on July 13, 1713, is best known for his actions to end piracy in the area.

Teach continues on to Bath, where in June 1718—only days after Bonnet had departed with his pardon—he and his much-reduced crew received their pardon from Governor Eden.

He settles in Bath, on the eastern side of Bath Creek at Plum Point, near Eden's home.

Virginia's Governor Alexander Spotswood is concerned that the supposedly retired freebooter and his crew are living in nearby North Carolina.

Some of Teach's former crew have already moved into several Virginian seaport towns, prompting Spotswood to issue a proclamation on July 10, requiring all former pirates to make themselves known to the authorities, to give up their arms and to not travel in groups larger than three.

Spotswood, as head of a Crown colony, views the proprietary colony of North Carolina with contempt; he has little faith in the ability of the Carolinians to control the pirates, who he suspects will be back to their old ways, disrupting Virginian commerce, as soon as their money runs out.

Teach has traveled during July and August between his base in the town and his sloop off Ocracoke.

Eden had given Teach permission to sail to St. Thomas to seek a commission as a privateer (a useful way of removing bored and troublesome pirates from the small settlement), and Teach had been given official title to his remaining sloop, which he has renamed Adventure.

By the end of August, he had returned to piracy, and in the same month the Governor of Pennsylvania issues a warrant for his arrest, but by this time Teach is probably operating in Delaware Bay, some distance away.

He takes two French ships leaving the Caribbean, moves one crew across to the other, and sails the remaining ship back to Ocracoke Inlet.

Teach tells Eden in September that he had found the French ship at sea, deserted.

A Vice Admiralty Court is quickly convened, presided over by Tobias Knight and the Collector of Customs.

The ship is judged as a derelict found at sea, and of its cargo twenty hogsheads of sugar are awarded to Knight and sixty to Eden; Teach and his crew are given what remains in the vessel's hold.

Edward Moseley, a prominent North Carolinian, accuses Governor Eden in 1719 of profiting from Blackbeard's crimes.

Moseley is arrested and fined for his accusations.

Eden presents an account of his dealings with Blackbeard to the provincial council, which accepts his pleas of innocence.

Eden's reputation will nevertheless long be clouded by his connections to Blackbeard.

Edenton, a settlement that has existed for a number of years, is incorporated in 1722 and named for Governor Charles Eden, who had died earlier in the year.

Edenton serves as the capital of North Carolina from 1722.