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Blackbeard's Mysterious Origins
- Blackbeard's early life is largely unknown, with records only appearing from 1716 onwards.
- Much of what we know is inferred or taken from reports, newspapers, and depositions, often blending fact and fiction.
Unreliable Narratives
- Primary source for Blackbeard's life is Charles Johnson's book, but even that mixes fact and fiction.
- Johnson links Blackbeard to Bristol and the Royal Navy, but details change between editions.
Blackbeard's World
- Bristol and Jamaica are Blackbeard's likely origins, both linked to the transatlantic slave trade.
- Bristol, a major port in the slave trade, and Jamaica, a key Caribbean colony, shaped Blackbeard's world.