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  Kevin Duffus, Blackbeard historian and author, is attempting to reopen a 274 year old estate of a man from Beaufort County that he thinks was a member of Blackbeard’s pirate crew. 

Duffus believes the crew members’ bones are stored in a box in Raleigh, and says that he will need access to the estate to clarify if the man was in fact part of Blackbeard’s crew.  Edward Slater is the possible crew member’s name, a landowner and merchant who died in 1735. 

With a little help from Slater’s descendants, Duffus is planning to run a series of DNA tests to determine whether or not the bones are of Edward Slater.  If the bones prove to be Slater’s, history could be rewritten.  Duffus believes that if the bones are in fact Slater’s, this will prove that not all of Blackbeard’s pirates were murdered in Williamsburg, VA, as popular history states. 

State officials have neglected to recognize Dufus’ petition to be named executor of the estate. State law provided that the state archaeologist is required to preserve human remains that are in state custody.  Brian Blount of Springfield, MO, is supporting Duffus’ suggestion, and is considered Slater’s grandson times seven. He testified in court in support of Duffus’ petition. Supporters of this petition will also help support a fund to pay for the DNA analysis, which is estimated to cost about $1200.