Aye Aye: The hunt is on for descendants of Britain's pirates

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Blackbeard: One famous old pirate

If your name is Morgan, Rackham, Bonny, Read, Kidd or Teach, chances are you may be related to the swashbuckling seamen or dashing highwaymen of the past.

In a series of events organised this month, families of Britain's six most wanted marauders - those with the surnames Morgan, Rackham, Bonny, Read, Kidd or Teach - are being invited to discover possible connections with the likes of Bluebeard and the Barbarossa brothers.

People with the name Teach will be able to uncover their links to Blackbeard - otherwise known as Edward Teach - while those with the name Read can dig up their connections with the notorious female pirate, Mary Read, who spent her childhood and much of her early 20s living as a boy.

At the English Heritage events - held at Dover Castle this weekend and then Whitby Abbey, North Yorks, next weekend - the descendants of these charlatans will be able to discover more about their roots and possibly uncover a past they never knew existed.

Sir Henry Morgan: Another classic pirate figure

Abigail Baker, researcher at leading international genealogy research organisation Achievements Ltd, said: "Everyone likes a good story and what can be more exhilarating than finding out you're related to some of the most colourful characters in Britain's past?

"Researching a family tree is increasingly popular and whether you are tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor or indeed pirate, there's always bound to be a secret to reveal."

Pirates of Land and Sea will offer the relatives of buccaneers a flavour of the murky and lawless times when bandits prowled Britain: cannons will fire, horses will gallop and duels will be fought.

Actors dressed as salty sea dogs and highwaymen will roam the grounds, sing sea shanties and mingle with the public to re-create the milieu of some of our swashbuckling relations, according to organisers.

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Johnny Depp and Keira Knightleys pirate links are purely fictional but descendants of real pirates, including Bluebeard, are being encouraged to trace their heritage

A story-telling pirate will reveal the reality of being abandoned by his colleagues in the ultimate punishment of the Pirate Code.

Those who share their names with one of the six famous outlaws - and can prove their lineage - will go free on the first day of the event.

Up to three children will be admitted free of charge with any eligible adult pirate descendent.

Visitors must present their passport, birth certificate or driver's licence to prove their lineage.

 

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