BATH — It’s a recreation of what is believed to have occurred in Bath in the spring or summer months of 1716 — the departure of a group of young men, who were inhabitants of Bath and the Pamlico region and left for a single purpose, according to research done by author and 2014 North Carolina Historian of the Year Kevin Duffus.

Though Duffus is unsure of the actual date of the departure of Edward “Black Beard” Thatch and a group of young men from Bath, he believes, based on his research, they left with a purpose — to travel to the coast of Florida in an attempt to salvage silver lost by a fleet of Spanish treasure ships lost in a hurricane during the previous year.

Twelve to 15 people will reenact the event, representing the men who sailed from Bath, during the First Port Celebration, which will commemorate the 300^th anniversary of Port Bath, and Bath Fest, an annual event to showcase the rich history of the town. Those reenacting the event will board a longboat and row out to the Ada Mae, a sloop that will be anchored just off Bonner Pointe. Nearby will be a vessel from Beaufort, the Meka II, which will fire cannons in salute as the Ada Mae sails away, Duffus said.

“We’re really commemorating something we believe occurred…,” Duffus said. “We don’t know the actual date of the event we are reenacting, but it seemed like it was a good opportunity for it to happen during the First Port Celebration and BathFest, since so many people will be in the area.”

Duffus admits his theory of what happened in 1716 is not in alignment with what some believe, regarding the life of Black Beard and who he was, but his research implies that the event actually happened; that these young men from Bath were among other colonial Americans to sail and search for the Spanish treasure, only to return two years later as pirates in the company of Black Beard, himself, Duffus said. And though there is no written evidence that the event actually occurred, news of the Spanish shipwreck spread throughout the colonies, attracting colonies to petition the British crown for permission to send crews to scavenge the Spanish wreckage. Duffus believes Gov. Charles Eden petitioned to do the same, sending sons and slaves of local landowners, he said.

Duffus has also pointed out that, of those suspected pirates that returned two years later, Caesar, a black slave, was documented as being present in Bath in 1716 and acquired by Tobias Knight, a collector of customs for Port Bath, according to Duffus.

“The fact that this slave, again, returns to North Carolina in the company of other men, known to be the sons of local plantation owners and that he was also present in Bath in 1716, the conclusion, is, of course, they must have all left together in 1716. Hence, that’s why we are conducting this reenactment,” he said.

The reenactment explains how the group got their start as pirates, Duffus said. They weren’t pirates when they left Bath in 1716, and Duffus believes they didn’t intend on coming back as pirates two years later. On the contrary, they felt like they were helping their families and their economically destitute community, he said.

The reenactment is, essentially, the kickoff to the 300^th anniversary of the return of Black Beard to North Carolina, as well as his death at Ocracoke, set to be observed in 2018, according to Duffus.

Telling people about the history of Bath is important, according to Duffus. He believes today’s generations are really the first to observe and reflect on who Black Beard was and who his fellow crewmembers were and why they did what they did, Duffus said.

“I actually think we are making history ourselves and walking in the footsteps of those who came before us,” Duffus said. “We’re doing our best to be accurate and faithful to what we believe happened. The reenactors will be gathering and saying ‘farewell’ to their sweethearts, wives and families. This was really the beginning of one of the most renowned pirate legends in history. It’s important we observe history an that we make history come alive for the public, and that’s what we’re attempting to do.”

The reenactment is set for May 28 at 2 p.m. near Bonner Pointe in Bath during the First Port Celebration and Bath Fest.