By By MIKE VOSS

Contributing Editor
After a trip to the Smithsonian Institute for examination, the remains of a man believed to have been a member of Blackbeard’s pirate crew likely will be reinterred in Beaufort County.
“It’s gratifying. It’s gratifying to know that Edward Salter’s final wish will be fulfilled,” said Raleigh-based researcher and author Kevin P. Duffus, whose request to be appointed executor of Salter’s estate was denied by Superior Court Judge Wayland Sermons Jr. on Wednesday during a hearing in Beaufort County Superior Court.
That request by Duffus triggered a dispute over the remains, a dispute that made its way to court for several hearings.
Although Sermons denied Duffus’ request, the judge made it clear he is impressed with Duffus’ work related to the case.
“You, sir, have opened a can of bones — and I thank you for it,” Sermons said as he praised Duffus’ research of the remains and subsequent efforts that resulted in the story of Edward Salter coming to light.
J. Erik Groves represented Duffus at the hearing. Karen A. Blum, an assistant attorney general, represented the state.
In his ruling, Sermons said it will be up to those people believed to be Salter’s heirs to reinter the remains. Sermons also approved an agreement between the state and the heirs regarding the disposition of the remains, which the Office of State Archeology now possesses. That agreement has yet to be signed by all of those claiming to be Salter heirs.
The state is to turn over the remains to the heirs June 18, according to the agreement. Upon the state’s transmittal of the remains to the heirs, the state will have met its obligations under state law and the agreement, Sermons noted.
The heirs plan to have Doug Owsley, an anthropologist with the Smithsonian Institution, examine and test the remains, which is expected to take from 30 days to 45 days, Groves told Sermons. Once the testing is completed, the remains will be reinterred in Beaufort County, Groves said.
Blum said she is confident that all those claiming to be Salter heirs will sign the agreement. Blum asked the court, once the remains are turned over to the Salter heirs, to enter an order noting that the state has complied with the agreement’s terms and release it from further obligation in the matter.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Groves renewed his request that the Salter estate be reopened and Duffus be named its executor. He said one of the heirs, Suzy Dixon Bennett, endorsed the proposal to name Duffus executor of the estate.
After listening to Groves’ plea, Sermons said the law makes it clear the reinterring Salter’s remains “is up to the next of kin.”
“The obvious and most important thing is to reinter that man to his resting place,” Sermons said.
Sermons said the agreement will be converted into a consent order to be signed by the court. He also said the court would not interfere with the heirs’ desires when it comes to what they do with Salter’s remains. He also said the court retains jurisdiction over the matter in regard to additional court orders that may be required.
The remains were unearthed near Bath Creek in 1986.
Duffus contends the remains are those of Salter, a barrel-maker who died in 1735, may have been a member of Blackbeard’s pirate crew who escaped being hanged and returned to settle in Bath. Salter went on to become a ward of St. Thomas Parish and an assemblyman representing Beaufort County in 1731.
Duffus has sought genetic testing on the bones to confirm his theory.
Earlier this year, five people responded to advertisements in the Washington Daily News seeking heirs of Salter, according to a report filed with the court. Four of those people believe they are Salter’s descendants and one is described as “uncertain,” according to the report.
Earlier this year, one of them said he hoped the two-year quest to have his ancestor’s remains returned to Beaufort County for burial in the graveyard at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bath would end soon.
“All we want to do is have his bones buried and have a headstone placed on his grave,” said Brian Blount, one of those who have identified themselves as heirs of Salter, earlier this year.