Let’s snoop around some on Ocracoke Island

We’ve hit the “pause button” on our journey through North Carolina Senate District 1 in order to snoop around a bit on Ocracoke Island in southern Hyde County.

Our tour guide is Philip Howard, an eighth generation Ocracoker and owner of Village Craftsmen, a charming shop in Ocracoke. He is a descendant of William Howard, who purchased “Ye Island of Ocreecock” in 1759 for £105.

Philip Howard and daughter Amy Howard. She runs the place.

 

In 1770, a member of North Carolina’s colonial assembly observed that “those lawless bankers on Occacock Island are not paying taxes anywhere.” To fix that oversight, “Occacock was annexed to Carteret Precinct.” 

After America gained its independence from England, Ocracoke remained a part of Carteret County until 1845, when the North Carolina General Assembly “transferred” Ocracoke to Hyde County. 

Philip Howard, who also serves as Ocracoke’s historian-in-residence, has identified at least 25 different spellings for Ocracoke. 

As a very young man, William Howard may have associated “with Capt. Benjamin Hornigold, an odious Bahamian pirate and mentor to Edward Teach…the notorious Blackbeard the Pirate.” William Howard may even have sailed with Blackbeard for a brief time. 

Springer’s Point is an historic Ocracoke landmark, a wooded, lovely area…but haunted by the ghost of Blackbeard.

 

“Just offshore, hardly more than a clamshell’s throw away, is ‘Teach’s Hole,’” Philip Howard said. “Edward Teach (Blackbeard) frequented these waters during his brief career. This was, in fact, Blackbeard’s favorite anchorage.” 

“In October of 1718, in the vicinity of Springer’s Point, Blackbeard hosted one of the largest gatherings of pirates ever held.” They partied for “some days, along with their motley crews. Rum flowed freely,” Philip Howard reported.

This is the pirate flag flown by Blackbeard.

 

“It was also at Teach’s Hole channel, only one month later, on Nov. 22, 1718, that Blackbeard met his fate in a fierce battle with Lt. Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy.”

 

The battle raged. “Decks were running with blood, and the air was thick with gunpowder smoke. Blackbeard, himself, was wounded 25 times,” Philip Howard said. 

“Toward the end of the battle, Blackbeard nearly dispatched his adversary,” Philip Howard said. “A mighty blow from Teach’s cutlass severed Maynard’s sword at the hilt. As Maynard stepped back…Blackbeard moved in for the kill.” 

“At that fateful moment, one of Maynard’s sailors approached the villain from behind and, with a mighty slice of his sword, severed the buccaneer’s fearsome head from his powerful body.” 

Blackbeard’s disembodied head was tied to the bowsprit of Maynard’s sloop. The gruesome trophy was carried to Williamsburg, Va., where it was stuck on a pole at the entrance to the harbor, a grim warning to Teach’s ‘Brethren of the Coast,’” Philip Howard wrote.

 

“Before departing from Pamlico Sound, however, Maynard and his men tossed Blackbeard’s body over the side of his boat. Legend has it that a headless Teach swam around the vessel seven times as an eerie reminder that he was bigger than life itself.” 

“Even today, the spirit of Edward Teach lives on in the consciousness of those brave enough to visit the area near his watery grave, especially after dark. It is not uncommon for visitors to Springer’s Point to report seeing unusual lights on the water, or among the trees and bushes nearby,” Philip Howard said.

 

People say they sense the spirit of Blackbeard, “still searching in vain for his head.” 

Several homes in Ocracoke are haunted, including a castle occupied by five ghosts. Additionally, the ghost of a village innkeeper resides in an old hotel. 

Philip Howard moonlights as the town’s ghost walk narrator. He ain’t afraid of no ghosts…but we’re scootin’ on to Dare County.