Sea Witch: Shackleford Banks, Admiral Blackbeard, & New River, North Carolina

This book contains the story of the migration of the Shackleford family and related kin during the 18th century. This followed the arrival of the first colonists along the North American east coast during the 17th century. The individual persons are independent-free thinking people who are in quest of land, ventures and the opportunity to begin life anew.

The 17th century emigrants left their descendants with a unique heritage of courage, drive, endurance, and the ability to battle hardships beyond any that exists in our time (the end of the twentieth century).

Our main story begins with Roger Shackleford who had captained a Pirate/privateering vessel in support of Oliver Cromwell in the Caribbean Sea and Mary Palmer whom Roger had rescued from the Pirates. Mary's family had participated in the initial funding of the first vessels to be sent with migrants from England to America in 1607. The two young persons marry and beget a family of boys who continue a migrating, colonizing and adventuring tradition.

Roger?s and Mary?s sons are raised in Virginia but are soon engaged in piracy and in fighting Indians. The Shackleford sons, including John and Francis (Frank), migrated to the outer sea banks off Onslow County, North Carolina, claiming and settling land in 1708 and 1713.

Roger Shackleford and Mary Palmer's boys. The Roger Shackleford boys, in turn, had families who took on a more permanent status. John's children remained near the ocean in Carteret County, while Frank's three boys spread out a bit.