Outer Banks to represent clear water and a ship ahead; the unsuspecting captain would then drive his ship ashore following this false light. The islands are home to herds of feral horses, sometimes called "banker ponies," which according to local legend are descended from Spanish Mustangs washed ashore centuries ago in shipwrecks. Populations are found on Ocracoke Island, Shackleford Banks, Currituck Banks, and in the Rachel Carson Estuarine Sanctuary. Ocracoke was the last refuge of pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. It is also where the infamous pirate was killed November 22, 1718 in a fierce battle with troops from Virginia.
John Taylor (pirate) John Taylor (pirate) John Taylor was a pirate who lived in the early 18th century; he was also frequently known as Richard Taylor. He was Edward England's quartermaster and popular with the crew due to his violent disposition. Taylor was responsible for the vote that removed Edward England from command. After that Taylor continued to cruise and captured Arabian and European prizes off the Indian coast. At Reunion Island (off the coast of Madagascar) in April 1721, he together with Olivier Levasseur and Jasper Seagar captured the most valuable prize in pirate history, the 700-ton Portuguese treasure ship "Nossa Senhora