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.
Robert Lane (pirate) Robert Lane (pirate) Robert Lane (died 1719) was a pirate active in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa. He is best known for sailing with Edward England. Edward England had taken the ship "Pearl" (renamed "Royal James") in late 1718, pirating between the Azores and Cape Verde. In spring 1719 he took a number of ships near Gambia. Several he burned or looted and let go, but he kept two. One of them was the 4-gun, 18-man "Mercury", commanded by Captain Maggot out of London, which he captured on May 29. A few of the "Mercury’s" crew joined