Hands was second-in-command under Captain Edward
Teach aka Blackbeard. Hands was given command of David Herriot's ship the
Adventure after Herriot was captured by Captain Blackbeard in March, 1718.
Captain Hands was with Captain Blackbeard> in the attack on Charleston,
South Carolina. Afterwards, Hands settled with Blackbeard in Ocracoke, North
Carolina. When Captain Blackbeard was killed by Captain Robert Maynard,
Hands was captured and taken to Virginia for trial. In exchange for immunity,
Captain Hands testified against corrupt North Carolina officials who had
consorted with Captain Blackbeard.
According to Daniel Defoes "General History of the Robberies and Murders
of the Most Notorious Pyrates," Captain Hands is said to have died a beggar
in London and also wrote that Captain Hands was shot in the knee by Captain
Edward Teach after Teach fired at another member of his crew, striking
Captain Hands accidently. Captain Hands supposedly asked Captain Blackbeard
his meaning in this act, his response was, "That if he did not now and then
kill one of them, they would forget who he was." |
