Israel Hands

Posted by Under The Black Flag biographies, Israel Hands 4:42 π.μ.

Israel Hands was second-in-command under Edward Teach (Blackbeard). Hands was given command of David Herriot's ship the Adventure after Herriot was captured by Edward Teach (Blackbeard) in March, 1718.

Israel Hands was with Edward Teach in the attack on Charleston, South Carolina. Afterwards, Hands settled with Teach in Ocracoke, North Carolina. When Teach was killed by Robert Maynard, Hands was captured and taken to Virginia for trial. In exchange for immunity, Hands testified against corrupt North Carolina officials who had consorted with Edward Teach.

According to Daniel Defoes ''General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates'', Hands is said to have died a beggar in London and also wrote that Hands was shot in the knee by Edward Teach after Teach fired at another member of his crew, striking Hands accidently. Hands supposedly asked Teach 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".