1. Otway Burns became a seaman after learning the trade at the ports in Swansboro and Beaufort, a nearby town situated in Carteret County.
11 Facts About Otway Burns
1. 2.
Otway Burns received financial support for his trading activities from Edward Pasteur, a physician and local political leader from New Bern.
3.
Otway Burns responded by rowing to land and throwing the lawyer into a river.
4.
For over two hours, Otway Burns led Snap Dragon away from danger, toward Ship Rock passage, which unknowingly, was blocked by two British brigs.
5.
Otway Burns told his crew to lie down on the deck while the vessel was being fired upon.
6.
Otway Burns was able to escape from the British ships unscathed.
7.
Otway Burns commanded Snap Dragon on her next two cruises, during which he had several encounters with British men-of-war and took numerous prizes.
8.
Three months later, Otway Burns married Jane Hall, a 20-year-old from Beaufort, North Carolina.
9.
Otway Burns possessed a number of vessels, such as a schooner, seiner, sailboat and a mullet boat.
10.
Otway Burns is buried in the Old Burying Ground at Beaufort.
11.
Otway Burns has descendants living today in the areas of Beaufort, Swansboro and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, and in the immediate area of his birth near Queens Creek, North Carolina.