Navigating Historical Waters: A Study of the Pilots and Original Settlers of Ocracoke Island

Abstract

Ocracoke Inlet and the surrounding islands have a long and rich history, stretching back to the Europeans' first settlements of the Carolinas, and is the only inlet that has remained open since the colonial period. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the original European settlers on the islands. This settlement was comprised entirely of pilots and their families. The pilots were tasked with the duty of safely navigating vessels around the bar and through the inlet. Utilizing historical records, such as the colonial records, archaeological and remote sensing data, and contemporary maps, this thesis will determine the effects these pilots had on navigation, commerce, and shipping routes in North Carolina.