Shackleford Banks: Difference between revisions

[[File:A Camp of Mullet Fishermen on Shackleford Banks North Carolina.jpeg|thumb|right|210px|Camp for [[mullet (fish)|mullet]] fishermen on Shackleford Banks, 1907.]]

In 1713, the Virginia [[Planter (American South)|planter]] John Shackleford acquired several large tracts of land in Bath County, which included Shackleford Banks.<ref>[[Shacklefords, Virginia]] The surname Shackleford was spelled interchangeably as Shackelford in early Virginia records. The only family of the name initially settled in the [[Virginia Tidewater]] at [[Shacklefords, Virginia|Shacklefords]].</ref> Among these was a grant of land containing seven thousand acres (28&nbsp;km²){{convert|7000|acre|sqkm|0}}.<ref>[http://www.downeasttour.com/diamond/shackleford-hist.htm] Shackleford, History of Shackleford Banks, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, 1995</ref> This tract on the early maps was known as Sea Banks. It was then, and is now, part of thein [[OuterCarteret BanksCounty]], ofin North Carolina,'s [[CarteretOuter CountyBanks]].

When John Shackleford first acquired his tract at Shackleford Banks, the island was known as "Cart Island"," most likely after [[Carteret County]]. The last of the Virginia Shacklefords apparently sold their generations-old holding in 1805, when James Shackleford (the spelling of the name varies) of Carteret County sold his holdings on the Banks to Roger and John Shackleford of [[Georgetown, South Carolina]], where a branch of the Virginia Shackleford family had eventually migrated. That deed specified "a certain parcel of land on Old Topsail Inlet, beginning at Whaler's Creek on said Banks and across to the sea; thence back to Old Topsail Inlet.". (The Shackleford family traced their Virginia origins to the village of Shacklefords in [[King and Queen County]].)

John Shackleford’sShackleford's garrison is listed in Colonial Records, January 19, 1712. “John"John Shackleford at the garrison at the Shackleford Plantation to be allowed to plant Corne on said Plantation, plant, tend and gather Corne during time they keep a garrison there.” " This shows troops were stationed at the garrison and the soil was tillable on the Banks during 1712. He was appointed to see “Every"Every ship drawing eight feet of water anchoring at Shackleford Banks to charge three shillings six pence per foot”foot".

Once Shackleford Banks once had permanent residents. The now-abandoned settlement of [[Diamond City, North Carolina|Diamond City]] was located on Shackelfordthe Banks;, but, the last occupants had relocated by 1902.<ref>[[Diamond City, North Carolina]]Diamond City, North Carolina</ref>

Until 1933, Shackleford Banks was connected to the [[Core Banks]]. [[Barden Inlet]] was opened by the [[1933 Outer Banks Hurricane]], separating the Shackleford Banks from South Core Banks.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/science/9/chap3.htm "Barrier Island Ecology of Cape Lookout National Seashore," NPS Scientific Monograph No. 9, Chapter 3]</ref>

Shackleford Banks is known for the [[feral horses]] that roam there. The [http://www.nps.gov/calo/ National Park Service] closely monitors and studies these "[[Banker Horse|Banker horseshorse]]s". They providedprovide a glimpse into how horses lived in the wild before their [[domestication]]. The Althoughmanner howin which the horses arrived is still a mystery,; legend has it that these horses are descendants of [[Spanish Mustangs]] that survived a [[shipwreck]].

Visitors can take a [[ferry]] ontoto the island from [[Morehead City, North Carolina|Morehead City]], [[Beaufort, North Carolina|Beaufort]], or [[Harkers Island, North Carolina|Harkers Island]]. Since the horses roam the island, visitors may have to search for them. People mustought to keep a distanceaway from the horses, becausefor they are feral and not accustomed to humans. If provoked, the horses may attack.

[[Category:LandformsIslands of Carteret County, North Carolina]]