1139:
1186:
1198:
1210:
400:, headed to New Bern to recruit men to join the vessel's crew. To their surprise, some of New Bern's political leaders treated privateering like piracy, and they tried to complicate matters for the two privateers. The leaders convinced new recruits to borrow money, upon which, they would be arrested for their debt. Burns twice retaliated against the politicians. In one incident, the crew of
1174:
38:
695:, in Carteret County, North Carolina, is also named for him. He 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.
495:. Burns told his crew to lie down on the deck while the vessel was being fired upon. Fortunately, Burns was able to command the vessel away from the British ships, unscathed. The next morning, Burns and his crew encountered
1250:
1260:
282:. After his voyage, he married his cousin, Joanna Grant, on July 6, 1809. The next year, the couple moved to Swansboro. There, Joanna gave birth to Owen, the couple's only child.
1255:
1114:"Holograph petition (1813 July 1) of Burns to James Monroe, U.S. Secretary of State, to obtain a letter of marque and reprisal for the schooner, Snap Dragon, New Bern, N.C."
854:
In the retelling of the incident, the name of the river is not specified. It can be assumed from New Bern's geographic location that Burns threw the attorney in either the
607:
project in the history of the area, and enslaved 11 people, whose forced labor was used for his businesses and on his 340-acre (1.4 km) plantation in
Carteret County.
1265:
648:
808:
412:
the ship. Subsequently, a local attorney labeled the vessel as a "licensed robber". Burns responded by rowing to land and throwing the lawyer into a river.
628:
536:. In April 1815, Burns purchased a property in Beaufort, on which he built a house, that would be his family's residence for the next 20 years.
1245:
56:
529:. In September, Joanna died, leaving her son in the custody of her family for five years before Burns obtained legal guardianship over Owen.
726:
1076:
734:
450:
507:
616:
337:
275:
267:
801:
List of
American-Flag Merchant Vessels that Received Certificates of Enrollment or Registry at the Port of New York, 1789-1867
285:
Burns received financial support for his trading activities from Edward
Pasteur, a physician and local political leader from
948:
827:
271:
1164:
525:
Months before he completed his third cruise in 1814, Burns's wife Joanna and son Owen left him to live with relatives in
1240:
855:
526:
722:
449:
captured its first prize, a
British merchant ship armed with 14 guns. Soon after, Burns and Pasteur led the vessel to
1157:
688:
289:. In the summer of 1812, just a month after the War of 1812 had commenced, Burns and Pasteur purchased a vessel in
517:
on her next two cruises, during which he had several encounters with
British men-of-war and took numerous prizes.
549:
251:
112:
533:
286:
263:
647:
appointed him keeper of the Brant Island Shoal Light, a position he held until his death. He is buried in the
1148:
385:
381:
556:
at his shipyard in
Swansboro near the mouth of the White Oak River (NC Historical Marker #54), the first
1230:
1190:
877:
692:
632:
580:
691:
was founded and named in his honor. A statue of him was placed in the town square in 1909. The town of
332:
of 22.5 feet (6.9 m) and a depth of almost nine feet (2.7 m). The vessel was armed with one
1235:
372:
for the vessel in New York on August 27, 1812. After sailing back to New Bern, the men sold their 50
294:
1144:
930:
576:
496:
1010:
Still, William N. Jr. (October 1995). "Shipbuilding and
Boatbuilders in Swansborough, 1800-1950".
672:
664:
484:
away from danger, toward Ship Rock passage, which unknowingly, was blocked by two
British brigs.
470:
1072:
730:
485:
416:
409:
317:
1178:
804:
615:
Burns's political career started with his 1821 election to represent
Carteret County in the
369:
1214:
890:
561:
373:
329:
62:
20:
1138:
925:
644:
454:
236:
1209:
1224:
1202:
1096:
624:
588:
353:
302:
290:
239:
174:
461:
as a merchant ship by putting up old, ragged sails and moving the guns out of view.
1134:
684:
604:
545:
442:
298:
158:
154:
19:
This article is about Otway Burns. For other people with the same last name, see
859:
757:. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press. vol. 1, p283.
680:
620:
437:
encountered success early in the cruise. In one situation, she outran a
British
361:
232:
212:
502:, another British man of war, but again they successfully escaped. The crew of
1130:
600:
466:
321:
619:
and his appointment to serve as the commissioner of a local canal connecting
698:
Captain Burns's life is the basis of a historical novel by Ruth P. Barbour,
660:
557:
405:
333:
228:
184:
1039:
977:
Littleton, Tucker R. (November 1977). "North Carolina's First Steamboat".
583:
salt distribution company. Burns possessed a number of vessels, such as a
780:
Nicholson, Lee H. (December 1981). "Snap Dragon: An American Privateer".
592:
584:
420:
377:
310:
753:
Littleton, Tucker R.; Sarah M. Lemmon (1979). William S. Powell (ed.).
438:
357:
345:
341:
37:
1153:
349:
255:
476:, fired a warning shot and signaled the other ships to chase down
325:
279:
1113:
146:
Son, Owen, Daughter, Harriet Hall Burns (Born: February 28, 1827)
596:
532:
Three months later, Burns married Jane Hall, a 20-year-old from
259:
1047:
National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory
510:, where they made "several small captures" of coastal traders.
309:, had been constructed four years earlier on the West River in
552:, and made investments in local businesses. In 1818, he built
719:
Pirates, Privateers, and Rebel Raiders of the Carolina Coast
544:
From the wealth he gained from privateering, Burns became a
376:
in the ship at a price of US$ 260 per share to eight other
872:
Bryan, John H. Jr. "Otway Burns and the Snap Dragon": 410.
579:
on his Beaufort property, and also had a partnership in a
1117:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Washington, D.C
830:, North Carolina: John F. Blair, Publisher. p. 203.
595:
and a mullet boat. Among other things, he also co-owned
1098:
Captain Otway Burns: patriot, privateer, and legislator
1251:
Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
1162:
627:. He served 11 terms in the legislature—seven in the
431:, sailed south. The vessels separated a week later.
1049:. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office
208:
198:
190:
180:
170:
165:
150:
142:
134:
126:
118:
105:
100:
80:
53:
48:
28:
130:Joanna Grant, m. 1809, d. 1814; Jane Hall, m. 1814
964:Marriage Bonds of Carteret County, North Carolina
575:During much of the 1820s, he managed a store and
1038:Survey and Planning Unit Staff (February 1972).
270:. After acquiring the skills needed to become a
945:Early Carteret County Court Minutes, 1810-1820
457:. To fool enemy British ships, they disguised
1261:People from North Carolina in the War of 1812
340:. Also on board were a number of small arms:
8:
996:
994:
992:
902:
900:
809:National Archives and Records Administration
415:With a 25-man crew, Burns left New Bern for
227:(c. 1775 – August 25, 1850) was an American
1256:People from Carteret County, North Carolina
1137:
36:
25:
1266:People from Onslow County, North Carolina
560:in North Carolina, which operated on the
57:U.S. House of Representatives
599:used by the federal government to build
1169:
966:. Beaufort, North Carolina. p. 13.
709:
886:
875:
755:Dictionary of North Carolina Biography
748:
746:
368:, Burns and Pasteur obtained official
250:Burns was born at Queen's Creek, near
841:
839:
837:
766:
764:
7:
364:. After rechristening the vessel as
1071:. Winston-Salem, N.C: J. F. Blair.
727:University of North Carolina Press
568:in Beaufort, followed by the brig
491:immediately launched an attack on
297:, which Burns intended to use for
16:American politician (c. 1775–1850)
14:
1208:
1196:
1184:
1172:
480:. For over two hours, Burns led
469:. One of the ships, the frigate
258:after learning the trade at the
76:1821 – (served 7 terms)
799:Holdcamper, Forrest R. (1968).
617:North Carolina House of Commons
276:East Coast of the United States
49:North Carolina General Assembly
1095:Burns, Walter Francis (1905).
700:The Cruise of the Snap Dragon.
663:have been named in his honor:
138:Grandson, Walter Francis Burns
1:
1246:North Carolina state senators
949:Morehead City, North Carolina
320:85.5 feet (26.1 m) from
635:—over a course of 14 years.
305:. The 147-ton vessel, named
266:, a nearby town situated in
723:Chapel Hill, North Carolina
717:Butler, Lindley S. (2000).
336:and between five and seven
1282:
1158:Historical Marker Database
943:Rebecca W. Sanders (ed.).
689:Burnsville, North Carolina
278:, all the way north up to
18:
1069:Cruise of the Snap Dragon
1067:Barbour, Ruth P. (1976).
824:Cruise of the Snap Dragon
822:Barbour, Ruth P. (1976).
782:Nautical Research Journal
687:, respectively. In 1834,
550:Swansboro, North Carolina
274:, Burns sailed along the
252:Swansboro, North Carolina
218:
161:, politician, businessman
113:Swansboro, North Carolina
96:
85:
69:
44:
35:
629:House of Representatives
534:Beaufort, North Carolina
1149:The Political Graveyard
962:Ethel T. Elliot (ed.).
521:Life after privateering
423:. On October 14, 1812,
926:Niles' Weekly Register
885:Cite journal requires
465:ran into five British
396:Pasteur and Burns, on
933:), September 4, 1813.
572:, eight years later.
408:who were planning on
81:North Carolina Senate
1154:Otway Burns Monument
1040:"Old Burying Ground"
679:, in service during
564:. In 1823, he built
445:. A few days later,
427:and another vessel,
111:Queen's Creek, near
1241:American privateers
931:Baltimore, Maryland
392:Privateering career
301:along the coast of
293:for eight thousand
92:4 terms –
649:Old Burying Ground
643:In 1835 President
506:made their way to
603:, in the largest
404:sank a boat with
370:letters of marque
262:in Swansboro and
222:
221:
1273:
1213:
1212:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1189:
1188:
1187:
1177:
1176:
1175:
1168:
1141:
1120:
1109:
1107:
1106:
1083:
1082:
1064:
1058:
1057:
1055:
1054:
1044:
1035:
1029:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1007:
1001:
998:
987:
986:
974:
968:
967:
959:
953:
952:
940:
934:
922:
916:
913:
907:
904:
895:
894:
888:
883:
881:
873:
869:
863:
852:
846:
843:
832:
831:
819:
813:
812:
805:Washington, D.C.
796:
790:
789:
777:
771:
768:
759:
758:
750:
741:
740:
714:
631:and four in the
611:Political career
513:Burns commanded
272:merchant captain
166:Military service
101:Personal details
90:
74:
59:
40:
26:
1281:
1280:
1276:
1275:
1274:
1272:
1271:
1270:
1221:
1220:
1219:
1207:
1197:
1195:
1185:
1183:
1173:
1171:
1163:
1127:
1112:
1104:
1102:
1094:
1091:
1089:Further reading
1086:
1079:
1066:
1065:
1061:
1052:
1050:
1042:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1027:
1023:
1009:
1008:
1004:
999:
990:
976:
975:
971:
961:
960:
956:
951:. p. 1456.
942:
941:
937:
923:
919:
914:
910:
905:
898:
884:
874:
871:
870:
866:
853:
849:
844:
835:
821:
820:
816:
811:. Vol. 2, p748.
798:
797:
793:
779:
778:
774:
769:
762:
752:
751:
744:
737:
716:
715:
711:
707:
657:
641:
613:
562:Cape Fear River
542:
523:
394:
380:from New Bern,
268:Carteret County
248:
122:August 25, 1850
110:
91:
86:
75:
70:
63:Carteret County
60:
55:
31:
24:
21:Burns (surname)
17:
12:
11:
5:
1279:
1277:
1269:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1223:
1222:
1218:
1217:
1205:
1193:
1191:North Carolina
1181:
1161:
1160:
1151:
1142:
1126:
1125:External links
1123:
1122:
1121:
1110:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1084:
1077:
1059:
1030:
1028:Hunter, p. 91.
1021:
1002:
1000:Hunter, p. 90.
988:
969:
954:
935:
917:
908:
906:Hunter, p. 78.
896:
887:|journal=
864:
847:
845:Hunter, p. 77.
833:
814:
791:
772:
770:Hunter, p. 76.
760:
742:
735:
729:. p. 75.
708:
706:
703:
677: (DD-588)
669: (DD-171)
656:
653:
645:Andrew Jackson
640:
637:
625:Newport Rivers
612:
609:
581:Taylor's Creek
541:
538:
522:
519:
455:Virgin Islands
393:
390:
354:boarding pikes
254:. He became a
247:
244:
237:North Carolina
220:
219:
216:
215:
210:
206:
205:
200:
196:
195:
192:
188:
187:
182:
181:Branch/service
178:
177:
172:
168:
167:
163:
162:
152:
148:
147:
144:
140:
139:
136:
132:
131:
128:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
107:
103:
102:
98:
97:
94:
93:
83:
82:
78:
77:
67:
66:
54:Member of the
51:
50:
46:
45:
42:
41:
33:
32:
29:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1278:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1228:
1226:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1204:
1194:
1192:
1182:
1180:
1170:
1166:
1159:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1146:
1143:
1140:
1136:
1132:
1129:
1128:
1124:
1118:
1115:
1111:
1100:
1099:
1093:
1092:
1088:
1080:
1078:0-910244-88-X
1074:
1070:
1063:
1060:
1048:
1041:
1034:
1031:
1025:
1022:
1017:
1013:
1006:
1003:
997:
995:
993:
989:
984:
980:
973:
970:
965:
958:
955:
950:
946:
939:
936:
932:
928:
927:
921:
918:
912:
909:
903:
901:
897:
892:
879:
868:
865:
861:
857:
851:
848:
842:
840:
838:
834:
829:
828:Winston-Salem
825:
818:
815:
810:
806:
802:
795:
792:
787:
783:
776:
773:
767:
765:
761:
756:
749:
747:
743:
738:
736:0-8078-4863-8
732:
728:
724:
720:
713:
710:
704:
702:
701:
696:
694:
690:
686:
682:
678:
676:
670:
668:
662:
654:
652:
651:at Beaufort.
650:
646:
638:
636:
634:
630:
626:
622:
618:
610:
608:
606:
602:
598:
594:
590:
586:
582:
578:
573:
571:
567:
563:
559:
555:
551:
547:
539:
537:
535:
530:
528:
520:
518:
516:
511:
509:
505:
501:
500:
494:
490:
489:
483:
479:
475:
474:
468:
464:
460:
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
430:
426:
422:
418:
413:
411:
407:
403:
399:
391:
389:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
362:blunderbusses
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
339:
338:gun carriages
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
316:
312:
308:
304:
303:The Carolinas
300:
296:
292:
291:New York City
288:
283:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
245:
243:
241:
240:State Senator
238:
235:and later, a
234:
230:
226:
217:
214:
211:
207:
204:
201:
197:
193:
189:
186:
183:
179:
176:
175:United States
173:
169:
164:
160:
156:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
117:
114:
108:
104:
99:
95:
89:
84:
79:
73:
68:
64:
58:
52:
47:
43:
39:
34:
27:
22:
1231:1770s births
1135:Find a Grave
1116:
1103:. Retrieved
1097:
1068:
1062:
1051:. Retrieved
1046:
1033:
1024:
1015:
1011:
1005:
982:
978:
972:
963:
957:
944:
938:
924:
920:
915:Bryan, p411.
911:
878:cite journal
867:
850:
823:
817:
800:
794:
785:
781:
775:
754:
718:
712:
699:
697:
674:
666:
658:
642:
614:
605:public works
574:
569:
565:
553:
543:
531:
527:Jones County
524:
514:
512:
503:
498:
492:
487:
481:
477:
472:
462:
458:
446:
434:
433:
428:
424:
414:
401:
397:
395:
365:
314:
306:
299:privateering
284:
249:
224:
223:
202:
87:
71:
1236:1850 deaths
1145:Otway Burns
1131:Otway Burns
1012:Tributaries
860:Neuse River
681:World War I
597:brick kilns
546:shipbuilder
515:Snap Dragon
504:Snap Dragon
493:Snap Dragon
482:Snap Dragon
478:Snap Dragon
463:Snap Dragon
459:Snap Dragon
447:Snap Dragon
435:Snap Dragon
425:Snap Dragon
402:Snap Dragon
398:Snap Dragon
366:Snap Dragon
233:War of 1812
231:during the
225:Otway Burns
213:War of 1812
203:Snap Dragon
159:shipbuilder
30:Otway Burns
1225:Categories
1105:2013-10-31
1101:. New York
1053:2014-08-01
661:destroyers
639:Later life
601:Fort Macon
554:Prometheus
467:men of war
451:St. Thomas
406:constables
322:bow (ship)
295:US dollars
246:Early life
171:Allegiance
151:Occupation
1179:Biography
979:The State
673:USS
665:USS
558:steamboat
508:St. Croix
497:HMS
486:HMS
471:HMS
378:investors
342:cutlasses
334:pivot gun
229:privateer
185:Privateer
155:Privateer
135:Relations
127:Spouse(s)
88:In office
72:In office
1215:Politics
593:sailboat
585:schooner
540:Business
499:Dominica
421:Virginia
410:boarding
358:pickaxes
328:, had a
318:measured
311:Maryland
287:New Bern
264:Beaufort
199:Commands
143:Children
65:district
61:from 's
1165:Portals
1156:at the
1018:: 7–13.
985:: 8–10.
577:taproom
566:Warrior
473:Garland
453:in the
439:frigate
429:Revenge
417:Norfolk
386:Edenton
382:Tarboro
350:muskets
346:pistols
194:Captain
109:c. 1775
1203:Piracy
1075:
788:: 206.
733:
655:Honors
633:Senate
589:seiner
488:Sophie
374:shares
315:Zephyr
307:Zephyr
256:seaman
1043:(PDF)
856:Trent
705:Notes
693:Otway
675:Burns
667:Burns
621:Neuse
570:Henry
443:sloop
326:stern
280:Maine
260:ports
1073:ISBN
891:help
731:ISBN
683:and
671:and
659:Two
623:and
441:and
384:and
360:and
330:beam
209:Wars
191:Rank
119:Died
106:Born
1147:at
1133:at
858:or
548:at
324:to
1227::
1045:.
1014:.
991:^
983:45
981:.
947:.
899:^
882::
880:}}
876:{{
836:^
826:.
807::
803:.
786:27
784:.
763:^
745:^
725::
721:.
685:II
591:,
587:,
419:,
388:.
356:,
352:,
348:,
344:,
313:.
242:.
157:,
1167::
1119:.
1108:.
1081:.
1056:.
1016:5
929:(
893:)
889:(
862:.
739:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
