Sea Witch: Shackleford Banks, Admiral Blackbeard, & New River, North Carolina

This book contains the story of the migration of the Shackleford family and related kin during the 18th century. This followed the arrival of the first colonists along the North American east coast during the 17th century. The individual persons are independent-free thinking people who are in quest of land, ventures and the opportunity to begin life anew.

The 17th century emigrants left their descendants with a unique heritage of courage, drive, endurance, and the ability to battle hardships beyond any that exists in our time (the end of the twentieth century).

Our main story begins with Roger Shackleford who had captained a Pirate/privateering vessel in support of Oliver Cromwell in the Caribbean Sea and Mary Palmer whom Roger had rescued from the Pirates. Mary's family had participated in the initial funding of the first vessels to be sent with migrants from England to America in 1607. The two young persons marry and beget a family of boys who continue a migrating, colonizing and adventuring tradition.

Roger's and Mary's sons are raised in Virginia but are soon engaged in piracy and in fighting Indians. The Shackleford sons, including John and Francis (Frank), migrated to the outer sea banks off Onslow County, North Carolina, claiming and settling land in 1708 and 1713.

Roger Shackleford and Mary Palmer's boys. The Roger Shackleford boys, in turn, had families who took on a more permanent status. John's children remained near the ocean in Carteret County, while Frank's three boys spread out a bit.

Lobo Blanco was born and raised in Michigan, where his love for literature was nurtured in high school English classes. When he was barely out of high school, the attack on Pearl Harbor motivated him to join the US Air Force. He served as a fighter pilot in Italy and flew the hump in the China Burma India Theater. Upon the war’s end, he entered the University of Michigan on the GI Bill and graduated with degrees in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, followed by an MBA. He met his future wife at U of M and together they raised six children, while ’Lobo’ actively pursued a career as a corporate management consultant. The family enjoyed camping, playing sports, playing card and board games, travelling, and engaging in political and social activism. Eventually ’Lobo’ started his own business, consulting for the city of Detroit, several counties in the State of Michigan, as well as private businesses. He transferred out of Michigan in the early 80’s. He eventually settled in Texas where he and his wife fell in love with the country. They decided to retire in Texas where he then commenced his second career as an author, having completed 13 books thus far. His interests include reading, walking, swimming, and roaming the country travelling with his wife visiting their children, grandchildren, and great grandchild. He is active in the CBI Hump Pilots Association, the Unitarian-Universalist church, and the local Friends of the Library.