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Note: On July 9, 1820 Willis Williams is listed as owner and Master of the schooner "Mariner." In Aug 1821 he sold the vessel. Soon after he became a store owner and operator at Ocracoke. His store was located near where the Coast Guard Station is today.
It was in this store that Jacob Gaskill shot and killed Willis Williams. Detailed facts about the murder are found in the court records, but no where does it state what brought on the murder. Locals say it was over a ditch that divided the property,, a dispute over property perhaps.. I researched the properties of both parties and found they had no adjoining property. Jacob was branded in the hand with a M and sent to Jail in Beaufort, NC to await trial. When brought to court, Jacob pleaded with the court to be transferred to another court because he felt he could not get a fair trial there. The prosecutor was James Williams, relation not known. Jacob was ordered held in Irons until he could be transferred to Craven County for trial.
Craven County court records describe the crime; " that Jacob Gaskill now having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, on the first day of March, 1837, with force and arms, and at and upon the body of one Willis Williams did make an assault. that the said Jacob Gaskill with a certain Musket, of value of one dollar, then and there charged with gun powder, and twenty leaden shot, which said musket the said Jacob Gaskill in both his hands held, then and there feloniously did discharge and shoot the said Willis Williams..did strike and penetrate and wound the said Willis Williams on the left side of his neck, one mortal wound of the depth of 4 inches and the breadth of 3 inches and the said Willis Williams did then and there instantly died.
Jacob was found guilty, but served only a few months and was set free and cleared of all charges.
Records found related to the wreck of the steam boat "Homes" in 1837, state that John Pike was responsible for freeing Jacob Gaskill. These court records have not been found. However In searching a attorney's file in the Archives at Raleigh I found a hand drawn map of the village of Ocracoke with Willis Williams Store, John Pike's Store and Jacob Gaskill's house identified. There is a bridge across the entrance (locally called the ditch) to the creek (now Harbor or Silver Lake) Williams store is on one side of the "ditch and Gaskill's house on the other. (This must be the ditch legends says they were fighting about). At the bridge a person is shown, distances from stores are indicated. This map must be
show why Jacob was freed, but as of this time I have found no written information to go with the map.
There are also family connections with the two families, which may have caused the shooting.
I will continue to search!
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