May 7, 1776

In April 1776, a disturbing murder took place near Roanoke Island in North Carolina. A “stranger” to the area named Joseph Evans, “late of Salem county, in the province of New-Jersey,” asked Captain George Oaks if he could travel with him in a small boat to Tar River. Oaks agreed, and before they left, Evans purchased a “carving knife.” The first night on board the boat, Evans stabbed Oaks. “The boat being near the shore, the lamentations of the Captain were heard by the inhabitants, who secured the criminal,” according to this report. This “most unnatural” murder had no clear motive. The captain left behind a widow and seven children, as well as “money and goods, to the amount of about three hundred pounds.”

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

EDENTON, (North-Carolina) April 12.

A most unnatural murder was committed last Friday, near Roanoke island. A stranger came to Nixenton about the first instant, and finding that Capt. George Oaks, late of the town of Marblehead, in New-England, intended, in a small boat, to go to Tar river, begged a passage with him, which was given. The murderer, whose name is Joseph Evans, late of Salem county, in the province of New-Jersey, before he went off, bought for his horrid purpose a carving knife. The villain, the first night they were in the boat, whilst the unhappy man was asleep, stabbed him. The boat being near the shore, the lamentations of the Captain were heard by the inhabitants, who secured the criminal. He has left for the use of his family (a widow and seven children) in money and goods, to the amount of about three hundred pounds, which are in the hands of the widow Todd of Nixinton, in Pasquotank county.