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Israel Hands
Israel Hands XXIX 3
Vital statistics
Alias {{{alias}}}
Title First Mate (former)
Gender Male
Status Alive
Ships Walrus
Relationships Blackbeard (Former Captain; deceased)
John Silver (Former Captive/Enemy/Ally)
Appearances First: XXIX.
Last: XXXVIII.
Portrayed by David Wilmot
Gallery Israel Hands Gallery
"Worry ain’t a good look for a king. Not in a kingdom like this... where loyalty is in short supply."
―Israel Hands to John Silver[src]

Israel Hands is a mysterious, scarred, and extremely dangerous outcast pirate, who lives among the wrecks of New Providence Island, until John Silver brings him into the struggle to reclaim Nassau.

Biography[]

Background[]

Israel Hands was second-in-command to the infamous pirate Edward Teach in his early days, being one of his most trusted men, and one of the most deadly Nassau ever knew. When Teach moved against Governor Robert Thompson for demanding more bribe money, Hands was the one who killed the governor's wife and son.  However, when Blackbeard began grooming Charles Vane as his protégé and successor, a rift developed between the pair. Hands was eventually ostracised from Nassau by Blackbeard. After a humiliating public beating on the beach, Hands was shot in the face that barely missed his eye, and all the other crews were forbidden from accepting Hands. As an outcast, Hands has lived in a secluded cobbled together shack among the wrecks outside Nassau. He remains something of a fabled figure of the founding days of the pirate republic. John Silver was once told a story by Captain Flint of a man consigned to the Wrecks, with “quite specifically disfigured" from a pistol shot that just missed his right eye, and once sailed with Edward Teach in his early days[1].

Season Four[]

In the aftermath of the disastrous pirate invasion of Nassau, Israel Hands searches the flotsam-strewn shore by torchlight for anything of value, and finds something worth 500 pieces; Long John Silver. Despite Silver's best attempts at hiding and crawling away, Hands finds him and knocks him out, but not before ominously telling him "welcome home."[2]

Eps402-4

Hands unceremoniously drags Silver back to his shack in the Wrecks, where he shackles Silver to a post. When Silver comes to and sees a Captured Redcoat similarly shackled nearby, he asks Hands what is going on. Hands reveals that he intends to turn-in Silver to the redcoats for the bounty. Silver tries to deny his identity but Hands says that he has seen Silver before he became a Pirate King. He then scoffs at Silver's title, calling it "more lies." He explains that he thinks the bounty will go up after he kills the Redcoat and blames it on Silver. He then orders Silver to write a note declaring his return to the governor's forces. Silver refuses, but Hands slits the throat of the Redcoat and orders Silver to write, which Silver does.Hands later dumps the body and the note somewhere near Nassau Town, where it is found by Captain Berringer's men.

Later, Silver wonders aloud about what Hands meant by "more lies." Silver then theorizes about who Hands is, and guesses correctly. However, when Silver begins speaking of Hands' banishment, Hands grows angry and strikes Silver after Silver calls him a misshapen wretch. Hands tells Silver that he talks too much. However, Silver continues talking, asking Hands why he stayed on the island when Nassau's first pirate king embarrassed him so thoroughly, and says he hopes it wasn't because Hands was hoping for an apology. Hands then begins beating Silver, and says "fuck Teach." Silver agrees, and asks how Teach is supposed to be the best of them. He tells Hands that Teach's leadership led to nothing but the English flag flying over Nassau again. Silver turns his silver tongue on him, promising that he is a new beginning for Nassau. He proves his worth as a Pirate King by telling Hands that mountains of gold have changed hands because he decreed it, and hundreds of Redcoats were killed at his orders, and asks if he'd really trade him over to the British for a mere 500 pieces. Hands asks him who would pay more for him. That night, Hands and Silver meet Max on the beach. Silver offers Max the chance to return to the pirates' good graces by providing them money, but she refuses. Max is dedicated to going legitimate and remaining loyal to Rogers, and is equally exhausted by the continuation of the conflict on the island. In acknowledgement of their former partnership, and out of fear that Captain Berringer would make a spectacle of Silver's trial and execution, she promises to let him live, but he will be sent far away from Nassau. Max's mercenaries attempt to apprehend Silver and Hands, but Hands cuts them down one by one, and Max flees in terror[1].

From this point on, Israel Hands becomes Silver’s steadfast enforcer. When they return to the Wrecks, Hands gives Silver a roasted fish. Silver notes that he isn't chained, and thinks this a good sign. However, their lunch is interrupted by the sounds of approaching dogs. A posse of soldiers and militia arrive in the Wrecks, and begin searching for the pair. They manage to hide near some bushes, but are cornered by three Redcoats. They are then rescued by Captain Flint and his remaining men. Flint leads Silver to the Abandoned House where Madi is hiding. At the house, they coordinate their plan. Flint and Silver will lead the handful of men they have left to Nassau when the hangings are taking place. Madi, Eme, and Kofi are dispatched to spread word of Silver's arrival. Later that afternoon, Hands joins the dozen other men in marching into town with Silver and Flint. When they arrive at the town square, they find themselves vastly outnumbered by Captain Berringer and his Redcoats. However, Madi and Kofi arrive with reinforcements in the form of the townsfolk of Nassau, who are tired of Berringer's tyranny. The two sides exchange fire and charge. The pirates slowly but surely overwhelm the British, and when Berringer tries to call for reinforcements, they are pushed back by Billy Bones when he arrives with his men. Hands then sets his sights on Berringer. He cuts his way towards the Captain, easily killing Lieutenant Werth. Hands confronts Berringer at the gallows on the steps of the Governor's Mansion. Berringer proves to be more of a fight, disarming Hands of his sword. However, Hands brings Berringer to his knees with a strike of his hammer. He then holds him at knifepoint, and after Silver gives the go-ahead nod, cuts Berringer's throat[3].

As rioting engulfs Nassau, Hands joins Silver, Flint and the rest of the inner circle in setting up a command post in the Governor's Mansion. Silver and Flint order the former pirate captains to try and reorganize their crews and restore order to the town. Silver also orders that the word be spread ordering Billy to present himself within an hour. When he does arrive, Silver, Madi and Flint present a united front. Billy agrees to have Madi safely escorted to the Underhill Estate in order to try and repair the alliance with the slaves. However, he reveals that he has Max in his custody, revealing her to be under guard by his men in the cellar of the Tavern. He demands a private conversation with Silver before he hands her over. While they wait, Hands strikes up a conversation with Flint, recalling that he was present as a Navy officer the last time they forced out the British. Hands remarks that that was a good day for him, as no one else was willing or able to kill Mrs. Thompson and Robert Thompson's son. He thought that he had earned himself a spot by Blackbeard's side for an age, but it wasn't long before they fell out. Flint impatiently asks if there is a point to this, and Hands remarks that Flint has been counseling Silver to do what Flint wants to do instead of what he wants to do. Hands asks how long Silver will suffer it before he decides he can do better than Flint. At that moment, Silver exits the room, and gives the go ahead to exchange Max for the 20 prisoners captured during the invasion. Eventually, the Revenge is spotted returning from Teach's last position and it raises Rogers' banner. The pirates prepare to defend the beach, while Flint and Silver leave to attend a parley with Eleanor Guthrie[4].

Silver returns from the parley with the news that they will be standing down and exchanging the Cache of Gems in return for the departure of Eleanor and Rogers' allies from the island. Hands watches to ensure that Mrs. Hudson is given safe passage from the fort to the beach so she can inform Governor Rogers of the deal. After Eleanor fires several warning shots from the fort, Rogers departs, seemingly albeit reluctantly agreeing to the deal. Later, Hands approaches Silver as he is ruminating after Billy urged him to betray Flint and abandon the wider war to focus on retaining control of Nassau. Silver explains to Hands that he is committed to Madi and Flint, but is losing the ability to understand the road they intend to travel. Meanwhile, Billy has done unforgivable things, but had been Silver's closest friend, and is unsure if he can really go through with killing him to side with Flint, and Silver doesn't know if he has it in him to do what is necessary. Hands then strikes Silver and berates him for not knowing. He asks why anyone should follow Silver if he doesn't know what he is doing. He does not care what Silver does, but tells him to choose. He warns Silver that worry isn't a good look on a king, especially in a place like Nassau, where loyalty is in short supply.

Silver seemingly agrees to side with Billy. Hands joins them in leading their men to the tunnel entrance where the deal is to take place, but where Billy actually plans on ambushing and killing Flint and Eleanor. Silver, Hands and the rest of the men wait at the tree line while Billy watches the entrance. Silver and Hands send Jacob Garrett forward. Jacob reveals to Billy that this is a ruse, and that Silver has told the pirates that the invasion failed because Billy never sent word, turning him into a scapegoat. He further reveals that the plan is to kill Billy, and that he volunteered to do it, thinking that it should be a friend. However, he refuses to betray Billy. Jacob draws his sword and castigates the pirates for forgetting their oaths to Billy, who led them while Long John Silver was a mere fiction. Silver sends Hands forward, and he quickly kills Jacob. Billy then attacks Hands, but Hands disarms him and lands several blows. As he prepares to finish Billy off, Silver orders him to spare Billy and get him to the Underhill plantation[5].

Hands and Silver bring Billy to the plantation, where Silver offers to Ruth to let the former slaves beat Billy in revenge for the harm his actions caused to befall their relatives as a reconciliation measure. Billy is able to escape the grasp of his guards and tries to run, but Hands strikes him with a blunderbuss, knocking him to the ground. The former slaves then take Billy into the slave quarters and begin beating him. Soon, Julius, the leader of the slave rebellion on the island, arrives, and Silver meets with him. Julius is reluctant to partner with the pirates, but soon Dooley arrives with the news that a dozen Spanish ships and over a thousand soldiers have begun to invade the island, and the Walrus is waiting on the southern coast for them. Silver declares that they will stay in the fortified estate, where they have a better chance of surviving than if they are caught disorganized out in the open. Silver tells Julius to bring his men to the plantation, as the only chance they have of survival is if they work together.

About 100 Spanish soldiers attack the northern side of the estate. Silver, Hands and Dooley lead the men in defending the walls. However, Silver notices something is amiss, and soon they are attacked by cavalry from the southern end of the cane fields, the Spanish having overwhelmed the men guarding it. Silver leads the pirates in trying to fend them off, but they are soon overrun by the cavalry and infantry. Hands calls the pirates to get off the wall and face the Spanish cavalry. However, the battle quickly turns against them as the Spanish outside the walls advance and Hands is forced to call them to retreat inside the sugar mill, where the women and children are hiding. The Spanish surround the building, and prepare to try and burn out the pirates. However, Julius and his army arrive, attacking the Spanish from the rear. Silver then leads the men in joining the fight, routing the Spanish. Flint then arrives with the news that Madi is dead, devastating Silver. Flint takes the reins, and orders that they gather supplies and for everyone to head to the southern coast so they can retreat aboard the Walrus to the Maroon Island. They successfully reach the Walrus and the Lion, and begin sailing. En route, the Lion, commanded by Rackham, seemingly abandons them. When they arrive at the Maroon Camp, they find it filled to the brim with pirates and Maroons from around the New World. The Maroon Queen explains that they arrived after they heard of the Fall of Nassau, and they have come to join the fight to free the New World from colonial rule[6].

XXXV-2

While the Queen grieves Madi's loss, the pirate and Maroon leaders gather in the meeting hall to discuss a plan of action. They formulate a plan to seize St. Ann's Bay before taking Bridgetown and Barbados and recruiting the slaves there before possibly moving against Boston. Julius objects to the plans for the wider war effort, calling them folly, leading to him and Silver heatedly arguing before the Maroon Queen diffuses the situation. Shortly thereafter, Governor Woodes Rogers sends word that Madi is alive and in his custody, and he demands that they give him the cache for her safe release. Silver wants to agree, but Flint and the Queen object, knowing it would upset the fragile alliance between the pirates and Maroons. However, Flint promises an uneasy and angry Silver that they will sail to Nassau and rescue Madi. As they prepare to set sail, Hands approaches Silver and notes that Flint seems confident that they will succeed. Silver says he is also confident in Flint's plan, but Hands remarks that Flint seems more so. Silver asks Hands what he is saying, and Hands explains that he knows Silver has prepared for the eventuality that Flint's plan may not work, and if that happens he will have to reveal it to Flint. Once Flint learns that Silver had the cache unburied and stowed in the hold, and the extreme reaction follows, Silver will either have to concede to Flint, or kill him, and Hands asks if he is prepared for this[7]. The Walrus arrives in Nassau under the cover of night. Kofi is sent ashore with a small group of men to sneak into town and learn where Madi is being held, so they can then plan a rescue. However, Rogers captures them all during the night, and maneuvers his ship, the Eurydice, behind the Walrus. In the morning, Rogers reveals the captured pirates and Madi on the deck of his ship, and begins executing Kofi and his men one by one as the pirates aboard the Walrus look on. Flint orders the gun crews prepare to fire, hoping that will stay Rogers' hand, but Silver belays that order and has Adams and Joji bring up the cache, shocking Flint. They signal Rogers and hold up the chest so he can see it just as he is about to shoot Madi. Once he sees the cache, he sets sail for Skeleton Island, with the Walrus in pursuit.

XXXVI-2

During the voyage, Hands sits with Silver at dinner. Hands warns Silver that Flint will make him pay if left alive. Silver brushes off his concern, believing that Flint would not move against him. Hands says that Silver is lying to himself in order to avoid coming to terms with the fact that the crown does not divide, and that Silver knows Flint has to be killed and wants it done but does not yet know how to ask. Silver very clearly orders Hands to not move against Flint in any way, or he will answer for it. As the ship sails up the inlet, Flint and Dooley prepare to abscond with the cache, seemingly killing the Pirate Treasure Guardian. However, the guard was only wounded and prepares to shoot Flint before Hands finishes him off. As Flint and Dooley stare in shock, Hands remarks that he knew it would come to this and now sees two outcomes. Either Flint dies, or he dies, and either way Silver will blame him. He lets the two go in order to allow Silver to see Flint for what he is. After the theft is discovered, he asks Silver if he sees what Hands was saying. Hands is sent by Silver with Joji, Adams, Colin and two other pirates, to find the treasure as well as Flint and kill him[8].

After Silver secures Rogers' promise to give them a day to kill Flint and recover the cache, he meets Hands on the shore. He tells Silver that they saw Flint and Dooley in the distance when they entered the jungle, and he sent the other five in pursuit. He believes they won't get far with the chest but Silver warns that they just need to bury the gold somewhere unknown. Silver is also worried that Rogers is plotting something, and he gave them time for his benefit to prepare. They then hear a gunshot and rush to where the rest of the party has stopped. Adams explains that the tracks have split, Flint likely desiring to divide their numbers. Adams said that due to Silver's insight into Flint's mind, they thought Silver might be able to lead them to him. Silver reacted angrily to this, saying that he had no idea which direction Flint would go in the jungle. He then ordered Adams, Colin and another pirate to go one way and Joji and another pirate the other, while he waited with Hands. Hands remarks that Silver likely sent one of thoe groups to their deaths, and Silver explains that it's to get Flint to reveal his position. Hands adds that he wonders if Flint knows how much Silver learned from.

Soon enough, they find Adams, Colin and the other pirate dead. They stare disappointedly at the scene before Silver realizes that Flint left the chest behind, as he couldn't have gotten that far carrying it himself. They pursue Flint and spot him from the top of a hill just after he has killed Joji. They rush to catch up to him, and Silver sends Hands ahead of him. Hands catches up to Flint, who holds him at gunpoint. Flint says the cache is in the ground, but he has no desire to kill Hands, for he will need as many men as possible for what comes next before holstering his pistol. Hands refuses and charges at Flint. Flint lands a cut on Hands's right arm, causing him to drop his hammer. Flint then disarms him of his sword just as Silver arrives. Flint then knocks out Hands, and engages in a sword fight with Silver. However, they stop fighting after they hear explosions coming from the river. The three rush to the riverbank, where they see the Walrus in flames and Rogers and his soldiers picking off their men from longboats as the pirates struggle to swim to shore. The fires then reach the Walrus's powder magazine, and the ship explodes[9].

Hands, Silver and Flint rush to the beach to help their men escape the soldiers and flee into the jungle. Rogers calls off his men after the Lion is spotted sailing up the inlet. Hands and the rest of the survivors are picked by Jack Rackham and Augustus Featherstone. After Rackham meets with Flint and Silver, they resolve to rescue Madi, defeat Rogers, and then the cache will be unburied and the war will resume. As the Lion clears the river mouth, they are set upon by the Eurydice, which rams them. The Redcoats line the rails of the ship and begin firing muskets down at the pirates, who can only take cover as they are powerless to fight back. However, Flint is able to cut a line pinning down their mast, allowing their ship to drift alongside the Eurydice. Rackham leads the pirates in boarding the British ship, and a brutal fight ensues on deck, during which Hands kills his fair share of Redcoats. The pirates prevail, capturing Rogers and his surviving men surrender. Silver, Rackham and Flint then agree that Featherstone will ferry Madi back to the Maroon Camp aboard the Eurydice, and Rackham will stay aboard the Lion while Flint and Silver go to dig up the cache.

Silver, Flint, Hands, Tom Morgan and Ben Gunn row ashore, and Flint leads them through the jungle. Eventually, Flint demands that they stop and rest, and Flint goes aside. Before Silver joins him, he gives Hands a look, who gives the pirate king a nod. Flint and Silver talk privately, and Silver reveals that he has no intention of continuing Flint's war. Hands, Morgan and Gunn wait until they hear a noise that causes birds to take flight. They apprehend Flint and take him to James Oglethorpe's estate in Savannah, where he will be interned alongside Thomas Hamilton. They then return to the Maroon Camp, where Silver offers a modified version of the treaty Rogers offered Madi. The pirates and Maroons will receive pardons and their freedom if they stand down. The treaty is ratified with near unanimous agreement, although Madi is against it[10].

Personality[]

Israel Hands is amoral, selfish, and ruthless. He is considered one of the deadliest men to ever set foot on Nassau, a reputation he more than lives up to; Hands is a fierce fighter, using his unorthodox style of a hammer and sword to great effect. His technical skill with these weapons is proof of there being a brain behind the brawn. Hands is quick thinking, observational, and has a habit of making himself the right hand of the most powerful men in Nassau: Blackbeard and Silver.

Memorable Quotes[]

"You don't know? Why should I follow you if you don't know? Why would anyone? .... I don't give a shit what you choose but fucking choose! And don't make me suffer the thinking!"
―Israel Hands to John Silver[src]

Trivia[]

  • Israel Hands was a real 18th-century pirate best known for being second-in-command to the infamous Edward Teach. In a famous tale, Blackbeard was playing cards late one night, and became annoyed with the way the cards were running. He attempted to shoot one of the other players, but missed and hit Hands in the knee. When Hands responded with outrage, Blackbeard famously said, “I’ve got to kill someone now and again, or you will forget who I am.” In fact, it saved his life, as Hands was still recovering, when Blackbeard was later killed by the Royal Navy. He was arrested and accused of piracy, but since Hands had not participated in the battle, there was no evidence against him. When he turned State’s Evidence against the merchants who'd fenced Blackbeard’s booty, this got him off.
  • Israel Hands was incorporated by Robert Louis Stevenson as a fictional character into Treasure Island. In the book, he was Flint's master gunner.
  • Hands' sword appears to be the 1805 standard Royal Navy cutlass. His pistol was listed on the auction site as a "Turkish Blunderbuss." The butt of the gun does resemble a jezail, a musket common to South Asia and the Middle East. It also resembles a dragon, a shortened version of the blunderbuss used as a pistol by Dragoons, who actually derived their name from the pistol.
  • One of Hands' necklaces features a Tuareg cross, a religious symbol of a primarily nomadic ethnic group found in North Africa. 

Appearances[]

Season Four
XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII.
XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII. XXXVIII.

References[]

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