Privateers plagued the North Carolina coast during 1778. In 1777, the Virginia privateer John Goodrich, Jr. was captured by men from Ocracoke, but he had returned to sea in 1778 and was one of the most notorious privateers to harrass the Outer Banks. Congress ordered the Continental frigate Raleigh and the brig Resistance to operate between Cape Henlopen and Cape Hatteras to stop Capt. Goodrich.

In May of 1778, Capt. Goodrich worked in concert with two other privateers - Captain McFarling and Captain Neale. This group captured several vessels near Ocracoke and then decoyed the pilots at Topsail Inlet. The Loyalist privateers came into Topsail Inlet and burned a brig that had just been captured by the Raleigh and sent to this location.

On board the burning brig was 1,200 bushels of salt.

Because of Capt. Goodrich's exploits earlier, the North Carolina legislature authorized the construction of Fort Hancock on Cape Lookout (Carteret County) to protect local shipping.

Unknown

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Privateer Unknown - Capt. John Goodrich, Jr.

Privateer Unknown - Capt. McFarling

Privateer Unknown - Capt. Neale