Outer Banks season two is on Netflix now and the second instalment delved into a new adventure. Pope (played by Jonathan Daviss) found himself centre stage as he discovered he may hold the key to John B’s (Chase Stokes) freedom. He found out he was related to Denmark Tanny, and fans are keen to know if the historical figure was a real person.
Is Denmark Tanny a real person?
Outer Banks tells the story of a group of friends in search of the gold that was lost during the sinking of the Royal Merchant ship in the 17th century.
John B’s father had gone in search of the treasure, and it caused a fierce conflict between himself and his friend Ward Cameron (Charles Esten).
John B was arrested and charged with the murder of Sheriff Peterkin (Adina Porter) from the first season, as Ward had framed him.
Newcomer Carla Limbrey (Elizabeth Mitchell) contacted Pope to say she had a way of freeing John B, but she needed something from him.
She told Pope she needed a key that could cure her illness, and she was convinced it was in his family.
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Pope had never seen or heard of the key before, but he found it at his grandmother’s house and questioned her about it.
He discovered the key belonged to slave Denmark Tanny, who was killed by the Limbreys, and Tanny was one of Pope’s ancestors.
Fans are keen to know if the character was a real person, as parts of the series were inspired by true events.
The Merchant Royal was a real English merchant ship that was lost at sea off Land’s End in 1641.
The ship was used to trade with Spanish colonies in the West Indies, but it sank when the pumps broke down.
He was enslaved by Captain Joseph Vesey in Bermuda before being brought to Charleston, where he gained his freedom.
Sadly, he was unable to buy his first wife and their children out of slavery, much like Tanny’s story.
In 1818 he became one of the founders of an independent congregation known as the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In season two of Outer Banks, the Pogues end up in a church built by Tanny for the slaves.
There is plenty of evidence to connect Vesey to Tanny in the series.
Vesey is believed to have been born in around 1767 and was most likely born into slavery in St Thomas.
In Outer Banks, Tanny becomes one of the talking points of season two as he is one of Pope’s ancestors.
Pope is able to decipher the clues left by Tanny to locate the gold cross, which was saved from the ship’s wreckage.
At the end of the series, Ward and Rafe (Drew Starkey) were able to steal the cross back from the Pogues.
Season three is likely to get the green light as the gang are more determined than ever to win justice for Tanny.
Outer Banks season 2 is on Netflix now.