Historian David Stick, in 2005, prior to his death in 2009, had begun to write a series of biographies of “Outer Banker” families.  Unfortunately, he discovered a computer virus on is system which wiped out all of his work.  He had information he was compiling for an additional 160 families as well.  In 2007, he managed to obtain copies of the original 18, and retyped them, but by then his interest had waned, and he put aside the biographies.  His intention was for them and his research work to be donated to the Outer Banks History Center, but it is unknown if that actually occurred or not.

Some of these histories have been donated to the Hatteras Island Genealogy and Preservation Society by families.  In the biography for Charles Thomas Williams Sr. (1865-1941) and Charles Thomas Williams Jr. (1892-1984), we find a very interesting piece of information about Kinnekeet.

“Among the tales passed down from the earlier generations, Williams said there was one about an Indian village where Kinnakeet is located.  “The Big Chief Indian was named Kinnakeet and his tribe was called Kinnakeet in his honor”, he recounted.  However, the definitive Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico makes no mention of Kinnakeet, the closest being “Kinikinnick” an Indian preparation of tobacco, sumac leaves. And the inner bark of a species of dogwood, which the natives used for smoking.”

The former village of Kinnakeet is currently named Avon and is located just north of Buxton on Hatteras Island.