Who was Israel in Treasure Island?

In Treasure Island, Israel Hands is the coxswain on the Hispaniola. A coxswain is the person who is responsible for the steering of a ship. Israel is also Long John Silver's deputy.
In chapter 26, Israel and Jim Hawkins try to anchor the ship in a secure place off the island. At the same time, Israel tries to kill Jim. He asks Jim to go below deck to fetch him some wine, and when Jim agrees, Israel arms himself with a knife. Israel pretends to be incapacitated by an injury he sustained while fighting O'Brien, but while Jim is steering the ship, Israel attacks him with the knife. Eventually, after a prolonged fight, Jim kills Israel. Israel falls from the rigging and into the sea.
The character of Israel Hands is based on a real eighteenth-century pirate of the same name, who was second in command to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. In the novel, however, Israel Hands is only described as Captain Flint's gunner.