Wicked Beaufort

by Alexia Jones Helsley

Beaufort's long history of wickedness stretches back to 1562, when Captain Jean Ribaut built the ill-fated French outpost Charlesfort on Parris Island, eventually destroyed by mutiny and starvation. Colonial Beaufortonians were no strangers to thwarting the law, from the murder of Charles Purry to the priestly misbehavior of Reverend William Peaseley. The Revolutionary War brought civil strife to the area in the form of bands of outlaws, and the early Federal years were times for the "gentlemanly"? pursuits of drinking, gambling and fighting. Reconstruction brought violence of several varieties as freedmen, carpetbaggers, scalawags and others sought to develop a new order. Join local author Alexia Jones Helsley as she delves into the history of these misbegotten times in Beaufort's history, from the earliest instances of illicit activity through the infamous Beaufort banking scandal of 1926.

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2011

Reviews

[E. L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Not what I thought it was going to be but a good book on Beaufort for history.

[LowcountrySC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

A good quick history of Beaufort. Would have liked a little more details to the cases that still an interesting read.