Would you vacation on an island if it were named Coffin Island? One such place existed in South Carolina.
Today, Folly and Morris Islands are beautiful places near Charleston, but both were once home to a storied past that included pirates, shipwrecks, war, disease, and bootleggers.
Folly Beach was once known as Coffin Island before the Civil War and was a favorite haunt among pirates who would pass through the area due to its isolation from the mainland. The islands later became a Union army stronghold due to their proximity to Fort Sumter.
Ironically, Morris Island was referred to as Coffin Island in documents as early as 1749.
Many have wondered where the name originated from. According to Wikipedia, the name came from the Coffin family, plantation owners of Beaufort and Charleston Counties.
Many tales, including The Wreck of the Amelia, headless soldiers, the Ghost of Blackbeard, and buried treasure, are forever tied to both. Others believe the infamous name originated from ships entering Charleston, dropping off sick and dying people on the island to avoid being quarantined in the harbor.
Or did it come from the 1700 shipwreck off the coast, resulting in many bodies washing ashore?
According to legend, pirates buried six treasure chests on Morris Island. A pirate captain had stabbed one of his men and buried the body on top of the chests. The ghost of the deceased pirate still protects the treasure to this day, and it continues to be a source of mystery.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.