Yes, the infamous pirate Blackbeard once blockaded Charleston and even threatened to burn the city to the ground. Some may even be more shocked to learn that the legend of Blackbeard extends to Fripp Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina, all the way down to Georgia. As I have mentioned in numerous articles, areas such as Folly Beach, Murrells Inlet, Topsail Island, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina were known as pirate dens. They used these locations as hideouts while plotting their next attack and to evade detection.
Legend even suggests that Blackbeard had a house at Folly Beach. I cannot confirm the validity of that rumor, as all the research I’ve conducted does not indicate any validity to that claim.
However, some believe the ghost of Blackbeard still haunts the island, just outside of Charleston.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.