Re-cap of November 2025 Facebook Posts

We had three outreach activities and one local history program in November. As per usual, most notices about events or schedule changes in the past at the time of this entry have been selectively edited or deleted. I added some images from past local history programs -- though I'm still behind on those. --gmc

November 1 - Monthly Overview

November 3 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" November is Native American Heritage Month. We've prepared a short introduction to the topic, links to online resources, and lists of materials you can borrow from one or more of the BCL branch libraries and those that are only in our Research Room to help you learn more about the groups that once lived in our area.

November 5 - "Black History Note:" An interesting feature of the St. Helena Episcopal Church Register is its potential for African American genealogy. Rev. Joseph Walker served this predominantly white congregation for 55 years. During those years, he buried a few enslaved people and at least one Freedman - though you’ll notice that no place of burial is given. Under Birth Place Rev. Walker's named the enslaver of the deceased. The first name - which appears to be Poinnite only gives the year of his death 1857 and indicates that he was a Free Black man from Charleston. Sometimes those searching for their African-American roots find clues in unexpected sources.

BTW: We have the St. Helena Episcopal Church Register covering the years 1823 - 1894 on microfilm and a transcription of the Church Registers covering the years 1823 - 1911 in the Research Room in case you'd like to come see them: bdc@bcgov.net or 843-255-6468.

November 13 - In honor of World Kindness Day and Picture Book Month: Amadeus: The Leghorn Rooster by Delores B. Nevils and illustrated by Jonathan Green was called a "vibrant gem of a children's book" upon its release by Sandlapper Publishing in 2004.

Here's the synopsis: A widow adopts a rooster but her other pets are not happy ... and they take matters into their own paws. The story teaches lessons about consequences and compassion.

It has proven so popular that the University of South Carolina Press jazzed up the paintings and text with even bolder colors and republished it in 2016. The BDC has a permanent copy while multiple copies are available through the children's sections of the branch libraries.

November 14 - "Finding Aid Friday:" Cassandra and I both used information from the St. Helena Island Cemetery Inventory Records in our presentations last month. We were fortunate that Professor Sandra Kehoe-Forutan conducted research on Gullah cemeteries in Beaufort County, South Carolina, from 2011 to 2014, documenting their locations and conditions - and then she donated the records to the BDC for permanent retention. Her collection includes surveys, maps, and notes collected during the course of her research that she graciously donated to the BDC.

We have death and burial resources to share with you, but there is no comprehensive record of every burial ground or burial in Beaufort District. Set up an appointment to come in to discuss in more depth: 843-255-6468 or bdc@bcgov.net.

November 15 - Check out Sydney's latest post to Connections! (Pssst! It's about the history of bridges in Beaufort District).

November 17 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday:" The BDC is the only SCLENDS library to have a copy of Yamassee Native American Indians: Culture, Heritage & Practices. The author argues that atrocities in the past almost wiped out the tribe making it very important for current members to share their traditional knowledge and way of life. Bih Mico-Grand Chief Se’Khu Hadjo Gentle prepared this study guide in 2011 to share his knowledge of foodways, rituals, and folkways of his tribe.

November 19 - "Black History Note:" This obituary is a real treasure to find in the Beaufort Gazette, a white newspaper at the time. We learn about James Riley's life both when he was enslaved and how successful he was in building a good life for himself and his family after slavery. It includes his occupation as a carpenter who also did some building of coffins for others and burial of others (not unusual for a carpenter back in 1916). The name of his former enslaver, Capt. W.P. Fripp of St. Helena Island, is a great clue for further ancestral research. I just wish that the names of his wife and children had been included in the obituary.

I found his South Carolina death certificate on the Library's subscription to Ancestry.com which does not give his wife's name but gives the names of his parents: Moses Riley and Tamer Bolls. That family information was supplied by James Riley, Jr., likely one of his children - particularly since the Undertaker section indicates that "James Riley and Son" took possession of the his body for burial. Notice that deceased's occupation on the death certificate is "Contractor."

Additional information is found on the certificate - the deceased's cause of death. Back in the day the term "apoplexy" could cover a general unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke. The term "nervous prostration" was used to describe a person who is experiencing extreme stress, anxiety, or depression.

There is seldom a one & done source for family historians. BTW: If you'd like for Sydney to help teach you how to use, the Ancestry Library Edition database, give her a call: 843-255-6468. She'll be glad to set up an appointment for you.

November 20 - Archibald Rutledge, Jr. (1883-1973) was South Carolina's first poet laureate. Many places in the Palmetto State carry names of Native American origin. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we share his poem "Indian Days":

Coosawhatchie, Waccamaw, Yauhannah, Edisto!

What singing memorial of long ago,

Of Yemassee, Tamassee, and Pocotaligo.

The homes of our primal man, hard by God's ancient sea,

Oconee, See-Wee, Wateree, Cherokee.

Gone now, gone forever from Cumbahee, Jocassee.

The braves' change here no more shall ring by Peedee, Socastee.

Their maids' bright smiles no more shall cheer on golden Congaree.

Quiet, quiet, all is quite, deep on the dark Santee.

Q: How many Beaufort District related locations do you count?

November 21 - "Finding Aid Friday:" The BDC has some big and some small archival collections. The Sally Pringle Collection is one of the smallest of all: two sheets. Want to review it? Contact us to set up an appointment to see this and other materials we have about one of the most colorful sheriffs Beaufort County ever had.

November 24 - "Uniquely BDC: Materials Monday" - Filled with photos, maps, and prints, Blood and Thunder at Bloody Point by Roger Pinckney (2017) tells the story of a violent battle on Daufuskie Island during the Yamasee War of 1715-1717. So fierce was this clash that the location became known ever after as Bloody Point. Pinckney takes readers across centuries of history in a short book of 65 pages. Currently, the BDC owns the only copy of this title within the entire SCLENDS consortium.

November 25 - John Stuart, 1718 - 1779, was a Scot whose British naval career allowed him to finance a relocation to South Carolina and set himself up as a merchant in 1748. His business did not thrive.

During the French and American War, Stuart demonstrated some ability in managing the Native Americans though his personal characteristics sound unlikely for diplomatic missions with the various tribes spread through Southeastern English colonies. "Vain, pompous, and jealous of his authority, well past the prime of life, and afflicted with gout" historian Philip M. Hamer concludes that "he was nevertheless an able superintendent." (1930). Stuart was concerned about the welfare of the tribes - and tried to thwart trade abuses and encroachment on Indians lands.

Stuart remained a Loyalist to the British crown. According to Jim Piecuch (2008), the Cherokee, Choctaws, Creeks and Chickasaws saw the British as a way to keep settlers off their lands. You're welcomed to come to the BDC to read Hamer's article and Piecuch's book in our Research Room.

In case you're wondering John Stuart's connection to Beaufort District: It's something of a stretch of my usual delineations for FB posts but he owned property here.

November 26 - "Black History Note:" A researcher should bear in mind that obituaries tend to reflect the times in which they were written.

This obituary from the Palmetto Post in 1885 is clearly dismissive of the “Harvest of Death” and includes a derisive statement about the "Republican newspaper" policy to include notifications about the deaths of Black people due to inadequate food and the lack of warm clothing and shelter:

The past inclement winter has played havoc with a number of negroes in the vicinity of Beaufort enfeebled by insufficient food and clothing and other causes that add to the death among them. By the Republican paper published in Beaufort we counted no less than five or six deaths announced of negroes who had died in the week. By the manner of the announcement, one would have supposed they were white people.

The "Republican newspaper" to which the Palmetto Post referred was most likely the Sea Island News, an independent Republican African-American publication that began in 1879 and was succeeded in 1889 by a newspaper called the New South (not to be confused with the Civil War era newspaper of the same name). The 1889 - 1898 New South was edited by S. J. Bampfield, a relative of Robert Smalls. The BDC does not have any issues of this Sea Island News and few are known to survive elsewhere.