BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — Berkeley County might be better known for its rivers, rice plantations and Revolutionary War history than for pirates. But according to centuries-old folklore, one of the Lowcountry’s most famous pirates may have once brought his treasure deep into what is now Berkeley County.
Local pirate historian, author and reenactor Adam Morrow of Moncks Corner — professionally known as Captain Marrow — says the story centers around Stede Bonnet, often called the “Gentleman Pirate.”
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“Stede Bonnet is Charleston’s most famous pirate because this is ultimately where he and his men faced their end,” he explained.
The gentleman pirate
Bonnet’s path into piracy was unusual from the start. Unlike many pirates who turned to crime out of desperation, Bonnet was already wealthy.
“He was a wealthy plantation owner out of Barbados,” Captain Marrow said. “He went off and decided to become a pirate, which is a bit unique because most pirates became pirates out of necessity.”
Beginning in 1717, Bonnet operated along the Eastern Seaboard and frequently crossed paths with the infamous Blackbeard, raiding ships along the Carolina coast.
But it’s a piece of pirate folklore tied to Berkeley County that continues to fascinate historians.
A pirate journey up the Cooper River
According to the story, Bonnet and his crew may have ventured far inland along the Cooper River in early 1718.
“They were said to have come up the Cooper River as far inland as possible,” he said. “That point was a place called Childsbury Town.”
Childsbury Town was an early colonial settlement that existed from about 1700 until roughly 1750. Today, the only surviving structure from the once-bustling community is Strawberry Chapel, located off Dr. Evans Road in Cordesville.
The river’s shallow depth prevented ships from traveling much farther inland. From there, folklore claims Bonnet and his crew continued over land.
“Ships couldn’t travel any further inland due to the depth of the river,” he explained. “So from there it is said that Stede Bonnet and his men traveled over land to Wantoot Plantation.”
The legend of buried treasure
Wantoot Plantation was a large rice plantation granted to the St. Julien family of France and established around 1712.
During the Yamasee War between 1715 and 1717, the plantation even served as a military fortification, housing a colonial garrison.
By 1718, however, the garrison had left.
“That’s when folklore claims Bonnet and his men arrived and buried treasure on the property,” he said.
Some versions of the story say the treasure was buried. Others claim it may have been tossed into a pond on the property. The legend took hold decades later.
“This piece of folklore began around 1750, and it was widely believed by people,” he added.
Treasure hunters and ghost stories
The legend of Bonnet’s buried treasure sparked treasure hunts that lasted generations.
“For hundreds of years, people dug all over the property looking for Stede Bonnet’s treasure,” Captain Marrow said.
Some who left empty-handed blamed supernatural forces.
“Some even claimed Bonnet’s ghost was responsible for protecting the treasure,” he said.
Treasure hunters continued searching the land for more than two centuries.
Lost beneath Lake Moultrie
That search ended abruptly in the late 1930s.
In 1939, Santee Cooper announced plans to build a massive man‑made lake — the project that would eventually become Lake Moultrie.
The project displaced communities and flooded large areas of land, including the site of Wantoot Plantation.
“As the plans neared completion in 1941, The Post and Courier actually announced that would-be treasure hunters had one final week to search for Stede Bonnet’s treasure — if it was out there,” Captain Marrow said.
Today, the plantation site lies beneath the waters of Lake Moultrie.
“Out here in the depths of the water is what remains of Wantoot Plantation,” he said.
The end of Charleston’s most famous pirate
Despite the legend, Bonnet’s pirate career ended far from Berkeley County.
His final battle came during the Battle of the Sandbars near the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.
He was captured by pirate hunter William Rhett, a Charleston privateer who had actually been searching for another pirate, Charles Vane.
Bonnet and his men were brought back to Charleston for trial.
Most were imprisoned in the city’s watch house, which once stood where the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon now sits in downtown Charleston.
Because of his social status, Bonnet was briefly placed under house arrest, but after escaping to Sullivan’s Island and being recaptured, he was jailed with the rest of his crew.
In December 1718, Bonnet and several of his men were executed near White Point in Charleston Harbor, at a site near what is now White Point Garden.
“People in Charles Towne actually protested his trial and execution,” he said. “He was very beloved among the people there. But as a pirate, he still had to pay for his crimes.”
Pirates weren’t the heroes of legend
Captain Marrow says the romantic image of pirates often portrayed in movies and books doesn’t match reality.
“The common misconception is that pirates were lovable rogues out at sea living the best lives,” he said. “Honestly, these men were criminals on the run.”
Pirates often targeted merchant ships for supplies rather than treasure.
“They weren’t hauling around a bunch of gold,” he said. “They were plundering supplies just to survive from one place to the next.”
Exploring pirate history today
Captain Marrow shares stories like the Berkeley County treasure legend in his book Pirates, Ghosts and Buried Treasures of the Southeast Coast: A Historical Assessment on Pirate Folklore.
The public can also learn more about pirate history at an upcoming Lowcountry event.
The reenactment group The Bachelor’s Delight, led by Captain Marrow and his crew, will host the two-day event “Charleston Under the Black Flag.”
The event will take place Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon at 122 East Bay Street in Charleston.
It will feature pirate history authors and book signings, reenactors, artifact displays and historical presentations throughout the day.
Saturday will also include a pirate trial from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., where visitors can help decide the fate of an accused pirate.
“It’s definitely a family-friendly event,” Captain Marrow said. “We hosted it last year and had an amazing turnout, so this year we expanded it into a two-day event.”
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $16 for adults and $12 for children ages 7 to 12.
Captain Marrow says the event is designed to educate the public about Charleston’s pirate history.
“This is a good day of education for anyone interested in Charleston history,” he said. “It’s especially great for homeschooling families and school field trips.”
And while the legend of Bonnet’s treasure may never be proven, one thing is certain: if the folklore is true, the treasure — like the pirate who buried it — may now rest forever beneath the waters of Lake Moultrie.
