South Carolina’s second oldest settlement (Beaufort) was established in 1711 and has grown to become one of the most beloved places to visit (and live!) in the Palmetto State. But Beaufort had a neighboring town (now a ghost town) that didn’t fare as well.

In 1732, the first Swiss and German immigrants began to arrive in a new settlement along the eastern bank of the Savannah River. It was called Purrysburg (a.k.a. Purrysburgh). But their fate was likely sealed before they arrived.

The story begins like this: after much persistence, a man by the name of Jean Pierre Purry, a wine maker in Switzerland, was granted acreage by the The Lords Proprietors of Carolina.
Flickr/Soaptree
Soon after, in 1726, he began advertising free passage (as promised by The Lords Proprietors) to anyone willing to immigrate to America. But after 200 people signed up for the adventure, The Lords Proprietors took back their promise to pay for passage. The volunteers were left without hope. Yet, Purry relentlessly moved forward.
By 1732, he'd established a site on the "Great Yemassee Bluff" along the Savannah River. And by 1736, more than 100 homes were filled with nearly 500 new immigrants who came to American on good faith to begin anew.
waymarking.com/Marine Biologist
However, there were many things working against this mix of Swiss and German immigrants.
For one, their location was perfectly selected by the Lords Proprietors to be positioned to defend the territory, but the land was not fit for farming.
Flickr/b k
The immigrants began to suffer a great hunger.

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If hunger didn't strike them down, then the unexpected malaria did.
Flickr/Andy Langager
Entire families were likely wiped out by the unforeseen illness that affected so many. Eventually, the entire town was abandoned. Many moved to areas where they could have more productive farming efforts.
Others weren't so lucky and remain in the same place they arrived... in Old Purrysburg along the Savannah River.
findagrave.com/Kathleen Aderhold
Google Maps [street view]
At one point, Purrysburg is said to have had a post office of sorts. Today, all that remains of the original site is the Old Purrysburg Cemetery. It's dissected by State Road 27-34, a.k.a. Purrysburg Road, which cuts a line directly through the middle of the two burial grounds.
What happened to the ghost town of Purrysburg is an all-too familiar story of early settlements in South Carolina. If you'd like to pay a visit, here's a Google Map link to guide your journey.
Google Maps

For a more favorable tale of a dying town in South Carolina, check out this ghost town that just refuses to die.

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