Beverly Enwall

Love and Revolution Beverly Enwall

In 1775 CharlesTown, South Carolina, was a biracial society comprised of colonists of French, Scotch, Irish, and English descent and had the largest synagogue in the colonies. Also part of the social fabric was of African descent, mostly slaves but also some free blacks who had their own businesses like Watboo Johnny's ferry service, free blacks owned most of the inns, and some black craftsmen who had profitable shops. Slaves ranged from the well-dressed woman who spoke three languages and escaped from the town newspaper man or butlers in black suits who supervised the staff to slaves who worked the fields fearing the whip and at night wore iron collars. In January 1775 the gathering clouds of war would change all their lives. The young men sent abroad to University were returning, among them Ned Forsythe who came alone but had been obliged "for honor" to make a loveless but for the lady profitable marriage. Every Patriot had menfolk in the militia, including Peggy Monaghan, the popular daughter of an indigo planter, The war begins in CharlesTown in June 1776 with a British Naval attack that amazingly is defeated. As the Revolution, the warfare, and the brutal British occupation unfold, Ned and Peggy fall in love in spite of the iron-clad code of honor that ruled the society of their time.