Confederates, Pigott stored the items 

 in big pockets under her hoop skirts, 

 Willis says. 



"When she was arrested, the 

 Union soldiers found 30 pounds of 

 contraband under her skirts," she adds 



"They took her 

 to New Bern to 

 prison." 



The tour 

 continues down 

 Ann to Sunset 

 Street and the 

 John Hill house. 

 Willis says that 

 many homes on 

 this and other 

 streets were 

 moved from 

 other locations. 



"People 

 here moved 

 houses like other 



people move furniture," she adds. "Capt. John 

 Hill first built the home on Portsmouth Island 

 where it stood for 100 years. Then the home 

 was loaded on a barge and moved to Beaufort 

 for another 100 years before it was moved to its 

 present location." 



As the bus heads back toward 

 Ann Street, Willis points out a home 

 surrounded by a quaint white picket 

 fence that may have a connection to 

 an early livestock law. 



"Pigs found outside the fence 

 could be slaughtered," Willis says, 

 adding that half of the money had 

 to be given to the church to feed the 

 hungry. 



The bus slows down as it 

 nears St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 

 "This is considered one of the 10 

 architecturally perfect buildings 

 in the state," says Willis. "It was 

 constructed by shipbuilders, and the 

 inside is like the hull of a ship." 



Haunted Cemetery 



Not far from St. Paul's is the 

 Pirus Chapel, the oldest church 

 in Beaufort. The AME Zion 

 congregation now owns the chapel. 



In front of the chapel is the Old 

 Burying Ground — one of the oldest 

 and most historic cemeteries in the 

 state, now shaded with majestic oaks. Legends 

 abound about those who are buried here. 



"During the twilight hours, some say they 

 have seen a cat jump out from a grave," says 

 Willis. "Some say it is Otway Bums, a hero 

 who fought against the British during the War 

 of 1812." 



After leaving the cemetery, the bus 

 continues down Ann Street. 



"When Beaufort was laid out, Queen Anne 

 was on the throne," she adds. "They planted 

 apple trees on both sides of the street. After 

 many hurricanes, only one or two apple trees 

 are left." 



At the end of Ann Street, the bus turns onto 

 a lane where the Hammock House stands on the 



Continued 



COASTWATCH 9 



