John Burnet and George

We’re exploring the story of two men who were accused of similar crimes, but whose fates were very different. John Burnet, a Scottish immigrant, was taken into custody in the summer of 1775 in today’s Colleton County. He was accused of preaching to enslaved people and encouraging them to preach on their own, as well as revolt against their enslavers. An enslaved man accused of preaching at these same gatherings was named George and while John eventually went free, George met a very different end.