His widow did not want to run the plantation. But Allston already held more land than he could manage and refused. Pipe Down's 100 slaves feared that the plantation would be abandoned and they would be auctioned off. They chose Phillip Washington to plead their case to Allston. Washington apparently impressed Allston, who bought Pipe Down in 1859, on the eve of the Civil War.
Freedom brings unrest The war never reached Sandy Island.
But the abolition of slavery changed everything. Many white plantation families were wiped out. Those who kept their lands were forced to hire their former slaves. The pay satisfied neither the former slaves nor their former masters. There were several black revolts in Georgetown County.