MYTH!
There is historical evidence that the historic earthquakes did cause ringing of church bells in Charleston, South Carolina. The story of church bells ringing in Boston started around the end of World War II. A researcher confused Charleston, South Carolina with Charlestown, Massachusetts (then a separate town, now a neighborhood in Boston). Reporters loved the story and it went viral. It is still being reported as fact today.If you look at the intensity map for the historic 1811 earthquake, you will see that Charleston, South Carolina is within the area of felt intensity III. Boston is just outside the area of felt intensity II. Thus the seismic energy that reached Boston, MA was much less than that felt by Charleston, SC.