USA > South Carolina > Historic houses of South Carolina > Part 16
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The name of the old residence, "Cornwallis House," and its history, together with the remains of the old Revolutionary cannon, which had been planted in front of the house, were ever a source of interest to strangers visiting Camden. The Corn- wallis House was burned to escape Howard's corps of Sher- man's army when these vandals passed through Camden in 1865 ; it having been fired by John Devereaux, C. S. A.
To revert to the early history of the house; it stood on a tract of one hundred and fifty acres, which was surveyed for William Ancrum on June 12th, 1758. An oil painting in the possession of Rev. John Kershaw, rector of St. Michael's Church, Charleston, S. C., only son of General Joseph Brevard Kershaw, shows the house as commanding a view of the parade grounds, while a muster is in progress. Mrs. Royal in her "Southern Tours" writing of the place in 1830 says, "One of the trees, planted as a stake to direct their center march" (reviews of the red coat troops were held in front of the man- sion) "is now green and flourishing." Another writer of the same time, says, "The very hawthorn trees by which Lord Rawdon and Col. Balfours ranged their scarlet lines of war are yet among us." In the dining-room of this old home Corn- wallis, Rawdon and Tarleton discussed over their grog their wicked schemes and their bloody fingers signed orders for needless executions in the nearby prison pens. Many ghostly stories gather around this house. It is said that American prisoners were hung from the second story windows in the northwest room. The tragic tale of the love of Agnes of Gias-
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SITUATED in the dif
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JOHN KERSA Cander, 21990 26
HANDBILL ISSUED IN 1794 ADVERTISING SALE OF KERSHAW LANDS
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ST. MARK'S PARISH
gow, a Scotch maiden, is as shadowy as it is haunting. It, too, figures in the story of the house that was the headquarters of Cornwallis, whom it is said she loved and followed to America only to find the grave she now occupies near Camden.
The furniture in the house at the time of its confiscation by the British was pitched out of the windows and broken to pieces. The few articles saved had been previously buried, among them a grandfather clock, now in the possession of one of the members of the Kershaw family. The Kershaws have intermarried with the Langs, Shannons, deLoachs and deSaus- sures and are descended from the Canteys, Douglas and De- bose families. Rev. John Kershaw, of Charleston, and his son, Dr. T. G. Kershaw, of North Augusta, South Carolina, and several grandsons are the only descendants of General Joseph Brevard Kershaw now bearing the name.
LAUSANNE
Lausanne, the old Chancellor DeSaussure homestead, is described as being on the Wateree River, near "Camden- town," the site of the famous battle of the Revolution where Lords Cornwallis and Rawdon led the English forces and the gallant De Kalb stuck to his guns until outnumbered and killed. Those were stirring times for Camden, and years after, when the country was becoming prosperous, the town elected to put up a monument to the fallen hero. When the unveiling of the monument took place, LaFayette, who was in the country at the time, was invited to attend the ceremonies. Lausanne was then the show place of the neighborhood; moreover, it had sheltered the most distinguished chancellor, and was famous for its hospitality as well as for its beautiful rose gardens and stately magnolia trees. LaFayette was entertained at Lau- sanne mansion, and a certain yellow-thumbed manuscript once in the possession of the De Saussure family stated that the aide-de-camp was so struck by a famous portrait of Wash- ington that hung on the wall, that he exclaimed in French : "My friend, God guard you!"
The history of this portrait concerns Lausanne, the home of the DeSaussure, whom Washington appointed director of
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the mint at Philadelphia, and who afterwards became chan- cellor. Under his direction and jurisdiction the first gold coins used in the United States were minted. The very first gold coin ever issued used to be treasured at Lausanne, and was kept in the male line of the family until one day a young lady of the family got possession of it and decided to change its form. She thought it would be much nicer to have a ring than a coin to keep, so the old souvenir was merged into a circlet just as the girl's name was afterwards merged into another family name than DeSaussure.
President Washington and Mr. DeSaussure were warm personal friends, and when the latter in 1795 resigned his directorship and prepared to return to the practice of his pro- fession in his native State, he desired a likeness of Washing- ton to take with him. He therefore persuaded the great general to sit to Rembrandt Peale for a picture, which he subsequently carried with him to his South Carolina home. He took with him also the younger Peale, who was himself an artist, that he might find new patrons in Charleston, the then fashionable and prosperous city of the South. This portrait, painted but four years before the death of Washington, hung upon the walls of Lausanne from that time on, narrowly escaping a bayonet stab during the Civil War. Among the yellow documents which are laid to its account is Peale's de- scription of the sitter at the time it was painted, as told by him in a series of lectures which he delivered in various cities of the country in the winter of 1857 and 1858.
"Washington sat to my father and me together," he says, "for the portrait desired by Mr. DeSaussure. He gave us three sittings from 7 to 10 in the morning, and by that means I had the opportunity of seeing him with his hair arranged in a more natural manner than after the barber had arranged it in fash- ion later in the day. Washington shaved himself before com- ing to me, and when the powder was washed from his whiskers and the front of his ears the dark brown showed beneath."
The younger Peale goes on to say that there was something in the upper part of the original face painted by his father that he preferred as a likeness, and an expression about the lower
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"LAUSANNE" THE DE SAUSSURE HOME, CAMDEN
Named for the French home of this family. Now a portion of the Perkins estate
ST. MARK'S PARISH
part, the mouth and chin, as expressed in his own work, that he judged better. Some years afterward he took the two and worked out a blended likeness with the conception he had kept for years in his own mind as something to aspire to, he having always felt that the first likeness which he painted was not as perfect as he could make.
During the war between the states evil days fell upon old Lausanne. A company of impetuous and war-hardened sol- diers, in no very good humor, tramped over the place and stuck their bayonets through such articles of furniture or ornaments as could be stuck through without too much inconvenience. There were a number of good pictures on the walls, some ideal paintings, some portraits, among which was an old gentleman with a benign face. A soldier who was idly lunging at every- thing on his side of the house, and had let through two or three portraits broad streaks of daylight, felt his arm arrested as he was about to let fly at the dignified old man with the powdered head and the ruffled shirt front.
"Hold on there, you fool; don't you see who that is?" ex- claimed a comrade, The vandal looked up at the portrait and his arm dropped to his side.
"By jove," he said, "if I wasn't going to slash old George. I beg your pardon, mister," and making a feigned obeisauce he passed on. Thus was saved the portrait, which was later sold.
Although the Civil War was over, terrible times prevailed in Camden and thereabouts. Eleven years after the war the descendants of the old chancellor De Saussure were in sore straits. Lausanne was about to be sold; the cherished acres and associations alike had to be parted with. The plantation further out in Kershaw County was retained to be planted, but the old homestead was given up, and has become a part of what is now known as "Court Inn," in the town of Camden.
MULBERRY
Mulberry, one of the handsomest homes in South Caro- lina, was the home of the Chestnut family, who located near Camden,
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Jasper Sutton, who was a member of a company of frontier rangers, after Braddock's defeat in 1755 moved to South Caro- lina. The Indians devastated Virginia to such an extent that many families moved south, and with his wife and family, in- cluding the Chestnut stepchildren, Jasper Sutton traveled southward. They halted a year in North Carolina, but finally landed in South Carolina on "Granny's Quarter Creek," in what is now known as Kershaw County. John Chestnut was then a lad of thirteen years. About two years later he entered upon an apprenticeship under Joseph Kershaw. The year 1767 found John Chestnut possessed of a considerable amount of land, having risen rapidly to an independent merchant and land holder. The end of the Revolution found him in posses- sion of much property.
In the Revolutionary War, John Chestnut served as a pay- master with the rank of captain, but resigned as unfitted for service, suffering from rheumatism after the battle of Purrys- burg. Upon his recovery he entered the militia and served in the Georgia campaign. He commanded the Camden militia in Charleston when that city was besieged, and when the British occupied Camden, John Chestnut was taken prisoner and put in the Camden prison. He was, it is said, chained closely to the floor and to the day of his death bore the marks of iron on his ankles.
James Chestnut, brother of John, owned the property on which Mulberry now stands. James died unmarried and with- out a will, but had intended that the land go to James Chest- nut, 2nd, son of John. John Chestnut, thus inheriting it, left it at the time of his death to his son James.
Through purchase and inheritance James Chestnut, at the time of his death, was the owner of a vast amount of land, an area of about five miles square, extending from the southern edge of Camden down to Daniels' Branch and bounding on the river all the way. His slaves numbered several hundred. Mr. Chestnut not only managed his estates, but he was active in public affairs, being for many years a member of the House of Representatives, and holding various other public offices.
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"MULBERRY" NEAR CAMDEN
The old home of the Chestnut family, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. David R. Williams
ST. MARK'S PARISH
In 1820 Mr. Chestnut built "Mulberry," two miles south of Camden. He used it as a winter residence, the river swamps being so near that it was not considered healthy during the summer months. He would therefore move his family in sum- mer to his Sandy Hill place, three miles east on the uplands. Sandy Hill was burned about 1885. The roads between Sandy Hill and Mulberry were a bee line and were kept in excellent condition, and it is said in order that Mr. Chestnut might ride at a swift pace-his coach was always attended with outriders.
Mulberry, the old manorial hall, is a four-story brick and stone mansion. It is approached by an avenue of oaks and is surrounded by beautiful laurel trees. The exterior of the house is simple, but the interior is quite out of the ordinary, the woodwork being particularly interesting. The state and style of life proceeding in the South can have no better illustration than this old home and the manner in which it was conducted. It is said that Mary Cox, the wife of James Chestnut, although the mother of thirteen children, found time each day to teach her retinue of slaves. The school is supposed to have been held in one of the brick outbuildings.
Mulberry is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. David R. Wil- liams, descendants of the Chestnut family.
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CHAPTER IX FROM DOVER TO CALAIS VIA THE PARISHES OF CHRIST CHURCH AND ST. THOMAS
CHRIST CHURCH PARISH
SN Christ Church Parish many large plantations and interesting places are found. On one of these stands a brick pillar, one of two, that marked the northern boundary of William Hort's plantation. Northeast of this the corresponding pillar stands and is found deep in the woods, In olden times there was also a town called Tarleton nearby Mr. William Lucas' plantation, which was called "Barrack's Old Field," because at one time this place contained the remains of some old cavalry barracks built of lime and shell such as constitute the remains of the Green- wich Village Mills seen in that locality.
Out from the town the larger plantation houses are located at or near the waters that make this body of land into a penin- sula. A few houses have been mentioned in connection with the upper reaches of the Wando River as being situated in the Parish of St. Thomas. The planters nearer the sea coast de- sired and had a parish of their own, with a church building erected thereon conveniently placed for the use of themselves and families. This was called Christ Church Parish and the church is about six miles out from Mt. Pleasant village. There is nothing very remarkable about it except its age. It is a small square brick edifice surmounted by a cupola. It is surrounded by graves that are older than the church itself. Miss Mabel Webber has published in the South Carolina Historical Maga- zine interesting extracts from the Parish Register. The inside of the church is in no way remarkable, the chief feature being the simplicity of its furnishings. Jacob Motte, Esquire, in
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1763 gave the communion plate, a chalice and a paten, still in use at Christ Church.
This parish was established by Act of Assembly November 30, 1706 ; and its boundaries defined by an Act of December 18, 1708, as follows : "to the North east by a large creek or river, commonly called Awindaw Creek or Seawee River, being the bounds of Craven county, to the South-East by the sea, to the West by Wando River, and to the North-West partly by the said River, and partly by a line drawn from the Cowpen of Capt. Robert Daniel, or the Swamp at the head of the Wando River exclusive, to the Cowpen of Joseph Wigfal, on the head of the said Awindaw Creek or Seawee River inclusive."
The first church was begun in 1707, but was not completed for some years. This church was accidently burned in Febru- ary 1724/5, but was almost immediately rebuilt, and was again burned by the British in 1782, the present church was built after 1800. The following advertisement fixes an approximate date for the rebuilding of the church. It is headed: Christ Church Parish April 21, 1787, and says, " Whereas the Vestry and Church wardens of the Episcopal Church in the parish of Christ Church, have resolved to rebuild the church and vestry house, as speedily as possible; therefore public notice is hereby given to any person or persons that are in- clined to undertake the rebuilding of the same." Signed by the Church wardens.
Near the Church on Wando River side, reached by an ave- nue of fine old oak trees, stands Boone Hall plantation which contains a quaint old house built in the early eighteenth cen- tury. It has been considerably altered during the lapse of years, the chief architectural feature, however, being found in its unusually well constructed slave quarters. The place gets its name from the Boone family, and in the family burying ground adjacent to the house a Daniel Boone lies buried.
This plantation passed into the hands of the Horlbeck family and Miss Marie Horlbeck (whose father was a nephew of Major Horlbeck) is authority for the statement that Boone Hall was bought by the Horlbecks on account of the great number of slaves the Hortbecks possessed and the capacity
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this plantation had for accommodating them. Color is given to the theory by the fact that a description of this place men- tions "miles of pasture upon which fine stock is raised, brick and tile works on Horlbeck Creek, the gin houses, stables, barns and dozens of little cottages where the several hundred slaves have their home-not in a negro quarter but dotted about over the country, each with its little patch of land for the tenant."
This description bears out a statement published in The New York Sun, concerning negro education, which says :
"It will perhaps astonish a great many complacent and unsuspecting persons in this part of the country to hear it said that a very considerable number, if not a majority, of the old-time great Southern slave-holders were heartily opposed to the 'institution.' Such is the truth, nevertheless, as every one familiar with the inner history of that section knows full well To put it briefly, we may say that before 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' saw the light, and while as yet the great slave-holding magnates of the south regarded slavery as an establishment beyond the reach of social agitation or political vicissitude, wise and kindly members of the ruling class had conceived and set in operation a system whereby slavery could be robbed of all its most repulsive aspects and transformed into an agency of exaltation. Thus it came about that schools were estab- lished on hundreds of plantations: nothing like our modern schools, of course, but just plain simple agencies of experiment and observation. The idea was to disclose the special gifts and tendencies of the pupils and having ascertained them, perfect and develop. So it followed that thousands of slaves became bricklayers, carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, engineers, sugar boilers, artisans of every kind, even musicians, and were permitted to pursue their vocation in perfect freedom, merely paying to their masters a small percentage on the assessed value of the individual earnings after graduation."
Miss Horlbeck stated that there were thirteen Horlbeck brothers; that the persons who bought Boone Hall were the generation following John and Peter Horlbeck, identified in local history as the men in charge of altering the post-office.
Interesting history is given concerning this family in an account of the Fusilliers by John A. Moroso. "Mr. John Horl- beck, one of the privates in the original Fusilliers, who did such valiant service for America and Charleston during the Revo-
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lutionary War, particularly at the siege of Savannah, when the corp after heroic action reached home (under the command of Lieuts. Strobel and Sass) sadly diminished." Soon after these events, 1780, Charleston fell into the hands of the British. The Continental Fusilliers were compelled to disband and re- linquish one hundred superior muskets which had been pre- sented to them by the British officers in control. Mr. Horlbeck had carried his gun in the seige of Savannah and did not relish giving it up, so he hid it by dropping it between the wains- coting of his home and the wall. He then surrendered another gun and this historic fussee has been in possession of the Horl- beck family ever since. As an instance of logevity given in Mills statistics is found the name of Mr. John Horlbeck, "born in Saxony, lived in Charleston 44 years and never took a dose of medicine in his life, died at the age of 80."
The last owner of Boone Hall was the late Major Horlbeck, whose grandfather had planted a few pecan trees around Boone Hall. Finding these to have flourished they were left when other trees were cut down, From this small beginning and a great expenditure of time, trouble and money, Major Horlbeck developed a large industry and had the satisfaction of seeing his experiments succeed. In 1904 he was credited with owning the largest pecan grove in the world.
OAKLAND
Oakland Plantation, in Christ Church Parish, Charlestown County, is eight miles out from the village of Mt. Pleasant, on the Georgetown road, and was granted in a tract of one thou- sand three hundred acres, by the Lord Proprietors in 1696 to Captain George Dearsley but was settled by John Abraham Motte as agent for John Perrie (a later owner) then of Antigua, formerly of Youghal, Ireland. It was named Youghal in honor of Perrie's birthplace and this name was retained through the successive ownerships of Cleland, Benison and Barksdale, only to be later renamed Oakland.
As Thomas Barksdale in his will dated July 2nd, 1850, refers to "my plantation called Youghal. my residence," the name must have been changed to Oakland by his son-in-law,
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James Macbeth, next owner. This was done in recognition of the magnificent avenue of live oaks, which was either planted or extended by one of the Mrs. Barksdales, perhaps Mary, wife of Thomas the First. An old slave named Cain Bryan, who was living on the place when it passed from James MacBeth to Philip Porcher, said that in his boyhood he remembered going into the woods with his mistress to select the trees to transplant from the forest to the avenue.
At the time that Mr. Porcher came into possession, Oak- land was a thoroughly equipped plantation and country estate, comprising in its grounds extensive gardens and an orchard. The outside buildings included the regulation plantation kitchen with brick oven in the side of the chimney, a brick smoke-house and a brick dairy (which flanked the house at the head of the avenue), a carriage house, a barn and gin house, poultry houses, extensive negro quarters, and last but not least a day nursery for the little slave children, who were left there during the work hours of their mothers in the care of an old "Maumer."
The dwelling house at Oakland is an unpretentious but fine example of an eighteenth century plantation home, with quaint Dutch roof and large living-rooms, with chimneys in the corner of each room, and odd seats in the upstairs dormer windows. The timbers of this building are hand-hewn black cypress and the woodwork indicates that it was done by skilled carpenters among the slaves. The low foundation on which the residence stands is of brick made from oyster-shell lime. The age of the
house can only be surmised, but it is apparently the oldest in
the parish and was probably built by George Benison or his successor, Thomas Barksdale, about the year 1750, although the exact date cannot be announced. The gable end of this house, with its Dutch roof, is similar to another Motte place, near Monks Corner, which is significant in connection with the fact that a Motte settled Oakland for John Perrie.
The ghost at this fascinating old place is described as a gentle wraith who comes to pray at the bedside of those who sleep in the "Ghost Room, " but it is said that she comes very rarely and no one knows who she is or was.
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OAKLAND PLANTATION, MT. PLEASANT. FRONT AND REAR VIEWS A Colonial house now owned by A. K. Gregorie
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An interesting story told of the Revolutionary days is that just as the Barksdales were about to dine, a British soldier spurred his horse into the dining-room and carried off from the table, on his sword point, a roasted fowl. Another tradition connected with this historic house is that General Sherman while stationed at Fort Sumter prior to the War of the Con- federacy was a welcomed visitor as he was in other homes in and around Charleston. The cause of the general's feeling against South Carolina is said to have had its origin in an affair of the heart. He fell in love with a beautiful Charles- ton girl, who did not, however, reciprocate his affections but coquetted with him in an obvious manner. This attitude on her part so offended him that he revenged his feelings on the entire South.
The window panes of the dining-room have long been used as a guest's register. Among many other is the signature "I" or "S," William Bull. The oldest inscription is ascribed to Thomas Barksdale and is dated December 21, 1802, but the most interesting pane of glass is no longer in its place. Joseph Pillmoor, one of John Wesley's Missionaries says in his jour- nal that on March 9, 1773, he was at Mrs. Barksdale's where he was kindly received and spent the evening worshipping God and rested in peace. Before leaving he wrote on one of the window panes at Oakland in very clear and well- formed characters :
"Jos. Pillmoor, March 10, 1773.
Exalt Jehovah our God." Followed by the quotation repeated in Hebrew.
This frail memorial went through the perils of two wars and survived in its place more than a hundred years. In October, 1877, it was presented by Mr. Porcher to Wofford College, where it is now framed and hangs in the library.
During the troublous days of the Confederacy while Mr. Porcher was with the army, his young wife and children took refuge with her parents and the plantation, being abandoned, fell on evil days and the house stripped of its belongings. The large wall mirrors were set out on the roadside and used as
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targets by Union soldiers, while books and book cases were carried away with other furniture. Fences around the place were used as firewood, and goats and cattle destroyed the shrubbery.
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