USA > South Carolina > Historic houses of South Carolina > Part 9
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The type of life which proceeded at Hyde Park may be considered typical of that which went on in all the attractive homes and estates up and down the river. These old places were extremely beautiful, although the houses were not impos- ing from an architectural standpoint; many of them were situ- ated on high bluffs overlooking the Cooper River and its tributaries. Before the eye of the beholder stretched out mile after mile of rice fields, all under bank. The dwellings were surrounded by lawns, gardens and meadows, while extensive woodlands formed a background to the rear. : .
No one can imagine the life which went on in these estab- lishments. A little glimpse of the country life in South Caro- lina in "Ye Olden Tymes" has been preserved in a poem written by Catherine Gendron Poyas, a niece of "The Ancient Lady," called "Limerick." In this she tells of the neigh- boring places :
"Through pleasant fields, on river-banks we stray, Where beauteous Cooper winds his placid way, . Now classic grown, since Irving's spreading fame, Has given it, for aye, a place and name !
To Richmond hill, or Farmifield, we repair, Or Bossis, sylvan spot, where balmy air Revels on sunny day, 'mid fragrant flowers, Or gently whispers round its woody bowers. Perhaps, on Hyde-Park's breezy hill, we stand ; Or Kensington, whose ancient oaks demand The admiration that we show before The pleasant mansion opes its friendly door."
EASTERN BRANCH OF COOPER RIVER
The sports in which the guests indulged are glowingly de- seribed ; then she speaks of childhood days .:
"Oh. carping care ! O sorrow ! little then Dreamt Iyon whited on the steps of men ;"'
and tells of playing whoop-and-hide
'. Beneath the moon's pure, placid silvery ray- But one will say. 'some nights there is no moon ;' I'll show you where we passed those evenings, soon- In some old negro's cot, where blazing nigh, The ample pine log sent its flame on high. There would we sit around the chimney wide. List'ning the tales of ghosts --- of one who died In the old war-and still is heard or seen At .dead of night, upon the road between This gate and Kensington -a neighboring place- Sometimes this horrid phantom comes, they say, As gallant steed. carparisoned and gay ; Anon it changes to a savage dog, That fiercely one attacks; then, as a hog, Goes grunting on its way-but oh, most dread ! It last appears-a man without a head !
But lighter tales sometimes we would require, . As close we crept around the cheerful fire : Of what 'old master' used to do and say; Of how "mass Jack a courting went one day'; And many a pleasant tale of lady fair, With rich brocade, and gems, and raven hair ;---
But turn we now from childhood's joys and cares, To the bright dreams of youth's extatic years ;"'
The day begins with a stag hunt, and the band of gallants hoping to catch a glimpse of the girls before they start :
"They wait, they loiter o'er each cup of tea, In hopes, before they start, the girls to see ; To win a smile-to have the old shoe tost- Without this charm, the field, the day were lost !
The hunters off, the maidens find the day By far too long, and tedious on the way ; But now at last the old clock strikes- tis two! They fly upstairs to dress themselves anew ; Mark! Hark! the huntsman's horn-they come, are near; The mistress orders- bid the cook prepare To serve-up dinner in the shortest space ;
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And good old Joseph, quick: the side-board grace With the refreshments, and with generous wine, For, weary from the hunt, before they dine They must some relish take
After dinner the ladies retire to the parlour:
" While still the gentlemen remain around The social board, where wit and song abound.
"Tis Christmas-and the sable train rejoice : Now in their humble cottages the voice Of song and mirth is heard :
Nor does the slave alone this season hail : What though the Christmas lamp burns dim and pale On our domestic altars, yet the day Can never pass unheeded quite, away.
'Call in the rustic fiddler -- clear the hall Of chairs and carpets, for a mimic ball ; For merry Christmas must not pass us by. Unless o'er polished floor our light foot fly.'
Crowding each door and window. now a throng Of negroes press, and join their voice in song ; Their cheerful notes, unchecked, increase the rout, And help the tune by fiddle old squeaked out;
Cotillions, country-dances, gallops, dings In quick succession each is tried-and brings At last in turn, the graceful waltz --- that dance Conceived in Germany -- brought up in France ! Old Limerick. to my heart forever dear, Where are thy merry crowds dispers'd. Ah! where?"
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POMPION HILL CHAPEL, EASTERN BRANCH COOPER RIVER
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CHAPTER V
SANTEE, FRENCH SANTEE, SOUTH SANTEE, NORTH SANTEE.
"SANTEE"
BY KATHERINE DRAYTON MAYRANT SIMONS
"Child of the coasts. by pale-eyed night,
Where the slim-stemmed lilies lie in white And cold :
Where the dank, green fennel hangs its wreath,
And Summer's pulse-beats stir the breath
Of stagnant-pooled, dull-rainbowed death Deep gold;
Where the stars of the ghost-white dogwood bloom Shine pale as pearl in the still night gloom Awake ;
When the woodbine drips its honeyed blood,
And the spotted adder seeks her food
From the death scummed bowl of the still swamp flood And brake.
Nurse of the night's lone-woven spells, Mother of tales that the Waxhaw tells Of thee :
In reach of thine moss sleeved arms' long quest,
Where the Waxhaw's campfire, burned to rest.
And the Waxhaw's grave-mound, scar thy breast ; Santee ! "'
FRENCH SANTEE
ON ORDER to include local history be- longing to territory adjacent to the headwaters of the eastern branch of Cooper River, to show the geo- graphical connection obtaining, and to knit up the family connections, as well as to show why feeling against the Tories was so strong, extracts have been taken from a brief nar- rative of the life and services of Francis G. DeLiesline during the war of the Revolution, from the year 1777 to the year 1783 when peace was declared. He says of himself: "I was born
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at my father's plantation at St. James Santee, about 40 miles from Charleston. My grand- and great-grandfathers were Huguenots who fled from the persecution of Louis XIV at the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and with many others settled there among the Indians about the year 1685, and this part of the country has ever since been called French Santee. "My father died when I was very young, leaving my mother a widow with a handsome estate of slaves, lands and other property ; when the war commenced I had just entered my · fourteenth year and I volunteered my services in the company. of Capt. John Barnett and with others to protect the coast, from the mouth of the Santee to Sewee Bay and Bull's Island, from the English privateers who were plundering and carry- ing off slaves and other property of the inhabitants. Our com- pany remained on this service for some time, then marched off to Winyah Bav, near Georgetown, at Cat Island Fort, where we were enrolled under the glorious old banner of thir- teen stripes, commanded by Capt. Davis, a Continental Officer. My company, after some time, was marched back to our for- mer station at Santee, until Tarleton with his legion took pos- session of all the country from Charleston to Santee. Our company as well as all others broke up and everyone shifted for himself ; my brother and three others and myself encamped in the river swamp opposite my mother's plantation, a little be- low Santee Ferry, to avoid Tarleton, as well as the Tories."
When Col. Washington came to aid Gen. Lincoln he found the country on the south of the Santee in possession of the enemy, and remained on the north side awaiting events, but it was not long before they suddenly crossed the river at Lenud's (Lanneau's) Ferry, made a foray about twenty miles down to Col. Ball's plantation, and surprised a British guard of fourteen men who were left with Ball to assist in collecting horses for Tarleton as well as to guard him. Tory Ball made his escape over the fence into Wamba Swamp near his house, where he had stables built for the horses he collected; he mounted one of the fleetest and pushed across the country for Strawberry Ferry, on Cooper River, the headquarters of Col. Tarleton and informed him of the capture of the guard, etc.
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THE SANTEES
The Inguenot refugees on the Santee settled plantations or farms.on or near the western bank of the river, northwardly from Wambaw Creek, and the community of French Santee, as it was known, built their church about fifteen miles north of the creek, giving it the name of the creek. The edifice built in 1767 is still standing, and is still known as Wambaw Church.
The point on the north side of the creek, near its mouth, was settled by Daniel Huger, and was called "Waferhorn." A monument to his memory was recently discovered by Alfred Huger, of Charleston, in a field not far from the chapel. In Mr. Lawson's description of his visit in January 1700-1 by canoe to this vicinity, he speaks of "Mons. Eugee's house, which stands about 15 miles up the river, being the first Christian dwelling in that settlement." In the Record of Daniel Huger is the following entry :
"Thursday, August 17th, 1704. My dear daughter Mar- garet Huger was married by License of the Hon. Sir Nathaniel Johnson, Governor, directed to Mr. Peter Roberts, Minister of the Holy Gospel at Santee, to Elias Horry, born at Paris . . in France." :
His son, Daniel Huger, married Elizabeth Gendron; and the residence of Philip Gendron was on the Santee River, a short distance above the church, at or near Lenud's Ferry.
Another plantation in this vicinity was on the southern side of Wambaw Creek, nearly opposite Waterhorn, and was settled by Mr. Elias Horry. It was called Wambaw; and although Mr. Horry was not among the first set of immigrants, he became thoroughly identified with French Santee. He ar- rived in 1690, and married the daughter of Daniel Huger. The house, standing until a few years ago, and said to have belonged to Elias Horry, is described as follows: "It was a high and quaint structure. The high basement was of brick with two stories above of wood, and a roof with three gables. Steps led to the second story, and rested there upon a small veranda. This story was 'finished with wooden and rather heavy paneling.'"'
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In 1700 Mr. John Lawson visited the French settlement on . Santee River, on a tour which he. made through the interior of this State and North Carolina. In 1709 he published an account of his travels, under the title of "a Journal of a Thousand Miles. Traveled Through Several Nations of the Indians, &c." Remnants of the Pedee and Cape Fear tribes lived in the parishes of St. Stephens and St. Johns. "King Johnny" was their chief, with one other called "Prince." There were several Indians in the neighborhood of Pineville. Associated with French Santee is Jamestown, where there is an old church, the site of which is known, and near it are graves which are remembered but now obliterated. The estate of the late Samuel J. Palmer now owns the land upon which Jamestown was laid out. It has long been known as . Mount Moriah.
On account of freshets the French settlers moved higher up the river, into what afterwards became St. Stephen's Parish. This section had been gradually acquiring settlers, and had obtained the name of English Santee; in 1754 it was incorporated as a parish under the title of St. Stephens. The Parish Church is about 19 miles above the site of Jamestown. It will be remembered that the three parishes of St. Johns, St. Thomas and St. James Santee corner on Windsor plantation.
SOUTH SANTEE FAIRFIELD
"Fairfield." the Santee home of the Pinckney family, which is the oldest place on the river, now belongs to Cotes- worth Pinckney, of Richmond, Virginia. The Pinckneys are of English descent, sprung from a family widely scattered over England. It is said that the name is of Norman origin, and is variously spelled Pincheni, Pinchinge, Pinqueny, Pinkeni, Pinkeny, Pinkeney, Pinckeny, showing the changes through which the Norman word passed, until it settled down into the present form, Pinkney or Pinckney. Though holding extensive estates in many parts of England, their names are not prominent in political history.
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" FAIRFIELD," THE OLDEST HOUSE ON SANTEE Drawn by Alfred Hutty .
THE. SANTEES
The only event in the family history which rises above the general level is the claim of one of the name to the crown of Scotland, in the time of Bruce and Baliol, through his grand- . mother, Alice de Lyndsay. "Alice had married Sir Henry de Pinkoney, a great baron of Northamptonshire. Her grandson, Sir Robert Pinkeney, claimed the crown of Scotland at the competition in 1292, as descended from the Princess Margery, through his grandmother, Alice de Lyndsay."
Three branches of the Pinckney family emigrated to America ; one to West Chester, New York, in 1684, one to South Carolina in 1692, and one to Maryland about 1750. William Pinckney, the jurist and statesman, is the most conspicuous figure in this latter branch. The first of the name who came to Carolina was Thomas Pinckney, in 1692. His wife was Mary Cotesworth, of Durham. He was a man of independent fortune, and built a house at the corner of East Bay and Tradd Streets, Charleston. S. C., where he lived and died. The Bay was not then encumbered with houses on its water front, but commanded a full view of the harbor, as the East Battery now does.
One personal anecdote is recorded of him. In looking out of his windows upon the bay, he observed a vessel just arrived from the West Indies, landing her passengers. As they walked up the street, he was attracted by the appearance of a very handsome stranger, and turning to his wife remarked, "That handsome West Indian will marry some poor fellow's widow, break her heart and ruin her children. His words were in part prophetic, for he died of yellow fever shortly after, his widow married the gay West Indian, George Evans, and though he did not break her heart, as she lived to marry a third husband, he often made her heart ache with his extravagance, squan- dering the patrimony of her children. Enough, however, was saved to enable them to have a liberal education.
Thomas Pinckney's three sons were Thomas, an officer in the British Army, who died young; Charles, the Chief Justice, and William, the Commissioner in Equity. Charles was edu- vated in England, and there married Elizabeth, daughter of
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HISTORIC HOUSES OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Captain Lamb, of Devonshire Square, London, Returning to Carolina he became a successful lawyer and accumulated a . large fortune and served as Speaker of the House and one of the King's Councillors. Having been married some years without children Charles Pinckney adopted his brother Wil- liam's eldest son, Charles, as his prospective heir, and sent him to England to be educated; but a romantic incident in the family annals interfered with this plan.
In 1739 Colonel George Lucas, Governor of Antigua, arrived in Charleston with his family. The climate of the West Indies did not suit Mrs. Lucas ; and her husband brought his family to Carolina, to an estate which he owned on the Stono River, ten miles by water and six miles by land from town.
His young daughter, just twenty years of age, was quite in advance of her generation, and that she anticipated, at the junction of the Stono and Wappoo Rivers, the cultivation of those tropical fruits which are pouring such streams of wealth into the once barren lands of Florida.
A letter written to a friend not long after her father's departure gives a vivid glimpse of the way in which she appre- ciated the responsibility thrust upon her.
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"I have a little library in which I spend part of my time. My music and the garden, which I am very fond of, take up the rest that is not employed in business, of which my father has left me a pretty good share; and indeed was unavoidable, as my mama's bad state of health prevents her going thro' any fatigue. I have the business of three plantations to trans- act, which requires much writing and more business and fatigue of other sorts than you can imagine. But lest you should imagine it to be burdensome to a girl at my early time of life, give me leave to assure you that I think myself happy that I can be useful to so good a father."
Mrs. Lucas and her daughter were cordially received in Charleston society, but were especially welcomed in Colonel Pinckney's home. So open was Mrs. Pinckney's admiration for the young lady that, rather than permit her to return to Antigua, she declared her readiness to "step out of the way and permit her to take her place." This kind intention she
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THE SANTEES
actually fulfilled by dying the following year; and her hus- Want was considerato enough to marry the lady his wife had chosen for him.
The marriage certificate issued May 25th, 1744, and signed by Governor Glen, authorized Charles Pinckney and Elizabeth Lucas to intermarry, and the said Charles Pinckney binds him- self by a bond of £2000 to the faithful performance of the con- tract. Mr. Pinckney was also considerate enough to construct for her another dwelling which stood near the present Sea- man's Mission.
Justice Pinckney bought a whole square on East Bay, and built a handsome mansion in the center of it, facing the harbor. The house was of brick, two stories high, with roof of slate. There was a wide hall running from front to rear. One of the rooms on the second floor was thirty feet long and had a high ceiling. The whole house was wainscoted. The mantelpieces were high and narrow, with fronts beautifully carved. In this house were born the two sons of Charles Pinckney and Eliza- beth Lucas, his wife: namely, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and Thomas Pinckney, who rendered great service to their country during the. Revolution and afterwards.
"America is indebted, " says Bruce Addington, in Smith's Magazine, "to women like Eliza Lucas Pinckney-possessed of the advantages of wealth and position, ardent, light-hearted, high-spirited, but right-minded and earnest and brave. They were women of fine ideals and fine achievement. Even when their dreams did not come true, when fate was adverse to them, they left traditions that have powerfully, however uncon- seiously, influenced the thought and point of view of posterity. In the South, as on the forgotten plantations of Rhode Island, this type of woman was the mistress of noble mansions, and of a small army of dependents, they keenly appreciated the duties as well as the privileges which this entailed. They cheerfully looked after the manifold affairs of household management, taught their servants and slaves the domestic sciences, and were untiring in work of charity. To their children they were the best of mothers."
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From her marriage with Mr, Pinckney came the two gen- erals, Charles Cotesworth, born 1746, and Thomas Pinckney, born 1750, and one daughter, Harriott, wife of Daniel Horry. Charles Pinckney, one of the illustrious sons of Eliza Lucas, in his "Draft of Federal Government," which he laid before the Convention, included this clause: "The Legislature of the United States shall pass no law on the subject of religion." The clause was omitted in the form of the Constitution actu- ally adopted; but the fact remains that the first step towards the removal of religious disabilities, and the establishment of equal rights, was made by this able son of South Carolina.
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The honor of urging the subject in the Convention is due to Charles Pinckney, of South Carolina. His State followed his leading, and in 1790, upon a review of the Constitution of South Carolina, the clauses excluding Catholics from place and honor were stricken out.
The other son held, among other high offices, that of Gen- eral in the Revolutionary War, first American minister ap- pointed by Washington to the Court of St. James, and Minister to Spain in 1705. "Fairfield" was the Thomas Pinckney plantation home and a letter comes from him there in 1791 to Mr. Edward Rutledge (brother of Dictator John) concerning a communication from Mr. Jefferson asking whether it would be agreeable if he (Mr. Jefferson) should nominate Mr. Pinck- ney to the Senate as Minister to London. Mr. Pinckney said that almost every private consideration appeared against his accepting this position, but he writes to Mr. Rutledge : "Pray let me have your thoughts on these and any other subjects of immediate consideration, by a letter left for me in town, unless . . you should send an express. I am almost ashamed of requiring this of you but as you made me a governor, and now insist upon my being a minister, you must advise me in this situation, as you supported me in the former."
Mr. Rutledge advised acceptance, and as soon as he could arrange his domestic affairs Mr. Pinckney left home with his wife, who had been very ill, stopping over in Philadelphia to confer with the President. It has been alleged that Mr. Pinck- ney sought this appointment, but the Pinckney point of view
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٢٠٠- ٣٣٦٤٦
WAMBAW CHURCH (ST. JAMESD), SANTER, BUILT 1768
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THE SANTEES
is fully explained in portions of two letters. "My wife, I thank God, mends, though slowly. I have not ventured to open the subject to her. It would be too much for the weak state of her nerve's. Poor Gadsden, too, is gone. ' My heart is filled with anguish, while my head is disturbed with this unfortunate appointment. Once more adieu. Your truly affectionate, Thomas Pinckney."
The mission to England does not appear more gratifying to Mrs. Pinckney than to her husband, as will appear in this letter from Judge Iredell written to his wife in Philadelphia under date, Charleston, April 19th, 1792. "Major Pinckney (the minister to Britain) and his family sail to-morrow. I have received such uncommon courtesies from him and his connections that I must earnestly entreat you to wait on Mrs. Pinckney soon after her arrival. . She is a most amiable woman, and none can be more free from any kind of pride or affectation. I am told that she has been in tears almost ever since her husband's appointment." The Pinckney address for the next four years was No. 1 Great Cumberland Place in London.
A letter written by Mr. Pinckney to the Secretary of State " in America shows that the taint of rebellion still cleaved to our country and her representatives. "In my first communication I mentioned the civilitywith which I was received at St. James. and at the Office of Foreign Affairs. The only circumstance worth mentioning in my conference with the king was that Lord North's rope of sand appeared not to have been entirely effaced from His Majesty's memory; so I infer, from his men- tioning the different circumstances between the Northern and Southern parts of our country tending to produce disunion. I have been constant in every attendance at the king's levees since the return of the court to St. James, and, placing myself in the circle of foreign ministers, his Majesty never fails to have a few moments' conversation with me on the weather, or other topic equally important; but notwithstand- ing the great variety of incident that has lately occurred in European politics, he never touches upon that subject with
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mo. The Queen also was very gracious but quite as non-con- mittal in her attitude. "
America appreciated the service her distinguished son had rendered his country. When General Pinckney returned to South Carolina in 1799 the City of Charleston gave him a pub- lic dinner at the City Hall on Friday, February 8, 1799. The City Gazette and Daily Advertiser for the next day contains the following in its account of the ceremonies :
"The Hall, in the evening, was handsomely lighted up, and at the upper end was ornamented with the portrait of Gen- eral Pinckney, under which the following transparent labels appeared, 'il faut de l'argent; il faut beaucoup d'argent ? - No, No! not a six-pence.' In front of the City-Hall was exhib- ited a transparent painting ; a female figure appeared seated on a rock ; at her side is the American eagle ; at a distance she sees a dove returning, with the olive branch she had sent; she im- mediately soizes hold of several arrows, which lio at the foot of the American standard, and seems prepared for war. Over her head appears, 'millions for defence, not a cent for tribute.' "'
This traditional utterance is found upon the tablet to his . memory in St. Michael's Church, and is still thrust upon him, though historians contend to the contrary. But if Mr. Pinck- ney was not beloved in England, he was properly appreciated at home. An intimacy existed between Mrs. Pinckney and Mrs. Washington, and a letter from her to Mrs. Pinckney (copied from " A Catalogue of Rare Letters") written in 1799, in return for Mrs. Pinckney's "oblig'in favors, " thanks her for some "mellon seeds" and refers to Mrs. Pinckney's recent stay at Mount Vernon : " A place at which we shall always be gratified in seeing General Pinckney, yourself or any of the family. In which let me add a hope, if his military duties should call him to the State of Virginia, that you will always consider us as your headquarters during your abidance in it. . . . I will with pleasure send you the profiles of the General and myself, and feel the compliment of them being asked." She then mentions marriage of "Nelly Curtis to MIr. Lewis (who you saw here) who is at her mothers or she would write in reciprocating wishes of yourself and Miss Eliza and
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