African American History Site
City Directories and History: 1925 – NA, 1941 – NA, 1964 – NA (No returns were made from this address), Bonds Conway House
This cottage was built by Bonds Conway, believed to be the first black man, in Camden to buy his own freedom (in 1793) when he was about 30 years old. The house, originally located at 411 York Street, was purchased by the Kershaw County Historical Society and moved to its present site in 1977. Its restoration has retained the original dimensions and architectural details. The antique furnishings and artifacts are consistent with the style of a 19th century cottage. Today the house serves as the office of the Kershaw County Historical Society. [Courtesy the Camden Tour Book]
Bonds Conway reportedly was owned by Peter Conway who brought him to Camden in circa 1792. Other records show the house was sold in 1864 by Sally Gibson to John P. Wilson of Virginia. He then sold the property to John Player of Kershaw District in 1870 for $100. In 1914, Arthur Brown, a local blacksmith purchased the house but only a short few years later, it was the home of Richard Harris and his wife.
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“Born in Virginia in 1763, Bonds Conway came to Camden in 1792 as a slave of Edwin Conway assigned to his son Peter. With written permission to hire himself out. Bonds Conway accumulated his own money, which Zachariah Cantey used to purchase him in 1793, subsequently freeing him. From that time on, Bonds Conway earned his living as a skilled carpenter, and he acquired the entire block of King, Market, York, and Lyttleton streets. A cottage-style home he built circa 1812, the Bonds Conway House, was purchased by the Kershaw County Historical Society in 1977 and moved to its present location, 811 Fair Street. Restoration was completed in 1980 for the house to serve as society headquarters.” (Information courtesy of A History of Kershaw County, S.C. by Joan A. Inabinet and L. Glenn Inabinet, 2001 – The Un. of S.C. Press)
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