City Directories and History: This is a gallery of houses and images taken by local photographer Gazie Nagle.
The village took its name from the McClellan family, early settlers in the region. Archibald McClellan of Perth, Scotland, the founder of the family here, obtained land in the section on May 17, 1771, entering a memorial (abstract of title) showing 490 acres: “Situate in Craven County: bounded to the W’wd on Jeremy Creek and to the S’wd on large marshes of Seewee and Oyster Bays; but now butting and bounding to the N wd on land of John Whilden, to the E’wd on land not laid out, and now belonging to Thos. Wells.” His holdings now included, besides his grant, Jeremy Point, the coast wise half near McClellanville, and also Jeremy Island. I have, framed and hanging in my living room, a plat of this island, a neat decorative item, which reads, “The above Plot represents the form and dimensions of an Island commonly known by the name of Jeremy’s Island, situated in the salt marshes in the lower part of the Parish of St. James Santee, containing by an actual survey, Eighty Nine Acres, executed per desire of Mr. Archibald McClellan (the present proprietor) the twelfth day of April, 1792. By Lewis DuPre, Dep. Surveyor.
None of these allotted acres included the site of the present town of McClellanville; but Archibald had probably admired this location on the creek side near his plantation, and when the opportunity came, he purchased it from William Benison.
Archibald McClellan Junior (1762-1844) of the Point and Jeremy Island, South Santee, carried on the family name, having two sons, William and Archibald James. William died childless but Archibald James kept the family lands together and left descendants. He lived in the old home situated in the large live oak grove on Jeremy Creek. This park-like grove was the scene of many picnics, lawn parties, and church festivals. Archibald’s slave quarters were in a row called the Street along DuPre Road, where the Methodist Church now stands.
Concerning the matter of when the name McClellanville was first applied to the village David Doar writes:
“When I first went to the village in 1860 there were only six houses there, not counting the old school house, and the other new one, just built …….. After this the place began to grow, but was nameless for some years, until it became necessary to christen it something for post office and other purposes. Several names were proposed and discussed — Estherville for Mrs. DuPre; Jeremy or Jerryville, after the creek but with one accord it was finally dropped into McClellanville from McClellan’s Place, and stuck there.”
The village was incorporated in 1926 with James B. Morrison as Intendant. Paul H. Seabrook was the first holding this office to be called mayor. Thomas W. Graham, Jr., our present day mayor, died recently.
(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)
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IMAGE GALLERY – Photo contributed to R&R by Gazie Nagle @ www.fineartbygazie.com