Christopher Gadsden Archives - Charleston County

34 South Battery – Gadsden Home

City Directories and History: GADSDEN-BURCKMEYER HOUSE
Constructed 1820-30; altered early-1900s

Library of Congress – HABS Photo Collection

“Col. John Ashe of 32 South Battery left this lot to his daughter Mary, the wife of Christopher Gadsden. The Gadsdens nineteenth-century view built this three-story masonry house with front pediment, probably in the 1820s. In the early-twentieth century the double-tiered, bow-front piazzas were removed and a Neoclassical Revival style doorway, ironwork balcony, and lunette window were added to the front facade.”

Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997

Additional links: Christopher Gadsden, the son of Bishop Gadsden of Charleston, moved to Fairfield County, S.C. and living at his plantation, To-Kalon, where he was an avid landscape gardener.

Other sources: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61, Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917, Charleston 1861 Census Schedule, and a 1872 Bird’s Eye View of Charleston, S.C. The Hist. Charleston Foundation may also have additional data at: Past Perfect

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R&R HISTORY LINK: Fairfield Co’s Tocaland Plantation

Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.

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370 King Street – Fellowship Society of Charleston

City Directories and History: FELLOWSHIP SOCIETY
Constructed early-nineteenth century; renovated circa 1880-1900

Postcard view of King Street’s 370 Block. Courtesy of the Historic Charleston Foundation Collection – 2016

“This stuccoed, three-bay building with pressed-metal window heads and cornice houses one of Charleston’s historically significant eighteenth-century organizations. The Fellowship Society has been head-quartered here since the early-twentieth century. The Society was founded in 1762 by a group of “mechanics,” or craftsmen, who were active in the promotion of American liberties in the period before the Revolution. The Society remains in existence. Its original stated purpose was to assist widows and orphans of former members.”

Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997

Other sources of interest: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61 and the Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917 The HCF may also have additional data at: Past Perfect and further research can be uncovered at: Charleston 1861 Census Schedule or The Charleston City Guide of 1872

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R&R HISTORY LINK: SCHS Mag. article; “THE-CHARLESTON-MECHANICS-1760 – 1776” by Richard Walsh

Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.

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87 Church Street or Heyward – Washington House & S.C. Delegates to the First Continental Congress

City Directories and History: Enjoy tour at the Heyward – Washington House.

Also see further images and text at: Heyward – Washington Home

The Heyward-Washington House is a very fine three-story brick Charleston “double house” which commemorates the residence of Thomas Heyward, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Built in 1770-71 and acquired by Thomas Heyward, Jr. from his father in 1777, the house was implicitly deemed outstandingly worthy when chosen in 1791 to shelter President Washington when he visited the city on his Southern tour that year. Since then, the house has been called the Heyward-Washington House. Heyward was born in 1746 in Jasper County, South Carolina, the eldest son of one of the wealthiest rice planters of South Carolina. He was one of five delegates from South Carolina sent to the Second Continental Congress in 1776, signed the

Courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Declaration of Independence, and served in Congress until the end of 1778 when he returned to his home state to become a circuit judge. The house presents a massive block appearance since it is nearly square in plan and has a low pitched hipped roof pierced by only a single dormer on the street front. The high chimneys are corbelled, and all windows are topped by brick jack arches. It is one of the largest of the early houses of Charleston. The “double house” plan is a local name used to identify the common Georgian “four room” or “center hall” floor plan. At the rear (west) of the house is a little courtyard, formed by the house, a kitchen/laundry/servant’s quarters building, and a carriage house. Further west is a small formal garden of the type popular in the late 18th century. Listed in the National Register April 15, 1970; Designated a National Historic Landmark April 15, 1970. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]

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R&R HISTORY LINK: SCHS Mag. article; “SC Delegates to the 1st Cont. Congress” By F.W. Ryan, Jr.

TEXT – NR NOMINATION

NATIONAL REGISTER – IMAGES(S)

Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.

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IMAGE GALLERY courtesy of the Library of Congress – HABS Collection, C.O. Greene Photographer

: C.O. Greene, Photographer, EAST ELEVATION. – Thomas Heyward, Jr. House, 87 Church Street, Charleston

80 Alexander Street – Liberty Tree of S.C.

City Directories and History: GADSDEN-DEWEES HOUSE
Constructed 1800-1810; altered circa 1886

“This is the site of that portion of Mazyck’s Pasture where a “noble live oak tree” was formally dedicated to “liberty” by Charleston’s John Wilkes Club in 1766. Christopher Gadsden, leader of this group, later called the Palmetto Society, first advocated independence from Britain beside this “liberty tree.” The tree was cut down by the British during their occupation of the city in 1780-82. Owned by the Gadsden estate, this and adjoining parcels were acquired by William Dewees, a planter and wharf owner, in 1 807. A subsequent owner added the piazzas, the Greek Revival door surrounds, and the Victorian window heads. A third story and roof were damaged and removed after the earthquake of 1886.”

The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997

Other sources of interest: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61, and the Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917. The HCF may also have additional data at: Past Perfect and further research can be uncovered at: Charleston 1861 Census Schedule

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Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.

Thanks!

From the Porch

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