City Directories and History: HEXT TENEMENTS
Constructed circa 1736; restored 1966, 1980s
“This three-story stuccoed double tenement building stands on lot no. 60 of the Grand Modell, which was granted to Richard Tradd (father of the first male European child born in Charleston) in 1694. Quoining, belt coursing, and a simple cornice ornament this hipped-roof paired dwelling. Alexander Hext built the present structure shortly after he acquired this lot in 1736 and at his death left the property to his sisters: the eastern tenement to Mary Harvey, and the western tenement to Elizabeth Seabrook. Harvey’s son, Alexander, was a well-known Tory, and Seabrook’s husband, George Saxby, was the receiver general of His Majesty’s Quitrents in 1763 and stamp distributor in 1765. Both tenements were, therefore, confiscated in 1782 and granted to those of more patriotic sentiment. Another member of the family, the merchant William Harvey, built the notable stucco style house at 61 Tradd Street by 1770, nearly contemporaneously with his double tenements at 58 Meeting Street and 63 Tradd Street. This important Georgian house lost the woodwork of one of its rooms to the St. Louis Museum of Art in 1929.”
Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
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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