8010 Longtown Road
City Directories and History: Longtown Presbyterian Church, organized in 1882 has several historical and unusual features. The church building itself, a fine example of rural church architecture is surrounded by a well maintained cemetery which features one of the region’s outstanding examples of cemetery art, a pyramid made of native Winnsboro granite. The other highly noteworthy feature of this site are the flanking columns at the gate entrance, with their carved architectural features. These columns were once part of the Peay estate. Built prior to the Civil War, the Peay family constructed a massive dwelling overlooking the Wateree Valley. These two columns were constructed and displayed at the Peay home prior to their removal and erection here at the cemetery entrance.
Notice the community also boasted of a public school, the Longtown Elementary.
Dr. C.G. Davidson recorded in his book, The Last Foray – Peay, Col. Nicholas Adamson of “Melrose” mansion on his “Flint Hill” plantation. Born Feb. 8, 1811 (S.C.); married Jan 22, 1840, Martha Leland Carey Lamar (Jan. 8, 1820-Apr. 3, 1851); died Feb. 26, 1857. Education: College of S.C.; Un. of Va. (1830-31), State Senator, Lt. Col. (Gov. Butler’s staff), Mt. Zion Society. Slave 361 (Fairfield District).
The Last Foray, C. Gaston Davidson, SC Press – 1971
[The magnificent Peay home, often referred to as Peay’s Folly, was destroyed by Federal Troops as they passed through Fairfield County.] And Wm. B. White, Jr. writes: James Marr Rutland, Esq. Born probably in Fairfield County on May 6, 1814. Died at Winnsboro, S. C., on April 17, 1874. He is buried in a handsome sarcophagus in Laurelwood Cemetery, Rock Hill, S. C. This memorial is the only one of its kind in the Cemetery. He was a learned judge of the South Carolina circuit court system. He had early practiced law in Winnsboro, S. C., and had attained wealth and position before the War Between the States. He was the administrator of the estate of Nicholas A. Peay, Esq., who was the largest and most affluent planter in ante-bellum Fairfield County. During the turbulent times of the Reconstruction Judge Rutland held many positions of honor and trust in the State judicial system, but his services were not fully appreciated owing to his association with the radical government then in power in South Carolina.
Click on the More Information > link to find additional data – A Fairfield County Sketchbook, by J.S. Bolick, 2000 (Courtesy of the FCHS) as well as link to Peay.
Austin Ford Peay, the son of Nicholas Peay of Malvern Hall, lived at Flint Hill and was known as the “wealthiest man in that section.” It is recorded that he made a sale of cotton once in Philadelphia, hauled there in his own wagon train, for $25,000.00. His son, Nicholas Adamson Peay, built Melrose, called “the grandest plantation house in upper South Carolina.” It has been described as a “massive structure of brick, stone, and marble of thirty rooms, broad piazzas and wide halls.” There was said to be a garden on the roof, with a pool in which fish were kept. Water was pumped by an hydraulic ram from springs. When Sherman’s Army marched through the County in February, 1865, Melrose was burned. Its granite gate posts are now at the Longtown Presbyterian Church and at Ridgeway’s Methodist Church, formerly Ruff’s Chapel.
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
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.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
Share Your Comments & Feedback: