Friendfield Road off of #521

City Directories and History: Friendfield Plantation is a 3,305-acre property that includes buildings, structures, roadways, woodlands, ricefield systems and sites associated with the continuing use of the land from ca. 1750 until 1946. These features illustrate its conversion from a rice plantation to a winter hunting resort into the World War II era, when Friendfield’s owners achieved a permanent balance between

recreational use and sustained-yield forestry. The property consists of parts of six antebellum rice plantations: Friendfield, Mount Pleasant, Midway, Canaan, Waterfield (Westfield) and Bonny Neck. The contributing architectural and cultural resources retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. Overall, the property contains 23 contributing buildings, 14 contributing sites, and 15 contributing structures. The outbuildings and landscaping at Friendfield House (ca. 1931), Mount Pleasant (Silver Hill) House (ca.1794) and outbuildings, and two staff residences are typical hunting plantation features.

The eighteenth century Mount Pleasant (Silver Hill) House and nineteenth century slave street are fine examples of antebellum residences on a Georgetown County rice plantation. There are also three cemeteries, several ruins with visible above-ground features, and a number of known or suspected settlement sites without above-ground elements. Five principal road systems run south toward settlement sites near the former rice fields, and are linked by two east-west systems. Engineered ricefield systems were assets to the use of the property for duck hunting. Since the 1930s, the plantation has been partitioned into four quail hunting courses, each of about 500 acres. Upland landscape patterns have served the needs of turpentine and tar makers, tenant farmers, and quail hunters. Listed in the National Register April 12, 1996.  [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]

IMAGE GALLERY via photographer Bill Segars – 2006

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“Alston, William Algernon, Jr., of “Marietta,” “Friendfield,” “Strawberry Hill,” “Calais,” and “Michaux” plantations and New York. Born ca. 1830 (S.C.?); died 1867. Church: Episcopalian. “A gentleman of leisure, weighing 300 pounds.” Slaves: 171 (Lower All Saints’ Parish, Georgetown District).”

“Forster, Dr. Alexius Mador of “Friendfield” plantation. Born Sept. 14, 1815 (S.C.); married Apr. 10, 1845, Elizabeth Hunt Warham; died July 29, 1879. Education: S.C. Medical College, M.D., 1840. Church: Episcopalian [(Vestryman, Prince George, Winyah postwar) ]. Public Service: Delegate to Secession Convention, 1860. Other: Member, Elliott Society of Natural History. Slaves: 272 (Prince George, Winyah, Parish, Georgetown District).”

The Last Foray, C. Gaston Davidson, SC Press – 1971

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