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Laurens County

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A beautiful plantation home that welcomed the CSA President and his party.

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Image courtesy of the Laurens County Sketchbook – J. S. Bolick, Artist – Author
Images courtesy of the Blythe Collection, ca. 1980

Images courtesy of the Blythe Collection, ca. 1980

 The Greek Revival style developed around 1820 and continued for decades. American interest in the culture of ancient Greece grew from sympathy for the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830) and emerging archaeological finds showing Greece as the earliest democracy. Also, Roman inspired architecture was associated with England, and after the War of 1812, there was a strong desire to shake off English influence and define a new national style. The Greek Revival style has much in common with the Roman Classical Revival style in its reliance on the temple form, front pediment, and classical order columns. There is considerable variation in the public and private buildings designed in this style. Some buildings appear to be Greek temple replicas and others simply use the temple shape and form with distinctive details. There are many more surviving examples of the Greek Revival style than the Roman Classical Revival style, because the later Greek Revival style was far more popular and wide spread. Courtesy of the Penn. Arch. Field Guide - Website

The Greek Revival style developed around 1820 and continued for decades. American interest in the culture of ancient Greece grew from sympathy for the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830) and emerging archaeological finds showing Greece as the earliest democracy. Also, Roman inspired architecture was associated with England, and after the War of 1812, there was a strong desire to shake off English influence and define a new national style. The Greek Revival style has much in common with the Roman Classical Revival style in its reliance on the temple form, front pediment, and classical order columns. There is considerable variation in the public and private buildings designed in this style. Some buildings appear to be Greek temple replicas and others simply use the temple shape and form with distinctive details. There are many more surviving examples of the Greek Revival style than the Roman Classical Revival style, because the later Greek Revival style was far more popular and wide spread. Courtesy of the Penn. Arch. Field Guide - Website

Griffin – Williams Home the Jefferson Davis Trail Site #10

Get Directions Latitude: 34.335594     Longitude: -81.908511

Jefferson Davis Trail Stop #10

Davis and his party got an early start at about 9:00 AM the following morning and arrived at the home of Captain Griffin Williams where Davis’ Cabinet had passed the previous night. The entire party then proceeded on to Cross Hill where they stopped to water their horses at the home of John Carter. General Martin W. Gary, who was traveling with the party, urged the President to spend the night at the home of Mrs. Thomas Gary, General Gary’s mother, in Cokesbury since the distance was so great to Abbeville. Jefferson Davis in S.C. by Sam Thomas, 1998 the Palmetto Conservation Foundation (See book in PDF form this page.)

Davis left Lafayette Young’s house at 9:00 a. m. on May 1st and stopped at the home of Griffin Williams (located today across from the junction of Jefferson Davis Road and Mountville Road. Sloan quotes the diary of Emma Watts Davis who witnessed the event. “‘Great tears rolled down his face’” as he spoke. “‘He rode off with a graceful bow and wave of his hand. . . .’” General Bragg arrived a few minutes later and also spoke to the crowd. Information researched and provided R&R.com by James Gettys – 1.14.19

See additional information on Jefferson Davis as well as local history below.  Davis’s route then took him to the Carter House….

IN ROUTE: The Historic Cross Hill home of the Carter Family

City Directories and History:   “When the railroad was brought through Mountville in 1891, the already prosperous plantation owners in the surrounding area had added incentive to work for maximum production in cotton and other money crops.

Confederate Pres. Jefferson Davis – Sketch following the South’s defeat.

The Williams home near Mountville, said to be more than two hundred years old, is one of the seats of these great plantations of Revolutionary War days. It is thought to have been built by Colonel John G. Williams who served as “Intendant” for the handling of municipal interests of the then two hundred people living in and around Cross Hill and Mountville. It will be recalled that Colonel James Williams was killed at Kings Mountain, thus leading to the belief that the house was built by one of the older generation members, though James did own thousands of acres of land in that area.

Some call it the Griffin house. Ephraim Griffin, who married Lula McSwain, was a resident of this area. He had a son, Furman Griffin, who lived in the area also; and one of these two families could have at some time owned the home. It was listed in Tour 4 of the Historic Sites in Laurens County as the Griffin – Williams house. Legend has it that on the morning of May 1, 1865, Jefferson Davis joined other members of his party at this house on their flight from Richmond, Virginia. Before departing he delivered from the balcony a short talk to well-wishers.

Roscoe Bundrick presently owns the old Williams house. He has added a carport to the right side of the house as a balance for the porch on the left.”

Information from: The Laurens County Sketchbook, Author – J.S. Bolick, 1973

The home is currently named, Antrim.  Also see: Griffin – Williams Home Too

Section of the Laurens Co SC map of 1883 showing the location of the Antebellum plantation home of James G. Williams. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

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R&R HISTORY LINK: Colton’s Laurens Co. Map of ca. 1855

R&R HISTORY LINK:  CSA PRES. JEFF DAVIS TRAVELS TO COKESBURY SC

R&R HISTORY LINK:  LAFAYETTE YOUNG’S PLANTATION HOUSE

R&R HISTORY LINK:  PIEDMONT PRES. CHURCH & SCHOOL

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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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.

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