“South Carolina’s temporary Confederate state capital.”
City Directories and History: The historic Dawkins House, also called “The Shrubs“ administered by the Palmetto Trust of South Carolina, was sold to an individual who has worked for years to stabilize and protect the home. In 2013, the dwelling is a private residence and is under restoration. The images displayed are those from the pre-restoration era when the house was in deplorable condition.
(The Shrubs) The Dawkins House, ca. 1845, served as the residence of Judge Thomas Dawkins, a well-known political leader in Union County. As a young lawyer who was a Unionist during the nullification controversy, Dawkins was surprisingly popular with his constituency. Despite his Unionist beliefs, he was elected to the state legislature. After the Civil War, Judge Dawkins served as a member of the state convention for the reorganization of the state government. In 1865, Dawkins was named to a committee that appealed to President Johnson for the release of Jefferson Davis, and in 1866 he served as chairman of the state judiciary committee of the House of Representatives. According to local tradition, the house was used for several days in February, 1865, as Governor Andrew G. Magrath’s headquarters for executing the affairs of the State. Governor Magrath had been forced to leave Columbia when General W. T. Sherman occupied and burned the city. The house is a two-story clapboard dwelling with a hipped metal roof. The five-bay wide veranda is enclosed by a balustrade and supported by six chamfered columns. Listed in the National Register April 23, 1973. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]
On Dawkins Court in the city of Union is located the “Shrubs” the home of Judge Thomas N. Dawkins. It was the temporary official residence of Governor Andrew Gordon Magrath during the Confederate War. Governor Magrath had fled from Columbia when he heard that Sherman was on his way to Columbia with his “scorched earth” policy. Governor Magrath and the state officials were the guests of Judge Dawkins whose house was surrounded by sentinels and a constant team of couriers to and from Broad River brought news of Sherman’s movements to the Governor and his staff.
Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC
A.W. Thomson and Thomas Dawkins were law partners for many years. See documents related to the firm this page.
Judge Thomas T. Dawkins had married Charlotte Poulton, an English woman, whose home near London was called the Shrubs. She was also highly involved in the construction of the Episcopal Church.
IMAGE GALLERY – 2012
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R&R HISTORY LINK: Article from the SCHS Mag., “Letter from Bleak Hall, 1861-Edisto Island” to Mrs. Dawkins
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Images courtesy of photographer Bill Segars – 2011
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