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Medway (Mount Holly, South Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Medway or the Medway Plantation is a plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina
. It is about 2 mi (3.2 km) east of U.S. Route 52 from the unincorporated community of Mount Holly, which is directly north of Goose Creek, South Carolina
. Medway is the oldest recorded house extant in South Carolina. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places
on July 16, 1970.
around 1686. He built his house on the Back River, which was formerly called the "Meadway" or "Medway" and is a tributary of the Cooper River
. Van Arrsens died soon after his arrival and was buried at Medway.
His widow, Sabrina de Vignon, married Landgrave Thomas Smith
around 1687, which made Smith one of the wealthiest men in the Province. Sabrina Smith died in 1689 and was buried at Medway. Thomas Smith was appointed governor of the Province of Carolina in 1693. He died in 1694 and was also buried at Medway.
After his death, the plantation went to his son, Thomas Smith II. In 1701, Smith sold it to Edward Hyrne. When Hyrne failed to pay the mortgage in 1711, it reverted to Thomas Smith II. It was sold numerous times in the 18th century. Eventually, it was purchased by Theodore Samuel Marion, who was a nephew of Francis Marion
, member of the South Carolina Provincial Congress and a prominent figure in the American Revolution
. In 1827, it passed on to his grandson, Theodore Samuel DuBose. In the period 1833 to 1835, Dubose sold it to his brother-in-law Peter Gaillard Stoney, who also owned the West Point Rice Mill
in Charleston.
During Stoney's ownership, Medway Plantation was productive winter and summer. In the summer, rice was the principal work. During the winter, brick-making was a major activity. Medway and other plantations in the area produced "Carolina Grey" bricks from the local clay along the river bank. Medway's bricks were used in constructing buildings in Charleston
and were some of bricks used to build Fort Sumter
. The plantation also produced timber and some naval stores
. Finally, the plantation was used for recreational hunting.
In 1906, it was purchased by Samuel Gaillard Stoney, who was a nephew of Peter Gaillard Stoney. John Bennett (1865–1956), who was a friend of Samuel and his wife, Louisa, used Medway as the setting for his novel The treasure of Peyre Gaillard. A son of Samuel and Louisia Stoney, also named Samuel Gaillard Stoney (1891–1968), wrote Plantations of the Carolina Low Country, other books on the architecture of the South Carolina Lowcountry
, and coauthored books of Gullah
stories.
In 1930, Medway was purchased by Sidney and Gertrude Legendre. Sidney died in 1948 and was buried at Medway. Gertrude Sanford Legendre
is best known for her experiences as a big-game hunter and as an Office of Strategic Services
employee. She was the first American woman captured in World War II
. After about six months' captivity, she escaped to Switzerland. Gertrude died in 2000 and was buried at Medway.
The house that Jan Van Arrsens built on the Medway River burned, either in 1692 or in the early 18th century after the Hyrnes bought it. The house was rebuilt using the remaining foundations and walls. This house had stepped Dutch gable
s. The house had entrances facing the river and on the landward side. The house was made of locally produced handmade brick that did not have the quality of bricks produced in later periods. The poorly made bricks were patched with oyster shell stucco. The house is believed to have had three rooms on the main floor.
Theodore Samuel DuBose added another story to the house in 1827, which made it a -story house. Peter Gaillard Stoney expanded the house by building an unsymmetrical wing toward the west in 1855. The house was expanded again by adding two rooms toward the east prior to 1875.
The house was damaged in the 1886 Charleston earthquake. The house was repaired by 1900. Samuel Gaillard Stoney rebuilt the stepped gables in 1906. Louisa Stoney restored the lawn and gardens. The Legendres revived the plantation and redecorated the house.
The original Dutch design of the house has been retained. Floor plans of the house have been published. These include a probable plan for the original house built by Van Arrsens and/or Hyrne and the current house.
by Audubon South Carolina. In addition to many ducks and other waterfowl, it is home to about fifteen colonies of red-cockaded Woodpecker
s and a nesting pair of Bald Eagle
s.
Berkeley County, South Carolina
Berkeley County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,651. The 2005 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 151,673. Its county seat is Moncks Corner....
. It is about 2 mi (3.2 km) east of U.S. Route 52 from the unincorporated community of Mount Holly, which is directly north of Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek is a city in Berkeley county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 35,938 at the 2010 census. Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
. Medway is the oldest recorded house extant in South Carolina. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on July 16, 1970.
History
Jan Van Arrsens, the Seigneur of Wernhaut (also "Weirnhoudt"), led a small group of settlers from Holland to the province of CarolinaProvince of Carolina
The Province of Carolina, originally chartered in 1629, was an English and later British colony of North America. Because the original Heath charter was unrealized and was ruled invalid, a new charter was issued to a group of eight English noblemen, the Lords Proprietors, in 1663...
around 1686. He built his house on the Back River, which was formerly called the "Meadway" or "Medway" and is a tributary of the Cooper River
Cooper River (South Carolina)
The Cooper River is a mainly tidal river in the U.S. state of South Carolina. These cities are located along the river, Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, North Charleston, Goose Creek and Hanahan. Short and wide, it is joined first by the blackwater East Branch, then farther downstream, the tidal Wando River...
. Van Arrsens died soon after his arrival and was buried at Medway.
His widow, Sabrina de Vignon, married Landgrave Thomas Smith
Thomas Smith (politician)
Thomas Smith was the governor of colonial South Carolina from 1693 to 1694, a planter, a merchant and a surgeon. He arrived in Charles Town in 1684 with his first wife Barbara Atkins and his sons Thomas and George. He was a Cacique by 1690 and was made Landgrave by the Lords Proprietors on 13 May...
around 1687, which made Smith one of the wealthiest men in the Province. Sabrina Smith died in 1689 and was buried at Medway. Thomas Smith was appointed governor of the Province of Carolina in 1693. He died in 1694 and was also buried at Medway.
After his death, the plantation went to his son, Thomas Smith II. In 1701, Smith sold it to Edward Hyrne. When Hyrne failed to pay the mortgage in 1711, it reverted to Thomas Smith II. It was sold numerous times in the 18th century. Eventually, it was purchased by Theodore Samuel Marion, who was a nephew of Francis Marion
Francis Marion
Francis Marion was a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Acting with Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, he was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina in 1780 and 1781, even after the Continental Army was driven...
, member of the South Carolina Provincial Congress and a prominent figure in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. In 1827, it passed on to his grandson, Theodore Samuel DuBose. In the period 1833 to 1835, Dubose sold it to his brother-in-law Peter Gaillard Stoney, who also owned the West Point Rice Mill
West Point Rice Mill
West Point Rice Mill is a former rice mill building in Charleston, South Carolina. It is at the City Marina at 17 Lockwood Drive. West Point Mill was one of three large rice mills in Charleston in the 19th century. This building was constructed in 1861 to replace a rice mill that had burned the...
in Charleston.
During Stoney's ownership, Medway Plantation was productive winter and summer. In the summer, rice was the principal work. During the winter, brick-making was a major activity. Medway and other plantations in the area produced "Carolina Grey" bricks from the local clay along the river bank. Medway's bricks were used in constructing buildings in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
and were some of bricks used to build Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
. The plantation also produced timber and some naval stores
Naval stores
Naval Stores is a broad term which originally applied to the resin-based components used in building and maintaining wooden sailing ships, a category which includes cordage, mask, turpentine, rosin, pitch and tar...
. Finally, the plantation was used for recreational hunting.
In 1906, it was purchased by Samuel Gaillard Stoney, who was a nephew of Peter Gaillard Stoney. John Bennett (1865–1956), who was a friend of Samuel and his wife, Louisa, used Medway as the setting for his novel The treasure of Peyre Gaillard. A son of Samuel and Louisia Stoney, also named Samuel Gaillard Stoney (1891–1968), wrote Plantations of the Carolina Low Country, other books on the architecture of the South Carolina Lowcountry
South Carolina Lowcountry
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
, and coauthored books of Gullah
Gullah
The Gullah are African Americans who live in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and Georgia, which includes both the coastal plain and the Sea Islands....
stories.
In 1930, Medway was purchased by Sidney and Gertrude Legendre. Sidney died in 1948 and was buried at Medway. Gertrude Sanford Legendre
Gertrude Sanford Legendre
Gertrude Sanford Legendre was an American socialite who served as a spy during World War II. She was also a noted explorer, big-game hunter, environmentalist, and owner of Medway plantation in South Carolina.-Early life:...
is best known for her experiences as a big-game hunter and as an Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
employee. She was the first American woman captured in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After about six months' captivity, she escaped to Switzerland. Gertrude died in 2000 and was buried at Medway.
Architecture
Although the tradition was that Van Arrsens built the core of the house, the discovery in 1984 that the Hyrne family seal was impressed into some of the bricks around a doorframe made it clear that Hyrne played a role in building the original house.The house that Jan Van Arrsens built on the Medway River burned, either in 1692 or in the early 18th century after the Hyrnes bought it. The house was rebuilt using the remaining foundations and walls. This house had stepped Dutch gable
Dutch gable
A Dutch gable or Flemish gable is a gable whose sides have a shape made up of one or more curves and has a pediment at the top. The gable may be an entirely decorative projection above a flat section of roof line, or may be the termination of a roof, like a normal gable...
s. The house had entrances facing the river and on the landward side. The house was made of locally produced handmade brick that did not have the quality of bricks produced in later periods. The poorly made bricks were patched with oyster shell stucco. The house is believed to have had three rooms on the main floor.
Theodore Samuel DuBose added another story to the house in 1827, which made it a -story house. Peter Gaillard Stoney expanded the house by building an unsymmetrical wing toward the west in 1855. The house was expanded again by adding two rooms toward the east prior to 1875.
The house was damaged in the 1886 Charleston earthquake. The house was repaired by 1900. Samuel Gaillard Stoney rebuilt the stepped gables in 1906. Louisa Stoney restored the lawn and gardens. The Legendres revived the plantation and redecorated the house.
The original Dutch design of the house has been retained. Floor plans of the house have been published. These include a probable plan for the original house built by Van Arrsens and/or Hyrne and the current house.
Medway today
Gertrude Sanford Legendre set up the Medway Environmental Trust to manage the plantation as a nature preserve. Medway Plantation has been named an Important Bird AreaImportant Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
by Audubon South Carolina. In addition to many ducks and other waterfowl, it is home to about fifteen colonies of red-cockaded Woodpecker
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a woodpecker found in southeastern North America.- Description :About the size of the Northern Cardinal, it is approximately 8.5 in. long, with a wingspan of about 14 in. and a weight of about 1.5 ounces...
s and a nesting pair of Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s.