Orlando Savage Rees (1796 - 1852)

Born 19 Aug 1796 in Stateburg, Sumter, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine Osborne (Waties) Rees — married 6 Apr 1819 in Stateburg, Sumter County, South Carolina

Descendants

Died 9 Apr 1852 at age 55 in Stateburg, Sumter, South Carolina, United States

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Biography

Orlando Savage Rees was born 19 August 1796 near Stateburg, South Carolina, the son of William Rees (d. 1810) and Mary (James) Reese. He attended South Carolina College and graduated with an A.B. in 1815. ^[1]

He served in the Army, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1819:

“Head Quarters, Charleston, February 16 [or 26], 1819. THEODORE RANDELL, ORLANDO REESE and JOSEPH GRISHAM, Esquires, having been appointed Aide de Camp to the Commander in Chief, with the rank of Lieut. Colonel; they are to be obeyed and respected accordingly.” ^[2]

Rees then returned to Sumter District to pursue a planting career. According to the 1840 census Rees owned 121 slaves. He employed one free black and four of his slaves engaged in manufacturing. In 1850 Orlando Rees listed his occupation as planter; had real estate worth $40,000; and owned 109 slaves.

Rees represented Claremont District in the Twenty-seventh (1826 -1828) and Twenty eighth (1828 -1829) General Assemblies. While in the House he served on the following committees: education (1826 -1829); agriculture (1826 -1829); and privileges and elections (1826 -1829). ^[3]

Rees was active in the Episcopal Church. He was a delegate from St. Mark Parish to the state Episcopal Convention (1817) and was churchwarden (1819, 1826 -1827) and vestryman (1830 -1843) of Holy Cross, Stateburg, South Carolina. ^[4]

On 6 April 1819, Orlando married Catherine Waties (1796-1855), daughter of Judge Thomas Waties (1760 -1828) and Margaret Ann Glover.

Children of Orlando and Catherine are:

• William James Rees, (1824-1852)

• Wilson Waties Rees, (1831-1864) married Frances Caroline Mayrant

In the 1820 census Orlando was in Sumter Township, Sumter, South Carolina, United States.^[5]

In the 1830 census Orlando was in Sumter, South Carolina, United States. His household included 2 free whites 20 thru 49 years old, 1 free white person Under age 20, and 133 enslaved persons. ^[6]

In 1836 during the Second Seminole War, the Seminoles attacked the Rees Plantation killing Henry Woodruff, destroying the mill and buildings and stealing slaves and cattle. The Indians held the plantation lands for two years until expelled by the US Army when Joseph Woodruff, another nephew of Maj. Joseph Woodruff, led a militia force against the Seminoles forcing them from the area. [2]

It is apparent from census records that Col. Rees maintained his home in South Carolina at the same time as he owned the land and slaves of Spring Garden. An article appeared in The Charleston Daily Courier (Charleston, South Carolina) on 10 October 1831 bemoaning the ostracization of Senator Judge Smith of South Carolina on the basis of his owning a sugar plantation in Louisiana. The article cites the hypocrisy of doing so while Col. Keith and Mr. Orlando S. Rees were not subject to the same rule.^[7]

In the 1840 census Orlando Rees was in Sumter, South Carolina, United States. His household included 3 free white persons age 20-49 and 2 free white persons under age 20.^[8]

In the 1850 census Orlando (age 52) was in Sumter, Sumter, South Carolina, United States.^[9]

In 1853, Orlando petitioned the U.S. House of Representatives to recover losses he had sustained during the Indian War in Florida. ^[10]

Orlando Savage Rees died intestate 9 April 1852 and was buried at Holy Cross Churchyard, Statesburg. ^[11] His Find A Grave Memorial indicates that he is a "Colonel" however this was an honorary title and not a military one.

An inventory and appraisal of his estate recorded the value of his person property to be $35,000, including eighty-six slaves. ^[12],^[13]

Slaves

In the 1820 census Orlando had 131 enslaved persons in Sumter Township, Sumter, South Carolina, United States.
32 Males - Under 14
15 Males - 14 thru 25
18 Males - 26 thru 44
3 Males - 45 and over
33 Females - Under 14
15 Females - 14 thru 25
10 Females - 26 thru 44
5 Females - 45 and over
Total 131 slaves. ^[14]

In the 1830 census Orlando held 133 enslaved persons in Sumter, South Carolina, United States. 15 Males - Under 10
20 Males - 10 thru 23
15 Males - 24 thru 35
20 Males - 36 thru 54
5 Males - 55 thru 99
15 Females - Under 10
20 Females - 10 thru 23
10 Females - 24 thru 35
4 Females - 36 thru 54
9 Females - 55 thru 99
Total Slaves 133^[15]

In 1830 Col. Orlando Rees acquired the property from the Woodruff family. Col. Rees constructed the only water-powered sugar mill in Florida. Col. Rees owned 94 enslaved persons.
18 Males - 10 thru 23
11 Males - 24 thru 35
6 Males - 36 thru 54
3 Males - 55 thru 99
21 Females - Under 10
18 Females - 10 thru 23
11 Females - 24 thru 35
5 Females - 36 thru 54
1 Females - 55 thru 99
Total 94 slaves. ^[16]

In the 1840 census Orlando Rees held 121 enslaved persons in Sumter, South Carolina, United States. 28 Males - 10 thru 23
12 Males - 24 thru 35
9 Males - 36 thru 54
2 Males - 55 thru 99
14 Females - Under 10
23 Females - 10 thru 23
11 Females - 24 thru 35
9 Females - 36 thru 54
2 Females - 55 thru 99
Total Slaves: 121^[17]

In addition to the slaves owned in South Carolina, Orlando Rees owned slaves in Volusia County, Florida. See Spring Garden Plantation, Volusia County, Florida for an overview.

During the Seminole Wars, the Seminoles in the area attacked the Rees plantation in 1835, destroying the mill and houses. In 1853, a petition was filed the U.S. House of Representatives to recover losses Orlando Rees had sustained during the Indian War in Florida. [9]

See also: H.R. Doc. No. 225, 25th Cong., 3rd Sess. (1839), entitled NEGROES, &c., CAPTURED FROM INDIANS IN FLORIDA, &c. includes copies of correspondence between the Department and the officers in command of the forces in Florida, or citizens of that Territory, " on the subject of negro or other property lost by them in the war, and especially such as relates to property recaptured from the hostile Indians." Available at https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1220&context=indianserialset. Viewed 23 March 2023.

Research Notes

Sources

1. ↑ Catalogue of SC College, 1854, p. 27
2. ↑ Announcement signed by Isaac M. Ford, Aid de Camp in Miller’s Weekly Messenger (Pendleton, SC), Wednesday 03 Mar 1819; Vol: 12; Issue: 41; Page 2. Available at GenealogyBank.com [1] accessed 14 Feb 2021.
3. ↑ Biographical Directory of the South Carolina Senate, Volume 2, p. 221. REES, ORLANDO SAVAGE (Reese) (1796-1857)
4. ↑ James W. Burgess, Chronicles of St. Mark's Parish, Santee Circuit, and Williamsburg Township, South Carolina, 1731-1885 (Columbia, 1888) , 37
5. ↑ 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820"
   citing p. , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: XHG6-NWZ (accessed 23 March 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYYY-RFB Image number 00200
   Orlando Rees in Sumter Township, Sumter, South Carolina, United States.
6. ↑ 1830 Census: "United States Census, 1830"
   citing 91, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 172; FHL microfilm 22,506.
   FamilySearch Record: XHP2-DPD (accessed 23 March 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YYN-37WM Image number 00183
   O S Rees in Sumter, South Carolina, United States.
7. ↑ 1831 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   The Charleston Daily Courier (Charleston, South Carolina) 10 Oct 1831, page 2
   Newspapers Clip: 60383889 (accessed 23 March 2023)
8. ↑ 1840 Census: "United States Census, 1840"
   citing p. 4, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: XHTZ-GGZ (accessed 23 March 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YB2-L6R Image number 00013
   O S Rees in Sumter, South Carolina, United States.
9. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
   citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Record: M8QG-7SW (accessed 23 March 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-DTGS-VTT Image number 00156
   O S Ruse (52) in Sumter, Sumter, South Carolina, United States. Born in South Carolina.
10. ↑ U.S., House of Representative Private Claims, Vol. 3: "U.S., House of Representative Private Claims, Vol. 3"
    House of Representatives. Digested Summary and Alphabetical List of Private Claims Which Have Been Presented to the House of Representatives. Vol. III. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1853
    Ancestry Record 4565 #4140 (accessed 23 March 2023)
    Name: Orlando S. Rees; Nature of Claim: Compensation for losses sustained by Indian war in Florida; Congress: 29; Session: 1; Manner Brought: Petition; Journal Page: 315; Referred to Committee: Claims; House Disposed: Laid on table; Report: Adverse; Date: H.R. 633.. H.R. 633 Available online at https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/36497/House-29-1-Report-633-Serial-490.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 23 March 2023.
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148474667/orlando-savage-rees: accessed 23 March 2023), memorial page for Col Orlando Savage Rees (18 Aug 1796–9 Apr 1852), Find a Grave Memorial ID 148474667, citing Church of the Holy Cross Cemetery, Stateburg, Sumter County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Nancy (contributor 47521593).
12. ↑ Questionnaire on file in office completed by J. Maynard Davis, 1969. SCHM, 30: 53; 43: 53. SCHM 14: 88; 16: 215-216, 219-220. Sumter Co. Probate Records, bundle 131, pkg 19.
13. ↑ "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Estate of O. S. Rees. Bundle 131, package 19. images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-F6HY-3?cc=1911928&wc=MPPK-6TG%3A190567301%2C190561002%2C190567302%2C191390101 : 21 May 2014), Sumter > Probate Court, Estate records > 1784-1960 > Bundles 131-132 > image 155 of 742; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
14. ↑ 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820"
    citing p. , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
    FamilySearch Record: XHG6-NWZ (accessed 23 March 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYYY-RFB Image number 00200
    Orlando Rees in Sumter Township, Sumter, South Carolina, United States.
15. ↑ 1830 Census: "United States Census, 1830"
    citing 91, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 172; FHL microfilm 22,506.
    FamilySearch Record: XHP2-DPD (accessed 23 March 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YYN-37WM Image number 00183
    O S Rees in Sumter, South Carolina, United States.
16. ↑ 1830 Census: "United States Census, 1830"
    citing Page: 2; Affiliate Publication Number: M19;
    FamilySearch Record: XHPX-P6S (accessed 23 March 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYB4-4NY
    O S Rees in St. Lucie, Florida, United States. 1 white male 20-29; 94 slaves
17. ↑ 1840 Census: "United States Census, 1840"
    citing p. 4, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
    FamilySearch Record: XHTZ-GGZ (accessed 23 March 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YB2-L6R Image number 00013
    O S Rees in Sumter, South Carolina, United States.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Dolores Pringle for starting this profile.