Cherry Hill Plantation, Abbeville County, South Carolina

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Abbeville, South Carolina, United States
Surnames/tags: McDuffie Slavery

Plantation Index

US Black Heritage South Carolina State Page

History

George McDuffie purchased a plantation about 1830, just after his wife died, and called it Cherry Hill.^[1][2] Purchased from Ezekiel Noble, it was located on the Savannah River in the western area of the Abbeville District.^[3] McDuffie, the largest slaveholder at the time in Abbeville County, South Carolina, was said to have owned over 200 slaves at the time of his death in 1851.^[4] His probate inventory, filed in Abbeville County, South Carolina, named and valued each of his slaves.^[5] After his death a newspaper advertised his plantation for sale in 1854, it was in an area called the Flatwoods. It had 4000 acres and 230 negroes belonging to the estate.^[6]

In 1873 James Norwood owned the McDuffie plantation.^[7] By 1876 the plantation was being sold at a Sheriff's Sale.^[8] "The McDuffie Plantation, in the Flat Woods, on waters of Little River, adjoining lands formerly owned by John A. Calhoun, and now in the possession of his widow, Mrs. Sarah Calhoun; lands formerly owned by Charles T. Haskell and lands owned by Mrs. Cabell, containing four thousand and two hundred (4200) acres, more or less. This tract to be divided into several parcels, plats of which will be exhibited on the day of sale." (the sale day was in October next)

Today, due to boundary changes in 1916, Cherry Hill, the McDuffie plantation, is located in McCormick County, South Carolina.

Slaves

In Nov 1851 the names of 198 slaves were listed in George McDuffie's probate inventory:^[5] (Note: the numbers beside the names indicate more than one person of the same name on this plantation)

page 1, 66 slaves

• Jacob(1), carpenter, valued at $650
• George(1), carpenter, valued at $750
• Dick(1), blacksmith, valued at $800
• Harry, Clarey, children Milley(1), Caroline(1), valued at $1700
• Rose(1), valued at $500
• Oliver(1) & Katey(1) his wife, children Elijah, Gracey(1), Lucy(1), Kezziah, Sally, valued at $3000
• Ailsey(1), valued at $75
• Essex and Flora(1) his wife, valued at $650
• Joe Scott, blacksmith, valued $700
• Sam(1), valued at $700
• Paten and wife Sarah(1), children Spencer, Julian, Emeline(1), Tilda, Ben, and Aaron(1), valued at $2700
• John(1) & Silvey, children John(2), Katey(2), Betsey, valued at $1600
• George(2) & Beckey(1) his wife, children Dennis and Sarah(2), valued at $1750
• Frank(1) & Marey(1) his wife, children (Lawrence is crossed out), Cely, and Pleasant, valued at $2000
• Nelly(1), valued at $50
• Simon, valued at $800
• William Duncan & wife Sarah(3), children Davy, Charles, Lucy, and Silvey, valued at $2500
• Spotwood & Marey(2) his wife, children Daniel(1), Bill(1), Doney, John(3), and Scott, valued at $2600
• Joe(1) & wife Louisa(1), children Henry(1), Fanny, Joe(2), Flora(2), Dianna, Sarah(4), and Louisa(2), valued at $3750

page 2, 77 slaves

• Boston(1) & wife Lavenia, child Boston(2), valued at $1500
• Tamer, Elisabeth(1), Washington(1), Tom(1), and Antony (relationships unknown), valued together at $1900
• York & wife Pender, children Jim(1) & Bella, valued at $1500
• Grace(2), valued at $100
• Jack, wife Martha, children, Oliver(2), & Becky(2), valued at $1650
• Sawney(1), wife Die(1), children Judy(1), Jim(2), and William(1), valued at $1450
• Edmund, wife Lizzy, children Tener, valued at $1500
• Elisabeth(2), valued at $550
• Frank(2), wife Rose(2), children Manuel(1), Nelly(2), Jesse(1), Friday, Cinta, Sam(2), and Federick, valued at $3500
• Armstead, wife Jane(1), children Monroe, Manda, Barbara, Emma(2), and Georgianna, valued at $2500
• Sawney(2), wife Nancy, child Lonon, valued at $1600
• Jessee(2), wife Boosa, children Mariah(1), and Marian, valued at $1350
• Wade(1), wife Hannah(1), child Delia, valued at $1600
• Bob, wife Ellen, children Washington(2), Green, Polly, Stephen, and Catharine, valued at $2850
• Strawder, wife Crecia, children Sawney(3), Hannah(2), Edward, and John(4), valued at $2300
• Mariah(2), valued at $300
• Prince, wife Bettey, valued at $1300
• Tom Mack, valued at $450
• Robert(1) & wife Rose(3), children Elisa, Susey(1), Manuel(2), and Daniel(2), valued at $2300
• Ezekial, valued at $800
• Charles(1), valued at $700

page 3, 55 slaves

• Louisa(3), valued at $500
• Scippio, wife Mariah(3), children Caroline(2), Hudson, Laura, and Jacob(2), valued at $2000
• Jarret, wife Vina, children Judy(2), Sampson(3), and Henry(2), valued at $2000
• Milly(2), valued at $600
• Billy(2), wife Daphna, children Wade(2) & Susy(2), valued at $2000
• Joe(3), wife Jane(2), children Christian, Lewis, Dinah(2), and Isaac, valued at $1500
• Nanny(1) and children, Tom(3), Mike, Robert(2), John(5), Dolly & William(2), valued at $3200
• Ellick, wife Eve, children Nanny(2), Charles(2), Amelia, Rachael, and Ailsy(2), valued at $3000
• Jesse(3), wife Jinny, child Berry, valued at $1500
• Charles(3), wife Nelly(3), child Claiborn, valued at $1500
• Dick(2), wife Franky, child Limus, valued at $1500
• Jim(3), wife Sarah(5), children Aaron(2), Marey(3), Leven, Linda, and Tyra, valued at $2200
• Jerry, valued at $900
• Lucy(2), valued at $1

For more information please see:

• US Black Heritage - South Carolina State Page

• Ongoing Plantation Research South Carolina

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=11461
   • Cherry Hill marker
2. ↑ https://www.carolana.com/SC/Governors/gmcduffie.html
3. ↑ https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~23855~860022:Abbeville-District,-South-Carolina-
   • 1825 plat map of Abbeville, see the property of E. Noble located south west on the Savannah River
4. ↑ https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/abbeville-county/
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Miscellaneous estate papers (Abbeville County, South Carolina), 1782-1958: "Miscellaneous estate papers (Abbeville County, South Carolina), 1782-1958"
   Catalog: Miscellaneous estate papers (Abbeville County, South Carolina), 1782-1958
   Film number: 007705261 > image 260 of 559
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9YY-T9MS-J (accessed 29 December 2022)
   • Loose probate papers, Abbeville County, South Carolina, Box 125 Pkg 3696
6. ↑ Plantation for Sale https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115432289/mcduffie-plantation-flatwoods-for-sale/
   • Jul 1854 The Charleston Mercury, Charleston, South Carolina, 15 Jul 1854, Sat, Page 3
7. ↑ Jim Scott https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115461167/1873-jim-scott-died-on-mcduffy-plantatio/
   • The Abbeville Press And Banner, Abbeville, South Carolina, 20 Aug 1873, Wed, Page 2
8. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115458476/1876-mcduffie-plantation-sheriff-sale/
   • The Abbeville Press And Banner, Abbeville, South Carolina, 20 Sep 1876, Wed, Page 3