Ellis Cherry Hill Plantation – Burton – Beaufort County

Basic Information

• Location – Burton, Beaufort County

  Oak View Drive (5)
  

• Origin of name – ?

• Other names – ?

• Current status – Privately owned (5)
  

Timeline

• ? – Earliest known date of existence

• ? – House built

• Prior to 1860 – Stephen Grattan Ellis and his wife Juliana Sophia Baynard Ellis acquired the plantation (3).
  

• Circa 1875 – Stephen G. Ellis redeemed Cherry Hill from the United States Government (4).
  

• 1887 – Richard A. Ellis, Calder B. Ellis and Ephrim W. Ellis sold Cherry Hill for $180.00 to J. Lawton Ellis. I appears the three brothers had inherited the plantation from their father Stephen G. Ellis (4).
  

• ? – The Bostick family purchased Cherry Hill (5).
  

• 2006-2007 – Betty Bostick Haigh sold the plantation (5).
  

Land

• Number of acres – 671 in 1860-1863 (2) (3)
  

• Primary crop – ?

• Cherry Hill is home to what is believed to be the oldest tree in Beaufort County. The live oak measures about 9.5 feet in diameter and shades a slave grave (5).
  

Slaves

• Number of slaves – ?

  We are actively seeking information on the slaves who lived and worked at this plantation. If you find a resource that might help, please fill out this form. Thank you.
  

References & Resources

1. News & Courier Newspaper (predecessor to the Charleston Post & Courier) February 26, 1933 issue reprint of Free South April 4, 1863 listing of St. Helena Island plantation sales prior to the Civil War.
   

2. Information contributed by descendant Thomas Ellis.
   

3. Information contributed by Charlie Black.
   

4. Information contributed by Bert Ellis from Abstract of Property Conveyance comment November 1887, Barnwell, South Carolina.
   

5. Tree Company Adopts Beaufort's Oldest Live Oak - January 2011 article published in the Beaufort Gazette