Angel Oak Plantation – Johns Island – Charleston County

— The Angel Oak © Mark Wickliffe —
(Do Not Use Without Written Consent)

Basic Information

• Location – Johns Island, St. John's Colleton Parish, Charleston County

  3688 Angel Oak Road
  

• Origin of name – Named for early owners Martha and Justus Angel (1).
  

• Other names – The Point; Hoopstick (1)
  

• Current status – Most of the land has been developed. The City of Charleston owns the land the Angel Oak tree stands on. Local citizens concerned about nearby development disturbing the tree raised funds to purchase an additional 35 acres to provide a buffer zone for the Angel Oak (2).
  

Timeline

• 1717 – Earliest known date of existence (1)

  Jacob Waight was issued a grant of 12,000 acres to start a Quaker Society (1).
  

• ? – House built

• Late 1700s – Isaac Waight inherited the property (1).
  

• ? – Charles Snowden acquired part of the property (1).
  

• 1797 – Charles Snowden gave 500 acres to Martha Waight (1).
  

• 1810 – Martha Waight married Justus Angel and was given an additional 700 acres which included a house. Justus Angel grew their plantation to over 2,700 acres (1).
  

• ? – Justus Angel passed away leaving the plantation to wife Martha and her children. Martha continued the plantation's operations as is evident from the corporate tax receipt for $144.00 she paid the City of Charleston in 1859. Click here to see the receipt (1).
  

• Circa late 1850s – Dr. Isaac Waight Angel became owner of the plantation (1).
  

• 1904 – Dr. Angel died with the property remaining in the Angel family (1).
  

• Mid 1900s – The Angel family sold the property (1).
  

• 1991 – The City of Charleston purchased the plantation's property that the giant Angel Oak tree sits on (1).
  

Land

• Number of acres – 12,000 in 1717; 500 in 1797; 1,200 in 1810; 2,700 in 1800s (1)
  

• Click here to view a 1882 plat of Angel Oak Plantation (1).
  

• Primary crop – ?

• The Angel Oak tree is believed to be be around 400 years old is likely the most venerated of the lowcountry's magnificent live oaks (2).
  

Slaves

• Number of slaves – 29 on July 6, 1849 - click here to view the slave inventory including names and ages (1)
  

• On June 16, 1853, Isaac Angel purchased Jesco White, a slave, for $650.00. Click here to view the receipt (1).
  

References & Resources

1. Information contributed by Stephen R. Lott from a family owned archive of the Waight and Angel families that recently turned up in Florida.
   

2. SCIWAY – Angel Oak