Dorchester Plantation – Ashley River – Dorchester County

Basic Information

• Location – East bank of Ashley River, Dorchester County

• Origin of name – ?

• Other names – ?

• Current status – ?

Timeline

• ? – Earliest known date of existence

• ? – House built

• ? – William Fishburn acquired a grants from Thomas Osgood, David Ferguson, Thomas Way, Roger Sumner, and Stephen Dowse (3, p. 154).
  

• ? – William Fishburn passed away leaving his property to sons William and Thomas Fishburn (3, p. 154).
  

• 1757 – William and Thomas Fishburn conveyed 90 acres to Judith Postell. Mrs. Postell was a widow (3, p. 154).
  

• 1766 – Judith Postell passed away on December 31 and the property was giving to her son Elijah Postell. Elijah also owned Corn Hill Plantation (3, p. 154).
  

• 1778/9 – Elijah Postell died and the property was conveyed by his estate's executor to Rev. Thomas and Elizabeth Gates (3, p. 155).
  

• ? – The Gates conveyed the tract of 93 acres to Charles Benjamin Ladson (3, p. 155).
  

  Ladson acquired several adjoining tracts to increase the size to 618 acres. The acquisitions were: 265.5 acres from Thomas Davis, 242 acres from Jacob Ford and Henry A. DeSaussure, and 17.5 acres from a state grant. Under Ladson's ownership would be the first time this property was referred to as Dorchester Plantation (3, p. 155).
  

• 1835 – Charles Benjamin Ladson died and his estate sold the plantation to John C. You and his wife (3, p. 155).
  

• 1851 – John R. Stall acquired Dorchester from the Yous (3, p. 155).
  

• 1855 – Joseph W. Davis acquired the property from John R. Stall described as "all the lots in the old Town of Dorchester excluding the parish church and its lands" (3, p. 155).
  

Land

• Number of acres – 90 in 1757; 618 acres in 1851 (3)
  

• Primary crop – ?

Slaves

• Number of slaves – 11 in 1764 held by Judith Postell. An appraisement outlined: (2)
  – Fellow Tom ($370)
  – Boy Ben ($300)
  – Wench Mariah and children George & Abell ($700)
  – Wench Catey and children Joe & Billy ($700)
  – Wench Sabina ($380)
  – Young wench Molley ($280)
  – Young wench Phyllis ($250)
  

References & Resources

1. Legare Walker, Dorchester County (Published by J.W. Parker, 1979)
   

2. Information contributed by T. Boyd from, Charleston Probate Court Estate Inventories 1763-1767
   

3. The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Volume 20