Gilder Plantation – Simpsonville – Greenville County

Basic Information

• Location – Simpsonville, Greenville County

  Near intersection of Highway 14 and Bethel Road
  

• Origin of name – Named for Gilder Creek that runs through the property (3)
  

• Other names – Austin

• Current status – Land has been subdivided over the years with the bulk of acreage being developed as a subdivision with golf course, and country club. The plantation house is still standing and has continuously remained privately owned by the Austin family.
  

Timeline

• 1769 – Earliest known date of existence when Nathaniel Austin, Sr. was awarded a Royal Grant for 500 acres on the Little River (which would become known as ) (1).
  

• Circa 1774 – House built. The family moved to Gilder in 1774 (1).
  

• 1786 – A larger house was built to accommodate the growing family (2).
  

• 1830 – A third house, that still exists, was built by William and Jane Collins Austin (2).
  

• ? – Col. and Mrs. William Renwick Austin II became owners of the plantation (1).
  

Land

• Number of acres – 500 in 1769 (1)

• Primary crop – ?

Owners

• Chronological list – Nathaniel Austin, Sr. (1769-1798), William and Jane Collins Austin, Col. and Mrs. William Renwick Austin II

Slaves

• Number of slaves – 8 in 1790, 9 in 1841 (1)
  

Buildings

• The first Gilder house was built about 1774 and was a two-story log house (1).
  

• Gilder II, as the family called the second house, was built about 1783 to accommodate the growing Austin family. It remained standing until about 1920 (1).
  

• Gilder III, which is still standing, was built in 1830 by William and Jane Collins Austin (2).
  

References & Resources

1. Nathaniel Austin

2. Gilder Marker: Click here

3. Information contributed by Brenda Austin Mason