Isaac M. Dwight family papers, 1837-1860.

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Isaac M. Dwight family papers, 1837-1860.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/379883500

Correspondence of Isaac M. Dwight consists of three letters to him from Samuel Porcher of Mexico Plantation. The first two (Sept. 1837), concern serious damages to cotton and other crops, bridges, and a canal by heavy rains and a "freshet" in the St. Johns Berkeley Parish area. Porcher also writes of local politics and elections, a minor outbreak of yellow fever, and some deaths among his slaves, mostly children, from disease. ("I have been unfortunate among the little negroes in the country."). His letter (June 1840) mainly describes crop losses (specifically corn and oats) due to flooding, and repairs to an embankment. Two newspaper clippings and a note (1853) pertain to a dispute between Alfred M. Rhett and Dwight. Dwight published a letter in the "Charleston Mercury" newspaper concerning politics ("Unionism") to which Rhett responded, defending his father, Robert Barnwell Rhett, and impugning Dwight's motives. This led to a challenge to a duel, but another clipping notes that the issue was resolved peacefully. A contemporary copy of the challenge note Dwight sent to Rhett is dated 30 July 1853. Other documents pertaining specifically to Dwight include a typed transcript of a letter by Richard Yeadon published in the "Charleston Courier" (Apr. 1857). The letter describes Cedar Grove Plantation in St. George Dorchester Parish, the home of Isaac M. Dwight. Other correspondence consists of three letters (1860) from Henry Ravenel to his children, about his travels to New York City, Saratoga Springs, and Niagara Falls. In New York he writes of attending a "farce" at the Winter Garden Theatre, and seeing Central Park, and mentions his preference for home. "With all this great panorama of human life, & human actions before me I would rather be standing before my corn house door at Pooshee...Strange infatuation it may appear, but nevertheless true." One letter (1845) to Henry Ravenel from D. Bigelow in Columbia, S.C., is written entirely in rhyming verse and concerns Pooshee Plantation and the people there. Miscellaneous items include a typed transcript of "Extracts from the Minutes" (1753-1808) of St. Johns Berkeley Parish concerning glebe lands; and a list (undated) of the "Names of St. John's Negroes," possibly freedmen.

.25 linear ft.

South Carolina Historical Society

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7398961

South Carolina Historical Society

Related Entities

There are 10 Entities related to this resource.

Bigelow, David

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68k8dsg (person)

Winter Garden (Theater : New York, N.Y. : 1859-1867)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6548fwt (corporateBody)

Porcher, Samuel, 1768-1851

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6447zk9 (person)

Dwight, Isaac Marion, 1799-1873

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60c77jb (person)

Isaac Marion Dwight (1799-1873) was a plantation owner and a South Carolina state legislator. He represented St. George Dorchester in the Southern Rights Convention in 1852. Dwight planted Cedar Grove Plantation on the Ashley River in St. George Dorchester Parish, S.C., and also had property in St. Johns Berkeley Parish. His second wife was Martha Maria Porcher Dwight (1807-1842), the niece of Samuel Porcher (1768-1851). Samuel Porcher planted Mexico Plantation, where he built an embankment (kno...

St. John's Berkeley Parish (Church : Berkeley County, S.C.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fz33ct (corporateBody)

Dwight family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6454pw7 (family)

Rhett, Alfred Moore, 1829-1889.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p580hh (person)

Rhett, Robert Barnwell, 1800-1876

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6086q0j (person)

Charleston, S.C. plantation owner, politician, ardent secessionist, and author. Robert Barnwell Rhett (1828-1905) was his son. From the description of Rhett family papers, 1825-1938. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32141642 U.S. Senator from South Carolina and leader in the secession movement. From the description of Papers, 1838-1874. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20115801 Robert Barnwell Rhett (1800-1876) w...

Ravenel, Henry

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n88600 (person)

Yeadon, Richard, 1802-1870

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6612kv1 (person)

Attorney, newspaper editor, and S.C. Representative of Charleston, S.C.; as a journalist, Yeadon published Unionist and Whig publications and opposed nullification; husband of Mary Videau Marion. From the description of Richard Yeadon papers, 1841-1870. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 43541315 Charleston, South Carolina attorney, newspaper editor, and South Carolina state Representative. Yeadon compiled a genealogy of the family of his wife Mary Videau Ma...