It's The Only Thing That Lasts

"It's The Only Thing That Lasts"
(Or Is It?)

There are people, places, and events in the lives of everyone that hold special significance. One of those special places in my life is Cane Savannah. From childhood to the present, being intimately intertwined with the lands in and around Cane Savannah has fostered a deep affection in the heart of your presenter. Working the land: on our little family farm, planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops of soybeans, com, wheat, oats, peanuts, hay and long leaf pine. As a teen-ager, gaining an up close and personal understanding of the old saying "coming in the short rows now". Living on the land: building a home, starting a family, raising children,and enjoying the serenity of the woods for twenty years. Playing on the land:riding horses, camping, hunting, cooking, steaming oysters, Bar-B-Q'n, hay riding, raising a glass with friends, and in younger days, inviting a lady or two out to the country to "gaze at the stars". Most recently, researching the history of the land, that parcel of paradise entrusted to me by my father, which I share with you all this evening.

Some questions we will answer are: Who owned and lived at the Cane Savannah Plantation? What was the exact location of the Cane Savannah Plantation? Where was the plantation house located? To answer this question we will identify the exact location of some roads that pin point the house spot. And lastly, what became of the Cane Savannah Plantation?

There is no doubt indigenous peoples lived at Cane Savannah, as artifacts have been found in several places nearby. Information regarding the Native Americans that inhabited the area before the arrival of European settlers,however, must be the subject of a later presentation, perhaps. The story of Cane Savannah I relate to you now begins with Matthew Singleton.

Born in 1730 on the Isle of Wight, England, Matthew Singleton came to America with his father, Christopher Singleton, living in Virginia before moving to South Carolina. In 1750, at nineteen, Matthew married Mary James, daughter of Sherwood James of Virginia. Sherwood James moved his family to South Carolina in 1753 bringing Matthew and Mary James Singleton with them (Nichols, 1975).

By this time, Matthew and Mary had a daughter, Nancy Anne, who would later marry Isham Moore, about whom we shall have more discussion momentarily. Matthew Singleton obtained a grant of 500 acres upon which]he built a home that came to be known as Melrose, located in what is now Manchester State Forest, just off the River Road near Poinsett State Park(Gregorie, 1954).

There is some controversy regarding the exact location of this home. Some believe it was located off the River Road just beyond the Arthur Gayle Road very near the site of old Manchester. Others believe that it was at campground site number five in Poinsett State Park.

Matthew Singleton's role as a community leader and patriot in the District Eastward ofWateree is well documented. In 1770 he signed a petition for the establishment of a Chapel of Ease, which later became The Church of the Holy Cross. He was a representative at the First and Second Provincial Congress, a signer of the so called SC Declaration of Independence, commander of a volunteer Company of Horse of which Isham Moore, his son-in law, and John Singleton, his son, were also members, and participated in the Snow Campaign. In addition, late in the war he and his son John served with Francis Marion. After the war Matthew Singleton served in the General Assembly, helped organize the Claremont Academy, a school in the Stateburg area, and played a role in the development of the town of Manchester (Nichols, 1975).

In the latter years of his life Matthew Singleton moved to Cane Savannah. Nichols (1975) reports that "In Appreciation for his loyal and patriotic service in the cause of independence during the war, in 1784 the State of SC gave him the Cane Savannah Plantation. Leaving his beloved Melrose, he moved to his new home where he died in 1787" (pg. 358). The grant of land from SC Governor Benjamin Guerard was 4000 acres.
(Singleton, 1784) A house was built on Hatchet Camp Branch, near the current Cane Savannah crossroads, about which we will have more discussion shortly.

In addition, Matthew Singleton built a millpond and mill on Cane Savannah Creek. (Singleton, 1786) That millpond is today known as Boyles Pond. Amelia Barnwell "Toots" Harper and Caroline Arthur Hendrix,descendants of the Moore family, have indicated another house was built, at some point, on the Cane Savannah Mill Pond. (personal communication, A.Haper and C. Hendrix, February, 2009) Unfortunately, no records of exactly when either house was built nor any pictures of the houses have been found.

Matthew Singleton's estate was divided between his son, John, and his daughter, Nancy Anne, wife of Isham Moore. The Cane Savannah Mill and Plantation were left to Nancy Anne Moore, thus Isham Moore came into the possession of that property. The will of Matthew Singleton was destroyed in a fire in the Sumter District Clerk of Courts office in 1805, but court documents from 1839 in the settlement of a dispute between the Moore and Singleton families regarding an unpaid debt that Matthew Singleton owed Charles Pinckney, indicate that the estate was divided between John Singleton and Nancy Anne Moore and that Isham Moore inherited all the lands of the Cane Savannah Plantation and Mill (Rice, 1839). Now we begin the saga of the Moore family.

Born in 1750 in Northampton County, North Carolina, Isham Moore was in SC by 1770 (www.singletonfamily.org). Like his father-in-law, Isham Moore was a prominent member of the Manchester community. He too,petitioned st. Marks Parish for the establishment of a "Chapel of Ease" in the Stateburg community. Moore served during the Revolution as a lieutenant in the mounted company under the command of his father-in-law,Matthew Singleton (Nichols, 1975). Anne King Gregoire (1954)introduces some controversy regarding Moore's allegiance during the revolution,however, as she reports that his name appears on "the legislative list of the loyalists to be amerced 12% of the value of their states"(pg 46).

Isham Moore worked as a surveyor and a planter, gradually increasing his holdings of land to several thousand acres. The Federal Census of 1790 indicates he was the largest slaveholder in Claremont County with 145 slaves( Gregorie, 1954). Present day Sumter County was at that time part of Claremont County. Moore played an important role in the development of the town of Manchester, surveying and laying out much of the town and owning significant property and numerous lots there (Nichols, 1975).Isham Moore also served as a County Judge and in the State Legislature. (Gregoire, 1954).

He and his wife, Nancy Anne Singleton, had six children. In his will,Isham Moore divided his property among all his children. His holdings in the town of Manchester, farmland, and lands giving access to Beech Creek and the Wateree River were divided among his two oldest sons and daughters. His youngest son, John Isham Moore, inherited all the properties at Cane Savannah. The language in the will indicates that Isham Moore was probably living at Manchester when he wrote his will. He died April 24th,1803, just eight days after signing his will (I. Moore, 1803).

John Isham Moore lived on the Cane Savannah Plantation he inherited from his father. He continued family traditions; being a planter and public servant, as State Senator and Lt. Col. in the State Militia (South Carolina Portraits, 1996). Like his father and grandfather, John I. Moore chose a wife from a prominent family, marrying Hermione Richardson, daughter of James Burchell Richardson, Governor of South Carolina 1802-1804, and granddaughter of General Richard Richardson, Revolutionary War hero (www.singletonfamily.org).

The Moore family continued to live at Cane Savannah for several generations. Moore family members associated with the plantation include John Isham Moore, 1794-1852, followed by John Burchell Moore, 1830 - 1875, Marion Deveaux Moore, 1856-1929, John Singleton Moore 1860- 1930 (brother of Marion Deveaux) and McKenzie Parker Moore, Sr., 1890- 1966 (C. Hendrix, personal communication, February 2009), (M.P. Moore,
Jr., Personal communication, Feb. 2009), (1. I. Moore, 1852), (J.B. Moore, 1875), (M.D. Moore, 1929), (J.S. Moore, 1930).

The last member of the Moore family to be born at Cane Savannah was Dr. McKenzie Parker Moore Jr., on November 7, 1919. Dr. Moore is a retired physician now living in Charlotte, NC. Unfortunately, the house in which Dr. Moore was born burned around 1920when he was an infant (M.D. Moore Jr., personal communication, February 2009).

Dr. Moore shared a story with me regarding the burning of the Cane Savannah Plantation house as told to him by his mother. The fire was started by sparks from the chimney somehow igniting the eaves of the house. Since the house was burning from the roof downward, this gave the family an opportunity to escape and time to save a few possessions. Baby Mac (Dr.Moore) and his crib were put safely in the yard away from the house. As the family and housekeepers were removing items from the house into the yard they began throwing some of them into the crib with the baby, apparently unaware that he was laying there. Luckily someone noticed what was going on, that the baby was in potential danger of being smothered or crushed from items being piled in the crib, and informed the mistress of the house of the situation. The family joked for years afterward that Mac was spared from the fire, but nearly lost his life in the crib.

In recent years there has been speculation and discussion on the part of the Cane Savannah locals, generated in no small part from questions posed by your presenter, regarding the exact location of the house that burned in 1920. One would think that an event occurring so recently and with a resident of the house still alive, the answer would be readily available. That has not been the case, however. Dr. Moore told me that when the home place was destroyed the family moved to Charleston and he lost touch with the area around Cane Savannah. He said he was certain the house was north of the Railroad but not really sure if it was on the west side or east side of the road (M. Moore, Jr., personal communication, February 2009).

Many in the local area believe that the house was located on the east side of the road (Sumter side) near some very large deodar cedar trees. These large evergreens are often called "Cedars of Lebanon". The belief that the house was on the east side of the road is held in part because of statements made by Dr. Moore himself several years ago upon a visit to Sumter. Let us now examine some evidence to determine the location of the house.

The S.H. Boykin Map of 1821, and the M. H. McLaurin Map of 1870 both indicate the location of the Cane Savannah Plantation home place. The Boykin Map of 1821 shows the location with the notation of "Capt. J Moore" as being west of the road and east of an unnamed "branch" which one would assume is Hatchet Camp Branch (Boykin, 1821). However, there are no other landmarks indicated on the map to further pinpoint the location.

The McLaurin Map of 1878 provides more information. By that time the Wilmington, Columbia, & Augusta Railroad had come through Sumter. That rail line, running east and west, passed through the Cane Savannah Plantation and on to Wedgefield. The McLaurin Map also shows a road crossing the railroad track heading north and south at or near what is now the Cane Savannah crossroads. On this Map the home place notation of "Est. Col. J.B. Moore", is on the west side of the road, north of the Railroad,and east of Hatchet Camp Branch (McLaurin, 1878).

Another very exciting and conclusive piece of evidence is a survey of the Cane Savannah Plantation dated 1889 done by James D. McIlwain. This hand drawn survey shows the entire plantation including the Cane Savannah Mill Pond and Mill. Of more significance to our research, however, it shows the railroad track, the road, and most importantly a sketch showing the location of a house. The house sight of the Cane Savannah Plantation is shown on the plat as west of the road, north of the railroad and east of Hatchet Camp Branch (McIlwain, 1889). This location is west of what is now the North St. Paul Church Road just slightly north of the CSX railroad at the cross roads at Spann's store.

In determining the actual location of the Cane Savannah Plantation home place,the question arises, is the St. Paul road of today in the same location as the road running north and south shown on the McLaurin map of 1878 and the McIlwain survey of 1889? Let us examine additional evidence.

Before 1960 the St. Paul Church Road was a dirt road and was named the Cane Savannah Road. There were majestic red oaks, live oaks, and cedars lining the section of road from the Cane Savannah crossroad going north to the curve. When I was a little boy I often accompanied my father riding under the canopy of the big oaks as we traveled down what was then not much more than a dirt lane. When the road was paved in 1960 most of the trees were cut down. The highway department required 33 feet of right of
way for the new paved road. Unfortunately, these majestic trees stood inside the required right of way so they were taken down. Drawings of the SC Highway Department construction plans for the paving of this section of the road show the exact location and diameter of the trees, some measuring as much as 48 inches across (SCDOT, 1960). After being cut, the trees were dumped into the edge of Hatchet Camp Branch. I have witnessed the decomposition of these trees during the forty-nine years since their demise.

The trees that stood along side the road are one of the keys that unlock the mystery of the location of the house. Since the road ran between the lines of trees in 1960 it undoubtedly did so for many years prior. The trees were either planted or left to grow along side the road. It takes many years for an oak to grow to the diameter of those indicated on the SC Highway Department drawings. The location of these trees provide natural evidence of historical significance nearly equal to that of a survey, if you will, that the road ran down this lane of trees and has been in the same location for a hundred years or more. That being the case, this confmns the site of the home place on the west side of the road, for the road is in the same location today as that indicated on the McLaurin map of 1878 and the McIlwain survey of 1889.

Carolyn Arthur Hendrix, granddaughter of Marion Deveaux Moore, has confirmed the location of the Cane Savannah home place as being on the west side of the road. (Personal Communication. C. Hendrix February,2009). So, those grand deodar cedar trees on the east side of the road were not the sight of the "big house" but may mark the sight of another smaller house in which other family members lived, including J. Singleton Moore,about whom we shall hear more presently. Mrs. Hendrix has confrrmed through personal communication that there was another smaller house on the other side of the road and that J. Singleton Moore did live there.

The next question for our consideration is exactly where on the west side of the road was the house? The McLaurin Map of 1878 and The McIlwain plat of 1889 both show a road leading to the front of the house from the east,coming from the direction of Sumter. There is a section of this road still in existence. This long abandoned road, lying just north and running not quite parallel but at a very slight angle to the existing Wedgefield Rd is known to many locals in Cane Savannah as the "Avenue". I have often ridden horses and hunted quail on this old stretch of road, which passes along side a soybean field and a "broom sedge and gum bottom". My father, J.B.Hilton, and his hunting buddies, H.Q. Jones, and Ernest Newman, who I often accompanied to this the area, told me on many occasions they believed the Avenue to be the original road from Sumter to Wedgefield. They were partially correct in that the Avenue ran from Sumter to Cane Savannah but ended there. In order to get to Wedgefield in earlier days, one had to either drive north to Stateburg, south to Manchester or catch the train.

The will of J. Singleton Moore, references the "Avenue" and indicates it ran east to west across the plantation (Moore, 1930). A Survey, done by R.F. McLellan in 1943, references the "old road" as being the line between two tracts of land in this very area of Cane Savannah, running on the exact same line as the Avenue (McLellan, 1943). The section of the Avenue closest to the sight of the Cane Savannah home place is now a canal ditch. However, if one travels east following the line of the canal until its end, the Avenue begins again and runs for several hundred yards. The present day canal was dug down the Avenue. Hattie Coles, daughter of life long area residents Andrew and Elizabeth Keels, told me the canal ditch was dug down the Avenue. The existing remnants of the Avenue run perpendicular to and are on each side of the drive leading into the Keels' front yard. Mrs.Coles remembers her father often driving the mule and wagon down the Avenue to avoid getting on the "paved road" for as long as possible (H.Coles, personal communication, February, 2009).

The "Avenue" is the road shown on the McLaurin map and the McLellan survey leading from Sumter to the Cane Savannah Plantation. The location of the remnants of the Avenue and the current canal ditch pinpoint the location of the home place of the Cane Savannah Plantation. The line of the Avenue and the canal intersects the road at 150 North St. Paul Church Rd. Since the McIlwain plat indicates the house to be just north of the Avenue,the location of the home place lies between 150 and 170 N. St. Paul Church Road.

My curiosity concerning the Cane Savannah Plantation was tweaked at a very early age. As a small child, I often heard my father refer to the big barn on our farm at Cane Savannah as "Colonel Moore's barn". With a lilt in his daddy's voice and a twinkle in his eye, that little boy was never quite sure if it were really true. And who was this Col. Moore from the Revolutionary War his daddy was talking about? As time passed, of course,it was obvious the barn was not old enough to have been built by Colonel Isham Moore, but perhaps J. Singleton Moore his great-grandson, built it, as he was the last of the Moore family to live on the property.

The final chapter of the Cane Savannah Plantation is a rather sad one.Upon the death in 1930 of J. Singleton Moore, 3000 acres of the plantation were sold through foreclosure for $5000, or about $1.66 per acre. (J. S.Moore, 1930) W.S. Manning, nephew of Gov. Richard I. Manning III, purchased the entire tract. Wyndham Manning, a former member of The Fortnightly Club and the son of Gov. Manning was the executor of J.Singleton Moore's estate. (lS. Moore, 1930). J. Singleton Moore had accumulated debts that were not paid by his family and all the lands he held as his death were sold in foreclosure.

Within a few years of the death of "Sing" Moore, the Cane Savannah Plantation was broken up and sold to various individuals. (McLellan, 1943). After the foreclosure sales only 359 acres of the Cane Savannah Plantation remained in the hands of the descendants of Matthew Singleton, with whom our story began. Marion Deveaux Moore, brother of J. Singleton Moore, left this 359 acres of land to his children and grandchildren (M.D. Moore, 1930). Dr. McKenzie Parker Moore Jr., Marion Deveaux Moore's grandson, sold the last bit of the plantation left in the family, 42 acres, in June of2006. (M.P. Moore, 2006)

The earth upon which we live is both precious and fragile. We know that now more than ever before during this time of potential nuclear and ecological disaster. The use of, quest for, defense of, and stewardship of land can bring out the best and the worst in human kind. We know from history the good and the bad that can result from wars of conquest, empire building, imperialism, industrialization, and our own manifest destiny. The desire to own or be in control of land may be a basic drive for all human beings.

You may recall an admonition regarding another more famous
Southern Plantation when Gerald O'Hara speaking with his daughter cried "Do you mean to tell me, Katie Scarlet O'Hara, that Tara ... that land doesn't mean anything to you? Why, land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because ...it's the only thing that lasts."
Or is it?

Presented to the Fortnightly Club
Sumter, SC
March 18, 2009
Dr. John B. Hilton Jr.


Addendum:
John Burchell MooreLived at Cane Savannah. Attended Harvard Law School, earning an LL.B. in 1852. Married Anne Peyre Deveaux, grand daughter of Richard Singleton. Before Civil War he served as a Colonel in the Charleston light Dragoons (State Militia). During Civil War served in 4th cavalry, and as adjutant for 3rd Artillery Battalion, commonly called the Palmetto Battalion of Light Artillery. During his lifetime he collected a vast library.

Anne Peyre Deveaux Moore ManningAnne was the daughter of Videaux Marion Singlton and Richard Deveaux and Granddaughter of Richard Singleton of Home Plantation. She married John Burchell Moore, they had two children, Marion
Deveaux Moore and John Singleton Moore. Anne's aunt was Angelica Singleton Van Buren, wife of Abram Van Buren, son of President Martin Van Buren. Anne Peyre Deveaux was her husband's (John Burchell Moore) second cousin once removed, since they had a common ancestry from Matthew Singleton. John Burchell Moore died in 1875. Anne subsequently married Richard I. Manning I, son of John Manning, governor of SC and builder of Milford Plantation. J. Singleton Moore (Anne and J. B. Moore's
son), owner of 3000 acres of Cane Savannah Plantation, named Wyndam M. Manning, son of Governor Richard I. Manning III, as the executor of his estate. Upon the passing of J. Singleton Moore the plantation was purchased in foreclosure proceedings by W.S. Manning. Thus, the majority of the plantation left the Moore family.
)

Abbreviated Singleton / Moore Family Tree-----Matthew Singleton -(-M-ar-y -Ja-m-es) John Singleton (Rebecca Richardson) ~nne Singleton Moore (Isham Moore) I I mchard Singleton (Rebecca Coles) .~" John Isham Moore (Hermione Richardson)
/ ----... ~ "-' Angelica Singlet-on-(Ab-ram-Va-n B-ure-n) -Videau M\arion Singleton (Robert Marion Deveaux) ~n Burchell Moore(Anne Peyre Deveaux) ~ . ~
Marion Deveaux (John Pinkney) Anne Peyre Deveaux Marion Deveaux Moore (Caroline Naylor Parker) J. Singleton Moore I I (Adopted) Amelia Nott Moore Amelia Nott M\re (St. Julian Barnwell)
Amelia D.Barnwell "Toots" Harper
Marion Deveaux Moore (Caroline Naylor Parker)
~
McKenzie Parker Moore Sr. Desaussure Moore Nancy Moore Arthur John B. Moore Amelia Nott Moore Barnwell


References
Boykin, S.H. (1821). Map of Sumter District, South Carolina
Gregorie, A.K. (1954). History of Sumter County. Sumter, SC : Library Board of Sumter County
McIlwain, J.D. (1889). Survey of Cane Savannah Plantation. Plat book V-4,pg.351. Register of Deeds, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter, SC
McLaurin, M.H.(1878). Map of Sumter County, State of South Carolina.
McLellan, R.F. (1943). Plat showing division of Cane Savannah Plantation.Plat book Z-5, pg. 14. Register of Deeds, Sumter County Courthouse,Sumter SC
Moore, I (1803) Will of Isham Moore, bundle 70, package 7, Probate Court,Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter, SC
Moore, J.B. (1875) Will and estate settlement documents of John Burchel Moore, bundle 170, package 15. Probate Court, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter SC
Moore, J. I (1852) Will and estate settlement documents of John Isham Moore, bundle 161, package 18. Probate Court, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter, SC
Moore, J. S. (1930) Will and estate settlement documents of John Singleton Moore, bundle 220, package 52. Probate Court, Sumter County Court House, Sumter, SC
Moore, M.D. (1929) Will and estate settlement documents of Marion Deveaux Moore, bundle 220, package 18. Probate Court, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter, SC
Moore, M.D. (1930). Plat showing division of estate of MD. Moore. Plat book G5, pg. 6. Register of Deeds, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter,SC.
Moore, M.P. (2006). Title to real estate. Deed book 1035, pg. 784. Register of Deeds, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter, SC
Nichols, C. (1975). Historical sketches of Sumter County: It's birth and growth. Sumter, sc: Sumter County Historical Commission
Rice, W. (1839) Reports of Cases in Chancery argued and determined in the Court of Appeals and Court of Errors of South Carolina. Charleston, SC http://books.google.com/books?id=GPoaAAAA YAAJ&pg=PA11O&lpg=PAll0&dq
Singleton, M (1784). Land Grant. Singleton / Deveaux family collection,4MSS. 15 July, 1784 - December 1850. South Caroliniana Library,University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Singleton, M (1786). Indenture. Deed book BB. pg. 209 - 212. Register of Deeds. Sumter County Courthouse. Sumter, SC
South Carolina Department of Transportation (1960). Plan and profile of proposed state highway. Docket # 43.373. Road 40. Sumter County, SC
South Carolina portraits: A collection of portraits of South Carolinians and portraits in South Carolina. (1996). National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina. Columbia, SC.
www.singletonfamily.org

Cane Savannah Plantation Power Point Slides
1. Earth from space, Google Earth
2. Zoom from space to Cane Savannah
3. (4) Google Earth slides of Sumter Co. and Cane Savannah
4. Melrose
5. Land Grant to Matthew Singleton
6. (4) Indenture / Matthew Singleton & Peter Melette, Cane Savannah Millpond
7. (2) Isham Moore Portrait
8. (2) Will of Isham Moore
9. (2) John Isham Moore Portrait
10.(2) Boykin Map
11.(2) McLaurin Map
12.(3)McIlwain Plat
13.Ariel Photograph Cane Savannah Crossroads
14.(3) SC DOT Drawings
15.Rotting Tree Trunk
16.(3) Big Trees not cut
17.Ariel Photo Cane Savannah
18.(2)Deodar Cedar Trees
19.McLaurin Map
20.McIlwain Plat
2 1.(2)Will of 1. Singleton Moore
22.(2) McLellan Plat
23.(2) Google Earth Ariel of Cane Savannah
24.(3) Photos of Avenue
25. Google Ariel of Cane Savannah
26.Site of Cane Savannah Plantation Home Place
27.BigBarn
28.Foreclosure Sale Statement for Estate of J. Singleton Moore
29.Real Estate Inventory for Estate of J. Singleton Moore
30.Photo of Sing Moore, Sonny Arthur
31.Photo of Sing Moore, Aimee Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Pinckney, Rev.Barnwell.
32.Portrait of Mrs. Marion Deveaux Moore (Caroline Naylor Parker)
33.McLellan Plat
34.McIlwain Plat
35.Plat Dividing Estate of Marion Deveaux Moore
36.Google Earth Zoom out from Cane Savannah to Space