Acadian Historical Sites: South Carolina

New Windsor Township

Along Savanna River between North Augusta SC and Beech Island, SC

Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the fort and local people.

• Fort Moore Historic Marker (Sandbar Ferry Road [SC Highway 28] on east bank of Savannah River near Beech Island) GPS: 33° 26.359 N; 81° 54.607' W (Fort built in 1716 to guard trading routes)
• Savannah Town Historic Marker (Sandbar Ferry Road [SC Highway 28] on east bank of Savannah River near Beech Island) GPS: 33° 26.359 N; 81° 54.607' W (Indian town dating from 1685)

St. Helena Episcopal Church

505 Church Street; Beaufort, SC GPS: 32.433709; -80.675203

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built in 1724; Modified three times with the latest in 1824
• Also Church of Ease on St. Helena's Island (Land Ends Road near Saturns Circle; St. Helena Island, SC) GPS: 32.375601; -80.576650 [Built ca. 1747 as chapel of ease; abandoned by 1861; burned 1886; only ruins remain]

Prince William Episcopal Church [Old Sheldon Church Ruins]

Old Sheldon Church Road between Gardens Corner, SC & Yemassee, SC GPS: 32.618526; -80.780523

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built 1745-1755; first service 1757; burned in 1779 by British; rebuilt 1826 from remaining walls; burned or interior destroyed by Northern soldiers in 1865 or 1866
• Only ruins remain today

St. James Episcopal Church

100 Vestry Lane; Goose Creek, SC GPS: 32.975483; -80.032627

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built in 1719, this church was one of first churches built in South Carolina and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in South Carolina

St. James Santee Episcopal Church - Echaw Chapel of Ease

10 miles east of Jamestown near Santee River; possibly near where Highway 192 meets Santee River (junction of Echaw Creek & Santee River); Jamestown, SC

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built in 1748
• Today only the cemetery remains and a sign "Echaw Church Ruins Cemetery"

Mepkin Plantation

1098 Mepkin Abbey Road; about 20 miles up Cooper River

• Henry Laurens lived here from 1762 until his death in 1792. Bazile Lanneau stayed here with Henry Laurens' family for a short time beginning in 1762 until he moved to Charleston to work
• Today Mepkin Plantation is Mepkin Abbey and is a Trappist monastery. The Abbey and Mepkin Gardens are open to the public daily (9 am - 6 pm) and have the graves of Henry Laurens (ashes) and several family members
• Mepkin Plantation is part of St. James Parish in Goose Creek

St. John's Berkeley Episcopal Church

SC Highway 402 near Old Cherry Hill Road; Moncks Corner, SC GPS: 33.212405; -79.966709

• Also called Biggin Church
• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Originally built in 1711, it was rebuilt in 1761 after 1755 forest fire
• Destroyed by another forest fire in 1886 and left as ruins

St. Thomas & St. Denis Episcopal Church

1513 Cainhoy Road; Wando [near Charleston], SC GPS: 32.960630; -79.857334

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Church built in 1708; destroyed by forest fire in 1815; present church built in 1819
• Sits on bank of Wando River near Cainhoy in Berkeley County

Pompion Hill Chapel

(0.5 miles southwest of junction of SC Highways 41 and 402; Huger, SC) on Cooper River built in 1763 and is oldest Anglican edifice in SC outside of Charleston). Built as chapel of ease.

Location of Bazile Lanneau's First Job

Broad Street and Meeting Street

Bazile Lanneau had first job constructing a building across from St. Michael's Church. This building likely was either the Armory and Guard House where the present U. S. Post Office and Federal Court are or the old South Carolina State House where the Charleston County Court House now stands.

Location of Bazile Lanneau's First Business

Elliott Street

Bazile Lanneau established first business here as a shoe and boot maker. He also probably lived here at the time.

Homesite of Bazile Lanneau and Suzanne Frizelle

34 St. Philip Street

Bazile Lanneau owned this property in 1788 and had his home here with his first wife Suzanne Frizelle (House moved in 1974 to 2 Pitt Street due to construction of city parking garage.) He may have lived here from ca. 1766 until ca. 1796. There was also a kitchen building on this site as part of the home. (Kitchen building moved to 76 Beaufain Street in 1975.)

Site of Bazile Lanneau Tannery & Shoe Factory

NW Corner of Pitt Street & Beaufain Street

Bazile Lanneau tannery and shoe factory located here from ca. 1778; he built his home next to his business ca. 1796. This location of the tannery is today's 1 Pitt Street.

Lanneau Homes

West side of Pitt Street between Beaufain Street and Wentworth Street

Bazile Lanneau in 1778 purchased 6 lots on west side of Pitt Street between Beaufain Street and Wentworth Street (known as Lanneau Row) in Harleston Green area.

Homes built by Lanneau family:

• 1 Pitt Street (Charles Henry Lanneau, a son, built home here ca. 1848) - This was original location of Bazile Lanneau's tannery and shoe factory
• 2 Pitt Street (Bazile Lanneau home built before 1788) - (Moved from 34 St. Philip St. in 1974 during construction of city parking garage)
• 3 Pitt Street (Bazile Lanneau built home here ca. 1796) Bazile Lanneau and his 2nd wife Hannah Vinyard lived here next to the tannery; 3rd story added mid-1800s)
• 5 Pitt Street (Emma Louisa Lanneau, a daughter, built home here ca.1830)
• 7 Pitt Street (Bazile René Lanneau, a son, built this homes ca. 1837-1840)
• 9 Pitt Street (Built by Lanneau family between 1830-1840)
• 11 Pitt Street (A Lanneau built home here in mid-1800s, but it has been torn down)

Kitchen Building of Original Bazile Lanneau Home

76 Beaufain Street

Owned by Bazile Lanneau, it was a kitchen building for his home built at 34 St. Philip Street before 1788 and is now at 2 Pitt Street. The kitchen building was moved to this location in 1975.

Home of Mrs. Mary H. Lanneau

34 Anson Street

Built by widowed Mrs. Mary H. Lanneau about 1848.

East Bay Street

just north of Vendue Range

Basile René Lanneau, a son, occupied building on East Bay Street just north of Vendue Range in 1830's. He shared building with Robert de Leaumont.

St. Philip's Episcopal Church & Cemetery

142 Church Street; Charleston, SC

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• First built in 1681; rebuilt three times; current church built in 1836; spire added in 1850
• John Lanneau, an Acadian refugee and brother of Bazile Lanneau, is buried in the cemetery

St. Michael's Episcopal Church

71 Broad Street; Corner of Broad Street & Meeting Street

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built in 1761

French Huguenot Church & Cemetery

136 Church Street; Charleston, SC

• Bazile Lanneau's first family (wife Suzanne Frizelle and 5 children) are buried in the cemetery, but graves cannot be located today
• Built in 1687; destroyed in 1796; rebuilt in 1800; current church built in 1845
• Bazile Lanneau and his first wife Suzanne Frizelle worshipped at this church

Circular Congregational Church & Cemetery

150 Meeting Street; Charleston, SC

• Built in 1681; rebuilt in 1804; destroyed by fire in 1861; rebuilt in 1890
• Gravestone of Bazile Lanneau, an Acadian deported to South Carolina in 1756 (Bazile Lanneau was a shoemaker and tanner and served three terms in the State Legislature of South Carolina). The gravestone of his second wife Hannah Vinyard is next to Bazile's. They are located just to right of main aisle from gate
• Bazile Lanneau and his 2nd wife Hannah Vinyard worshipped at this church

Churches prominent in lives of Lanneau family

• Huguenot (French Protestant) Church (136 Church Street)
• Circular Congregational Church (150 Meeting Street)
• First Baptist Church (61 Church Street)
• Second Presbyterian Church (342 Meeting Street)
• St. Philip's Episcopal Church (142 Church Street)

St. Andrews Episcopal Church

2604 Ashley River Road; Charleston, SC GPS: 32.838500; -80.049014

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built 1708; remodeled 1723; suffered damage in 1764 and repaired
• Only extant colonial cruciform church surviving in SC

Orange Garden

Between Broad Street and Tradd Street, just west of King Street

• Acadians in the 1760s were placed in a house near the New Barracks in the area called the Orange Garden
• Originally an orange grove, the site was sold in the 1760s and homes eventually were built. Orange Street was created on the western edge
• The Governor's House Inn (117 Broad Street) now occupies part of the site - originally built by James Laurens in 1760, the house has seen additions over the years

Old State House

Corner of Broad Street and Meeting Street

• Acadians in the 1760s were placed in a house near the old State House
• Today the Charleston County Court House occupies the site of the Old South Carolina State House

Petit Versailles

East side of East Bay Street between Laurens and Society Streets

• Acadians in 1760s were placed in a small Out House at Petit Versailles
• At the time this was part of Ansonborough section in Charleston
• Petit Versailles was a country estate in the vicinity of the east (water) side of East Bay Street between Laurens Street and Society Street. It was owned by Francis LeBrasseur. It was located on the "Old Brew House" land

Trott's Point

SW Corner of Queen Street and Church Street

• Acadians in 1760s were placed in the British tenements at Trott's Point
• There were three tenements constructed at Lot No. 113 of Trott's Point on the southwest corner of Queen Street and Church Street
• Today the Dock Street Theatre occupies this location. Across the street is the French Huguenot Church

Old Free School

North side of Tradd Street near King Street

• Acadians in 1760s were housed in the Old Free School
• It was located adjacent to the orange grove on the north side of Tradd Street
• The old schoolhouse was known as the Orange Garden

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church

93 Hasell Street; Charleston, SC

• Began in 1791 and rebuilt in 1839 after fire
• Church used by Acadians escaping from Santo Domingo who arrived in Charleston between 1791-1822
• Church graveyard has several Acadian tombs including Babain (Babin), Benoist, Cormier, Richard

Old Planter's Hotel

Church Street at Queen Street

Old Planter's Hotel was a prominent landmark to Bazile Lanneau.

• Originally, the St. Mary's Hotel at Meeting Street & Queen Street in 1801
• Purchased and renamed the Planter's Hotel in 1803
• Moved to corner of Church Street at Queen Street in 1809
• Today the façade of the Planter's Hotel is part of the Dock Street Theater

Market Place

East Bay Street to Meeting Street

Prominent landmark to Bazile Lanneau from 1790's onward.

• Established ca.1790 along four town blocks along Market Street
• Anchored by Market Hall on Meeting Street
• Still exists today as City Market

South Carolina Historical Society

100 Meeting Street; Meeting St. at Chalmers St.

Information on South Carolina history including Acadians and Lanneau.

College of Charleston

54 St. Philips Street; 843-953-4991

Special collection of papers from 1798-1818 has information on Bazile Lanneau.

Christ (Episcopal) Church (now Anglican)

2304 North Highway 17; Mt. Pleasant, SC GPS: 32.844167; -79.813917

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built in 1708, then destroyed by fire in 1725
• Rebuilt in 1727 and repaired over the years

Vanderhorst plantation

Christ Church Parish in Charleston County - just north of Mt. Pleasant, SC and about 10 miles northwest of Sullivan's Island. Could be one of four plantations owned by Vanderhorst family in this area. The four plantations were located on both sides of Dunes West Boulevard from Highway 41 to Park West Boulevard and then on the north side of Park West Boulevard until it makes a sharp right turn south at the airport. Vanderhorst Plantation is south of Dunes West Boulevard and Lexington Plantation is north of Dunes West Boulevard. Richmond and Point Plantations are north of Park West Boulevard.

• The Vanderhorst family owned four adjacent plantations in this area (Richmond Plantation, Point Plantation, Lexington Plantation and Vanderhorst Plantation). Mr. Adolphus Vanderhorst purchased all of these in 1754 and is likely the Mr. Vanderhorst who cared for the Lanneau family
• Marguerite Richard and her son François died of smallpox at one of these plantations
• Bazile Lanneau, John Laneau, Pierre Lanneau and Gregoire Lanneau stayed at the plantation after their mother's death for varying periods of time
• Bazile Lanneau's brother John remained at the plantation under Mr. Vanderhorst's care until he left to go to work
• [Although some sources state that the Vanderhorst Plantation was near Charleston where the Battery is today, that appears to be incorrect. The Battery is located on Kiawah Island - about 35 miles southeast of Sullivan's Island. There is a Vanderhorst Plantation located on Kiawah Island; however, it was not owned by a Vanderhorst until 1772 when Elizabeth Vanderhorst, wife of Arnoldus Vanderhorst II, inherited it.]

Sullivan's Island

Area near Fort Moultrie on waterfront is where Acadians disembarked when landing at Charleston. They were quarantined in the area for several days in the "pest house". This "pest house" likely was at or near the parking area at today's Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church (1204 Middle Street) just north of Fort Moultrie. It had four to six rooms and was about 16 feet x 30 feet in size.

Pon Pon Chapel of Ease [Old Burnt Church]

Parkers Ferry Road near intersection of Jacksonboro Road; Jacksonboro, SC GPS: 32.808855; -80.49014

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built in 1725; replaced in 1784; burned in 1801; rebuilt in 1822; destroyed in 1832
• Only two walls remain with the ruins

Beech Hill Plantation

Johno Creek, branch of Ashepoo River; 6467 Ritter Road; Ritter, SC

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the local people
• Built before 1817
• Two-story plantation home

Long Bluff State Park

Part of Welsh Tract & original Welsh Neck community (1 mile east of Society Hill on Great Pee Dee River)

Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the local people. Long Bluff State Park - large wooded area with no structures left (1 mile east of Society Hill on Great Pee Dee River).

• Long Bluff Historic Marker (In Society Hill at intersection of U. S. 51 and Long Bluff Road on right [112 Church Street; Society Hill, SC]) GPS: 34° 30.789' N; 79° 51,003'W
• Wesh Neck Settlement Historic Marker (At intersection of U. S. 15 and Kolb's Tomb Road/River Landing Road [County Road 461 near Bennettsville, SC in Marlboro County]) GPS: 34° 3.652'N, 79° 49.72'W

St. George's Dorchester Episcopal Church

300 State Park Road; Summerville, SC GPS: 32.976651; -80.180941

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the church parish
• Built in 1719, then British burned town in 1781; repaired in 1811 and burned in 1820
• Only ruins of tower remain

Prince Frederick Episcopal Church (Black River Church)

Highway 51 [Browns Ferry Road] south of Highway 41 between Pinewood Drive and Amos Road; Dunbar, SC GPS: 33.54769; -79.39536

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the local church parish
• Church built in 1721 as Prince George Winyaw Episcopal Church
• When Prince Frederick Episcopal Parish created in 1734, church given to them and was used until 1810
• Only the cemetery remains today

Prince George Winyaw Episcopal Church

300 Broad Street; Georgetown, SC GPS: 33.368769; -79.280946

• Acadians were sent here in 1756 to be cared for by the local church parish
• Built 1747; repaired in 1809; tower and steeple added 1824
• Although changes have been made; 1747 church still exists

Sloop Dolphin (90 tons; Capt. William Hancock)

• Left Chignecto - 13 Oct 1755
• Arrived Charleston, SC - 19 Nov 1755

Acadians: Departed with 121, Arrived with 121

Ship Edward Cornwallis (130 tons; Capt. Andrew Sinclair)

• Left Chignecto - 13 Oct 1755
• Arrived Charleston, SC - 19 Nov 1755

Acadians: Departed with 417, Arrived with 207

Sloop Endeavor (96 tons; Capt. James Nichols)

• Left Chignecto - 13 Oct 1755
• Arrived Charleston, SC - 19 Nov 1755

Acadians: Departed with 121, Arrived with 121

Brigantine Two Brothers (161 tons; Capt. James Best)

• Left Chignecto - 13 Oct 1755
• Arrived Charleston, SC - 11 Nov 1755

Acadians: Departed with 132, Arrived with 132

Sloop H.M.S. Syren (30 tons; Commander Charles Proby)

• Left Chignecto (Fort Beauséjour) - 13 Oct 1755 (21 Acadians)
• Arrived Charleston, SC - 19 Nov 1755 (21 Acadians)

(The "Syren" was an escort vessel. 9 Acadians were sent to England from South Carolina almost immediately. The remaining 12 Acadians were disembarked at Charleston.)

Acadians: Departed with 21, Arrived with 21

Ship Hopson (Hobson) (177 tons; Capt. Edward Whitewood)

• Left Goat Island (Annapolis Royal) - 9 Dec 1755 (342 Acadians)
• Arrived Charleston, SC - 15 Jan 1756 (342 Acadians)

Acadians: Departed with 342, Arrived with 342

Note

After arriving at Georgia, the Acadians deported there were given canoes and small, open boats in poor condition as well as passports and told they could travel up the coast toward their homeland. Along the way they were joined by some Acadians deported to South Carolina. They were led by Jacques Vigneau dit Maurice. About 200 Acadians left Georgia in the boats.

• Left Savannah, GA in small boats - Mar 1756
• Arrived in South Carolina - 29 Mar 1756
• Left South Carolina - 15 Apr 1756
• Arrive at Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., NJ - 28 Jun 1756
• Arrived just east of New York - 12 Jul 1756
• Arrived at Sandwich, MA (Cape Cod) - 20 Jul 1756

(99 Acadians)

(Arrived in 7 small boats; were arrested by authorities and kept in Massachusetts)