Calhoun County Museum
Come and enjoy the history of Calhoun County and South Carolina presented with a personal southern touch.
The British, about eighty in number, advanced in a compact line on open ground. The British were outflanked and defeated in a short, decisive battle. Twenty wagons with clothing, supplies, and arms were taken; thirteen British were killed and sixty-six taken prisoner. Sumter had collected and secured all boats at Fort Granby and also at Thomson’s. The Santee was out of its banks and the wagons could not cross, so the captured goods were placed on board the captured boats and sent down the river to a point where Sumter was to meet them with his troops. On the 24th of February, Lord Rawdon appeared for the relief of the post at Thomson’s. Sumter retreated when he saw that Rawdon’s entire army was with him and hastened to meet the boats, where he proposed to cross the river. By treachery of the pilot, the boats were permitted to drop below the proposed landing point and within range of the guns at an enemy post at Wright’s Bluff. The boats and their goods fell into enemy hands, but the guards escaped and rejoined Sumter. The Americans gathered as many canoes as possible and on February 27, attacked the post at Wright’s Bluff to regain the stores. The Americans received tremendous fire and had to give way with considerable loss. The British claimed eighteen killed and prisoners and many horses taken.
In the area which encompasses Calhoun County, a series of magnificent plantations was established during the Colonial Period. Each plantation, organized as a self-contained unit, had an elegant main house. A classic example is Bellebroughton Plantation, established by the Broughton family, located outside the town limits of Creston near the Santee River.
It was already established as Bellebroughton Plantation in 1735, for when James LaBass, Esquire warranted for 200 acres in Amelia, his tract was located “halfway between Foquet and Sabb, known as Bellebroughton Plantation.”
When William Sabb of Amelia Township wrote his will in 1765, he referred to five tracts, “joining Bellebroughton’s tract.” Later, the tract became the property of the Sabb family.
The main house burned; today, the site yields examples of eighteenth and nineteenth century china. Indian pottery is also found in the area.
William Sabb’s daughter Elizabeth was born at Bellebroughton on June 27, 1761. In 1887, R. E. Edwards of Creston purchased the property.
Colonel William Thomson married Eugenia Russell, daughter of Charles Russell, in 1755. They acquired 400 acres of land on Buckhead Creek, on which Belleville Plantation was developed. Belleville was the first outstanding producer of indigo. During the Revolutionary War, the plantation was seized by the British and fortified. A battle took place when General Thomas Sumter and his troops attacked.
In 1783, Thomson laid out a proposed town here, which lacked only a few votes of being selected state capital of South Carolina. Cotton was planted as a commercial crop at Belleville in 1794, two years before Gaillard planted it at his plantation, The Rocks.
The old cemetery dates back to the Revolutionary War period. Remains of an earth embankment can still be seen around this site. The graves belong to the family of Colonel William Thomson, hero of the American Revolution.
Calhoun County Historical Sites (cont.)
Bellebroughton Plantation
Belleville Plantation & Cemetery
Property of Calhoun County Museum Archives.
Not to be used without written consent.