Last time we looked at the family of John Witherspoon, one of the first settlers of Williamsburg County. James Witherspoon, one of John's sons, is perhaps the best-known of the Witherspoon descendants to Kingstree residents because of the legacy he left us in the form of his home, Thorntree, the 270-year-old house that now stands on Nelson Boulevard in Kingstree.
James Witherspoon arrived in Williamsburg County in December 1734. A month later, on January 11, 1735, he received a 300-acre land grant near Black River, located about six miles from the King's Tree. Fourteen years after that, in March 1749, Witherspoon moved his family to a home he had built from trees that had grown on his land grant. This home was known as Thorntree.
Upon James Witherspoon's death in 1765, it appears that his oldest son, John, lived in the house. We know his family was living there in 1781 during the American Revolution. He died in 1805, and the property must have passed to his youngest brother, Gavin, for in 1816, Gavin's heirs sold Thorntree Plantation to John A. Gordon. John W. Gordon then inherited the plantation, selling it to Daniel Hicks Hamer in 1883 when Gordon moved to Alabama. One of Hamer's sons was a principal in the Hamer-Thompson Overland car dealership, which began in Salters but later opened a branch in Kingstree. Thorntree, however, was inherited by D.H. Hamer's youngest child, Mattie Jane, who married James Alurid Farrell. When she died, their son, also James Alurid Farrell, inherited the property. He was using it as a tenant house when its history came to the attention of the Williamsburg Historical Society in the late 1960s.
On May 21, 1967, Elizabeth White wrote in The State newspaper, "An exciting example of 'memory work' architectural detail in cornices, mantels, and moldings has been discovered in a weather-beaten home in Williamsburg County."
The article noted that the detailed carvings on the cornices, mantels, and moldings were called memory work because they were created without patterns from the craftsmens' memories of designs seen in their homelands. Meyric Rogers, a museum curator who had assisted in the restoration of the Ainsley Hall House in Columbia, and who was called in to give his professional opinion of Thorntree, noted, "The house in architectural structure is a rarity." He also noted, "There is not another house of its type–unless along the James River in Virginia."
Survival of pre-Revolutionary War homes is rare, as they were either destroyed by the British or torn down and rebuilt as their owners became more prosperous. Thorntree escaped the former as it was used by British Colonel John Watson as his headquarters for a short time during the war. James Witherspoon died before the American Revolution, and his heirs apparently saw no need to modernize by building a new house.
When it was "discovered" in the late 1960s, historians marveled that the cornices and mantels were original to the house and still in good condition. Shed rooms and a side porch, added probably around 1800, were then part of the house.
J.A. Ferrell agreed to give the house to the historical society, provided the society built him another tenant house. The society also decided to move Thorntree to land donated by Marie L. Nelson in Kingstree where the house would get the benefit of police and fire protection.
On December 3, 1969, Thorntree, with the shed rooms and side porch removed, was slowly brought down Highway 377 to Kingstree from the place where it had stood for 220 years. Leverne M. Prosser, writing in the News & Courier on December 4, 1969, noted, "The house, for the most part, was put together with wooden pegs, and each of its main structural pieces was specially shaped to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. The original wood was hand-hewed." Designated as the oldest known residence in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1970.
Restoration of Thorntree was Williamsburg County's contribution to South Carolina's Tricentennial Project in 1970. Plans were to restore Thorntree and develop the Fluitt-Nelson Memorial Park where it sits to recreate the conditions of Colonial times with both indigo and flax growing on the property. There was also a proposal to create a lake on the property, landscaped with wildflowers, trees, and shrubs.
On April 2, 1971, Thorntree and the Fluitt-Nelson Memorial Park were dedicated. For the next several years, Thorntree was open from 2:30-4:30 on Sunday afternoons every month except January and February, and on one weekend in December, it was open both Saturday and Sunday evenings for a Candlelight Tour, showcased as an 18th Century Christmas Celebration. Admission in December 1971 was $2 for adults, $1 for children. The Candlelight Tour was advertised in daily newspapers across the state as "blazing fires, spicy pomander balls, wreaths, holly sprigs and cedar garlands will grace the interior of the old plantation home of James Witherspoon who first came to America with his family in 1734." By 1977, a wassail bowl and fruit wreaths were also advertised as part of the festivities.
In October 1982, Thorntree played a pivotal role in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Kingstree's founding. Thorntree was the site of a Revolutionary War encampment by the Second SC Regiment. Also that weekend, Peggy McGill's folk opera, "Williamsburgh," directed by Doreen Welch, was performed in the space that six years later would be renovated into the Williamsburg County Auditorium. In addition, Williamsburg Technical College hosted a lancing tournament that weekend.
By the 1990s, Thorntree was open for tours by appointment and on special occasions for events. This is still true today.
Tomorrow, November 28, will mark the 251st anniversary of James Witherspoon's death. It is remarkable that his home has survived him by 251 years. However, Thorntree itself is now in need of repairs. As many of you are aware, the Williamsburgh Historical Society operates solely on memberships, donations, and the occasional grant. So, this holiday season, if you'd like to give the community a gift, consider making a donation to the Thorntree repair fund. You may make your checks payable to the Williamsburgh Historical Society, but please note somewhere that you would like the money used for Thorntree repairs. The address is Williamsburgh Historical Society, 135 Hampton Ave., Kingstree, SC 29556. Thorntree has weathered 270 years. Your contributions can help it stand for maybe 270 more.
Coming Up: The thrilling Revolutionary War stories associated with Thorntree.
Thorntree as it looks today.
The rear view of Thorntree.
Upon James Witherspoon's death in 1765, it appears that his oldest son, John, lived in the house. We know his family was living there in 1781 during the American Revolution. He died in 1805, and the property must have passed to his youngest brother, Gavin, for in 1816, Gavin's heirs sold Thorntree Plantation to John A. Gordon. John W. Gordon then inherited the plantation, selling it to Daniel Hicks Hamer in 1883 when Gordon moved to Alabama. One of Hamer's sons was a principal in the Hamer-Thompson Overland car dealership, which began in Salters but later opened a branch in Kingstree. Thorntree, however, was inherited by D.H. Hamer's youngest child, Mattie Jane, who married James Alurid Farrell. When she died, their son, also James Alurid Farrell, inherited the property. He was using it as a tenant house when its history came to the attention of the Williamsburg Historical Society in the late 1960s.
On May 21, 1967, Elizabeth White wrote in The State newspaper, "An exciting example of 'memory work' architectural detail in cornices, mantels, and moldings has been discovered in a weather-beaten home in Williamsburg County."
Mantel and molding in one room of Thorntree as it looks today.
The article noted that the detailed carvings on the cornices, mantels, and moldings were called memory work because they were created without patterns from the craftsmens' memories of designs seen in their homelands. Meyric Rogers, a museum curator who had assisted in the restoration of the Ainsley Hall House in Columbia, and who was called in to give his professional opinion of Thorntree, noted, "The house in architectural structure is a rarity." He also noted, "There is not another house of its type–unless along the James River in Virginia."
Another fireplace, which showcases more "memory work" on the mantel.
Survival of pre-Revolutionary War homes is rare, as they were either destroyed by the British or torn down and rebuilt as their owners became more prosperous. Thorntree escaped the former as it was used by British Colonel John Watson as his headquarters for a short time during the war. James Witherspoon died before the American Revolution, and his heirs apparently saw no need to modernize by building a new house.
When it was "discovered" in the late 1960s, historians marveled that the cornices and mantels were original to the house and still in good condition. Shed rooms and a side porch, added probably around 1800, were then part of the house.
Thorntree as it looked with the shed rooms and side porch still attached.
J.A. Ferrell agreed to give the house to the historical society, provided the society built him another tenant house. The society also decided to move Thorntree to land donated by Marie L. Nelson in Kingstree where the house would get the benefit of police and fire protection.
On December 3, 1969, Thorntree, with the shed rooms and side porch removed, was slowly brought down Highway 377 to Kingstree from the place where it had stood for 220 years. Leverne M. Prosser, writing in the News & Courier on December 4, 1969, noted, "The house, for the most part, was put together with wooden pegs, and each of its main structural pieces was specially shaped to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. The original wood was hand-hewed." Designated as the oldest known residence in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1970.
Thorntree in Snow, 2011.
Restoration of Thorntree was Williamsburg County's contribution to South Carolina's Tricentennial Project in 1970. Plans were to restore Thorntree and develop the Fluitt-Nelson Memorial Park where it sits to recreate the conditions of Colonial times with both indigo and flax growing on the property. There was also a proposal to create a lake on the property, landscaped with wildflowers, trees, and shrubs.
On April 2, 1971, Thorntree and the Fluitt-Nelson Memorial Park were dedicated. For the next several years, Thorntree was open from 2:30-4:30 on Sunday afternoons every month except January and February, and on one weekend in December, it was open both Saturday and Sunday evenings for a Candlelight Tour, showcased as an 18th Century Christmas Celebration. Admission in December 1971 was $2 for adults, $1 for children. The Candlelight Tour was advertised in daily newspapers across the state as "blazing fires, spicy pomander balls, wreaths, holly sprigs and cedar garlands will grace the interior of the old plantation home of James Witherspoon who first came to America with his family in 1734." By 1977, a wassail bowl and fruit wreaths were also advertised as part of the festivities.
Another snowy view of Thorntree, this time in 2014.
In October 1982, Thorntree played a pivotal role in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Kingstree's founding. Thorntree was the site of a Revolutionary War encampment by the Second SC Regiment. Also that weekend, Peggy McGill's folk opera, "Williamsburgh," directed by Doreen Welch, was performed in the space that six years later would be renovated into the Williamsburg County Auditorium. In addition, Williamsburg Technical College hosted a lancing tournament that weekend.
By the 1990s, Thorntree was open for tours by appointment and on special occasions for events. This is still true today.
A group listens to a presentation by Kingstree author Bubber Jenkinson.
Tomorrow, November 28, will mark the 251st anniversary of James Witherspoon's death. It is remarkable that his home has survived him by 251 years. However, Thorntree itself is now in need of repairs. As many of you are aware, the Williamsburgh Historical Society operates solely on memberships, donations, and the occasional grant. So, this holiday season, if you'd like to give the community a gift, consider making a donation to the Thorntree repair fund. You may make your checks payable to the Williamsburgh Historical Society, but please note somewhere that you would like the money used for Thorntree repairs. The address is Williamsburgh Historical Society, 135 Hampton Ave., Kingstree, SC 29556. Thorntree has weathered 270 years. Your contributions can help it stand for maybe 270 more.
Coming Up: The thrilling Revolutionary War stories associated with Thorntree.
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