Litchfield Plantation
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[edit] History
Litchfield Plantation is one of the oldest rice plantations on the Waccamaw River. The plantation was formed in 1710 through a land grant from King George III to Thomas Hepworth. The original mansion or "Plantation House" was built in 1740.
The most celebrated owner of the plantation was the Tucker Family of Georgetown, SC. The Tucker family originally came to South Carolina from Bermuda. Daniel Tucker was a politician and had three sons. The eldest, John Tucker eventually inherited the plantation and perfected growing methods for rice on the property. By 1850 Litchfield Plantation was producing one million pounds of rice per year. John had 9 sons by 4 wives.
Upon the death of John Tucker ownership passed to his son Dr. Henry Massingberd Tucker. Dr. Tucker served as a volunteer with the Confederate Army for four years during the American Civil War. He was also a staunch Episcopalian and when a new church was built had the old All Saints Church dismantled and moved to his property. In order to compel church attendance by the slaves who worked the plantation Dr. Tucker withheld weekly rations of food and tobacco from those slaves who did not attend services. Dr. Tucker was also a sportsman and won many tournaments at the Georgetown Rifle Club.
[edit] List of Owners (alphabetical)
Thomas Hepworth
Arthus Herbert Lachicotte
Litchfield Plantation Company
Ralph Nesbit
Dr. Henry Norris (1926)
Harry Edmond Parker, J. Philip Booth and Thornwell Hay Parker (1942)
Louise Price Parsons (1966)
Price
Ramsey
John Simons
Daniel Tucker (1797)
John Tucker
Dr. Henry Massingberd Tucker
John Hyrne Tucker
Joshua John Ward
[edit] Today
Litchfield Plantation is currently in the process of being developed as a master-planned residential community. The original Mansion is now used as a Country Inn, and the original site of the stables is now occupied by The Carriage House Club, a private dinning club.
[edit] External links
Litchfield Plantation External Site[1]
Google Map [2]
South Carolina Plantations Resource [3]
