The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-06-08
Secret Passages Of the Old Man.
sion, Which Is Now Going
to Ruins. Said to Be
Haunted.

1
On the banks of Goose Creek there
still stands the ruins OF an old man.
sion built about the year 1894, by Sir
John Yemans, and sold by him to
Thomas Smith, LandgraVe Of South
Carolina. The house was Of brick,
remarkable for their small size, and
as an evidence that these peoples lives
were not altogether passed in peace,
the house was fortified against the
attacks Of Indians. The walls Of the
basement and Of the first story were
provided with loopholes, and an under
ground vaulted passage led to the
creek, where boats we're concealed, so
that in case the house was fred the
family could make their escape.
Between the ceiling and floor Of one
Of the rooms was arranged small
secret chamber, access to which was
bad through trap door concealed in
closet on the second floor.
The house was entered from the
front, the door leading into a large
hall, from which led doors into other
rooms. We are told by one who wrote
Of this old house many years ago, that
the walls Of this hall were painted in
landscape and tiny gilded cherubs
spread their wings aboTe the arches
OF the panels. a huge fireplace stood
in one corner, decorated with Dutch
tiles, representing scriptural scenes.
Passing to the back Of this hall, a
stairway led to the upper rooms; holes
were pierced at intervals in the wall,
SO that il an entrance was forced,into
the hall the defenders could fire upon
the enemy.
Almost within stones throw Of
the house is the family burying
ground, where sleep several genera
tions of those who inhabitated the
old mansion.
We gather from certain old records,
that it was customary in those days
Q740), to remain upon the plantation
all the year round, and there are some
letters written to friends in Charles
ton inviting them to come into the
country in July and August, to escape
the heat OF the city.
Now let us take a look into the busy
home life Of the mistress OF this old
mansion, Madame s., was left a
widow with a large family Of children
and STEP children; she proved herself
a most efficient manager, and was aid
ed by a worthy man, Mr. Elerton,
who appears to have filed the posi-
tion Of schoolmaster, and general
factotum Of the establishment. He
kept a journal OF everything that
transpirei, and it is from this old re-
cord that we gain an insight into the
daily life Of the plantation. To quote
some Of these entries will give bet
ter idea of this life than I could de-
scribe, and so I will use his own
words:
January 20, l74o.-Madam went
to Mr.. Sam Warnings and remained
until Gath.
January 25tn she rented Back
River Plantation to Peter Huskins,
9th went to church with Mr.. Archer
Smith, 3Otb, sold seven cords OF wood
and killed hogs.
February 2Oth-Settled with Mad.
am for the year. She paid balance IN
my favor.
March I7th-Miss Betsey Smith
and her niece Nancy Waring, came
from Goose Creek from Nancy's uncle,
who sent her to me to school, and to
live with her STEP grandmother, Mad
anne s.
inlay l4th-John and Archer S.
came to school.
May 2sth-Received letter from
Capt Grange to appear and muster On
an alarm.
'Thirty-seven negroes taken up and
carried before MI. Colleton; kept guard
all night in sundry places; this after
noon came from muster field, and went
again at night after setting patrols.
"July 12th-Madame went to MI.
Ralph Izard's to pay her tax; it
amounted to s138.
"July 23-Madame and Miss Betsey
went to hear Mr.. Whitfield preach;
and the dog, Jowler, died.
These are only few Of the entries
in this queer old record, and 60 to show
how busy were the lives lived by these
people.
Mr.. Elerton was very careful In his
notes, recording the negro i1surrection
of 174O as well as the fact that the
dog Jowler died." and that be had fin
ished the potter cellar"
Madame was kept busy with her
household affairs, she went in person
to pay her taxes, attended to the
schooling Of her children, and those OF
her relatives. She was a "dissenter, "
for she went often to near the noted
Mr.. Whitfield preach. With it all she
found leisure for reading, for we are
told that negro boy was sept at in
tervals to Dorchester for books from
the circulating library, BE went about
twelve miles, mounted horse and
carrying a bag made Of cow-skin, with
the hair inside to prevent scratching
the book.
| Madame s. lived to good old
age, and lies in the family burying
ground nearby the now deserted and
ruined mansion. She died in Iii,
and a quaint story is told, how she
still haunted the scenes Of her busy
life.
A governess was employed In the
family many years after; one Sunday
morning she stole away to her cham.
Der and INDUCED In the very naughty
pleasure of reading q novel calico