South Carolina
Markers Project
Revolutionary War
Project Background
In January of 2020 Mr. Charles Baxley, Chairman of the SC 250 American Revolution Commission, shared his vision of the value in finding roadside historical markers in SC that relate to the American Revolution with his friend Bill Segars. Their ideas and goals for this project appeared simple enough to accomplish:
- Find each marker.
- Photograph both sides of each marker.
- Obtain an accurate GPS location of each marker.
- Obtain a recognizable street address for each marker.
- Render an opinion of each marker’s current condition.
The main reason behind this endeavor, as described by Mr. Baxley, was that visitors are coming to SC and our SC American Revolutionary related roadside historical markers need to be seen and they need to be in A #1 condition.
Mr. Baxley may not have known exactly where these markers were in SC, but he knew that they told the story of local people, places and events in SC that helped win our freedom and independence. So, his challenge to Bill was simple – find them.
The first hurdle was of the 2,000 + roadside historical markers that exist in SC, which ones pertained to The American Revolution? Bill worked with the South Carolina Department of Archive and History (SCDAH) in order to compile a list of 185 roadside historical markers whose text pertained to the American Revolution in SC. The next hurdle was finding these 3’X3’ aluminum markers on a pole, many of which were not where they were supposed to be.
While working in the field, another 80 more SCDAH markers were found to relate to the American Revolution and more are being added now. Also in the process of this research, a host of other signs or monuments which contained written text concerning the American Revolution in SC were also seen. It was then determined that any location that had a sign that a visitor could read about what happened at this site during the American Revolutionary period in SC would also be included in the marker project.
As this work in the field began and word about this endeavor got out in the historical community, other people wanted to get involved with the research. As a result of this interest a number of leaders in the historic community wanted to join in on the fun. Guy Wallace worked in the northeastern part of SC, Jim Dunlap worked in the northwestern area, Fritz Hamer worked in the central area, Brett Bennett worked in the low country and Bill Segars worked in the Pee Dee area and anywhere else in the state as needed; all the while compiling the vast amount of information and photographs collected by the field researchers. These additional field researchers not only proved to be a valuable asset to speeding the process along, they enjoyed traveling the roads of our beautiful state in their area searching for roadside historical markers, signs and monuments. The thrill was truly in the hunt and what you’ll find today is THE MOST comprehensive, and THE MOST historically accurate accounting of markers, signs and monuments connected to the American Revolutionary War in South Carolina.
Even though to date most of the field work has been done on this project, if it weren’t for donors and the SC American Revolution Trust (SCART), our late Chairman Charles Baxley’s dream of sharing this information to everyone would not be realized. He said many times, “History is of no value if it is not shared with someone that doesn’t know about where they came from.”
South Carolina’s Judicial Districts 1775 to 1783
During most of the colonial period, South Carolina had only a single court which met in Charles Town. By the 1760s, due to expansion of settlement, Charles Town became too far away for the majority of the population, which now resided in the backcountry. In 1768, largely as a result of the Regulator Movement, the Circuit Court Act was passed by the SC Legislature. This Act was nullified by the British Parliament, but the re-introduction of the Act in 1769 was finally approved.
Soon after the Act took effect in 1769; seven circuit court districts were established and court houses were set up for each district. The map to the right shows the seven Colonial Judicial Districts, plus the Cherokee Lands, with present-day county boundaries. These Judicial Districts continued to function into the post-Revolutionary War period. During the period of 1769-1776, the northwestern corner of South Carolina was still a part of the Cherokee Nation. However, after several skirmishes with the Cherokees during 1776, this area was ceded to the state of South Carolina by a treaty signed with the Cherokees in 1777.
J. D. Lewis
For mapping purposes, our current collection of markers, signs and sites have been divided among these eight districts. The following information is presented to help you understand our numbering system and navigate through the Markers Map.
The first number of each marker, sign or site will begin with the alphanumeric number that is assigned to that county. After those 1 thru 46 numbers, there will be a series of numbers and or letters. The following information is provided as a key to working with these markers, signs or sites numerical naming system.
When a number as 7-10 Beaufort Arsenal is seen, that number 7-10, is the number that has been assigned to this marker by the South Carolina Department of Archive and History (SCDAH) along with the name of that marker. These numbers, 7-10, represent that this marker is the 10th marker installed in Beaufort County (7). This number can also be seen cast on any SCDAH marker installed after August of 1990. The County number (7) is cast to the left of the crest and the marker number (10) is cast to the right of the crest.
When a number as 7-10a1 Beaufort Arsenal is seen, that number 7-10a1, represents an associated sign or site of the marker 7-10 that is at a slightly different GPS location in Beaufort County than the marker itself. In this case the a1 represents the Beaufort Arsenal building itself. If there are more than one sign or site associated with that marker, the 7-10a1 name will be changed to 7-10a2, 7-10a3 and so on. In most cases these associated signs or sites will be mentioned in the text of the marker and located close to the marker.
When a number as 10A25 Fort Moultrie is seen, that number 10A25, represents a sign or site that does not have a SCDAH marker, but has significant American Revolutionary importance. These numbers, 10A25, represent that this is the 25th associated Charleston County (10) sign or site not having a SCDAH marker. These signs or sites can also have associated signs or sites associated with the number; those are written as 10A25a1 Fort Moultrie. In this case the a1 represents Fort Moltrie itself.
When a number as 10PSC1 Philip Porcher House is seen, that number 10PSC1 is unique to Charleston County (10). These are signs that were installed by the Preservation Society of Charleston on houses in Charleston that relate to the American Revolution. With additional sites, the last number of the 10PSC1 numbers will be changed to 10PSC2, 10PSC3 and so on.
When a number as 14M1 Ambush at Half-Way Swamp is seen, that number 14M1 is unique to Clarendon County (14). These are American Revolutionary related murals that have been painted on buildings in Clarendon County (14). With additional murals, the last number of the 14M1 numbers will be changed to 14M2, 14M3 and so on.
SCDAH has several markers that show the same text and are installed at multiple locations, as 28-4 Camden. Those identical markers installed at different locations are numbered as 28-4.1 and 28-4.2. With additional locations, the last number of the 28-4.1 numbers will change to 28-4.2, 28-4.3 and so on.
About The Collection
The Markers Map includes an array of valuable and historically accurate information. Accurate geographic locations with a link to google maps. This combined with text, condition, and other information regarding historical markers, signs and sites; hopefully will make visiting these sites in the state of South Carolina easy, interesting and informative.
About The Donors
Bill Segars
Bill was born in Darlington County and has lived in the Kelleytown Community, just West of Hartsville, his entire life. He grew up on a family farm that was once part of Jacob Kelley’s Plantation. Land that has been in his family since 1820 and was once occupied by Union troops under the command of Major General John E. Smith in March of 1865. This background instilled a love and appreciation of history for him at an early age.
Even with a passion for history, Bill chose a career in building construction after receiving a degree in Civil Engineering. During his 46-year building career, Bill has found a way to combine his interest in history and his knowledge of buildings into historical restoration. He has been very fortunate to have worked on and restored many buildings that are presently listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
He views historical restoration as an interesting blend of sensitivity to historical elements of an old building with present-day conveniences that the building owners have grown to expect, thus saving buildings that may have otherwise been lost.
In 2003 he began a quest to find 185 old church buildings in South Carolina that were built prior to the War Between the States. Over the next 20 plus years he has found over 900 old interesting church buildings, all 46 county courthouse buildings and hundreds of beautiful old houses and public buildings in South Carolina. While photographing and researching these buildings and sites, he does it from a builder’s point of view – how they were built, who built them, what materials were used, etc. In 2016 he co-authored a pictorial book featuring the 13 churches in South Carolina that were burned during the American Revolution.
Along with continuing to search for these types of buildings, he is currently working with the SC 250 American Revolution Commission searching for American Revolutionary related historical roadside markers, monuments and related sites throughout South Carolina. Bill’s main objective with these projects is to share their exact locations so others can visit and enjoy them.
Guy Wallace
Guy and his wife have been married for 53 years. They have two sons, three grandsons, and five granddaughters (two sets of twins) and one great grandson on the way. He’s always had an interest in history, especially military history based on his 34-year career in the US Army. “I think everyone should know who and where they came from”, stated Guy.
That question led to an interest in both genealogy and the American Revolutionary war. To become a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Guy had to research and document his family history back to his 7th great-grandfather who fought in the Virginia militia along with 10 cousins, and 3 uncles. Three of them fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Guy has since joined up with several organizations whose goals were to locate, document, preserve, and protect as many Revolutionary War sites as possible for future generations to study, learn, and honor their ancestors and country’s history.
Guy served in the U.S. Army for 34 years with extensive travel and deployments, several of those in U.S. Special Forces. He’s served as a police officer with the Orlando Florida Police Department, a subject matter expert on global terrorism among other distinctions. He has also proudly served on The Historic Mapping Congress, is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Mecklenburg Chapter, Chairman of the Historian/Patriot Grave Project and committee chairman for the SC 250th American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission.
Additional Contributions By:
Jim Dunlap
Brett Bennett
Fritz Hamer
Fritz Hamer retired as museum curator in 2020 at the SC Confederate Room and Military Museum. Previous to that he had served twenty-five years as Curator of History for the South Carolina State Museum. He received graduated degrees from the University of South Carolina and a BA from Acadia University in Nova Scotia. During his museum career Fritz curated several exhibitions on topics ranging from World War I and II to SC college football. He has published several articles and books. The titles include “German POW Labor in SC, 1943- 46” and “Knights of the Air: South Carolinians in the U.S. Air Service, 1917-1919.” He also published a book with John Daye on the history of South Carolina college football.