Its original inhabitants were known for fishing and shrimping. In the Chaplin neighborhood, Irv told us about beach pavilions. Today, they own less than 1,000, Irv informed us. Once the island fell to Union troops, hundreds of ex-slaves flocked to Hilton Head, which is still home to many of whom are descendants of freed slaves known as the Gullah (or Geechee) who have managed to hold on to much of their ethnic and cultural identity. “My name’s Irvin Campbell — but you can call me Irv,” he said. This was because people kept chopped wood underneath so they’d always have some dry wood to cook with and keep them warm. “In fact, the reports of the success of Mitchelville were so glowing, that the famous Underground Railroad freedom fighter, Harriet Tubman, was sent to Hilton Head to see this bustling town, so she could share the story of Mitchelville’s self-governed success with future freedmen towns.”. There were four Gullah general stores that sold gas, along with a vast assortment of other goods. many of them with no other clothing than gunny-sacks. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Whatever was left was given to Simmons, who would sail off to Savannah, Georgia once a week to sell the goods. It was the first self-governing town of formerly enslaved African Americans. The neighborhood once known as Gardner was home to the Aiken family, the “medicine makers,” according to Irv. Shortly after the war, the main house was destroyed by fire. You’ll see stacks of bricks propping up the buildings. November 11: “Slavery – the Cornerstone of the Plantation Society and the Confederacy,” at the Coastal Discovery Museum, at 3 p.m. John Monkaitis will present a lecture on the role that slavery played as the cornerstone of the Planter Society in the Lowcountry. John Barnwell became Hilton Head Island’s first English settler in 1717 after receiving a grant of 1,000 acres in what is now Hilton Head Plantation. . I had a hard time imagining even one person having room to lie down to sleep in a space of that size — especially if there was a stove or table or any other piece of furniture, never mind if an extended family lived together. Perfect for independent travelers, you create a sightseeing itinerary that suits your personal interests. It didn’t take Union troops long to gain control of the island, according to Irv. The blacks on Hilton Head Island were the very first former slaves to earn wages and actually get paid for their labor. “We called it the Tar Road,” Irv said. In less than five hours, the Union fleet captured both Fort Beauregard on St. Philips Island and Fort Walker on Hilton Head Island. 1969. “You could get anything at these stores, from penny candy to a piece of equipment for your horse harness,” he told us. Request a free copy of the Hilton Head Island Vacation Planner and learn about all the attractions, activities, unique history and places to stay on Hilton Head Island. ——— ©2020 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) Visit The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) at www.islandpacket.com. It means “living by the water,” according to Irv. In Hilton Head, S.C., efforts to change the names of gated communities and resorts are unequivocally about Black people. Elliott, with the help of his neighbor, Will Seabrook, pioneered a new type of fertilizer for the cotton, resulting in record crops and wide acclaim for the Sea Island cotton. Today, historic Mitchelville is preserved as a tourist attraction, while the Gullah Geechee are squeezed onto ever-smaller tracts of land. The Gullah/Geechee people are descendants of enslaved Africans from various ethnic groups of west and central Africa. Top Rated Hilton Head Island Hotels & Resorts, How To Plan a Family Vacation That Pleases Everyone, Find Luxury Accommodations in Hilton Head Island, How to Plan a Family Vacation That Pleases Everyone, How To Inject Lowcountry Style Into Your Home, Five Fun Facts About Hilton Head Island Wildlife. Basic Information. Union troops quickly took over Hilton Head Island from the Confederacy during the Battle of Port Royal. Strict rules remain when it comes to construction projects. Stunning Resorts. Mr. Campbell was an excellent tour guide and took the time to connect with our group personally. Many Gullah families purchased acreages, and for nearly a century, they farmed their land. My great-grandfather was a slave,” he said. In 1862, Mitchelville was established near current Beach City Road and was the nation's first Freedmen's village, self-governing … It was the first freedman’s community after the American Civil War. Back in the day, the pavilions would have changing rooms, showers and a dance floor, all under one roof. Northern businessmen, called carpetbaggers for the soft-sided bags they traveled with, bought the entire island and sold it off. They settled on the 100 Sea Islands in the Hilton Head area. Location – Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County In Sea Pines Plantation, a present-day real estate development, 84 Baynard Park Road at Plantation Drive. On November 7, 1861, the Island became the scene of the largest amphibious landing by U.S forces until D-Day, as more than 12,000 Union soldiers landed on the Island. The government provided freedmen a quarter of an acre of land and the materials to build a 22-by-18-foot house. The structure looks like an art project, as if there are shells stuck all over it. Commissioned by a group of Barbados planters to find new land on which to plant sugar and indigo, Hilton soon claimed the Island in the name of the British Crown. During the American Civil War, Union troops wanted to stop trade in the Confederacy, which led to an attack at Port Royal Sound, off of Hilton Head Island. Remnants of mysterious shell rings, measuring up to 240 feet across and nine feet high, can still be found on the Island. Harriet Tubman, famous for her involvement with the Underground Railroad, had to see what the Mitchelville hype was all about, “These industrious new citizens built homes on neatly arranged streets, elected their own officials, developed laws, built an economy and implemented mandatory education for their children,” Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park reports. In what is now called Fish Haul Creek Park on the “heel” of the island, the community of Mitchelville was created. 1959. During this period, the Island maintained a small population of mostly the descendants of former slaves. We take deep dives into our subjects, infusing our articles with an always informative, sometimes irreverent, sometimes funny approach. The Civil War changed the lives of both planters and slaves on Hilton Head Island. One Union soldier stationed on Hilton Head at the time recounted: negro slaves came flocking into our camp by the hundreds, escaping from their masters when they knew of the landing of "Linkum sojers," as they called us . After the Civil War, more than 1,200 freed slaves remained. They founded the town of Mitchelville, the first freedmen's town in America. Top Rated Tennis Facilities. Named to the National Register of Historic Places, the cemetery and mausoleum is owned and maintained by the Heritage Library and the site is open to the public for respectful visits. Origin of name – Named for Captain David Cutler Braddock, commander of the colonial half-galley Beaufort in 1742.. 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