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Description

19th-century hand-drawn survey of three plantations in Georgetown County, South Carolina, evidently prepared by W.L. Brunson in 1827, based on a survey done in 1801.

The survey is oriented with south at the top and covers over 2200 acres of land split between the Belle Isle, Prospect Hill, and Dover Plantations. Given the littoral nature of the land, the primary crop in these plantations was rice. Both the rice fields and market gardens are noted on the map with separate land cover symbols.

The map has much fine-grain detail, with buildings, gardens, settlements, a cedar grove, an "intended canal", and land ownership all located and described.

The above plat a tract of land containing Two Thousand One hundred and Ninety nine acres, Composed of Three Separate plantations, namely Belle-Isle Prospect Hill and Dover, Situate in Georgetown District in the said State belonging to William Macant [?] Jr. Esqr. Taken from a Survey made in the 1801 by John Hardwick D.S. United in the above plat this 30th day of May A.D. 1827 W. L. Brunson Dept Surv.

Dating

The map is drawn in ink and watercolor on drafting linen. This was a common practice in the 19th century for making both original surveys and later copies. In our experience, the presentation of the map lends itself more to the middle of the 19th century than the 1820s, though the latter is possible. The present map was probably drawn no later than the 1850s. The references to "Districts" rather than "Counties" means the map was certainly made before the Civil War.

A note in pencil, in a different hand, reads: "Our Coast Survey map No 3006 Windyah [sic] Bay + Sweteir [?] Rivers"

Rarity

Southern plantation surveys are generally quite rare, especially with the level of detail seen in this example.

Condition Description
Ink and watercolor on drafting linen mounted on board.