pre-1860 Colleton Area Hutson Land Records Viewed and Documented by Ronnie
Hudson Jr. in 2008:
The records used to compile this page are available online, some with diagrams, at
http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/search.aspx . Enter "Hudson"
OR "Hutson" and click search to see all of the land records below. Also helpful
for understanding the area is the 1825 Mills Atlas maps and the
1975 Colleton County map showing detailed
creek and branch names . Map 1 shows the
Hudsons Mill and Sniders areas in 1825
with some land owner names. Here also is a
link to the full
1825 map of all Colleton County.
Click here for information on old county names. Note that in the 1700s,
Granville county was to the south of the Combahee (Salkahatchie), and
Dorchester/Berkeley counties were to the immediate north.
Colonial Period Hudsons in South Carolina (under English rule)
1670: First settlement in Charleston.
1713: Carolina split into North and South
1705: Richard Hudson book 4 p. 73. Plan of a body of lands near Stono River,
containing 2062 acres.
1728: Richard Hutson mentioned in Charleston land deal consisting of 2481
acres. Is this the 1705 Richard Hudson, already having his name spelled
differently? This man never appears in Colleton County land records, but he
appears to be the first Hud(t)son in South Carolina.
Perhaps he is the father or ancestor of James and Benjamin Hud(t)son
who appear in the 1774-5 land records below, and for whom we currently have no
other information.
1735: The name Hudson appears in Purrysburg in association with Hugh Bryan, but
the Reverend William Hutson probably has not arrived in South Carolina yet. This
may be another line of Hudsons worth investigating.
1737: First mention of Colleton county in online state land records.
1745: Samuel Hudson land grant for 300 acres , and James Hudson
plat for 400 acres in Berkeley County. Could this be our family, some of whom
later moved to Colleton County after serving in the Revolutionary War?
Colleton County Hudsons beginning in 1773 (Beginning of America):
1773: William Hudson is
mentioned as the defendant in two judgment roles, one by Samuel Legg and George
McNarney. The other is by James Fallow. I have viewed these documents and
they appear to be lawsuits related to unpaid debts for inventory and supplies
that William Hudson borrowed. There are a number of records like this, as well
as records of lawsuits filed after William Hudson's death around 1789. It may be
that he was a Revolutionary quartermaster or provisioner, and that he eventually
helped his friend Paul Hamilton establish the US government in SC after the
Revolution. Note that there are many William Hudsons, and that one of the
challenges is identifying which is which.
1774: James Hutson receives
300 acres in Colleton County. This could be James in the 1790 census,
possibly the father or a relative of Sharrod, Hardy, Willis, John, etc. There is a 1776
record that mentions an audit of a James Hudson in South Carolina for service in the American Revolution.
1775: William
Hutson mentioned in memorial for John Rutledge. This record is probably
associated with "William
Hutson the Founder" from Granville Co. Beware of misleading clues pointing
to this family when researching Colleton Co. Hudsons, as much is written about
them. They had land across the Combahee River from their plantation which was
near present-day Pocotaligo.
Most of their records will appear in Granville County, but some are from
southern Colleton County, where they also had land.
August 5, 1776: News of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
reaches Charlestown. Note that it would not be until October 19, 1781 that
the War would be over. Until then, land ownership was "officially" granted by a
state government under British rule. Although many records have surely been
lost, we fortunately have dozens of records that have survived and are available
online at the
SC
Archives.
1776:
A
William Hudson (the surveyor?) is said to be audited for claims growing out of
the American Revolution. A James Hudson has a similar record (above). Could this be
because they are related and obtained their land under similar circumstances?
More-importantly, is some of this "granted land" that William registers plats for
between 1785 and 1787?
1776: A Benjamin Hudson is listed as a Revolutionary recruit to serve on
the navy ship Prosper under Captain William Henry Drayton. There are lots of
Drayton families in the 1825 Mills Atlas map, many in the Dorchester area.
Could this be a link between the Hud(t)sons of Dorchester and the Hudsons of
Colleton county? Another set of records showing payroll for the ship Prosper shows a
John Hudson but no Benjamin.
2/13/77: The new state government of SC threatens to banish anyone who
refuses to denounce King George III. This is a further indication that land
ownership was being dictated by the Revolutionary government at this time. It
appears that our Hudson ancestors could have been caught in chaos and confusion
during thie period in old St. Barth.
5/12/80: Charlestown taken by British General Henry Clinton, but
Cornwallis will surrender to Washington on October 19, 1781. Between 1780 and
1781, it would appear that political chaos and confusion existed in Charleson
District. Our ancestors might have even been outlaws during this period. See the Mel
Gibson movie "The Patriot" to learn more about the chaotic politics of this
period.
1781: William Hudson the surveyor surveys land in Orangeburgh District on
SW side of Great Salkahatchie River. This is near the end of the Revolution,
suggesting that William Hudson is now surveying land to help establish ownership
for Americans. Perhaps this puts him in a position to gain a lot of land for his
own descendants. By 1825 we know that at least three Hud(t)son men will own a
total of 826 acres. One approach to learning more would be to find our exactly
where this 826 acres is and what it's ownership history is.
1785: William Hudson the surveyor surveys land for Adam Ulmer on Cedar
Tree Branch, Charleston District. Indian Creek is mentioned. This is also when
Job Owen is surveying land for Adam Ulmer.
This is the first connection I know of between the Hudson name and
Indian Creek, where Hudsons Mill is. This record also links Adam Ulmer
with William Hudson. Adam Ulmer will go on to survey other lands in the Hudsons
Mill area.
1785: William Hudson the surveyor surveys land for Jeremiah Chancy on
Saltkatchers Swamp, Cross Swamp, on Cowpen branch, Charleston District. (Cross
Swamp and Cowpens can be seen on the 1825 Mills Atlas as being between the big
and little Salk between Bells crossroads and Carter's Ford).
1785: A William Hudson registers a plat for 400 acres
in Charleston and Orangeburg districts. This suggests that he owned land
on the border of Colleton and Orangeburg near the Little Salkahatchie. This
may be William the surveyor's first "registration" of land in Colleton
Co.
1786: William Hudson the surveyor surveys land for Jacob and George Carter, whose
legal descendants now share DNA with the Hudson family. This might be when the
Carters adopted one of the Hudson kids, or vice-versa, thus creating the DNA link between the
families.
1786: William Hudson registers a plat for 1140 acres on
the Big Saltketcher and Cow Pens branches. Cowpens branch is in
the far northwest of Colleton County and is a branch off of Willow Swamp (see
1825 map). Surveyed by Job Owen.
1787: William Hudson surveys and registers a plat
for 192 Acres in Charleston District near Mr. Forster and Forster Bay.
However, it's not clear who is the owner of this land.
1787: William Hudson registers a plat for 158 acres
on Old Field Creek, and registers a plat for 344 acres on Little Swamp
(this land can be precisely-located because of several creek branches shown).
Joel Pagett and someone named Trotty are next door (Pagett land is
precisely-located at Little Swamp in the
1825 map and the name is also mentioned near Hudsons Mill in the 1773 map).
The William Hudson 1787 land is next to the land of William Mills, who is shown
as being next to John Hudson's Deep Bottom Creek land in 1793.
Old Field Creek appears to be the common link between
William and John Hudson Bells Crossroads between 1787 and 1793. From this, one
could reasonably speculate that these are the lands of John and Benjamin Hudson,
who appear in the 1790 census. From the limited records available, it appears
that these two men could be the ancestors of Willis, Isham, and/or William
Hudson.
1787: William Hudson the surveyor
surveys land for Jacob
Pagit (Pagit is the name that appears near Hudsons Mill in the 1773 map, and
Padgetts owned the land where the Hudson cemetery is located. The cemetery is
said to have been started by J Hamilton Hudson, who married Sara Iriel, whose
mother was Dyce Padgett).
1787: Elijah Benton registers a plat for 100 acres on
Indian Creek.
Indian Creek
is the location of
Hudsons Mill, and Elijah Benton appears next to John and Benjamin Hudson, and
next to John Benton in the 1790 census. Although none of the individual records
prove anything conclusively, all of these land records together can be used to
derive plausible theories, or to eliminate erroneous ones.
1788: William Hudson the surveyor records a will dated April 5,
1788. Here is the text of the will:
"In the name of God, Amen, I William Hudson of the State of South Carolina
and parish of St. Bartholomew's being weak in body but perfect memory and
understanding do hereby constitute this my last will and testament. I give my
body to the earth and my soul to God that gave it. I give and bequeth unto Mrs.
Elizabeth Moore her son William Hudson, and her daughter Mary Hudson all my real
and personal estate to be equally divided between the said Mrs. Elizabeth Moore,
William Hudson, and Elizabeth Hudson, proviso that if any of the above named
heirs should die before they come of age their third part to be equally divided
between the surviving heirs, I do hereby order all my just and lawful debts be
paid, and likewise I do hereby appoint my good and trusty friend Mr. Paul
Hamilton to be my executor to this my last will and testament as my hand and
seal this 18th day of February in the year of our lord 1788."
Signed and sealed in the presence of us: Edward Carragan, Richard Burnett, James
Anderson. Proved before Charles Lining Esquire O.C.T.D. April 5th, 1788. June
30th, 1788 qualified Paul Hamilton, executor.
The sole heirs of William Hudson (probably the surveyor), are William and Mary
Hudson. I have been told that Mary Hudson married a Harper. I have been told
that her and her brother
William moved to Mississipi and appear in a later census records there. This
strongly-suggests that we are NOT direct descendants of this particular
"adopted" son of William the surveyor (who does not even appear to be a Jr.)
Another possibility is that William "the surveyor" had two families, the first
of which producted John, Benjamin, and perhaps Sharrod. Currently there is not
enough known information to explain these relationships, so from here we will
"jump" to the "simplest" theory that we came from John, Benjamin, and "Willis"
(who appears to be a son of Benjamin).
1789: William Hudson the surveyor is still apparently surveying land, much of it
in Orangeburg District (Barnwell County). The last plat surveyed appears to be
on 4/10/1789. Perhaps he died between April and the end of the year.
1790: Several judgment role records suggest that a William Hudson the surveyor has died.
William's will shows that he leaves everything to Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, and his
children William and Mary. It is my understanding that this William and Mary
show up later in Mississippi, suggesting that William Hudson Jr., son of the
surveyor, is NOT Willis.
1790: First US census shows six Hutson families living in St.
Bartholomews parish, Charleston District. Names include an>
James
(above?), Sharrod, John, and
Benjamin Hutson. Wi. William Hudson of Hudsons Mill
will be born in 1797, and will name one of his first three sons Benjamin Paul,
suggesting that Benjamin might be the father of Willis. Another theory is that Willis's maternal grandfather is a William Willis who
also appears in Colleton County census records. In census records it appears
that this man lives near George and Elijah Carter, and near Benton/Crosby.
1793: William Hudson's land shown to be next to John E. Calhoon's Barony land
and Richard Bryan near Old Field Creek (between Bell's Crossroads and
Hudsons Mill). There is also a Moses Bayly plat for 211
acres on
Indian Creek. The book "Cemetaries of Upper Colleton County" makes the
case that Richard Bryan lived on the site of present-day Bethel Methodist
church. There is also a Baily mentioned. This 1793 record ties together William
Hudson's land, the Bethel
Methodist site, Baily land, Indian Creek, and Old Field Creek all together into
contiguous lands.
1793: John Hudson records two plats. One for 388 acres
at Indian Creek (which might be sold in two days to
Thomas Brannan). A second plat is for 212 acres on Deep
Bottom Branch. Deep Bottom branch starts just northeast of Hudsons Mill, and
runs to Buckhead Creek past Ruffin. The Deep Bottom property plat shows the
creek and a small branch, so this land could probably be located on a
satellite map. William Mills is a neighbor (Mills were also neighbors in the
1793 William Hudson plat above.
1796an>: John Harper appears to acquire
500 acres near
Hog Branch and Buckhead
Creek, some of which was apparently surveyed on 5/3/96 for John Hudson. Th. This
looks as though it could be John selling some of his land to John Harper. It is
my understanding from other researchers that Mary Hudson (the surveyor's
daughter) marries a Harper before moving to Mississipi. This is another possible
connection between John Hudson and the surveyor. Perhaps this is land
received for service on the ship Prosper. This land and John Hudson also appear
to be mentioned in a 1799 record for John Prescott.
1801: Hardyan> Hudson
mentioned in William Johnsonspan>
plat on Sams Branch of the Little Salkahatchie. Is "Sam's Branch" a reference to
the branch of Black Creek that runs into Samuel and Mary Padgett's property?
1802: Sharod Hudson mentioned in Joseph Jones plat on Little Salketchers
and Willow Swamps. WillowWillow Swamp is a branch off of
the Little
Salkahatchie River. It begins at the Little Salkahatchie immediately opposite
Old Field Creek where Hudsons Mill is. This would seem to connect Sharrod with
the Hudson's Mill area (and John Hutson of an 1809 land record). On the same page,
but dated 1801 - Joshua Davis 454 acres next to John Blocker,
John Benton, and Henry Ulmer (all big families in the Sniders/Hudson Mill area) .
1809: John Hutson>
mentioned in James
Bruton
plat for 1000 acres on Old Field Creek, along with Richard Bryant, Estate of
Benjamin Benton, and
William Johnson. This could be the father of the Hudsons Mill
William Hudson, since Hudsons Mill is near Old Field Creek. Richard Bryant could
be Richard Bryan and this could be near the Bethel Methodist site.
1809: Willis Hutson
mentioned in James White plat for 1000 acres on Cow Herd Bay and Black Creek.
John Blocker, Thomas Dillan, and William Youngblood mentioned. Land formally
surveyed for Benjamin
BrutonBruton (deceased).
These two 1809 records lend weight to the theory that Benjamin was brother or
cousin to John, and that Willis is the son of Benjamin. It also seems possible
that Benjamin is also named William, and that he is the William in the 1793 Old
Field Creek land record.
1812: John Hudson> menti
mentioned in Ephraim Cannon plat for 468 acres near Little Saltcatcher swamp of
LIttle Saltkatcher River. Richard Bryant, Mr. Johnson, and John Jones mentioned.
This appears to be the same land mentioned in 1809, and it should be relatively
easy to find by looking at neighbors and creek names. This would also appear to
be the Old Field Creek land, and thus near Hudson's Mill.
1817: William Hutson'sarrant for 110 acres on Four Hole Swamp
(northeast of Walterboro). Adjacent to W. Smith, William Bowers, and Stobal.
This appears to be the Hutsons who appear near Cypress
Swamp and Fore Hole Bridge in the 1825 Mills Atlas. Perhaps these families are
related. The Four Hole
Swamp area borders St. James Parish and Goose Creek.
1817: 1817: Daniel Hutson's plat for 375 acres. Surrounded by Coachman, C Scott, and
Waters. This man goes on to have all daughters, so probably no surviving sons.
This could be the Daniel Hudson who is said to come from where Sandy Run
creek meets Hwy 21.
1825: Sharad, Willis, and Isham Hudson> file tax returns for slaves from St. Bartholomews. Does
this help suggest that these three men were related? If so, then perhaps the
1820 c1820 census is showing us the household with
Sharrod, Willis, and Isham all living together.
Or, perhaps they are from more than one family line.
1825: Sherad Hudson> tax return for 50 acres in St in St. Bartholomews
Parish. Willis Hudson tax return for 586 acres.
1826: Isham Hudson compensation for witnessing an election.
1829: Isham Hudson 200 acres on Little Saltcatcher Swamp. Bounded to the north
by Thomas Ferguson, south by Stephan Blocker, Rosier/Rofer/Roper, and Alexander
Crews. This appears to be an initial purchase, and this appears to be the
land near the Hudson cemetery on Snider's Highway.
1840: William Hudson registers 583 acres at Hudsons Mill on Indian Creek. The
simplest explanation is that this is the same property that Willis Hudson paid
taxes for in 1825. A grandson in William's family will later be named A. Willis
Hudson. These two facts make a very-strong case that Willis is the father of
William. Willis had numerous other children, which could easily include Martha
Hudson Benton (b1792), Isham (b1796-8), Edward (b1808), and John (b1813).
However, it is also possible that all of these Hudsons came from John or Hardy
(1790-1810 census records). DNA testing will help identify how many different
lines there were, as long as we can eventually identify descendants of each
line.
