Some groups of ancestors lived in lowcountry South Carolina, some of whom arrived in the colony in the 1600s. The main families discussed on this page are:
The Cater family is covered on its own page.
Bohun
Edmund Bohun (1644/5-1699)
Edmund Bohun was born on March 12, 1644/5 in Ringsfield, Suffolk, England.
He attended Queens College, Cambridge. While in England, he did some important translations and authored some books, including an autobiography that was not published until a private printing in 1853. In 1692, the monarchs, William and Mary, appointed him as licenser of the press, but Bohun encountered political problems related to censorship and remained in the position for only a few months. He was imprisoned for a short period of time. A rather unsympathetic account of Bohun and this matter is presented in volume IV of Thomas Babington Macaulay's The History Of England from the Accession of James II.
In 1698, Bohun was appointed the first Chief Justice of the colony of South Carolina. He died from yellow fever on October 5, 1699, within a year of his arrival in the colony.
He married Mary Brampton on July 26, 1669 in England. She died in England in August 1719.
Nicholas Bohun (1679-1718)
Nicholas Bohun, a son of Edmund Bohun and Mary Brampton, was born January
11, 1679/80 in England. He was a planter in Colleton Co., SC. He
married Margaret Bellinger.
The following is an abstract of Nicholas Bohun's will from Caroline T. Moore's edition of Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1670-1740 (1961):
Nicholas Bohun, Colleton County, planter, voyage to England intended. Daus: Mary and Elizabeth, all my land. Brother: Edmund Bohun. Exors: Capt. Christopher Wilkinson, Mr. John Palmer, Mr. Thomas Barnes. Wit: Tho. Fairchild, Wm. Loughton, Thomas Fairchild, Jr.
D: 17 May 1718. P: 21 Nov. __. R: 25 Jan. 1722/3. p. 43.
Nicholas Bohun died in 1718 in South Carolina.
Mary Bohun
Mary Bohun, a daughter of Nicholas Bohun and Margaret Bellinger, was born in
South Carolina in 1702. She married Richard Baker on
January 23, 1723.
She died in South Carolina in 1736.
Bellinger
The
Bellinger family played a prominent role in 17th and 18th century South
Carolina. Edmund Bellinger, Sr., was a landgrave and this hereditary title was
passed down several generations within his family. Landgraves were given
their titles and baronies from the Lords Proprietors; the baronies
themselves were 12,000 acres in size.
Edmund Bellinger
Edmund Bellinger was the First Landgrave of Tombodly and Ashepoo
Baronies in South Carolina, which were established in 1698.
For information on these baronies, see Henry A. M. Smith's chapters "Ashepoo Barony, from Vol. XV (1914) 63-72" and "The Tomotley Barony, from Vol. XV (1914) 63-72" in The Baronies of South Carolina: Articles From The South Carolina Historical (and Genealogical) Magazine (Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company, 1988).
Charles H. Lesser's South Carolina Begins[:] The Records of a Proprietary Colony, 1663-1721 (Columbia: South Carolina Department of Archives, 1995) 437 contains the following:
Edmund Bellinger, a ship's captain from Westmoreland County, England, had been attorney general in the colony. He became a landgrave a month after he was commissioned surveyor general in March 1698. Bellinger would also serve as collector of customs and receiver and escheator.
According to these records Bellinger was commissioned as surveyor general on March 31, 1698 and served from 1698 until February 1703.
The following entry is from Agnes Leland Baldwin's First Settlers of South Carolina 1670-1700 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1985), p. 20:
Bellinger, Edmund (Esquire, Landgrave, Captain, Commander, Lord Proprietors' Deputy)
Arrived before 7 March 1689. Bellinger was commander of the ship Blake. His official positions were Surveyor General, Deputy Judge of the Admiralty, member of Commons House of Assembly, Receiver General, and "Deputy Governor" in 1699.
He was married to Elizabeth Cartwright.
The following is from Joseph Gaston Bulloch's A History and Genealogy of the Families of Bellinger and De Veaux and Other Families (Savannah: The Morning News Print, 1895), pp. 6-7:
This ancient family of South Carolina is descended from the Bellinghams of Bellingham, in Northumberland, in the days of William the Conqueror, and the Bellingers have kept their identity separate and distinct since 1475, when Walter Bellinger was created Ireland King at Arms and granted the following coats-of-arms, "Argent, a Saltire en grailed sable, entre four roses, Gules, or [sic]. Captain Sir Edmund Bellinger, of Westmoreland County, England, arrived in the Colony of Carolina and settled upon James Island in 1674. He was in the Royal Navy and Commanded the ship Blake, in August 16, 1697, and was appointed Surveyor General for the two Carolinas, April 1, 1698, and created Landgrave May 7th, 1698. He was also appointed Receiver of Land Rents August 14, 1700. He married about 1680, Sarah Cartwright, in England, and had the following children: [Thomas, Margaret, Edmund, John, Elizabeth, William, Lucia, and Ann]
Edmund Bellinger was also fictionalized in William Gilmore Simms' The Yemassee. A Romance of Carolina, New York: Harper, 1844.
Margaret Bellinger (1680-about 1718)
Margaret Bellinger, a daughter of Edmund
Bellinger and Elizabeth Cartwright, was born on January 1, 1680 in England.
She married Nicholas Bohun.
She died sometime before her husband created his will in 1718.
Baker
The Baker family was prominent in the Charleston area and established an
indigo and rice plantation called Archdale Hall in the 1680s, about 14 miles
from Charleston on Old Dorchester Rd on the north bank of the Ashley River.
Here is a Web site containing information about Archdale Hall ruins:
http://south-carolina-plantations.com/dorchester/archdale-hall.html.
Click to see an article by Isabella G. Leland called "Archdale
Hall[,] Legend Says Ghosts Arose on Dreadful Night of Quake" from the
Charleston newspaper on August 7, 1960.
An informative article on the Baker family is Mabel L. Webber's "Baker Records[:]From copies owned by Mrs. J. Drayton Grimké," South Carolina Historical Magazine, 34, (1933), pp. 62-66; reprinted in South Carolina Genealogies[:] Articles From the South Carolina Historical (and Genealogical) Magazine (Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company, 1983), I, pp. 28-32.
Richard Baker (-1698)
Richard Baker came to the colony of South Carolina in 1680 from Barbados.
At one point he was a member of the Assembly and an assistant judge.
His plantation was called Archdale Hall and was from a land grant from
Charles II, King of England to Richard Baker.
The following entry is from Agnes Leland Baldwin's First Settlers of South Carolina 1670-1700 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1985), p. 11:
Baker, Richard (Esquire, Assistant Judge)
Arrived before 22 July 1692 with Edward, William, Richard, Jane, Hannah, and Elizabeth Baker. Was a member of Commons House of Assembly. There may have been two Richard Bakers here at this time, or Baker may have arrived in 1681 alone then returned with his family in 1694.
He was married to Elizabeth Wilson (1630-1734). The following death notice for Elizabeth Wilson is reprinted in A. S. Salley's Death Notices in the South-Carolina Gazette 1732-1775:
On Saturday, Aug. 13, 1734 (Tuesday) died near Ashley River in the 104th year of her age, Mrs. Elizabeth Baker, her maiden name was Elizabeth Wilson, she was born in a town called Chirton, (Wiltshire Co.) the 18th day of Oct. 1630; she lived in England 27 years, in Barbadoes 23, and in Carolina 54 years. She had 12 children, two of them being alive yet; 25 Grand children and 43 great grand children, and the same day she died one of her great grand daughters, the spouse of Col. Latimer, was delivered of a child.
The following is an abstract of Richard Baker's will from Caroline T. Moore's edition of Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1670-1740 (1961):
Richard Baker, Esq. Wife: Elizabeth, executrix. Sons: Edward, "this house and plantation," and other lands; William and John. Dau: Elizabeth, cattle numbered with those my son Richard Baker left her. Sons-in-law: John Palmer and Wm. Canty. Wit: Wm. Canty, James Hulbert, Wm. Baker, Edward Baker.
D: 28 Jan. 1697/8. P: 24 July 1698. R: nd. p. 68. 1851
Richard Baker died in 1698 in South Carolina.
William Baker (-about 1718)
William Baker was a son of Richard Baker and Elizabeth Wilson.
He was married to Susannah Rowsham, who was born about 1680.
William Baker died about 1718. He is buried in St. George Parish, Dorchester Co., SC.
Richard Baker (about 1703-1752)
Richard Baker, a son of William Baker and Susannah Rowsham, was born about 1703 in South Carolina.
He was a planter in St. George's Parish in Berkeley Co., SC.
He was married first to Mary Bohun on January 23, 1723.
He married second to Mary Cater Quarterman on July 25, 1738. His third wife was Sarah Fowler, as mentioned in his will.
Richard Baker died on May 31, 1752, perhaps the result of a duel.
The following is an abstract of Richard Baker's will from Caroline T. Moore's edition of Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1740-1760 (1964):
Richard Baker, St. George's Parish, Dorchester, Berkeley County, planter. Wives: Sarah, alias Fowler, one room in my house at Ashley River during her widowhood; 1st Mary Bohun, deceased. Sons: eldest William, deceased; Richard, under 21 years, plantation on Ashley River where I now live, land at Jack Savanna, all my right and title to land belonging to my brother Josiah, deceased, called Cow Savanna. Daus: Margaret, Ann, Rebecca, and Esther, all under 21 years. Grandsons: Richard Pendarvis; George Logan, one-half land on Cooper River in St. James' Parish, Goose Creek; Thomas Cater, under 21 years. Granddaus: Mary Pendarvis and Mary Cater, under 21 years. Mentions: other half Cooper River land to be divided among my said daus; William Webb of Ashepoo, Colleton County; Nicholas Bohun, deceased, and my 1st wife Mary Bohun, deceased; to Richard Bedon, Peter May, Thomas Bulline, Sr., Charles Baker, William Maine, John Bulline, son of Thomas, John Norman, Josiah Pendarvis, Elihu Baker, James Baker, and Thomas Cater in trust 250 [pounds] for perpetual fund for support of the "Gospel Ministry among that Christian Congregation of People meeting together to Worship God on the northeast side Ashley River who by profession are Antepedo Baptist. . . .;" Mr. Straighter. Exors: Henry Middleton, Esq., and William Maine. Wit: John Stephens, Elihu Baker, James Baker.
D: 20 May 1752. P: 1 Dec. 1752. R: nd. p. 41.
Susannah Baker (1731-1752)
Susannah Baker, a daughter of Richard Baker and Mary Bohun, was born April
6, 1731 in South Carolina.
She married Thomas Cater, a son of William Cater and his wife Mary.
She died January 8, 1752 in South Carolina.
Postell
The Postell family were French Huguenots who settled in South Carolina in the
late 1600s. An informative article on the Postell family is William Dosite
Postell's "Notes on the Postell Family," South Carolina Historical
Magazine, 54, No. 1 (1953), pp. 48-53; reprinted in South Carolina
Genealogies[:] Articles From the South Carolina Historical (and
Genealogical) Magazine (Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company, 1983),
III, pp. 311-316.
Jean Postell (-1729)
Jean
Postell, a son of Nicholas Postell and Mary Brugnet, was born
about 1660 in Dieppe, Normandy, France, according to the Register of
Qualified Huguenot Ancestors of the National Huguenot Society, 4th
edition, compiled by Arthur Louis Finnell, (Bloomington, MN: National
Huguenot Society, 1995).
Several members of this family applied for English naturalization in South
Carolina in 1697.
He married Madeleine Pepin/Pipen, a daughter of Alexander Pepin (died 1688 in Charleston) and Madelaine Garillion.
The following entry is from Agnes Leland Baldwin's First Settlers of South Carolina 1670-1700 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1985), p. 190:
Potell, Jean
Arrived before 5 March 1688/89. A native of Diepe, he was the son of Nicholas Potell and Mary Brugnet. His wife was Madeleine Pepin. Their children, Jean, Pierre, Jacques, and Jean, were born in Carolina.
He died in South Carolina in October 1729.
John Postell,
Jr. (-about 1745)
John
Postell was born in the 1690s in Charleston. He died about 1745.
In 1723 he married Margaret Deveaux, who died about 1751. Some sources give her name as Poitevin. The following is an abstract of Margaret Postell's will from Caroline T. Moore's edition of Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1740-1760 (1964), pp. 156-57:
Margaret Postell, Prince William's Parish, Granville County, widow. Son: Andrew, under 21 years. Day: Magdelin, under 21 years. Grandsons: John Gerardeau; James Gerardeau. Granddau: Mary Gerardeau. Brothers: James and John Deveaux. Sister: Magadane Garnier. Mentions: residue of estate to be divided between my son Andrew and my dau. Magdelin. Exors: Mr. John Garnier, Mr. James Deveaux, Mr. James Gerardeau. Wit: A. Deveaux, Sarah Deveaux, Mary Maxwell.
D: 1 Jan. 1751/2. P: 19 Aug. ____. R: nd. p. 33.
Andrew Postell (after 1731-1806)
Andrew Postell, a son of John Postell, Jr. and Margaret Deveaux, was born after 1731 in South Carolina.
In 1782, he was a member of the house of representatives for Prince William's Parish.
On June 18, 1785, he married Sarah Laird McPherson, a daughter of John Laird and his wife Sarah, who was the widow of Captain Ulysses McPherson.
The following entry is in Bobby Gilmer Moss' Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution:
Postell, Andrew
d. 11 April 1806
He served as captain of a troop of horse in Prince William's Parish during 1775.
Andrew Postell died on April 11, 1806 in South Carolina.
Sarah McPherson Postell
(1786-1815)
Sarah McPherson Postell, a daughter of Andrew Postell and Sarah Laird,
was born on March 23, 1786 in South Carolina.
On January 21, 1805 she married Thomas Miles Cater. For more information on their children, see the material on Thomas Miles Cater.
She died on February
8, 1815.
An informative article on the Miles family is Rev. Robert E. H. Peeples' "A Miles Genealogy, A Family of South Carolina Planters," South Carolina Historical Magazine, 66, No. 4 (1965), pp. 229-40; reprinted in South Carolina Genealogies[:] Articles From the South Carolina Historical (and Genealogical) Magazine (Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company, 1983), III, pp. 158-69.
John Miles was born about 1667 in England. By December 31, 1694 he was living in South Carolina, when he was granted 140 acres of land, but he was probably living there by 1687, when his first son was born.
His wife's name was Mary.
He died in July 1722 in South Carolina and was buried in St. Andrew's Parish on July 28, 1722.
The following entry is from Agnes Leland Baldwin's First Settlers of South Carolina 1670-1700 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1985), p. 160:
Miles, John (Planter)
Arrived before 31 December 1694.
Thomas Miles, Sr. (about 1687-1756)
Thomas Miles
was born about 1687 in South Carolina.
He was a planter in St. Paul's Parish and was married to a woman named Mary (1687-1764).
By 1732, he had land grants in Colleton County totaling 2000 acres.
The following is an abstract of Thomas Miles Sr.'s will from Caroline T. Moore's edition of Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1740-1760 (1964):
Thomas Miles, Sr., St. Paul's Parish, planter. Wife. Mary, use of house where I now live during her life. Sons: John, tract in said parish next to Horse Savanna on on e side and Richard Stevens' land now in possession of John McQueen, tract on Wannel's Creek next to my brother Jeremiah Miles and north by brother William Miles; Thomas, plantation where he now lives next to Horse Savanna on one side and William Cattell on other, tract on "Satcatcher freshes" next to James Martin and on east by his brother William; William, tract next his brother Thomas on Horse Savanna, tract on "Salcatcher freshes" next to Mr. Wragg on south and vacant land on north; Silas, plantation where I now live at death of my wife, land on Wannel's Swamp next to William Bellinger and east on vacant land. Daus: Elizabeth Ladson, land on Combahee Neck next to William Holman and Silas Wells and Benjamin Clifford; Margaret Hartley. Grandson: Richard Wickham [from codicil]. Grandaus: Elizabeth Coats; Martha Wickham; Elizabeth McPherson and Margaret Wickham [from codicil]. Mentions: residue of estate divided between said 6 children John, Thomas, William, Silas, Elizabeth Ladson, and Margaret Hartley. Exors: wife; 4 sons John, Thomas, William, and Silas. Wit: Andrew Fitch, Richard Baker, Louis Lafountain, Joseph Perry. D: 13 Oct. 1750. CODICIL. Mentions: son Silas; granddaus. Elizabeth McPherson and Margaret Wickham; grandson Richard Wickham. Wit: Thomas Ladson, William Day, James McPherson, Jr.
D: 21 Feb. 1756. P: 19 Mar. 1756. R: nd. p. 466.
He died February 21, 1756 and is buried at his plantation, Poplar Springs.
According to Rev. Peeples' article, Mary Miles' tombstone reads: "Here lieth the body of Mary Miles who departed this life 23 October 1764, age 77 years."
The following is an abstract of Mary Miles' will in Caroline T. Moore's Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1760-1784 (1969):
Mary Miles. St. Paul's Parish, Colleton County, widow. Sons: John and Silas; William, deceased. Dau: Margaret Williams, wife of Robert Williams. Granddaus: Amelia Ladson; Mary Miles. Mentions: residue of estate to dau. and sons John and Silas; estate of son William, deceased, for use of his heirs. Exors: sons John and Silas; son-in-law Robert Williams. Wit: Francis Thomas, John Tonge.
D: ___ ___ 1764. P: 8 Mar. 1765. R: nd. p. 473.
Mary Miles outlived her husband by about 12 years.
The following death notice is from A. S. Salley and Mabel L. Webber's compilation, Death Notices in The South Carolina Gazette 1732-1775 (Columbia: South Carolina Archives Department, 1954), p. 32:
On the 23d ult. died at Stono, aged 77 years, Mrs. Mary Miles, born in America, and who had lived 57 years in this province. Her husband, Mr. Thomas Miles, a native of this province, died 5 years ago, in the 71st year of his age. The generation of this pair, was 9 children, 57 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, in all 79; all of which there now remain alive, 3 children, 23 grand-children, and 7 great-grand-children. (Monday, November 5, 1764.)
Rachel Miles (about 1700-after 1771)
Rachel Miles was born about 1700, a daughter of John Miles and his wife
Mary.
She
married James McPherson. She died sometime
after 1771, when her husband's will was proved.
Silas Miles (-1766)
Silas Miles, a son of Thomas Miles and his wife Mary, was a planter in St. Paul's Parish. He was married to
his cousin Elizabeth McPherson, a daughter of James McPherson and Rachel Miles.
According to Rev. Peeples' article, he was a captain in the South Carolina militia.
The following is an abstract of Silas Miles' will from Caroline T. Moore's edition of Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1760-1784 (1969):
Silas Miles, St. Paul's Parish, planter. Wife: Elizabeth, living on my plantation during her widowhood. Daus: Ann, Rachael, Elizabeth and Susanna, under age. Mentions: if male child is born before my death to have plantation in said parish next John Miles and widow Miles, wife and daus. to have proceeds from sale of estate: Exors: wife; Charles Cantey; Jonathan Brake; Edward Grifiths; Peter Villepontoux. Wit: James Lingard, James Tonge, Thomas Fullalove, George Walker.
D: 11 July 1765. P: 12 Dec. 1766. R: nd. p. 612.
Silas Miles died on December 1, 1766 in South Carolina. The following death notice is from A. S. Salley and Mabel L. Webber's compilation, Death Notices in The South Carolina Gazette 1732-1775 (Columbia: South Carolina Archives Department, 1954), p. 2:
This morning died, Capt Silas Miles, of St. Paul's Parish. (Monday, Dec., 1, 1766)
Rachel Miles (1755-1802)
Rachel Miles, a daughter of Silas Miles and Elizabeth McPherson, was born on
December 22, 1755 in South Carolina.
On February 18, 1773, she married Thomas Cater, son of Thomas Cater and Susannah Baker.
She died on January 30, 1802 in South Carolina. She and her husband are buried in the DuPont Cemetery on Haphazard Plantation Road in old Grahamville (now Ridgeland, Jasper Co., SC).
James McPherson (about 1688-1771)
James McPherson was born about 1688.
He lived in Prince William's Parish. He was renowned as an Indian fighter: he had several years of experience fighting in the Yemassee War and was a commander of the South Carolina Rangers. He was also involved in the construction of Fort Argyle in Georgia. (See Daniel T. Elliott's "Argyle, Colonial Fort on the Ogeechee," published by the United States Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program as LAMAR Institute Publication Series Report 38 in January 1997. Also see Bernard Fontaine's "The Origins of the Georgia Militia," Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard, Vol. 2, No. 4, Fall/Winter 1991-1992.)
James McPherson was married to Rachel Miles, a daughter of John Miles and his wife Mary.
The following is an abstract of James McPherson's will from Caroline T. Moore's edition of Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1760-1784 (1969):
James McPherson, Prince William's Parish. Wife: Rachell, to live in my house during her life. Sons: John, deceased; James; Job, plantation where he now lives; Joshua, plantation once conveyed to son Isaac; Ulysses, land where I now live; Isaac. Daus: Keziah Perry; Elizabeth Miles, deceased, and her children; Susanna Postell. Grandchildren: John and Elizabeth McPherson, under age, children of son John, land where he lately lived. Mentions: land purchased of Robert Cooper and Killpatrick; land sold by me to Sarah McPherson; land in Colleton County next Col. Blake where Rogerson formerly lived to be sold and proceeds divided among grandchildren; McKenzie's Vendue; residue of estate to wife and children of son John, deceased, children of dau. Elizabeth Miles, deceased, and my 6 children Joshua, Isaac, Susanna Postell, Job, Keziah, and Ulysses; land at Saltcher's sold for benefit of children of son John and dau. Elizabeth Miles, both deceased. Exors: sons Isaac and Job. Wit: Charles Browne, John Wells, William Haskins.
D: 28 Sept. 1765. P: 25 Mar. 1771. R: nd. p. 12.
He died March 6, 1771 in South Carolina. The following death notice is from A. S. Salley and Mabel L. Webber's compilation, Death Notices in The South Carolina Gazette 1732-1775 (Columbia: South Carolina Archives Department, 1954), p. 16:
On the 6th ult. died, at his Plantation in Prince William's Parish, aged 83 years, Captain James MacPherson, a Native of this Province, who in the first Indian War, and at several other periods since, served this Country with Honour and Reputation. As he was remarkable for his Honesty, Generosity and Humanity, and more particularly for his friendly disposition, so his Death is universally regretted. (Thursday, April 4, 1771)
Elizabeth McPherson (-before 1765)
Elizabeth McPherson, a daughter of James McPherson and Rachel Miles, was married to
Silas Miles.
She died before September 1765, when her father's will was written.
John Laird (-1761)
According to his will, John Laird and his wife had one
child, Sarah.
The following is an abstract of John Laird's will in Caroline T. Moore's Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1760-1784 (1969):
John Laird, St. Philip's Parish, Berkeley County. Dau: Sarah, residue of all estate. Brother: Patrick Laird. Exors: brother Patrick Laird; William Lennox; James Sharp; Philip Hext. Wit: Benjn. Caton, Brian Cape, Alexr. Russell.
D: 28 June 1761. P: 10 July 1761. R: nd. p. 97.
His wife was not mentioned, so she may have already died.
Sarah Laird (1751-1812)
Sarah Laird, a daughter of John Laird and his wife, was born
on October 29, 1751 in Colleton County, South Carolina.
Her first husband was Captain Ulysses McPherson, a son of James McPherson and Rachel Miles.
Her second husband was Andrew Postell, whom she married on June 17, 1785.
She died April 13, 1812 in South Carolina. There is a death notice in the Charleston Times on April 28, 1812 that indicates she died "at the Horse-Shoe" (Brent H. Holcomb's Marriage and Death Notices from the (Charleston) Times, 1800-1821 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979,), p. 261).