History of Dataw Island

From its discovery by the Spanish in 1514, history has been enamored with Dataw Island’s allure. The Spanish, French and English battled for the land for more than 200 years prior to the Revolutionary War. In the Plantation era, South Carolina’s sea islands became the “Newport of the South” and the storied estates built with the wealth of indigo and sea island cotton dotted the landscape. These grand manors, home to a privileged lifestyle, defined Dataw until the Civil War heralded the end of an era. But Dataw still hummed with life as a quiet hunting preserve for the next century.

Today, the place where fertile soil hosted indigo and cotton on antebellum plantations is still home to rich experiences. History lives in the foundations of the 18th century structures made of local sand, lime, water and oyster shells that still stand. And history’s love affair with the land still burns strong.

A group of Dataw Island residents has a love affair of their own – with the history of the island. Formed with the mission of preserving and fostering the rich plantation history of Dataw Island, the Dataw Historic Foundation is led by a passionate group of residents dedicated to incorporating this unique history into the complete Dataw Island lifestyle. With future projects, including continued work on preserving the Tabby Ruins and creating a museum to house all of Dataw’s artifacts and records from the Plantation Era, the Foundation is writing a history of its own as it preserves Dataw Island’s.

Evidence of Indians

10,000 BC - Evidence of Paleo Indians Found

Human Occupancy

2500 BC - Earliest evidence of human occupation on Dataw Island dates from the early Archaic Period. These early Indians were nomadic hunter-gatherers w ho subsisted on shellfish, hickory nuts, acorns and small game, primarily deer. Some evidence of pottery making was found.

Indian Settlements

1200 - Other archaeological sites on Dataw reveal that by this time, lndians lived in settlements on the island and had developed an agricultural system based on maize (corn). Pottery from this era is plain and bears simple stamped designs. Stone points and arrowheads are found at these sites

Spanish land at Port Royal

1514 - The Spanish landed at Port Royal, thought to be modern day Parris Island, beginning 200 years of Spanish influence in the area.

Spanish Capture Francisco Chicora

1520 - The Spanish captured an Indian, who they named Francisco Chicora. Chicora was taken back to Spain as a curiosity. He ensured his continuing survival by weaving fantastic tales of "King Dataw." Dataw, Chicora maintained, grew to enormous size by eating special herbs.

The English on Port Royal Island

1670 - The English, moving their influence south from Charleston, began to award tracts of land on Port Royal Island. Indian traders from Charleston began the area's first commerce.

Caleb Westbrook, Scottish trader

1685 - Caleb Westbrook, a Scottish trader, used the island regularly as a trading camp.

Joseph Boone Buys Island

1702 - Odingsells signed the island over to Joseph Boone. By this time, the island was called interchangeably, "'Westbrook" or Dataw".

Beaufort Chartered

1710 - The nearby town of Beaufort was chartered, and became the second oldest town in South Carolina. Indian raids and attacks were a fact of life.

Colonel Thomas Wigg Buys Island

1730 - Boone sold Dataw to Colonel Thomas Wigg. Neither man ever successfully utilized the island as a plantation

Wigg Dies

1759 - Wigg died, and left Dataw Island to his widow, Ann Barnwell Reeve Wigg.

Mrs. Wigg Wills Island to Reeve

1770 - Mrs. Wigg died, leaving the island to her eldest son, Lewis Reeve.

Reeve Plants Indigo

1774 - Reeve began to plant indigo on Dataw, but was interrupted by the Revolutionary War. After the war, Reeve sold the island to his cousin, William Sams, grandson of Beaufort's founder, Colonel John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell. Dataw was now under ownership by one of Beaufort's most prominent planter families, and for the next one hundred years plantation life would dominate the island.

The Golden Age

1786 - The "Golden Age" (Post Revolutionary War up to the Civil War) is inseparably entwined with the story of one man and his family - William Sams introduced the cultivating of long, staple cotton, the famous Sea Island variety. With the development of the famed Sea Island cotton, Beaufort soon prospered as never before. A noted historian characterized pre-Civil War Beaufort as "the wealthiest, most aristocratic, most cultivated town of its size in America."

Sams Builds House

1790 - Sams built a tabby house the ruins of which remain today on the south shore of Dataw. His son added two large wings to the house. A chapel and family graveyard were also built during the period.

Sams Dies

1798 - After establishing one of the most successful Sea Island cotton plantations in the entire state, William Sams died and was the first to be buried in the family graveyard.

Island Divided

1800s - Sams' two sons divided up the entire island. Berners Barnwell Sams occupied the original plantation house. Lewis Reeve Sams built a new home, the archaeological evidence of which still remains on the Morgan River shore

The Golden Age Ends

1861 - The tragedy of the Civil War brought an abrupt end of this idyllic chapter of history for Beaufort County. The Union Army occupied the entire area, and the planters' holdings were seized as "abandoned" and distributed to former slaves and soldiers. The rich became impoverished. The Golden Age came to an abrupt end.

Sams Plantation Fire

1876 - The buildings of the Sams Plantation on Dataw were destroyed by an accidental fire. Today, the tabby ruins are being carefully preserved, as part of the development of Dataw.

Miss Kate Gleason Buys Island

1928 - Dataw was sold to Miss Kate Gleason of Rochester, NY. She was a prominent business promoter, community developer and pioneer of low-cost housing. Dataw was part of a large purchase of land she made in the sea island area around Beaufort, where her name is commemorated in the Kate Gleason Memorial Park near the Beaufort Hospital

Gleason Dies

1933 - Kate Gleason died unmarried in 1933, bequeathing Dataw to her secretary and traveling companion, Elizabeth Sanders, who had introduced her to the Sea Islands. Miss Sanders married Richard H. Rowland in 1936, and they lived on Dataw for two years.

Island Uninhabited

1946-1982 - Dataw remained uninhabited for decades, but was leased to tomato growers and used also for hunting.

Hollywood Visits

1958-1975 - From 1958-75, cattle were raised on the island. In the 1970's, tomato growing was reestablished. Today, Beaufort has become one of the most quaint ports on the Atlantic Seaboard with more architectural survivors than any town its size in America. Its entire downtown area is on the National Historical Register. Major restorations continue to preserve the homes and businesses of the historic waterfront district, known as "The Point." Even Hollywood has paid tribute using Tidalholm, one of the finest historic mansions in the area, as a film location for "The Great Santini" and "The Big Chill.