Singleton's Graveyard

United States historic place


Singleton's Graveyard
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

33°49′52.5″N 80°33′14.8″W / 33.831250°N 80.554111°W / 33.831250; -80.554111
Area	2.1 acres (0.85 ha)
Architect	Ottaviano Gori
NRHP reference No.	76001713^[1]
Added to NRHP	May 13, 1976

Singleton's Graveyard is an historic plantation cemetery located off SC 261 in the High Hills of Santee, 6 miles south of Wedgefield, South Carolina.^[2]^[3] On May 13, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.^[1]

History

Singleton's Graveyard was the family cemetery for the wealthy and prominent Singleton family descended from Col. Matthew Singleton (1728–1787), who settled in the area in the mid-18th century. It is located on Melrose Plantation built in 1760,^[4] one of the family's many plantations. All that remains of Melrose, though, is the graveyard. The 43 known graves date from 1794 to 1944. Many are Singleton family members, including Matthew Singleton himself. The most notable grave marker is that for Governor George McDuffie (1790–1851), husband of Mary Rebecca Singleton, daughter of Col. Richard Singleton. It was designed by noted sculptor Ottaviano Gori of New York City.^[2] William Tennant (1740-1777], noted Presbyterian minister and politician, is believed to be buried here, since his widow recorded in their family Bible that he died at "Captain Singleton's High Hills of Santee, August 11, 1777 ...".^[2]

Singleton - Van Buren connection

Sarah Angelica Singleton, daughter of Col. Richard Singleton and his wife, Rebecca Travis Coles, married Abraham Van Buren on November 27, 1838, at her parents’ home in Wedgefield. Her father-in-law, Martin Van Buren, was then eighth^[5] President of the United States and she served as First Lady during the rest of his time in the White House.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d McNulty, Katherine N.; Ruth Rhyne (December 5, 1975). "Singleton's Graveyard" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
^ "Singleton's Graveyard, Sumter County (off S.C. Hwy. 261, Wedgefield vicinity)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
^ Historic American Buildings Survey of Melrose done in 1940^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "President Martin Van Buren". What is USA News. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 2012-12-09.

External links

National Register listings for Sumter County
Transcription of graves in Singleton's Graveyard
Sumter County Museum operated by the Sumter County Historical Society
Matthew Singleton and the Settling of Sumter
South Carolina Department of Archives and History site on Vandalism & Destruction of Cemeteries, contains a picture of Singleton's Graveyard
South Carolina Plantations listing for Melrose Plantation
Pictures of Melrose Plantation