Harbin

This place was the property of Mr. Theodore Samuel Marion of St. James Goosecreek. In 1808 he gave it to his daughter, Eliza, on her marriage with Samuel Dubose, and Harbin became his residence until his death. In May 1809 Mrs. Dubose gave birth to a son, Theodore Samuel Dubose, and died a few wrecks after his birth. Her physician had recommended a trip to the North for the benefit of lier health, and Mr. Dubose had engaged a passage in a vessel sailing to New York, for himself and his family. The night before the vessel sailed Mrs. Dubose died. The vessel sailed next day and was never afterwards seen or heard of. In 1813 he married Anne Palmer, daughter of O'Neal Gough Stevens and grand daughter of Capt. John Palmer of Pineville. Several children were born of this marriage, five of whom lived to maturity, 1. Samuel, who married Sarah Cloud of Fairfield. He died early leaving a son who bears his name. and a dauglrer who married Cordes Boyleston of Charleston. 2. Elizabeth, who only lived to reach womanhood and died unmarried. 3. Edwin, one of the best and most upright men I ever knew; he married Jane, daughter of the Rev. B. Screven, and after serving through the war, died soon after the evacuation of Charleston in 1865. 4. Julius, who married Anne Deveaux, daughter of Steven G. Deveaux of Pineville, and who now lives at Blueford, the residence of his uncle, the late W. Dubose of St. Stephen's Parish. 5. Ellen,the wife of William Ravenel, Esqr. The eldest son, Theodore S. Dubose, was educated at Yale College, but prevented by illness from graduating-. Returning home he married his cousin, Jane, daughter of Col. Porcher of Ophir, and after a few years residence in the low country lie removed to Fairfield where he died. He had a large number of sons and daughters. His second son, William, after graduating at the Citadel Academy, went to the Virginia University, where he took a Master's degree, and after serving in the army with distinction, suffering from wounds and imprisonment, he entered the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He married Nannie, daughter of Henry Peronneau of Charleston.

The death of Mr. Theodore Dubose seemed to have been a fatality. When a child he had never taken the measles, though frequently exposed to it, and of course as a man he avoided any exposure to it. Traveling one day in a rail car he observed a sick soldier and sat by him ministering to his necessities. The soldier had measles, and in less than a fortnight his benevolent nurse fell a victim to the disease, February, 1862. His wife did not survive him a month.

In 1817 Mr. Dubose completed the elegant mansion which he had erected on the south side of Harbin Swamp, and abandoned the old dwelling which was situated on the hill directly above the spring. This new house was accidentally destroyed by fire March 24, 1865.

Mr. Samuel Dubose was one of the most respectable men in the Parish. Born in St. Stephen's Parish in 1784, he was sent early to school in New Port, R. I. There has always been some pet school in New England to which it has been the fashion in Carolina to send boys. In my time it was Capt. Partridge's; in Mr. Dubose's time it was Mr. Rogers' school in New Port. Returning home after leaving his school he commenced planting with only six labourers at a place near his father's, called Bethany. In two years he had doubled his fortune, but not satisfied with his progress he was just entering into an engagement with one of the wealthy planters on Cooper River, when his marriage put him in possession of a large estate. Tins sudden accession of wealth probably Prevented him from becoming immensely wealthy, as it rendered unnecessary that spirit of enterprise which had marked the commencement of Ins career. But lie was always prudent and thrifty, and whilst no one had a higher enjoyment of wealth, no one made a more prudent use of it. He was for a short time a member of the Legislature, and always an active parish officer, serving faithfully as a magistrate and presiding nearly all his life over the Board of Commissioners of the poor. At the general request of his neiglibours lie became the Captain of the Upper Beat. and he not only brought the company to good order as a military body, but, what was of more importance, attended diligently to the police of the district, of which, as captain, he was ex officio the head. In social life he was exemplary; a good neighbor, zealously cultivating the social affections, he was hospitable without ostentation, and an ardent admirer of the good old times, lie had a reverence for everything that had gone before him. He was always a keen sportsman, and was active in making the pursuit of that sport contribute to social enjoyment. His memory was powerful and his habits of observation accurate and minute, so that in all doubtful cases his testimony could always be relied upon. When the Black Oak Agricultural Society was organized, he was elected its president, and it was as its presiding officer, and at the urgent solicitations of his friends, that he did violence to the native modesty of his disposition by delivering an address, which, printed with the letter of reminiscences addressed to the present writer has been eagerly sought after by all persons who are in any way connected with the social history of St. Stephens parish. His wife preceded him to the grave several years, but his home was cheered by the presence of his son's wife. His first warning was a gentle stroke of paralysis, which visited him about two years before the final summons came. Then in the enjoyment of all tliat should accompany old age, as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, he sank to his rest in 1859 in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and was buried with his fathers in the Cemetery of St. Stephen's Church.

Upper Beat of St. John's Berkeley By Frederick A. Porcher (15) Harbin