Chapel Hill

So called from being the site of a chapel of ease built for the accommodation of the residents of the upper part of the parish, and directed to be visited every fifth Sunday by the Rector. In the early part of this century it was the residence of Dr. Wm. Brickell. In 1818 it was purchased by Isaac Porcher of St. Stephen's Parish who made it his residence" until his death in 1844. He was thrice married, first, to Julia, daughter of Plowden Weston, of Charleston. Her daughter Julia died unmarried in 1836. Second, to Mary Stevens. daughter of O'Neal Gough Stevens. The children of this marriage were Catherine, who died unmarried in 1831. Second, Isaac who married Elizabeth Gaillard. daughter of James Gaillard, Esqr. Third. Edward, who was a physician and removed to Darlington; lie married Elizabeth Shackelford, of Charleston.  Fourth, Philip, a man of indomitable energy, of boundless benevolence and untiring public spirit. He overtasked himself in his efforts to promote the welfare of others, and died in 1850. Fifth. Augustus, who practiced law in Columbia ; he married Eliza Marion, daughter of Theodore Dubose of Fairfield, and died in 1851. leaving an only child, Augusta, Mrs. Alien Jones.

Mr. Porcher's third wife was Charlotte. daughter of Rene Ravenel! of Pooshee. She had two sons, Percival. who married Maria, daughter of Dr. Henry Ravenel of Pooshee, and John Henry Porcher. Both of these, gentlemen entered the army and served zealously—but the infirm health of the latter compelled him to seek civil service. During this service he would never appropriate to himself more of his pay than that which as a soldier he had a right to receive. All the rest was given to tire relief of soldiers' families. Percival Porcher was also a man of active benevolence and from his stores largely relieved the wants of his neighbors who suffered from the privations that war entails. He was a member of the Rutledge Mounted Infantry for a short time, and afterwards of the Charleston Light Dragoons and died of wounds received near Richmond in 1864. When the news of his being wounded reached his home. a servant, Robert, went immediately to Richmond to attend him. He arrived just after his death. He applied for permission to take the body home for interment, but the governor of the hospital refused to deliver it, except on the requisition of some responsible person. Robert did not know to whom to apply. He walked the streets of Richmond and whenever he saw a man whose countenance pleased him, like the Ancient Mariner he would stop him and tell his story. Whilst he was thus speaking, a gentleman, distantly connected with the family, passing by, heard the name and stopped to listen. He immediately undertook the matter, released the body from the hospital, and accompanied it to St. Johns, where it was interred.

The children of Isaac and Elizabeth Porcher were: 1. Isaac, who was a member of the Carolina Light Infantry at the commencement of the war. He died in 1861. 2. Harriet, who married John Stoney Porcher, and died leaving an infant child. 3. Philip. 4. Charles, who were too young to participate in the dangers and hazards of the war. Their father died in December, 1849.

Isaac Porcher, the father and grandfather of the persons mentioned above, was the youngest child of Philip Porcher of the Oldfield, St. Stephen's Parish, and Mary Mazyck his wife. He was born in 1778. and after the death of his mother which happened when he was very young, he was taken into the family of his uncle Paul Mazyck and carried to Ireland, where he spent nine years. He was a good Latin scholar and perfectly familiar with the French. He. was settled by his father on Dover, the plantation adjoining his own residence, and there he lived until in 1818 he judged it expedient to abandon it, and look for more profitable lands in St. Johns. Agriculture was the occupation of his life, but he was not a successful planter. He was an excellent man; benevolent, sociable, kind and just, a tender husband and father he was the object of the tenderest devotion on the part of his children. It pained him to give pain to others, and this weakness sometimes led to involuntary injustice. He was well aware of his' weakness, and tried to conceal it by assuming a positive and determined air; but this imposed only upon strangers—his friends knew that beneath a stern exterior there was a heart gushing with sensibility, and that a strong appeal for tenderness would make the tears flow, and the strong- man become like a child. He possessed all social virtues, and as a magistrate his sense of public justice would completely overcome the natural tenderness of Ins disposition. He would sacrifice his interest from compassion, but never compromise principle for interest. No man was more tender in his dealing's with others; and lie scrupulously gave to every one the consideration to which he was entitled. Slander never fell from his lips.  His memory was excellent. He had a fancy for genealogy and a happy memory of dates. Tin's was singularly illustrated by the last words lie was heard to utter—Seventy years and ten months to the day—That was Ills age. On the 11 of February, 1849, lie was seized with the paralytic stroke which killed him in a few hours, and he was followed to the grave by a host of friends who had long regarded him with affectionate reverence. His house was destroyed by fire in 1837; another was built on the same spot. After his death the place was purchased by Samuel Foxworth, Esqr.

Upper Beat of St. John's Berkeley By Frederick A. Porcher (17) Chapel Hill