St. Stephen Parish 1790 Census

Mouzon's Map of 1775 shows in the St. Stephen area the names Langford, Sprig, St. Julian, Bonneau, Pear, Thomas, Richburg, Keith, Dubois, Pontus (?), and the locations Peachtree Bluff, Murray's Ferry and Gaillard's Island on the upper Santee River.

The 1790 Census for the Parish listed 57 heads of families, 81 free white males of 16 and over, 45 free white males under ls, 100 free white females including heads of families, 1 other free person, 2,506 slaves, making a total population of 2,733.

This Parish had originally been in old Craven County but was now in Charleston District. Listed in this census were Peeter Gallard, John Gallard, George Marum, John Cords, Isac Porchea, Peeter Porcher, Senr., Phillip Porcher, Junr., Mr. Cord, Margret Canty, Mrs. Barns, Peeter Porch, Mrs. Miller, M. Cenedy, Richard Burg, Frances Willisson, James Sankler, Mrs. Hariet Walters, John Perry, Charlis C. Drake, Thomas H. Thomas, John Peger, Ezekiel Bookler, Mr. Cooper, A. Caleb Guerry, Peeter Lenard, Thomas Guerry, William Steel, William Turf, John Williams, Thomas Greenland, Thomas Palmer, Mr. Kenedy, Mr. Clark, Mr. Walker, Mr. Bornow, Peeter Palmer, James Dubose, Ann Finaley, Richard Wilburn, John Witherspoon, Peeter Sinkler, John Palmer, John C. Gronninger, John Coutener, Sam McClearey, Mr. Ruscell, Robert Marien, Samuel Porcher, John Hackely, Mr. Cohoon, Mr. Porcher, Robt. Way, Jas. Geary, Mrs. Quary, Mrs. Hardcastle, Mr. Jas. Vanvensel, Samue1 McCleary.

The brevity of this list bears out the statement of Prof. F. A. Porcher that people were leaving St. Stephen's for the new and healthy lands of St. John's, Berkeley and the opening frontiers up state. Many of the names are misspelled. Porch is evidently Porcher, Sankler is Sinkler, and Geary is Guerry. If your name is in this list and you do not find it in the 1800 Census for St. Stephen's, look in the Census for St. John's or St. Matthews.

The 1820 survey by Charles Vrgnoles & Henry Ravenel as included in Mill's Atlas gives the family names of Deveaux, Porcher, Dubose, Ravenel, Cordes and Canty. The St. Stephen's Parish Church is the only thing shown in that immediate vicinity but below it on the River Road is the Muster House. The Club House is located about a third the distance from the Church to Pineville, the only village shown in the Parish.  Murray's Ferry is designated as Gourdin's Ferry. The "Old Chapel" is shown about two thirds of the distance from Pineville to Big Camp in St. John's. One store is shown below Half Way Swamp on the road from Biggin Church to the Ferry.

In his "Reminiscences of St. Stephen's Parish", Samuel Dubose names many of the plantations and owners of early days: Mexico of Major Samuel Porcher, Burnt Savanna of the Marions, Belle Isle of Robert Marion, Peter Couturier's lands, Dr. James Lynah, Bluford of Philip Williams (later of Peter Sinkler and then the Dubose Family), Milford of Isaac Dubose (later Samuel Cordes), Lane of Samuel Cordes, Tower Hill of John Couturier, Johnsrun which numbered the Williams and Palmer families among many owners, The Island which became the property of John Couturier, two places called Ray's, Claybank of Peter Palmer before 1790, Murrell's which became the property of John Frierson and later Samuel Dubose, Richmond which was settled by John Palmer in 1769, Maham's of the Revolutionary general of that name, Charles Richburg's lands which were acquired by Theodore Gourdin, Chinners which was abandoned before the Revolution, Lifeland which was purchased by the Sinklers from Mrs. Jamison (wife of Gen. Sumter), lands of Mr. Seymour, Windsor of John Gaillard (father of the U. S. Senator), White Plains of David Gaillard, Ancrum's of Isaac Porcher (later the Gaillards and Gourdins), Peru of Peter Porcher, Oldfield of Philip Porcher, Dover of Robert Cahusac (later the Peyres and Philip Porcher), Harleston's property, Yaughan of the Cordes family, Curriboo of Thomas Cordes, Upton of John Cordes, Sandy Hill of Rene Richburg, the Episcopal Parsonage, residence of Zachariah Villepontoux, residence of Charles Cantey, Jr., Lequeux's, Old Santee of Capt. Peter Sinkler, Betaw of Thomas Hasell Thomas, Laurel Hill of John Peyre (later Capt. Peter Gaillard of The Rocks), Thomas Cooper's plantation, Webdo of John Palmer, Huguenot families (Dutarque, Guerry, Bisseau, ete.) on the lower edge of the Parish, the residence of Benjamin Walker at the head of Fairforest Swamp, Tucker's (home of the Sinklers before they moved to Lifeland), Gravel Hill of "Turpentine" John Palmer, Edward Greenland on Whiskinboo Swamp, Boisseau lands, Spring Grove of Rene Peyre, Pierre Robert's plantation, Lebois (owned by Pinckneys and  Porchers).

Prof. Porcher states that he did not know some of the names of original owners of some of the tracts in the area, and that there were other tracts on the edge of the St. John's Parish line owned chiefly by St. Julians, Marions, Mazycks, and Ravenels. An examination of the pamphlets published in 1887 by Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas under the title, "A Contribution To The History of The Huguenots of South Carolina" or a more recent republication by The St. John's Hunting Club, will give more detailed information about the people and places mentioned above.

Information and Article from "Historic Ramblin's Through Berkeley"  written by and used with permission of Mr. J. Russell Cross