Colonial America

Title

Colonial America

Artist

Dale Powell

Medium

Photograph

Description

This beautiful home facing the Sampit River in Georgetown, known as the Heriot-Tarbox House, was constructed in 1765 for Dr. Charles Fyffe, a prominent member of the Winyah Indigo Society and owner of Ramsay Grove Plantation.

Dr. Fyffe remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution and faced deportation. Fyffe signed a petition stating that even though he was loyal to the British, he continued to treat wounded soldiers at a hospital he was in charge of in Charleston. He was allowed to stay in America but had to pay a 12% fine against his estate. Fyffe ended up leaving the country by 1786 when he went to India to practice medicine, his estate was confiscated and sold at auction. By 1791, Fyffe was declared mentally insane and admitted to an asylum in Calcutta, he died in 1810.

This house is famous as the last place where Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr and wife of prominent plantation owner, Joseph Alston, was seen before she disappeared. Burr was spending the night in the home before leaving the next morning aboard the ship, The Patriot. The War of 1812 had just broken out and The Patriot was a fast sailer and served as a privateer during the war and was loaded with supplies, headed for New York. The boat left Georgetown but never arrived at its destination. The schooner’s captain, William Overstocks, and all of its passengers were never heard from again. The ghost of Burr is said to remain at the home where she spent her last known comfortable night on land.

Another interesting tale about the home deals with two young forbidden lovers. A young woman living in the home fell in love with a ship captain, much to her father’s disapproval. Despite being forbade to see each other, The woman placed a lantern in the third story window of the house so her love could see it from the Sampit River. When he saw the light, he knew the coast was clear to come to the house. Once the lantern was lit, she went outside and waited for him at their spot. This continued for many years until one day, the man stopped showing up. Stricken with grief, the woman continued lighting the lantern and hoping for his return but it return never came. It is said that the woman became reclusive, seeking only the companionship of her beloved dogs. One day, the dogs howled incessantly which alerted neighbors to investigate. The woman’s body was found in the floor. People have reported seeing lights from the third floor both inside and outside and shadowy figures walking around the grounds, a sad soul longing to see the love of her life once more.

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November 5th, 2014

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