National Register of Historic Places

Singleton's Graveyard

Wedgefield, Sumter County, South Carolina
Listed
May 12, 1976
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76001713

About this property

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. On May 13, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 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, 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. 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 ...". 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 President of the United States and she served as First Lady during the rest of his time in the White House. List of Registered Historic Places in South Carolina Sumter County Museum operated by the Sumter County Historical Society 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

Location

Wedgefield, Sumter County, South Carolina
33.83140, -80.55391

Categories

AGRICULTUREARTMILITARYEDUCATIONPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

St. Phillip School
Industrial
5.7 mi
Millford Plantation
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5.8 mi
Kensington Plantation House
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6.2 mi
St. Mark's Church
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6.3 mi
Oakwood
Industrial
7.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fort Motte (SC)
1781Revolutionary War
9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Singleton's Graveyard listed on the National Register?

Singleton's Graveyard was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Singleton's Graveyard?

Singleton's Graveyard is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Singleton's Graveyard?

The period of significance for Singleton's Graveyard is recorded as the listed era.

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