Woodlawn Plantation

WOODLAWN PLANTATION Deveaux Family By F. M. Kirk

3 Black & White

Woodlawn, built by Stephen G. Deveaux some time during the first decade of the nineteenth century is, perhaps the most imposing of all the historic old houses in St. John's Parish to be demolished to make way before the diverted tide of Santee, which threatens to sweep over much of this section with the development of the Santee-Cooper hydro-electric project.

The balustrade that once encircled the roof garden has gone, but from the point of vantage offered by the balcony, high above the ground, one still can see relics of the glory for which the plantation was famous in ante-bellum days.

Mighty oaks show where once the avenue led towards Black Oak Church, three miles away. Remains of outbuildings linger yet. The house itself, built of the finest of heart long-leaf pine, is still in good repair, though long uninhabited.

Edwards First Owner

Edward Edwards appears to have been the original owner of Woodlawn plantation. It was he who sold the tract to Stephen G. Deveaux master builder, who had inherited Belle Isle, final resting place of General Francis Marion, from his step-father, Robert Marion, the general's nephew.

The mother of Woodlawn's builder was Esther Gignilliat, a. sister of Gabriel Gignilliat, who is said to have lived at Walnut Grove in Upper St. John's, and with whom the Gignilliat name disappeared from Berkeley county. After his mother's second marriage; Stephen went to live with his step-father at Belle Isle.

Robert Marion seems to have been greatly attached to his step-son and, having no children of his own, left the plantation to him in his will.

Robert Marion also owned Walnut Grove. Probably Stephen G. Deveaux often went there as a young man to see his Uncle Gabriel, as well as on business for his step-father. Walnut Grove is immediately adjoining Pond Bluff, being only separated from it by the River road, now known as State Highway 45.

At Pond Bluff lived General Marion, who was a younger brother of Gabriel Marion, Robert Marion's father. At Walnut Grove young Stephen G. Deveaux probably saw the general at frequent intervals. For it is said that he was a great favorite with the Swamp Fox.

Parish Line Divides House

Woodlawn is on the boundary between the parishes of St. John's and St. Stephen's. It is said that the parish line marked by stone pillars, two of which are still standing, divided the house in St. John's from the kitchen in St. Stephen's.

The Plantation was bought from Edward Edwards during the early years of the nineteenth century in that period during which so many St. Stephen's planters were leaving the rich lands of their swamp plantations to seek higher field's, in order to escape the more and more frequent freshets of Santee.

It was probably for that reason, that Stephen G. Deveaux bought Woodlawn. On his new purchase there stretched hundreds of acres of virgin long leaf pine. It was for that reason that the new owner of Woodlawn determined, perhaps, to forsake his inheritance and build a finer house than that at Belle Isle. He did.

Not content with the mansion he had built, Stephen G. Deveaux laid out all outbuildings with the greatest of care. All such buildings were painstakingly constructed and neatly finished. Outbuildings were spaced to balance each other. A smoke house on one side of the back yard was matched by a meat house on the other. A laundry on one side was balanced by a lodge on the other.

Dr. Henry Ravenel of Pooshee, was one of the greatest landowners in the parish. Some time after the death of Stephen G. Deveaux.. Dr. Ravenel bought Woodlawn from his son, Stephen L. Deveaux. With the exception of a short stretch of Wantoot lands, which he endeavored in vain to buy, the new purchase of Woodlawn gave Dr. Ravenel a block of plantation lands stretching for fourteen miles along the Black Oak road.

"Finest" Between Two Rivers

Woodboo, which Dr. .Ravenel had bought from John Mazyck, was given to one son, Thomas .Porcher Ravenel; Woodlawn was given to another son, William P. Ravenel it was later bought from the heirs of William P. Ravenel by the late Percival Ravenel Porcher, who sold it to Clarence P. Gourdin, of Pineville, the present owner.

Woodlawn house has been described as the finest dwelling between the Cooper and the Santee. Certainly it is the largest. This statement excludes, of course, Mulberry and lower Cooper river plantation houses. Seventeen rooms are included under Woodlawn's towering roof; and sundry store rooms and closets are not included. To take care of the "over flow of guests" a lodge was maintained near the "big house." perfectly appointed in every particular.

The overflow of guests was probably occasioned by numerous nephews of William F. Ravenel who spent the winter months at Woodlawn to attend the Pineville Academy, five miles away.

In most St. John's houses the hall runs two rooms deep to the back door. That at Woodlawn runs three rooms deep into a storage room. Between the back rooms the hall widens out to make room for the stair, whose walnut rails guide one to the second floor on up to the third floor, and still up the balcony on the flat roof.

The second story hall like that on the lower floor, is of room dimensions and contains a fireplace. Here, in ante-bellum days the maids gathered, awaiting their mistresses' every whim.

Two Mantels of Marble

The rooms are large, and are of excellent proportions. Hand carving while not elaborate, is beautifully executed and is of original design. Patterns in different room vary. Handsome mantels of Italian marble adorn the two front rooms. They are black, with veins of lighter colors.

Every detail at Woodlawn is carried out to a nicety. A narrow base board in drawing room is painted to carry out the effect of the black marble mantel; the veins of lighter color being faithfully executed. The balustrade around the roof balcony matched perfectly that around the piazza.

The roof is of small squares of English tin, hand crimped and hand soldered. Though unpainted since Confederate war days, the roof is still in excellent condition. Most of the locks are of English manufacture and bear the seal of the lion and the unicorn.

The piazza roof extends far beyond the porch and is supported on separate pillars. One can sit on Woodlawn's porch on the rainiest day and fear no wetting.

General Potter and his raiders followed by General Hartwell and his vandals, arrived in 1865 to spread terror and ruin in St. John's and St. Stephen's. Woodlawn did not escape.

Taken by Yankee Raider

William T. Ravenel, and his brother, Rene, were taken prisoners by Hartwell's forces. The following is taken from a journal letter kept at Pooshee by Miss Charlotte St. Julien Ravenel in 1865:

"Uncle Rene and Uncle William have both been taken Prisoners and we hear are to he carried to Charleston. They took the latter to get information from him, so they say but we think because he had entertained the scouts. Uncle Rene had to put himself under the protection of the general as there was a conspiracy detected among the black troops to come back that night and kill him....

"Uncle Rene and Uncle William returned home today. We were to thankful to hear of their release. They were carried as far as Eutaw and then told to 'go home.'

"....Uncle Rene and Uncle William had a most dreadful experience on the ride to Mexico from Pineville with the army. At one time they were guarded by only one black soldier, and they could hear the others all around trying to bribe their guard to give them up to be killed; but the guard, though a darky, was above bribing."

Eutaw was General Hartwell headquarters in Upper St. John's. Mexico was the estate of William Mazyck Porcher where the old Santee Canal leads from the river. Hartwell's forces stripped the house at Mexico and burned it to the ground.

WOODLAWN PLANTATION Deveaux Family Italian Marble Mantels Adorn Historic Old Mansion in Santee-Cooper Valley - 17 Rooms were Not Enough for Its Guests