Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
Abt 1780 - | Name | The RUINS [3, 4] | |
| Birth | Abt 1780 | Sumter County, South Carolina  [3] |
| Gender | Male | |
| HIST | The Ruins, now owned and occupied by Col. and Mrs. Rett Summerville, is located at Stateburg, Sumter County, South Carolina, among the moss-draped trees in the High Hills of Santee. • Most likely built in 1780, The Ruins is considered by some to be one of the most interesting old houses to be found in the area. The house has served as a personal residence for most of its history, but has also served as a female academy of high learning, the Hawthorndean Seminary for Young Ladies. • The Ruins is an intact, almost unaltered antibellum plantation home with Greek Revival details reminiscent of a time of elegant plantation home design. • Among the home’s owners, besides Sumter and Mayrant, who served on the Bonhomme Richard under John Paul Jones, were Robert and Marion Deveaux. It was the Deveaux who brought the famous Marion China to The Ruins. It has also been home to the less than outstanding owner Rev. Converse, second husband of Mrs. Deveaux. • The Summervilles purchased the home in 1985. After extensive travel with the US Air Force, they have made The Ruins their permanent residence. They have undertaken the task of restoring this historical home to its former glory to be preserved for future generations to come. • The presentation by the couple will include the story of their work to restore the home as well as its exciting history. • The public is invited to attend the meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Swan Lake Presbyterian Church on the corner of Haynsworth Street and Bland Avenue. There is no charge for admission. Enjoy Christmas at 'The Ruins' in Stateburg PHOTOS PROVIDED The Ruins, a historic Stateburg home built and modified in the 18th and 19th centuries, will be open for its third annual Christmas open house on Saturday, Dec. 3. Admission is free. Posted Sunday, November 20, 2016 6:00 am BY IVY MOORE IVY@THEITEM.COM BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com One of the Stateburg area's most stately historic homes will be on tour Saturday, Dec. 3, as its owners invite the public to their third annual Christmas open house. The house, called The Ruins and built around 1784 by Revolutionary war hero John Mayrant on land owned by Gen. Thomas Sumter, has an intriguing history, which will be examined during the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event hosted by retired United States Air Force Col. and Mrs. Rett (Pat) Summerville. The Summervilles have been restoring The Ruins since buying it in 1985. Pat Summerville noted that around 650 people attended last December's open house, adding that "Each year there is something a little bit different." "This year, we're focusing on the history of the Stateburg area," she said. "It's astounding the number of people who made significant contributions as judges, generals and community leaders in the 18th and 19th centuries." The spotlight will also be on the Revolutionary War and other historic homes, both lost and preserved, she said. Of course, Summerville said, The Ruins is one of the latter, and its main floor will be open for tours led by knowledgeable docents, many in period dress, who will be able to provide information about the house, its original furnishings and past residents. "Special focus is on one piece that is newly restored, one that is newly returned and one answering a longtime question," Summerville said. The home will be decorated as it would have been in the past - with local greenery and no artificial lighting - by Historic Columbia Foundation volunteers Janice Bowman, Pat Itter, Dena Creel and others. "All of the volunteers are local people who have jumped in to help because of their passion for ... magnificent old homes," Summerville said. She credited Carl DuBose as being the force behind the tour. The house itself started out as a modest structure measuring about 40-by-45 feet. After Mayrant, it was modified by several owners, finally having been expanded by the wealthy DeVeaux family in 1838 to its current size and look. Tom Mayrant, a direct descendant of John Mayrant, and former Ruins resident Amelia Barnwell Harper, a descendant of the DeVeaux, will both be present to talk with guests. Summerville said that in addition to the house tour, there will be other exhibits and activities, all adding to the overall historic context of the period and The Ruins. Among these are a strolling, authentically dressed fife player, the small museum with additional exhibits, and a totally new addition, the Curiosity Shop on the ground floor; here visitors can purchase note cards, period toys and other souvenirs. All proceeds from sales will directly benefit restoration projects. Artist-in-residence for the day Dennis Snell will be on the grounds painting "scenes from the property or something he has conceptualized" related to the area. People will be able to watch him paint, Summerville said. Hayrides into the plantation's back country and traditional refreshments are also available, she said. "We'll have 'switchel,' which was the Revolutionary War energy drink," she said, "and 'shrubs' (a fruit and vinegar drink often used as a cocktail mixer), hot apple cider and 'jumbles' (sugar cookies)." Admission and all activities are free to the public, Summerville said. The only charge is for items in the Curiosity Shop. Donations will be accepted, with all proceeds going toward restoration projects at The Ruins. "None of the money is used to offset tour expenses," Summerville said. To get to The Ruins, take U.S. Highway 76/378 toward Columbia, turn right on S.C. 261, take the third road (DeVeaux) to the right, and follow it until it meets Barnwell Drive. Turn left, and The Ruins will be on your right. Program, tour of The Ruins 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3 1257 Barnwell Drive Stateburg Admission: Free, donations for projects accepted Front porch history on display at Stateburg home Christmas at The Ruins offers rare glimpse into historic, restored home Garland S. Hart, pastor of Eatonton Presbyterian Church in Eatonton, Georgia, plays the fife during Christmas at The Ruins on Dec. 2. MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Friday, December 8, 2017 6:00 am Toots Harper, former resident of The Ruins, described during Christmas at The Ruins seeing lights from Shaw Air Force Base announcing the end of World War II as she sat on the back porch of the home in Stateburg in 1945. MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM BY KAYLA ROBINS KAYLA@THEITEM.COM Toots Harper sat on the back porch of her historic Stateburg home with her family, as they often did, especially in August. It was 1945. She noticed something different about the sky. "The lights, something in the sky was brighter. And we kept watching, and it got brighter and brighter. And the war (World War II) was over, and we didn't know it," said the 90-year-old Harper, a direct descendant of the DeVeaux family, who also lived at the home, and a former resident of the house called The Ruins. The current owners of the 9,000-square-foot house, Rett and Pat Summerville, bought it from Harper in 1985 and have been restoring it since. They have opened it to the public once each December for the past four years for Christmas at The Ruins to share its history and beauty with others. "And Daddy went and turned on the radio, and Shaw Air Force Base had brought the lights up again because they were all out during the way," Harper said. "And I still get chills knowing that, that the war was over." Christmas at The Ruins Harper, who watched Shaw grow from a cotton field to the force it is today, going to dances on the base every Thursday, sat on Dec. 2 in the library and told stories from her childhood as an estimated 1,000 people toured through the home and along the grounds. Rett Summerville said about 45 to 50 volunteers, dressed in period attire from the 1700s to paint a picture of when the home was built in 1784 by American Revolution war hero John Mayrant, helped give tours, serve refreshments and even blast a cannon. "I'm just fascinated by the architecture and how solid the building is," he said. "They did some good work back in those days." More than a dozen artists set up booths on the grounds, from paintings and pottery to jewelry and period-style items. The Summervilles have spent decades trying to locate original pieces of furniture and other items from the house and bring them home and restoring it by using all-natural materials, from the molding to the wooden pegs used in the floors. "I like just being able to know the history of the building," Rett Summerville said. He may not have been there to witness the signal of the end of World War II, but Summerville has some stories of his own from the house. His mother was reading "Gone With the Wind" when she was pregnant with him, he said, and she liked Rhett Butler so much she named him after the fictional character. "And she always dreamed of living in a Southern plantation," he said. "So she came down here to visit me, and I was at the Shaw Air Force Base, and I was busy working so she did some touring of some old homes and came here. "And she said, 'Well, we gotta buy it.'" Summerville had just bought a house in Sumter, so his mother bought The Ruins. "And then 30 days after she had moved down here, she said, 'I can't stay here because it's too many stories to go up and down the flights of stairs' - because she was from California," he said. Nine months later, he got reassigned, but after renting the house out for 20 years, he came back and has been working to restore it since. "We open it to the public to share the history and significance of the house," he said. "Because it is a significant house." Reflections with Sammy Way: A glimpse of historic Stateburg Borough House in Stateburg is one of the oldest houses in Sumter County, built in the 1750s. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Saturday, February 8, 2020 6:00 am By SAMMY WAY Archivist and historian Reflections visits the Stateburg community, which dates back to the 1700s. The village is on S.C. 261, or the Charleston-Camden Road, which is often referred to as the "back country road." This area was built in part by "wealthy South Carolina Lowcountry families who built summer homes in the high hills of the Santee." Sherman Smith, historian and former director of the Sumter Museum, referred to Stateburg as one of the more historically significant areas in the state. Reflections has prepared a series of brief sketches to enlighten our readers of six historic sites which continue to exist in the Stateburg community. The research data and photos used to prepare this document were taken from The Item archives. This is part one, with three of the historic sites featured. Dixie Hall was located near the King's Highway; the original house was constructed by William Sanders and later enlarged and remodeled by his great-grandson William Sanders IV. Research notes that handhewn beams, 21 inches' square, can still be viewed in the basement. In the interior, a spiral staircase was removed to make room for the sweeping staircase, which remains today. "The kitchen and medical office of Dr. Ashe Alston were located in the back of the house. Dr. Alston married the daughter of the house and moved into the home, where he practiced for years." "When Gen. Edward E. Potter's detachment of Gen. William T. Sherman's army raided the community in April 1865, a cannon ball smashed into the upstairs piazza. Both the "wound" and the ball were kept for a souvenir of that event by the family for years." The home, originally named Oakland Plantation, was changed to Dixie Hall by Frances P. Alston. Borough House, one of the oldest houses in Sumter County, was located near the King's Highway. The home "was built sometime in the 1750s on a land grant given to William Hilton." The house was thought to be in the possession of William Bracey and later owned by Adam Brisbane, then came to belong to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hooper in 1792. The home is thought to have been a tavern before the Hoopers owned it. The house was occupied by the British commander, Lord Charles Cornwallis, followed by the Colonial Gen. Nathaniel Greene. The Borough House is the largest complex of buildings constructed of pise de terre, or "rammed earth," a Spanish and French type of construction utilizing clay which "coheres when clenched in one's fist." "The pise de terre parts of the Borough House are only one story high, however, the Church of the Holy Cross, of the same construction, has walls over 40 feet in height." The Ruins "was believed to be erected in 1780 on a land grant given to Peter Matthews in 1770. Gen. Thomas Sumter obtained the property in 1784 at a cost of 100 pounds. John Mayrant Sr. (who had been a midshipman on board the Bon Homme Richard under John Paul Jones during the Revolution) bought the property in 1802; his son sold it to Willis W. Alston, a schoolmaster, in 1835. Alston changed the name of the house to Hawthorndean Seminary for Young Ladies. Robert DeVeaux bought the property in 1837. He and his wife, Marion Singleton, called it the Ruins." The home has recently been restored by the Summervilles and remains a testament to the architectural beauty of that era. THE RUINS - The original two-story house was built around 1784 by John Mayrant on land purchased from General Thomas Sumter. For a short time it was the Hawthornedean Seminary for young ladies. Purchased by Robert and Videau Marion Singleton DeVeaux in 1838. It was remodeled to its present 9000 square feet. Because of its disrepair, the house was referred to as “The Ruins” and the name continues. The Ruins remained in the same family until 1985 when purchased and remodeled by Colonel Rett S. Summerville, USAF. Marked by Teige Cantey Chapter National Society Colonal Dames XVII Century March 20, 2016 Step back in time, learn about The Ruins, Stateburg at holiday tour The Ruins, built in 1784 and once the home of Gen. Thomas Sumter, will be open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 7, as part of a holiday tour of part of the home and its grounds. Educational displays will be set up, there will be refreshments available, and guests can take a hayride on the property at the free event. The Summervilles, owner of the home, hope the public will learn about the Stateburg area. MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Sunday, December 1, 2024 6:00 am By MELANIE SMITH melanie@theitem.com Take a few steps back in time this holiday season with the owners of a stately home that has stood in the Stateburg area since the time of Gen. Thomas Sumter. The historic home known as The Ruins was built in 1784, and the Revolutionary War hero lived there after he moved his family from the Lowcountry, according to Sammy Way, Sumter Item archivist and historian. The large home was owned by several families and is now owned by Col. Rett and Pat Summerville. "Gen. Sumter made the Ruins his home after he moved his family from the Lowcountry. While living at the Ruins, he narrowly escaped capture when surprised by British troops and local Tories. Research indicates that John Mayrant obtained the property in 1802; his son would later sell the property to Willis W. Alston, who converted the house into a seminary for ladies in 1835. Alston and his wife would change the name to the 'Hawthorndean Seminary,' which remained in effect until Robert DeVeaux and his wife, Marian, changed the name to the Ruins. The house was later acquired by Amelia Moore Barnwell in 1928 and remained in her possession until 1996. The house still stands and has been renovated," according to Way. The Summervilles held the annual holiday event for several years, and the last time the Christmastime event was held was in 2017. The Summervilles are inviting the public to the grounds to learn more about the home and the Stateburg area. Pat Summerville said the home will be decorated for the event with all-natural greenery that would have been used hundreds of years ago, and there will be educational displays, exhibits and storyboards set up on the grounds. Guests will also be able to take a tour of the second floor of the private residence. During the tour, you can learn about the original crown molding made with horse hair, John Mayrant's connection to the home and the home's expansion in 1838 and the addition of electricity to the home in the 1940s. You can also see a piano that once belonged to Bill Pinkney of The Drifters and maybe hear about the ghost who has protected the home from fire, along with more stories about the home. Much of the furniture is original to the home on the second floor that will be open to guests. "We're having the Cheraw Indians come as a tribe, and they're going to do at a couple of scheduled times some dances for us. We're going to have Revolutionary War exhibits, we're going to have historic home exhibits, lots of storyboards throughout the area talking about the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and the history of the house," Summerville said. There will also be a hayride, cookies and spiced apple juice at the free event. "The ladies who do all the decorations at Historic Columbia for the holidays do them here as well, all-natural decorations, and it's really lovely," Summerville said. Part of the hope of the Summervilles for the event is to share about the history of the area on which the home was built. "Stateburg is a tremendous historic area. You wouldn't believe the number of famous people who have lived here, visited here and stayed here. And yet most people don't know it, and that's part of what we do with the tour" to teach people more about the area, she said. Summerville said December's event is the only one of its kind in the area, with the tour, history to learn and refreshments, all for free. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Ruins. To get to The Ruins, take U.S. Highway 76/378 toward Columbia, turn right on S.C. 261, take the third road (DeVeaux) to the right, and follow it until it meets Barnwell Drive. Turn left, and The Ruins will be on your right. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6] | |
| HIST | The Ruins, now owned and occupied by Col. and Mrs. Rett Summerville, is located at Stateburg, Sumter County, South Carolina, among the moss-draped trees in the High Hills of Santee. • Most likely built in 1780, The Ruins is considered by some to be one of the most interesting old houses to be found in the area. The house has served as a personal residence for most of its history, but has also served as a female academy of high learning, the Hawthorndean Seminary for Young Ladies. • The Ruins is an intact, almost unaltered antibellum plantation home with Greek Revival details reminiscent of a time of elegant plantation home design. • Among the home’s owners, besides Sumter and Mayrant, who served on the Bonhomme Richard under John Paul Jones, were Robert and Marion Deveaux. It was the Deveaux who brought the famous Marion China to The Ruins. It has also been home to the less than outstanding owner Rev. Converse, second husband of Mrs. Deveaux. • The Summervilles purchased the home in 1985. After extensive travel with the US Air Force, they have made The Ruins their permanent residence. They have undertaken the task of restoring this historical home to its former glory to be preserved for future generations to come. • The presentation by the couple will include the story of their work to restore the home as well as its exciting history. • The public is invited to attend the meeting of the Sumter County Genealogical Society at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Swan Lake Presbyterian Church on the corner of Haynsworth Street and Bland Avenue. There is no charge for admission. Enjoy Christmas at 'The Ruins' in Stateburg PHOTOS PROVIDED The Ruins, a historic Stateburg home built and modified in the 18th and 19th centuries, will be open for its third annual Christmas open house on Saturday, Dec. 3. Admission is free. Posted Sunday, November 20, 2016 6:00 am BY IVY MOORE IVY@THEITEM.COM BY IVY MOORE ivy@theitem.com One of the Stateburg area's most stately historic homes will be on tour Saturday, Dec. 3, as its owners invite the public to their third annual Christmas open house. The house, called The Ruins and built around 1784 by Revolutionary war hero John Mayrant on land owned by Gen. Thomas Sumter, has an intriguing history, which will be examined during the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event hosted by retired United States Air Force Col. and Mrs. Rett (Pat) Summerville. The Summervilles have been restoring The Ruins since buying it in 1985. Pat Summerville noted that around 650 people attended last December's open house, adding that "Each year there is something a little bit different." "This year, we're focusing on the history of the Stateburg area," she said. "It's astounding the number of people who made significant contributions as judges, generals and community leaders in the 18th and 19th centuries." The spotlight will also be on the Revolutionary War and other historic homes, both lost and preserved, she said. Of course, Summerville said, The Ruins is one of the latter, and its main floor will be open for tours led by knowledgeable docents, many in period dress, who will be able to provide information about the house, its original furnishings and past residents. "Special focus is on one piece that is newly restored, one that is newly returned and one answering a longtime question," Summerville said. The home will be decorated as it would have been in the past - with local greenery and no artificial lighting - by Historic Columbia Foundation volunteers Janice Bowman, Pat Itter, Dena Creel and others. "All of the volunteers are local people who have jumped in to help because of their passion for ... magnificent old homes," Summerville said. She credited Carl DuBose as being the force behind the tour. The house itself started out as a modest structure measuring about 40-by-45 feet. After Mayrant, it was modified by several owners, finally having been expanded by the wealthy DeVeaux family in 1838 to its current size and look. Tom Mayrant, a direct descendant of John Mayrant, and former Ruins resident Amelia Barnwell Harper, a descendant of the DeVeaux, will both be present to talk with guests. Summerville said that in addition to the house tour, there will be other exhibits and activities, all adding to the overall historic context of the period and The Ruins. Among these are a strolling, authentically dressed fife player, the small museum with additional exhibits, and a totally new addition, the Curiosity Shop on the ground floor; here visitors can purchase note cards, period toys and other souvenirs. All proceeds from sales will directly benefit restoration projects. Artist-in-residence for the day Dennis Snell will be on the grounds painting "scenes from the property or something he has conceptualized" related to the area. People will be able to watch him paint, Summerville said. Hayrides into the plantation's back country and traditional refreshments are also available, she said. "We'll have 'switchel,' which was the Revolutionary War energy drink," she said, "and 'shrubs' (a fruit and vinegar drink often used as a cocktail mixer), hot apple cider and 'jumbles' (sugar cookies)." Admission and all activities are free to the public, Summerville said. The only charge is for items in the Curiosity Shop. Donations will be accepted, with all proceeds going toward restoration projects at The Ruins. "None of the money is used to offset tour expenses," Summerville said. To get to The Ruins, take U.S. Highway 76/378 toward Columbia, turn right on S.C. 261, take the third road (DeVeaux) to the right, and follow it until it meets Barnwell Drive. Turn left, and The Ruins will be on your right. Program, tour of The Ruins 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3 1257 Barnwell Drive Stateburg Admission: Free, donations for projects accepted Front porch history on display at Stateburg home Christmas at The Ruins offers rare glimpse into historic, restored home Garland S. Hart, pastor of Eatonton Presbyterian Church in Eatonton, Georgia, plays the fife during Christmas at The Ruins on Dec. 2. MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Friday, December 8, 2017 6:00 am Toots Harper, former resident of The Ruins, described during Christmas at The Ruins seeing lights from Shaw Air Force Base announcing the end of World War II as she sat on the back porch of the home in Stateburg in 1945. MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM BY KAYLA ROBINS KAYLA@THEITEM.COM Toots Harper sat on the back porch of her historic Stateburg home with her family, as they often did, especially in August. It was 1945. She noticed something different about the sky. "The lights, something in the sky was brighter. And we kept watching, and it got brighter and brighter. And the war (World War II) was over, and we didn't know it," said the 90-year-old Harper, a direct descendant of the DeVeaux family, who also lived at the home, and a former resident of the house called The Ruins. The current owners of the 9,000-square-foot house, Rett and Pat Summerville, bought it from Harper in 1985 and have been restoring it since. They have opened it to the public once each December for the past four years for Christmas at The Ruins to share its history and beauty with others. "And Daddy went and turned on the radio, and Shaw Air Force Base had brought the lights up again because they were all out during the way," Harper said. "And I still get chills knowing that, that the war was over." Christmas at The Ruins Harper, who watched Shaw grow from a cotton field to the force it is today, going to dances on the base every Thursday, sat on Dec. 2 in the library and told stories from her childhood as an estimated 1,000 people toured through the home and along the grounds. Rett Summerville said about 45 to 50 volunteers, dressed in period attire from the 1700s to paint a picture of when the home was built in 1784 by American Revolution war hero John Mayrant, helped give tours, serve refreshments and even blast a cannon. "I'm just fascinated by the architecture and how solid the building is," he said. "They did some good work back in those days." More than a dozen artists set up booths on the grounds, from paintings and pottery to jewelry and period-style items. The Summervilles have spent decades trying to locate original pieces of furniture and other items from the house and bring them home and restoring it by using all-natural materials, from the molding to the wooden pegs used in the floors. "I like just being able to know the history of the building," Rett Summerville said. He may not have been there to witness the signal of the end of World War II, but Summerville has some stories of his own from the house. His mother was reading "Gone With the Wind" when she was pregnant with him, he said, and she liked Rhett Butler so much she named him after the fictional character. "And she always dreamed of living in a Southern plantation," he said. "So she came down here to visit me, and I was at the Shaw Air Force Base, and I was busy working so she did some touring of some old homes and came here. "And she said, 'Well, we gotta buy it.'" Summerville had just bought a house in Sumter, so his mother bought The Ruins. "And then 30 days after she had moved down here, she said, 'I can't stay here because it's too many stories to go up and down the flights of stairs' - because she was from California," he said. Nine months later, he got reassigned, but after renting the house out for 20 years, he came back and has been working to restore it since. "We open it to the public to share the history and significance of the house," he said. "Because it is a significant house." Reflections with Sammy Way: A glimpse of historic Stateburg Borough House in Stateburg is one of the oldest houses in Sumter County, built in the 1750s. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Saturday, February 8, 2020 6:00 am By SAMMY WAY Archivist and historian Reflections visits the Stateburg community, which dates back to the 1700s. The village is on S.C. 261, or the Charleston-Camden Road, which is often referred to as the "back country road." This area was built in part by "wealthy South Carolina Lowcountry families who built summer homes in the high hills of the Santee." Sherman Smith, historian and former director of the Sumter Museum, referred to Stateburg as one of the more historically significant areas in the state. Reflections has prepared a series of brief sketches to enlighten our readers of six historic sites which continue to exist in the Stateburg community. The research data and photos used to prepare this document were taken from The Item archives. This is part one, with three of the historic sites featured. Dixie Hall was located near the King's Highway; the original house was constructed by William Sanders and later enlarged and remodeled by his great-grandson William Sanders IV. Research notes that handhewn beams, 21 inches' square, can still be viewed in the basement. In the interior, a spiral staircase was removed to make room for the sweeping staircase, which remains today. "The kitchen and medical office of Dr. Ashe Alston were located in the back of the house. Dr. Alston married the daughter of the house and moved into the home, where he practiced for years." "When Gen. Edward E. Potter's detachment of Gen. William T. Sherman's army raided the community in April 1865, a cannon ball smashed into the upstairs piazza. Both the "wound" and the ball were kept for a souvenir of that event by the family for years." The home, originally named Oakland Plantation, was changed to Dixie Hall by Frances P. Alston. Borough House, one of the oldest houses in Sumter County, was located near the King's Highway. The home "was built sometime in the 1750s on a land grant given to William Hilton." The house was thought to be in the possession of William Bracey and later owned by Adam Brisbane, then came to belong to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hooper in 1792. The home is thought to have been a tavern before the Hoopers owned it. The house was occupied by the British commander, Lord Charles Cornwallis, followed by the Colonial Gen. Nathaniel Greene. The Borough House is the largest complex of buildings constructed of pise de terre, or "rammed earth," a Spanish and French type of construction utilizing clay which "coheres when clenched in one's fist." "The pise de terre parts of the Borough House are only one story high, however, the Church of the Holy Cross, of the same construction, has walls over 40 feet in height." The Ruins "was believed to be erected in 1780 on a land grant given to Peter Matthews in 1770. Gen. Thomas Sumter obtained the property in 1784 at a cost of 100 pounds. John Mayrant Sr. (who had been a midshipman on board the Bon Homme Richard under John Paul Jones during the Revolution) bought the property in 1802; his son sold it to Willis W. Alston, a schoolmaster, in 1835. Alston changed the name of the house to Hawthorndean Seminary for Young Ladies. Robert DeVeaux bought the property in 1837. He and his wife, Marion Singleton, called it the Ruins." The home has recently been restored by the Summervilles and remains a testament to the architectural beauty of that era. THE RUINS - The original two-story house was built around 1784 by John Mayrant on land purchased from General Thomas Sumter. For a short time it was the Hawthornedean Seminary for young ladies. Purchased by Robert and Videau Marion Singleton DeVeaux in 1838. It was remodeled to its present 9000 square feet. Because of its disrepair, the house was referred to as “The Ruins” and the name continues. The Ruins remained in the same family until 1985 when purchased and remodeled by Colonel Rett S. Summerville, USAF. Marked by Teige Cantey Chapter National Society Colonal Dames XVII Century March 20, 2016 Step back in time, learn about The Ruins, Stateburg at holiday tour The Ruins, built in 1784 and once the home of Gen. Thomas Sumter, will be open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 7, as part of a holiday tour of part of the home and its grounds. Educational displays will be set up, there will be refreshments available, and guests can take a hayride on the property at the free event. The Summervilles, owner of the home, hope the public will learn about the Stateburg area. MELANIE SMITH / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Sunday, December 1, 2024 6:00 am By MELANIE SMITH melanie@theitem.com Take a few steps back in time this holiday season with the owners of a stately home that has stood in the Stateburg area since the time of Gen. Thomas Sumter. The historic home known as The Ruins was built in 1784, and the Revolutionary War hero lived there after he moved his family from the Lowcountry, according to Sammy Way, Sumter Item archivist and historian. The large home was owned by several families and is now owned by Col. Rett and Pat Summerville. "Gen. Sumter made the Ruins his home after he moved his family from the Lowcountry. While living at the Ruins, he narrowly escaped capture when surprised by British troops and local Tories. Research indicates that John Mayrant obtained the property in 1802; his son would later sell the property to Willis W. Alston, who converted the house into a seminary for ladies in 1835. Alston and his wife would change the name to the 'Hawthorndean Seminary,' which remained in effect until Robert DeVeaux and his wife, Marian, changed the name to the Ruins. The house was later acquired by Amelia Moore Barnwell in 1928 and remained in her possession until 1996. The house still stands and has been renovated," according to Way. The Summervilles held the annual holiday event for several years, and the last time the Christmastime event was held was in 2017. The Summervilles are inviting the public to the grounds to learn more about the home and the Stateburg area. Pat Summerville said the home will be decorated for the event with all-natural greenery that would have been used hundreds of years ago, and there will be educational displays, exhibits and storyboards set up on the grounds. Guests will also be able to take a tour of the second floor of the private residence. During the tour, you can learn about the original crown molding made with horse hair, John Mayrant's connection to the home and the home's expansion in 1838 and the addition of electricity to the home in the 1940s. You can also see a piano that once belonged to Bill Pinkney of The Drifters and maybe hear about the ghost who has protected the home from fire, along with more stories about the home. Much of the furniture is original to the home on the second floor that will be open to guests. "We're having the Cheraw Indians come as a tribe, and they're going to do at a couple of scheduled times some dances for us. We're going to have Revolutionary War exhibits, we're going to have historic home exhibits, lots of storyboards throughout the area talking about the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and the history of the house," Summerville said. There will also be a hayride, cookies and spiced apple juice at the free event. "The ladies who do all the decorations at Historic Columbia for the holidays do them here as well, all-natural decorations, and it's really lovely," Summerville said. Part of the hope of the Summervilles for the event is to share about the history of the area on which the home was built. "Stateburg is a tremendous historic area. You wouldn't believe the number of famous people who have lived here, visited here and stayed here. And yet most people don't know it, and that's part of what we do with the tour" to teach people more about the area, she said. Summerville said December's event is the only one of its kind in the area, with the tour, history to learn and refreshments, all for free. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Ruins. To get to The Ruins, take U.S. Highway 76/378 toward Columbia, turn right on S.C. 261, take the third road (DeVeaux) to the right, and follow it until it meets Barnwell Drive. Turn left, and The Ruins will be on your right. | |
| _UID | 6F7CD770022F49BB9EF4195E8EBC8562A110 | |
| _UID | 6F7CD770022F49BB9EF4195E8EBC8562A110 | |
| Person ID | I223377 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 2 Dec 2024 | |
| Family | Ruins THE | |
| _UID | 8EAA111A24C24F66BC84AB1F18FB2A9ADF20 | |
| _UID | 8EAA111A24C24F66BC84AB1F18FB2A9ADF20 | |
| Family ID | F151103 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified | 23 Mar 2026 | |
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