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Seay House

SC PICTURE PROJECT 12 Comments

SC Picture Project / Spartanburg County / Seay House

This simple dwelling with its prominent fieldstone chimney is considered the oldest standing residence in Spartanburg. When the home was added to the National Register in 1971, it was speculated to have been originally inhabited by Revolutionary War veteran Jammie Seay and built between 1770 and 1800. However, Jammie Seay’s son, Kinsman Seay, is now thought to be the home’s first owner, though it is likely that Jammie lived here with his son and his son’s family at some point. Modern historians believe the home was built around 1830, though no documentation exists to determine the actual date.

Seay House

Bill Fitzpatrick of Taylors, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Made of logs and protected from the elements by wood sheeting, the Seay House presently sits on an acre of land. When it was built, the modest home was a small rectangular structure with a loft. An addition giving the house its “L” shape was built of clapboard siding. Jammie Seay owned hundreds of acres in the surrounding area and deeded portions of it to his children, giving his son Kinsman the property on which he built his home. At the time Kinsman’s property enveloped 100 acres.

Seay House

Charles Payne of Rock Hill, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Kinsman Seay, who was a founding member of Central United Methodist Church, had three daughters who never married and remained in this house until the 1890s. The daughters – Ruthy, Sarah, and Elizabeth – farmed the land for the remainder of their lives. Descendants of the Seays maintained connections with the home until 1969. Today the home is owned by the Spartanburg County Historical Association, which recently received a grant to make much-needed repairs to the Seay House as well as create a community garden. The home is occasionally open for tours on specific Saturdays while it is being repaired.

Seay House

Charles Payne of Rock Hill, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

As previously mentioned, the Seay House is listed in the National Register:

The Jammie Seay House, believed to be the oldest house within the present limits of Spartanburg, is a good example of log cabin construction. Built between 1770-1800, the house belonged to Jammie Seay, a Revolutionary War soldier of the Second Virginia Infantry who was born in Virginia in 1752 and died in Spartanburg County in 1850. The house stands alone on one acre of land at the crest of a knoll overlooking the city. It was originally a simple rectangular one-story house with a loft, field stone foundation piers, gabled roof, and an end field stone chimney. An “L” addition of same height with clapboard siding is at the rear and possesses a one-story lean-to front porch supported by square columns. The interior has a field stone fireplace.

Plan Your Trip: Seay House

Where is Seay House located?
Address: 106 Darby Road, Spartanburg, SC 29306
GPS Coordinates: 34.929915,-81.941829
What else should I see?
Beacon Drive-In 1.2 miles
Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve 1.5 miles
Vann Building 2.3 miles
Morgan Square 2.4 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Historic Houses
  • See other South Carolina National Register
  • Spartanburg Historic Sites
    Seay House Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tashonda P. Slover says

      June 20, 2020 at 9:46 PM

      My paternal grandmother’s maiden name was Maddie Seay. Does anyone know if she’s related? She died several years ago; she was in her middle eighties. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

      Reply
    2. Barbara Vaughn Ammons says

      September 27, 2018 at 8:08 PM

      Was Kinsman Seay the brother of James M. Seay, Jr., born 1792 and died 13 February 1845? James M. Seay, Jr. had a son, John Kinsman Seay, born 31 August 1828.

      Reply
    3. Anne Seay says

      September 19, 2018 at 2:05 PM

      Interested in finding all connections to my Seay side. Thank you.

      Reply
    4. Kristina says

      June 24, 2018 at 2:42 PM

      Is there record of Kinsman having a son, John Benjamin? I am a descendant of John B (1885-1967) and I’m told his father is Kinsman Seay.

      Reply
    5. Roy A Seay says

      March 31, 2018 at 12:01 PM

      Descendent of James Seay, tracked back to Abraham Seay Sr., who migrated to Virginia due to religious persecution. Huguenot Settlement in Virginia.

      Reply
    6. Robert Seay says

      January 11, 2017 at 7:19 AM

      I am a descendant of Thornton Seay whose ancestors migrated to Cataloochee Valley, NC after 1820. Later decendants moved to Bryson City, NC where I grew up and now live. There are numerous other Seays in Bryson, but I do not know the relationships.

      Reply
    7. Barbara Vaughn Ammons says

      October 21, 2016 at 9:23 PM

      I am the great great granddaughter of John Kinsman Seay and Elizabeth Ross Seay, my great grandmother was Isabelle “Belle” Kinsman Seay, she married Humphrey Horace Reece. My grandmother was Nancy Irene Reece, she married Boyce Gifton Donnahoo…would like to know what days y’all are open this fall.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        October 24, 2016 at 8:38 AM

        Hi, Barbara. Here is a link to the Spartanburg County Historical Association: http://www.spartanburghistory.org/ I hope someone there can answer your question!

        Reply
    8. Neatie Seay Witter says

      December 31, 2015 at 9:48 PM

      My maiden was Seay. Who knows?

      Reply
      • Anne Seay says

        September 15, 2016 at 8:49 PM

        I am a Seay, know very little, would love to gather all info possible. My father & grandfather, Earle Pitman Seay I & II, both deceased. Thank you so much.

        Reply
    9. Terry Langoni says

      December 30, 2015 at 10:58 PM

      My maiden name was Terry Seay and I was born in Spartanburg. Maybe some descendant.

      Reply
    10. Alice Montgomery says

      December 29, 2015 at 7:18 PM

      Priceless

      Reply

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