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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Thorntree

SC PICTURE PROJECT 8 Comments

SC Picture Project / Williamsburg County / Thorntree

This house is the oldest surviving residence in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Now located in the town of Kingstree, the home was built on a nearby plantation in 1749. Originally owned by Irish immigrant James Witherspoon – founder of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church – the pre-Revolutionary War home includes historic details such as hand-hewn heart pine beams and leather washers.

Thorntree Plantation House

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Following the death of Witherspoon, the property went to his son, Gavin. During the Revolutionary War, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton made Witherspoon’s plantation his encampment along with 100 British dragoons. Their use of the property likely spared it from being burned.

Thorntree Snow

Linda Brown of Kingstree, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Gavin Witherspoon died intestate, and the plantation was purchased by John A. Gordon in 1826. The property remained in the Gordon family until the early twentieth century. It changed hands a few times before being bought by the Williamsburg Historical Society. On December 2, 1969, the home was moved from its original location to its current site within Fluitt-Nelson Memorial Park by the society to ensure its protection from vandals and the elements. The society restored the home and continues to preserve it as a house museum.

Thorntree Plantation House Rear

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Thorntree is listed in the National Register:

(Witherspoon House) The oldest known residence in the Pee Dee area, Thorntree is an excellent example of the earliest plantation houses constructed entirely of native materials. Built by Irish immigrant James Witherspoon in 1749, the house possesses a progressive rural domestic design. The house was located in the wilderness and adapted to the New World, but with refinements recalling the good life in the Old World. The two-story frame “I-House” type house has a hall and parlor plan with exterior end chimneys, and full-length piazzas on the front and rear elevations. Its brick piers support hand-hewn heart pine beams. All twenty-four windows have pine paneled shutters fastened with hand-forged strap hinges. The entire interior is pine: the floors, walls, ceilings, cornices, mantels and all overmantels (except two that are plastered). The house was moved from an inaccessible rural site to preserve it. The original site was unavailable for purchase, and unprotected against fire and vandalism. The present site is within the city on land donated as a memorial park. Victorian trim, south piazza, and shed rooms added ca. 1800 have been removed.

Interior Photos of Thorntree


Thorntree Plantation House Interior

Brandon Coffey of Charleston, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Historical Photos of Thorntree


Thorntree

Georgetown Digital Library, 1978 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Thorntree

Where is Thorntree located?
Address: Nelson Blvd., Kingstree, SC 29556
GPS Coordinates: 33.658851,-79.828188
What else should I see?
Brockington Drugstore 0.6 mile
Williamsburg County Courthouse 0.6 mile
Kingstree Depot 0.6 mile
Kingstree Pig Pickin' Festival 0.6 mile
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Historic Houses
  • Kingstree Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina National Register
  • See other South Carolina Parks
    Thorntree Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Oscar Bloch says

      August 18, 2019 at 4:37 PM

      Hi. I am a descendant of the Witherspoons living in Madison, WI. I am interested in who the gentleman is in the portrait above the mantle in the interior photo. Thanks, Oscar Bloch (1137 Erin Street #202, Madison, WI 53715, obloch3@gmail.com)

      Reply
      • Kathryn Watkins says

        October 11, 2019 at 7:35 PM

        Samuel Fluitt

        Reply
        • Lori A. Foley says

          November 6, 2022 at 11:18 PM

          Descendant of Samuel Nelson Fluitt and William Nelson Fluitt. My father is James Ray Fluitt and his father was Nelson Fluitt.

          Reply
    2. Sole Sastre says

      May 3, 2019 at 12:53 PM

      Hello,

      I am the editor of Discover Charleston, the city’s annual destination guide. We’re doing a piece on Williamsburg County as a local getaway destination with small town appeal and would like to know if you can share the image of the home interior taken by Brandon Coffey (fourth from the top). Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

      Kind Regards,

      Sole Sastre

      Reply
    3. Fred Shinners says

      October 2, 2018 at 2:41 PM

      Do they offer tours of the home?

      Reply
      • SC Picture Project says

        October 2, 2018 at 11:59 PM

        Tours are definitely available but by appointment only. You can reach out to the Williamsburg County Historical Society and Museum, the owners of the house, and set up go over all of the details. You’re going to love it, it’s a fascinating place. Their phone number is (843)-355-3306.

        Reply
    4. Luann Price says

      May 8, 2017 at 5:21 PM

      Are there any pictures of the Witherspoon Plantation house before the house was moved?

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        May 9, 2017 at 1:20 AM

        Hello Luann, the only photo we are aware of is the one found in this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/itsbrandoyo/15044975792/. This came from a thesis paper done on the early houses of Williamsburg County which can be found here: http://media.clemson.edu/caah/pdp/hp/2008-Julius-Richardson-TP.pdf. Hope this helps!

        Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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