William G Steele – Found in Charleston,
South Carolina
William G Steele
lived in the 4th Ward of Charleston, South Carolina at 89 Beaufain
Street. He and his family are shown at
this location on the 1820 and 1830 U S South Carolina Census. This fact could not be proven until a search
of the Land Deeds and documents at the Charleston County, South Carolina court house records was
completed.
William G Steele
and his brother were lumber merchants who kept a saw pit on Pitt Street in
Charleston, SC. This is not the reason
the street was named Pitt Street. Pitt Street was named for William Pitt, Earl of Chatham who was a champion of Colonial rights. Details
of William Steele's brother have not been located.
On September 29,
1815 William G Steele purchased a large adjoining lot for $1,500 from Dr.
Samuel Wilson and his sons which fronted on Beaufain Street. Dr. Wilson had acquired the land by marriage
into the Mazyck family who had held this land since 1712. It was part of the Mazyck Lands which had
been partitioned among his heirs in 1742.
In 1816 William
Steele began to build a 4,000 sq. foot mansion with a bath house, cook house and a
carriage house at the address of 89
Beaufain Street, Charleston, SC. The construction of this house took 4 years to
build with only the finest imported materials.
The 1820 Federal Census verifies his residence
in the 4th Ward of Charleston with a total household of 9 people
consisting of the appropriate household members according to age similar to his
family. He had 2 female slaves under the
age 14 and 1 female slave over the age 14.
The 1830 South
Carolina Federal Census shows William Steele in the 4th Ward of
Charleston, SC with 8 white persons, a
white female between the age of 70 -79, a free colored female age 10 – 23, 1
slave female age 10 – 23. a total household of 10 persons. This census shows 5 children: Henry Smith Steele born 1821, Robert Steele
born 1823, unknown child born 1827, Martha Jane Steele born 1829 and E.C.
Steele born 1832 or 1833. October 12, 1796 in Fairfield County, South Carolina and
died May 17, 1832 in Charleston, South Carolina at age 36.
The free colored female is of note because in
1822 Charleston had a slave uprising led by Denmark Versey who was hanged along
with five of his associates. Also of
note is the fact that William and Martha Steele’s last child E.C. Steele was
born in 1832 the same year it is believed he died. Further research indicates he did not die in
1832.
The 4th
Ward of Charleston at that time is
bounded on the east by the Cooper River, south by Hasell Street, west by Church
and Anson Streets and north by Hasell Street in the prime historical district.
89 Beaufain
Street, Charleston, South Carolina
is one of Charleston’s most historic Neo-Classical houses and on the National Register of Historic Homes as a Category 1
residence in America. It was the 2011 35th Charleston Symphony
Orchestra League Designer Show House. The proceeds of this show house benefit the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and educational programs throughout the Low Country of SC, in addition to scholarships for young musicians. They said this is the finest home they have ever had for their show house.
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| Front piazza - the door surround and the lunette in the pediment are original carved marble |
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| 89 Beaufain Street - Charleston, SC The house is a regency style Charleston single with the front entrance to the house and garden onto the porch from the street. These single houses with multiple stories are common in Charleston due to the small lot sizes. |
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| Back view of the house between the new guest house and the main house and the complete outdoor kitchen. |
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| Original marble carvings throughout the house |
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| July 2015 - The house is being painted a light yellow with white trim |
William Steele had
the expertise and money to build a very fine home of quality construction, hand
cut woodwork, mortised, tenoned and secured with wooden pins. It has a marble entrance doorway and elegant
hand carved moldings and signature mantels.
The first floor smoking room trim is a rope motif, symbolizing the
wealth of the owner. All 6 of the
fireplaces are original, carved by R Welford of Philadelphia.
Each would have taken about a year to complete. The original antique heart pine floors are
still in place. The third floor rooms are paneled. A window and door on the curved, three-story
staircase are the only details of the house that are not in perfect
alignment. There are several theories as
to why the craftsman did this, including a superstition of keeping evil spirits
from entering the home. The exterior was originally brick and was stuccoed over
about 30 year later.
The house was
bought and sold to several different owners.
During the Civil War the owner was Duncan Nathaniel Ingraham, a Naval
hero, but resigned to command the Confederate Naval forces on the South
Carolina coast. While residing is this
house in Charleston he supervised construction of the ironclads Palmetto State
and Chicora. His friend, Robert E Lee,
was frequently his guest. The house was
sold several times over the next fifty years and for $5.00 and $10.00 two years
later. It also sat vacant for a time
before becoming a rooming house. It would be very expensive to restore, remodel and bring up to code.
In 2003 the new owner
began an expensive restoration to bring it back to its previous splendor. Careful research found the manufacturer of
the slate roof, still in business in Norway.
The distinctive exterior color is from natural iron oxide, imported from
Italy. In 2015 the current owner painted
the exterior a light buttercup yellow with white trim. During restoration 33 coats of paint had to
be removed on some of the interior trim and most of it required dental tools to
remove it. Modern necessities were
discretely added to compliment the period of the house. Over 2,000 square feet was also added. The carriage house and bath house were
rebuilt into a 3 bedroom guest house and a complete outdoor kitchen and pavilion
were added.
New improvements
include the first floor kitchen and second floor master bath are connected to
the original house with an ell on the footprint of the former kitchen. The back staircase, originally used by the
servants, connects the two levels. The
floors and counter tops are finished with stone and quartz imported from Italy
and China. The three bedroom guest
quarters at the back of the property has a curved staircase with a recycled
glass wall. A garden area, complete with
an outdoor kitchen and fountain center piece, connects the two buildings. A special drainage system for the entire
property was installed, because of the water issues that occur in this area.
The house is now
6,222 square feet, has 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and 2 half baths. It was listed for sale at $2,500,100 and sold
for $1,737,000 on May 5, 2015.
What happened to William G Steele?
A detailed
answer to this question has not been found.
Records show that William G Steele was born in
Virginia about 1796 and died about 1832 in Charleston, SC at the age of
36. A search of the Deed Records at the
Charleston County, SC Courthouse did reveal some interesting facts, particularly
in the following Will recorded in 1840 and a Complaint filed in 1868 in the
Court of Equity in Charleston, South Carolina gives a few clues as to what
happened to William Steele.
THE WILL OF WILLIAM G
STEELE
(Transcribed from a recorded
typewritten document)
Box
2 The State of South Carolina Charleston
District No 23 In the name of God Amen.
I, William G Steele being of sound mind
and memory do ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.
Item
1 First after my Executrix hereinafter
named shall pay my funeral expenses and lawful debts I make the following
disposition of my property – that is I bequeath unto my wife Eliza R Steele her heirs and assigns
forever all my household furniture, my Barouche (a four wheeled carriage with a collapsible top,
two double seats inside opposite each other and
a box seat outside in front for the driver) and horse and my
kitchen utensils now or hereafter owned by me.
Item
2 I furthermore bequeath unto my wife her
heirs and assigns forever, the following Negroes to wit. Paul Rose and Jenny and the future increase
of the females.
Item
3 I make the following disposition of my real
estate of my other personal property and of my rights credits and choses (sic)
in action I will that the name as last said shall not be . .
divided until my son Edwin C
Steele shall arrive at the age of twenty one years (unless my said wife should require it to be
done) previous to which time if not
divided my said wife and said son shall be entitled to an equal share of the
rents profits or interests thereof and when my said son shall arrive at the age
of twenty one years I will and desire that the property as last said shall be
divided equally between my said wife and my said son share and share alike to
each of them their respective heirs and assigns forever.
Item
4 I nominate and appoint my said wife
testamentary Guardian of my said son.
Item
5 And, lastly I appoint my wife Eliza R
Steele Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand
and Seal this Sixth day of Sept Eighteen
hundred thirty nine.
W.
G. Steele (LS)
Signed Sealed and declared by the
Testator to be his Last Will in our presence we attesting in his and the
presence of one another John Carter Jr.
William Holmes. Charles R Carroll
Proved before Thos Lehr’e, Esq. O. C.T.D.
on the 7th day of May 1840
and at the same time Qualified Eliza R Steele Executrix Ex T.L.
RECORDED IN WILL BOOK I AND J 1839 – 1845, PAGE
59 Charleston County, SC
Record Room
This Will brings
forth many questions. Additional Court
documents indicate this is the William Steele who was married to Martha Steele
who came to Henry County Georgia about 1835.
What happened to
Martha Steele? Did she and William separate
or divorce and William married Eliza? That is possible and Martha got a monetary divorce settlement and with that she moved with her children to
Henry County, Georgia. She arrived around 1835 with enough money to purchase a
farm and all the equipment. The Census records indicate she had Smith family
relatives who were already settled in Henry County Georgia.
How did Martha travel
from Charleston, SC to Henry County Georgia?
On Christmas Day in 1830 the first steam locomotive in America to pull
passengers in regular service began its route between Charleston and Hamburg
SC, near Augusta, GA and the Savannah River.
The name of this little train was “The Best Friend”. There is a replica of The Best Friend on
display at the Charleston Museum. There were ferries to cross the Savannah River
and established roads from Augusta, Georgia inland. Or, she and her children could have traveled
by stagecoach or wagon train.
Ironically, in the 1850 Georgia Federal Census
shows Martha Steele in Henry County GA as head of household with the
appropriate age and sex of white persons to confirm the 1850 Census that shows
a female white child age 17 named "E.C." Steele, born in SC. This means E.C Steele was born in 1833,
probably before Martha moved to Henry County, GA. It is odd that William and Eliza have a son named E.C. or Edwin C. Steele.
The records at
the Charleston County, SC courthouse are very well organized and cataloged but
some of the documents were hand written, have faded and are almost eligible.
The records
indicated that apparently due to the economic situation William G Steele had numerous
loans and mortgages with banks filed against the property on Beaufain Street.
During this period Charleston was experiencing
economic turmoil, especially for the lumber business. The City had experienced fires, storms and
hurricanes making the building materials of choice brick, stone, or concrete
tabby. In 1822 the “Fireproof Building”
designed by Charleston native and famous architect Robert Mills began
construction on Meeting Street. It was
completed in 1823 and still stands today just like William Steele's house. This set the future standard of building fireproof buildings
out of safe materials and not out of wood.
Therefore, William Steele’s lumber business must have suffered. Some lumber
was still being shipped to England.
There is a
handwritten almost eligible document indicating that on March 21 and April 11,
1840 a person named Benjamin Curtis had either attempted to purchase or had a
claim on the Beaufain property, but the resolution of this transaction could
not be determined.
It appears that
soon after William G Steele’s death wife, Eliza R Steele, died and since son
Edward C Steele was a minor, the estate went into the Court of Equity of
Charleston County, SC. There was
evidence of one or more parties attempting to purchase the property, but the
legal issues created a problem.
The following
very legible recorded document was found.
This connects this William G Steele with Martha’s family. Martha and
William Steele’s first son was Henry Smith Steele who died March 30, 1858. Their 3rd son was William G Steele
and he had a son named William R Steele.
Apparently William Henry Smith represented by Edwin, Harold and William Steel and her Smith relatives serving as witnesses,
called “their next friend”. This is about
20 years later from when William G Steele
died. Martha’s Smith and Steele relatives went to Charleston as “missing heirs”
and file a law suit and complaint to the Court to force the property be sold
and collect the proceeds.
Who is William
Henry Smith? We could assume this is
Martha Smith Steele’s brother or relative.
The year is 1868 and Martha died sometime right after 1860 when
she was listed in the June 1860 U S Georgia Census living in the district of
Stockbridge as a Pauper with a 9 year old female child named Cornelia who was
born in Georgia. Their other son William G Steele is still
living and died January 17, 1890. It is
possible that the Beaufain property in Charleston had been vacated, tied up in
the courts and all the other heirs had died.
So the surviving heirs of Martha and William G Steele went to Charleston
to make claim for the property on Beaufain Street and collect their inheritance
of $605.00.
THE STATE of SOUTH CAROLINA
TITLE
589
(Transcribed from a legible
document)
To all to whom these presents shall come,
or be made known:
Or whom the same may in anywise concern,
I, James Tupper, Master of the Honorable Court of Equity, for the District of
Charleston, in the said state, SEND GREETINGS.
WHEREAS,
Edwin Steele, Harold Steel and William Steel by Fredrick
J Smith their next friend on or about the Twenty First day of January in
the year one thousand eight hundred and Sixty eight (January 21, 1868), did
exhibit their Bill of Complaint in the COURT OF EQUITY, at Charleston in the
District of Charleston and State aforesaid, against Philip E Porcher, Executor,
William B Minott and Julius P Browne wherein enter alia it was prayed that the
real estate hereinafter more particularly described the property of the late E
C Steel should be sold and the said Defendants having answered the said Bill
and submitted their rights to the Judgments of the said Court.
NOW
KNOW ALL MEN, That I, the said James Tupper Master of the said Court, in
consideration of the premises, and also in consideration of the sum of Six
Hundred and Five Dollars ($605.00) paid me by the said William Henry
Smith the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, HAVE granted, bargained,
sold and released, and by these presents DO grant, bargain, sell and release
unto the said William Henry Smith and his Heirs and Assigns, ALL that Lot of
Land situate lying and being on the South side of Beaufain Street in the
City of Charleston and State aforesaid, Measuring and Continuing in front in
Beaufain Street fifty (50) feet, on the back line fifty two (52) feet, and in
depth on the West line one hundred and forty two (142) feet and on the East
line One hundred and fifty six (156) feet be the said dimensions more or less,
butting and bounding North on Beaufain Street East on lands of _______ South on land of the late E. C.
Steele and this day conveys by me to Julius P Browne and (West on land
belonging to the Estate of the late E. C. Steele.
TOGETHER
with all and singular the hereditatinments rights , numbers and Appurtenances whatsoever,
to the said Lot of Land belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the
reversions and remainders, rents issues and profits thereof: And also, all the estate, right, title,
interest, dower, possession, property, benefit, claim and demand whatsoever,
both at Law and in Equity, of the said E. C. Steele and of all the parties to the said suit, and
of all other persons rightfully claiming or to claim the same, or any part
thereof, by, from, or under them or either of them.
TO
HAVE AND TO HOLD the Said Lot of Land with its hereditatinments, privileges and
appurtenances, unto the said William Henry Smith his heirs and Assigns
to his Heirs and their own proper use, benefit and behalf, forever.
(Continued)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the said James
Tupper, Master of the said Court, under and by virtue of the said Decree, have
hereunto set my Hand and Seal, at Charleston, this the third day of
February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Sixty Eight (February 3, 1868), and in the Ninety Second year of the
Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
SEALED AND DELIVERED IN THE PRESENCE OF
John E Rivers, John B Gray, James Tupper (Seal), Master in Equity
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA – CHARLESTON
DISTRICT
PERSONALLY
appeared before me John E Rivers and made oath that he saw James T upper Master
in Equity, sign, seal and as his act and deed, deliver the within Conveyance,
and that Deponent, with John B Gray subscribed their names as witnesses to the
execution thereof.
SWORN before me, this 14th day
of March 1868 -- (Signatures) A C Palprey (Not
Pub Ex Off Margh (sic) John E Rivers
Recorded & Examined 9 Sept 1870 --
Revenue Stamps of $1.00 affixed William J McKinley, M.C., P H Clerk
When did William G Steele die and where
is he buried?
These are unanswered questions.
No record of death
or burial site could be found.
One record was found
as follows:
Deaths within the City of
Charleston from the 17th to the last of July 18, 18?? shows that W. G.
Steele on the 16th paid for the burial of his slave Abraham who at
the age of 49 died of “Debility”. Burial
at Bethel Methodist Church located at the corner of Pitt and Calhoun Streets in
Charleston. This would have been very
near W G Steele’s lumber yard on Pitt Street.
Old Bethel
United Methodist Church begun in 1797 and was completed in 1809. It is the oldest Methodist church building
still standing in Charleston. It was
founded by both black and white members which was indicative of the Methodist
Church philosophy of encouraging black membership in the church until 1843 when
a schism developed over whether blacks were to be restricted to sitting in the
galleries (balcony). The blacks seceded
to form their own congregation. In 1852
the church was moved to the western part of the church grounds where it was
used by the blacks. A new brick church,
Bethel Methodist, was constructed on the original site and served an all white
congregation. Old Bethel was again moved
in 1880 when the building was given to the black congregation and was rolled
across Calhoun Street to its present site.
The graveyard at
the church was left in its original location.
However, when the New Bethel Church desperately needed to expand their parking
lot they were willing to desecrate a portion of their graveyard into a parking
lot. As many records and as much
documentation as possible was recorded.
There were numerous unmarked graves.
Headstones are now propped against the fence or scattered in the
landscaping. Researchers seeking the
location of loved ones are told they may be buried beneath the asphalt. Some of the headstones may be legible if the
mold and dirt is cleaned away. Many
gravestones have been lost due to theft and vandalism. There are hundreds of headstones all around the parking lot and a small portion of the cemetery is still intact. The church historian has lists of the records
that were kept. These church records
were searched but William G Steele could not be found. This could be our ancestor’s final resting
place or he may have been a member of another church, but a record of his
burial could not be found.
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| Interior of Old Bethel Methodist Church Showing the balcony where the slaves were required to sit during church services |
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| Old Bethel Methodist Church 222 Calhoun Street Charleston, South Carolina |
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(New) Bethel Methodist Church
57 Pitt Street
Charleston, South Carolina
(location of old cemetery)
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| IN REMEMBRANCE
This stone is reverently placed in honor of all who were interred here since 1795.
Many are known yet many remain unknown and their resting places are unmarked.
They were members of the Methodist Church, both free and enslaved.
They were of different ages, gender and race.
All share this hallowed ground.
Their lives will be an inspiration forever they are not forgotten.
Dedicated on July 22, 2012
  
May We All Be Thankful for our Ancestors and our Heritage
Let us all in
this Steele Family be thankful for Martha Steele who bravely traveled to the
new frontier of Georgia with 5 children to start a new life. And, let’s not forget our ancestor William G
Steele who traveled from Virginia to South Carolina, was a smart business man,
established a thriving lumber business, built a very fine house and demonstrated
kindness toward his family and his slaves.
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It is amazing
how hard work, integrity, honesty and occupational interest is in our genes. In
addition to these traits William Steele was a business man and a lumber
merchant. All of these traits and
interest have been passed down through generations. His grandson, Walter Simeon Steele ran a
store and cotton gin in Luella, Georgia.
All 6 of Walter’s sons, The Steele Brothers of Georgia, have been in the business of farming and other
endeavors, carpenters, builders, real estate developers and other occupations. It is most significant to note that William
Steele’s great grandson, Grady Steele, and his sons and grandsons are engaged
in different phases of the lumber business.
For further
information Google the following subjects:
89 Beaufain
Street, Charleston, South Carolina
The house is privately owned and not open for
tours, but a full set of pictures may be viewed on line.
Old Bethel
United Methodist Church
222 Calhoun
Street
Charleston, South Carolina
The building is
open to the public
Phone: 843 722-3470
To view the new
Bethel Methodist and the grave markers Google:
Bethel Methodist
Church,
57 Pitt Street
Charleston, South Carolina
Open 9 am – 4 pm
Monday – Thursday and 9 am – 2 pm on Friday
Phone: 843 723-4587
