Timeless Georgetown: Laying Out the Town

By Mary Boyd

Timeless Georgetown is a series dedicated to the rich history and stories that shaped Georgetown, South Carolina—the third-oldest city in the state. From the strategic maneuvers of the Revolutionary War to the cultural evolution of the “Rice Coast,” we explore the legends and landmarks that define our heritage. Join us as we look beyond the modern landscape to discover the people and events that paved the way for the Georgetown we know today.

When the Reverend Elisha Screven began laying out the plan for his new town, he could not have known that his ownership would be challenged only a few years later. In 1729, he hired surveyor William Swinton to divide 274 ½ acres into business and residential lots. Within seven years, all of the town lots had been sold. Each purchaser agreed to build a structure at least 16 feet by 22 feet, with a brick chimney; failure to do so resulted in forfeiture.

Many of Georgetown’s streets reflected royal titles: King, Queen, Princess, later changed to Prince, and Duke. Others were named for their roles or locations. Broad and Highmarket were the two widest streets, with Highmarket likely intended as the site of the town market. Wood Street marked the western edge of town near the woods, while Front Street, sometimes called Bay Street, faced the river. Screven Street honored the town’s founder, and Orange Street reflected a royal connection to the Netherlands’ House of Orange. Church Street took its name from the original plan for three congregations: the Presbyterian Church at the head of Orange Street, the Church of England at the head of Broad Street, and the Baptist, or Anabaptist, Church at the head of Screven Street. None of the congregations built on its assigned lot at first, though the Baptists later built their sanctuary on theirs. Today, Church Street is Highway 17, a major artery through Georgetown.

Owners of business lots on Front Street were granted use of the land down to the river, giving them direct access to the waterfront. At one time, a dock stood at the foot of each street along the river. Eventually, only one remained: the dock at the foot of Cannon Street, where the Port of Entry was located. It was large enough to accommodate eight ships at a time.

When families purchased a lot, they were granted the privilege of pasturing one horse and one cow on the town common, located across Church Street at the northern limit. A scavenger was hired periodically to remove trash and refuse placed out by citizens. In one newspaper article, a complaint charged that the scavenger was depositing the collected refuse in a large ditch at the northern end of Queen Street, creating an eyesore.

One twist of fate was that Winyah Bay was too shallow and muddy for larger trading vessels to use the Port of Entry, established in 1732, on a regular basis. As a result, Georgetown could not engage in large-scale trade, which helped keep it a small town until the early 20th century.

In 1737, the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. John Cleland may have caused an uproar. Mrs. Cleland’s father, John Perry, claimed the same property and had endowed it to his daughter, Mary. Upon investigation, it appeared that Perry’s agent, John Abraham Motte, had sold the very same plot to the Reverend William Screven, who in turn left it to his son, the Reverend Elisha Screven. After the court case was completed, the disputed property within the town was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Cleland and placed under a board of three trustees. All lots set aside for common use remained reserved. Two new streets were added in 1737: Cleland Street on the western end and St. James Street on the east side.

The Georgetown County Museum has research on the ownership of each lot in Georgetown from 1729 to at least the War Between the States, compiled from several sources. Come in or call for information on your lot!

About the Author

Mary Boyd is a dedicated local historian with a deep passion for preserving and sharing the rich narrative of Georgetown County. She is closely associated with the Georgetown County Historical Society Museum and is a frequent contributor to local historical research. Mary warmly welcomes queries from the community regarding Georgetown’s unique history and cultural heritage.

Get in Touch: For questions or to learn more about the museum’s collections, you can reach Mary at [email protected].