Drayton Family Vault, Magnolia Plantation
by Carol Montoya
Title
Drayton Family Vault, Magnolia Plantation
Artist
Carol Montoya
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Drayton Family Vault, Magnolia Plantation
"The Drayton family tomb was constructed sometime prior to 1700 by its first occupant, Magnolia Plantation’s first Drayton owner, Thomas Drayton, Jr. It became the resting place of subsequent owners and members of their families until 1891 when the Reverend John Grimke Drayton saw fit to be buried at the Church of Saint John in the Wilderness at his summer mountain home in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Since then, it has been utilized only by Drayton F. Hastie in 1917, uncle of the present owner.
The marble plaque on the face of the tomb was carved by Jardella, the New Nation’s first sculptor of note. The features of the cherubs were vandalized by the bayonets and rifle balls of occupying U. S. Army troops, who also burned the plantation house in 1865. The large crack on the face of the tomb was incurred in the Earthquake of 1886, which leveled Charleston. The burial chamber itself is located directly beneath the visible elevated portion of the tomb. It was entered via a subterranean door in the rear of the tomb. When opened for inspection and repair in the 1980s, the room, with a 6-foot vaulted brick ceiling, was seen to be 10 feet by 10 feet in area. With exception of the 1715 German lead coffin of Thomas Drayton, Jr., and the 1917 coffin of Drayton F. Hastie, all coffins were in shambles. Clear evidence, however, indicated its occupancy by 14 adults and many children. Now that its interior and contents has been restored and rearranged, it may be utilized by future family members."
Uploaded
August 25th, 2019
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