Cymraeg

The Welsh and American Slavery

Places to visit - Charleston

Selling slaves in Charleston

An advert selling slaves from Charleston, 1769

Advert from Charleston, 1769

It is estimated that as many as 40% of all the slaves imported into the USA came through the port of Charleston. After the international slave trade was abolished, Charleston remained a centre for selling slaves from the Upper South to the Lower South ? what is known as the Second "Middle Passage"

Ryan's Mart

In 1856 the practice of publicly selling slaves in Charleston was prohibited, and in no time, forty businesses had been established in various buildings in the city centre, in order to hold their own auctions. Ryan's Mart was established in 1856 and this is now the only building of its kind that remains.

Former slave
Elijah Green
outside Ryan's Mart

The last auction was held in November 1863, despite the Civil War and the fact that the soldiers of the North were tightening their grip on the city.

The Old Slave Mart Museum is about to open in the Ryan's Mart building and it will outline the history of the building through the memories of some of the slaves sold there. The exhibition will concentrate on the internal slave trade after 1807 rather than the earlier importing of slaves into Charleston.

Old Slave Mart Museum
6 Chalmers St
Charleston

Aiken Rhett House, Charleston

In 1861 there were almost eighteen thousand slaves in the city of Charleston - over a third of the population. In this house, in the centre of the city, we get an idea of how they lived, as extensive accommodation has survived at the rear for the numerous slaves who served the family.

48 Elizabeth Street
Charleston
historiccharleston.org

McLeod Plantation

Jerry Hunter by the McLeod
cabins, Charleston

Morgan Morris was the first owner in 1671 and then Morris Morgan in 1696 but it got its name from the McLeod family which purchased it in 1851. Five of the 23 cabins which used to house the slaves, have survived. Arrangements for visits have to be made beforehand as the site is now the home of the American College of Building Arts.

Phone: 001 877 283 5245

Boone Hall Plantation

Nine slave cabins have survived. They are made of brick, which is uncharacteristic, but a brickworks formed part of the plantation. One of the cabins is furnished, and another shows how archaeologists have excavated the site.

boonehallplantation.com