Dr. John Simpson Bratton was a physician, merchant, and
planter. By the time he got ready to start construction on
the house near his parent, he was very wealthy. He and his
wife Harriet went on to have 14 children. He died
unexpectedly in 1843, most likely from complications from a
bout of measles he had suffered earlier that year.
Around 1839, Bratton converted his parent’s old log cabin into
a female seminary. He operated a store and the post office
at Brattonsville. He purchased nearby lots and rented them
to tenants farmers. He had a blacksmith shop and a sawmill, and
made his bricks for the slave quarter. His stock included
cotton, cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs. He also had a wide
variety of crops. He used these for both food for his family
and for revenue.
His children went on to follow in their father’s footsteps as
planters, educators, and businessmen, and were prominent in the
community. His daughters were well educated and held in high
esteem in local society. Three of his sons, John Jr., Samuel,
and James, went on to study medicine. John eventually had to
abandon his studies and help his mother run the estate after his father’s death.
The Bratton’s were wealthy, actively took part in high
Society, and enjoyed entertaining their friends at their
lavish estate. Now, anyone who has been to Charleston or
Savannah may seemed shocked at the Homestead House in
comparison to the plantation house at other parts of the
South. At a later point, after my return from my trip to
Charleston, I will write on the differences in the
plantation houses you will find in my area compared to the
Low Country plantation houses. You will see this in several
other journals I have to come. While the Bratton's were
considered wealthy, they did not begin to have the wealth
the plantation owners in the Low Country area, and their less-
elaborate home reflects that.
The Bratton’s did own slaves. An 1840 census shows the Bratton’s owning 3,540 acres of land and 112 salves. By 1843, he owned over 6000 acres and 139 slaves. After the Civil War, most of the slaves left, while some stayed on as paid labor and tenement farmers. There currently is a slave house on display, giving you a somber reminder of a darker time in the South. There is a great deal of study of slavery here that is currently going on. Recent topography charts have showed a possible 20 slave cabins on the property. There are several workshops and programs on the African-American contributions to the success of this plantation.
If you were ever in the area, I would highly encourage you to
pay a visit to Brattonsville. The pure beauty of this place
will stay with you long after your day has ended. It is
amazing to be able to walk in a structure that has been
standing for over 200 years.
Now, having lived near Charlotte most of my life, I can tell
you one thing that is sorely missing is the number of family-
friendly activities that won’t break the bank. Brattonsville
is only about 30 minutes from Charlotte. There
is something here for the whole family. Small ones will love
the animals at the family barn, while older children will
enjoy some of the demonstrations held. Everyone in the
family will enjoy the beauty of the candlelight tours in
December. Children also love the battles. When Karen and I were
Here, there were lots of families enjoying the battle. There
are also lots of young children participating in
the reenactments. They are dressed in period costumes and
are usually in tow with their parents. They seem to be very
knowledgeable about the time period, as witnessed by one young
man who was tending to the horse and told us what his
responsibilities would have been at the time. While we were
petting the horses, several children ran over, and he seemed
to take great pride in telling them about the horses and
explaining what he was doing.
Throughout the year there are a number of workshops and
demonstrations held. They also hold a number of events
throughout the year. Twice a year, historical battles are
held, typically in the summer and fall. They also hold a
wine celebration, vintage days, a pottery festival, and a
food festival. One of their most popular events is the
Candlelight Tours held in December. The houses are
beautifully decorated as they would have been at the time.
Brattonsville allows visitors to experience life on an 1800s
South Carolina plantation, both its good and bad. It is
truly a beautiful place to wile away the day. Plus, hey, you
get to see places where Mel Gibson was. And I don’t know
about you, but for me, that is icing on the cake!