Van Wyck in Lancaster County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
School Days in the Waxhaws
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 28, 2009
1. School Days in the Waxhaws Marker
Inscription.
School Days in the Waxhaws. . When Andrew Jackson was a boy, he attended log-cabin schools much like this replica. In this backcountry region of devout, hard working Scotch-Irish immigrants, most children learned enough at local "common" schools to read the Bible and run their farms. Ambitious parents like Andrew's mother, Elizabeth, paid a schoolmaster for advanced classes at Waxhaw Academy. Here Andy and his classmates studied Greek and Latin as preparation for careers in law, medicine, or the church. In 1780-81, the Revolutionary War devastated the Waxhaws. An orphan and wounded ex-prisoner-of-war by age 14, Andrew finished school in the nearby New Acquisition District, then moved to North Carolina to study law.
When Andrew Jackson was a boy, he attended log-cabin schools much like this replica.
In this backcountry region of devout, hard working Scotch-Irish immigrants, most children learned enough at local "common" schools to read the Bible and run their farms. Ambitious parents like Andrew's mother, Elizabeth, paid a schoolmaster for advanced classes at Waxhaw Academy. Here Andy and his classmates studied Greek and Latin as preparation for careers in law, medicine, or the church.
In 1780-81, the Revolutionary War devastated the Waxhaws. An orphan and wounded ex-prisoner-of-war by age 14, Andrew finished school in the nearby New Acquisition District, then moved to North Carolina to study law.
Location. 34° 50.454′ N, 80° 48.426′ W. Marker is in Van Wyck, South Carolina, in Lancaster County. Marker is on Andrew Jackson State Park Road, 0.3 miles east of U.S. 521. Marker is in Andrew Jackson State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Van Wyck SC 29744, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 28, 2009
2. School Days in the Waxhaws Marker
The Waxhaw Academy was a log schoolhouse next to the Meeting House where boys studied the under the direction of William Humphries and later James White Stephenson at the only backcountry academy.
Photographed By Brian Scott, April 5, 2016
3. School Days in the Waxhaws Marker
Photographed By Brian Scott, April 5, 2016
4. School Days in the Waxhaws Marker
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 28, 2009
5. Schoolhouse replica
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 28, 2009
6. Schoolhouse replica
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,131 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 28, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on June 26, 2016, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 5, 6. submitted on October 28, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.