Near Sheldon in Beaufort County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

REMOVED

SEE LOCATION SECTION

Ruins of Old Sheldon

Photographed By Michael Stroud, January 2008

1. Ruins of Old Sheldon Marker

Inscription. Ruins of Old Sheldon
Prince William's Parish Church
Built 1745-55. Burned 1779 by
British. Rebuilt 1826. Burned
1865 by Federal Army. Named for
ancestral home of the Bull family
in Warwickshire, England.
———
Annual Services
Second Sunday after Easter

Erected 1956 by Beaufort County Historical Society. (Marker Number 7-4.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the South Carolina, Beaufort County Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1779.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 32° 37.091′ N, 80° 46.866′ W. Marker was near Sheldon, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker was on Old Sheldon Church Road north of Bailey Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Yemassee SC 29945, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Prince William's Parish Church (a few steps from this marker); Church of Prince William's Parish (within shouting distance of this marker);

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William Bull (within shouting distance of this marker); Sheldon Union Academy (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Frampton Lines / John Edward Frampton House (approx. 5 miles away); Southern Live Oak Tree (approx. 5.4 miles away); " The Frampton Line " (approx. 5.4 miles away); The Battle of Pocotaligo (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sheldon.

Also see . . .
1. Sheldon Church. Beaufort County Churches (Submitted on January 17, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

2. Old Sheldon Church. More photos of the ruins, and a discussion of the Bull family and the surrounding community. (Submitted on January 17, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Additional commentary.
1. from article Beaufort County Churches
The red-brick ruins of Sheldon Church, are off U.S. 17 on Old Sheldon Church Road, was originally Prince William's Parish Church. The Anglican church was built on land donated by William Bull beginning in 1745, finished around 1755. Bull was buried there

Photographed By Mike Stroud, January 31, 2009

2. Ruins of Old Sheldon Marker

in 1755. The original was adorned with equestrian statue of Prince William under a porch supported by the four free-standing Doric columns, that still exist. The church was burned by the British 1779. c1825, the church was partially restored. The church was burned a second time in 1865 by troops commanded by Gen. John A. Logan, as part of Gen. William T. Sherman's march through South Carolina.

— Submitted January 17, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

2. National Register of Historical Places:
Sheldon Church Ruins ** (added 1970 - Site - #70000562)
Also known as Prince William`s Parish Church
• Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
• Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown
• Architectural Style: Greek Revival
• Area of Significance: Architecture, Social History, Military, Politics/Government
• Period of Significance: 1750-1799, 1850-1874, 1925-1949
• Owner: Private
• Historic Function: Funerary, Religion
• Historic Sub-function: Cemetery, Religious Structure
• Current Function: Funerary, Religion
• Current Sub-function: Cemetery, Religious Structure

— Submitted January 15, 2011.

"Sheldon Church Ruins" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, January 31, 2009

3. "Sheldon Church Ruins"

National Register Historic Places # 70000562

Ruins of Old Sheldon Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,7-SHELD,1-1 image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey

4. Ruins of Old Sheldon Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,7-SHELD,1-1

Church of Prince William's Parish image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, June 2006

5. Church of Prince William's Parish

"Church of Prince William's Parish Known as SHELDON Built between 1745-1755 Burned by British Army 1779 Rebiult 1826 Burned by Federal Army 1865 Tablet Placed By Columbia Committee South Carolina Society Colonial Dames of America 1937"

Ruins Of Old Sheldon image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, June 2006

6. Ruins Of Old Sheldon

Today, all that stands of the old church are four brick columns and four exterior brick walls containing arched windows and doors. It stands as a true testament to the hardships and warfare that this state has experienced over its 300-year history. The cemetery contains the graves of those brave men who stood for freedom and independence, as well as many others who later followed their example. Several of the tombstones date to before 1700, making them some of the oldest in the state.

Ruins of Old Sheldon Prince William's Parish Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott

7. Ruins of Old Sheldon Prince William's Parish Church

Photographed By Brian Scott

8. Ruins of Old Sheldon Prince William's Parish Church

Photographed By Brian Scott

9. Ruins of Old Sheldon Prince William's Parish Church

View from backside image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, June 2006

10. View from backside

Historic American Buildings Survey, circa 1940

11. Ruins of Old Sheldon

Historic American Engineering Record, HABS SC,7-SHELD,1-2

Grave of William Bull image. Click for full size.

August 11, 2006

12. Grave of William Bull

William Bull of Sheldon
Born 1683
Son of Stephen Bull, the immigrant
Member of Colonial House of Common 1700-1719
Colonel of Berkley County Regiment, Tuscarora and Yemessee Wars
Lord's Proprietors Deputy 1719
Member and President of Council 1721-1737
Assisted in laying out of Savannah 1733
Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina 1737-1744
Commissioner under the Church Act
He and his younger brothers, Burnaby and John Bull, were Commissioners for the building of Sheldon Church 1755
Died at Sheldon, March 21, 1755
His body lies buried here

Visiting Friends image. Click for full size.

August 11, 2006

13. Visiting Friends

Friends
Who have come into our Church yard.
Please
Treat these sacred ruins, the gaves and grounds that surround them with the respectful reverence they deserve.
Let us
leave feeling Old Sheldon is not worse but better for our presence.

Historic American Buildings Survey, circa 1940

14. Ruins of Old Sheldon

Historic American Engineering Record,HABS SC,7-SHELD,1-3

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2017

15. Ruins of Old Sheldon Marker

In 2013 the featured marker of this posting was taken down by the historical society that erected it and replaced with this marker, that has a somewhat different interpretation of the history featured on the original older marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 6,040 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on January 11, 2010, by David Bullard of Seneca, South Carolina. Photos: 1. submitted on January 17, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on June 15, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5, 6. submitted on January 17, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7, 8, 9. submitted on April 26, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 10. submitted on January 17, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 11. submitted on May 7, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 12, 13. submitted on January 17, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 14. submitted on May 7, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 15. submitted on July 25, 2017, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.