Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Broad Street Site of Domestic Slave Trade
Photographed By Brandon D Cross
1. Broad Street Site of Domestic Slave Trade Marker
During the first half of the nineteenth century, many buildings on Broad Street between Church and East Bay Streets served as auction houses and private venues for the sale of human property. The firm of William Payne & Sons was likely the busiest auction house in the Lowcountry between 1803 and 1834. At this site, sometimes acting as agent for the City Sheriff to collect court-ordered debts, Payne brokered the sale of more than 9200 local enslaved people. While many were enslaved in town, many more worked in the surrounding countryside. Small private sales and large auctions took place both here and wherever the enslaved lived. At his largest sale in February 1819, Payne sold 367 enslaved human beings belonging to the estate of planter John Ball, who were valued at approximately $6.5 million in 2021 dollars.
Broker Thomas Hume, then Isaac Bennett and Roland Rhett carried on the domestic slave trade at this location after Payne's death and until the Civil War.
Sponsored by college of Charleston, Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston
Erected 2021 by College of Charleston, Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
this page online
Location. 32° 46.609′ N, 79° 55.718′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. Marker is on Broad Street, 0.1 miles east of Church Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 36 Broad Street, Charleston SC 29403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William A. Giles (within shouting distance of this marker); Shepheard's Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry / Solomon's Lodge No. 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Society of the Cincinnati of the State of South Carolina (within shouting distance of this marker); The Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of South Carolina (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Bank Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clark Mills Studio (about 300 feet away); William Mills Tenement (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.
Also see . . .
1. William Payne & Sons, Charleston, S.C. Enslavement to Citizenship website entry (Submitted on March 7, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Center for the Study of Slavery. College
Photographed By Brandon D Cross
2. Broad Street Site of Domestic Slave Trade Marker
PICRYL - Public Domain
3. Slave Sale, Charleston, South Carolina
Credits. This page was last revised on March 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 96 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 7, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
