McConnells in York County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Brick House
⎯⎯⎯
Lynching of Jim Williams

Brick House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Yvonne Vaughn, May 26, 2024

1. Brick House Marker

Inscription. Brick House In 1841, Dr. John S. Bratton began construction of a new, all-brick two-story house at Brattonsville. Completed c.1843, the Greek Revival building housed the Brattonsville Store and Post Office. A two-story rear frame section was added c.1855. Napoleon Bratton took over the store by 1870. He constructed a new store c.1885. The Brick House continued as a home for the Brattons until 1915.

Lynching of Jim Williams In March 1871, York Co. Ku Klux Klan members, led by Dr. J. Rufus Bratton, lynched black militia Capt. James Williams, hanging him from a tree near his home 1.5 miles away. His body was carried to the Brick House the next day where a coroner's inquest was held. The murder was part of a wave of Reconstruction-era Klan violence that led to a declaration of martial law in nine S.C. counties.

Erected 2018 by Culture and Heritage Museum of York County. (Marker Number 46 67.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.

Location. 34° 51.842′ N, 81° 10.525′ W. Marker is in McConnells, South Carolina, in York County. It is at the intersection of Brattonsville Road (South Carolina Route 165) and Percival Road, on the right when traveling south on Brattonsville Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1490 Brattonsville Rd, Mc Connells SC 29726, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands

and in the Olde English District. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee

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Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Brattonsville Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Brattonsville (within shouting distance of this marker); A House of Untold Stories (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Brick Kitchen (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Battle of Huck's Defeat (about 500 feet away); Field of Huck's Defeat (about 500 feet away); Slave Cabin (about 600 feet away); Watt (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McConnells.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Homestead (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Brick Kitchen (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Battle of Huck’s Defeat (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Lynching of Jim Williams Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Yvonne Vaughn, May 26, 2024

2. Lynching of Jim Williams Marker

Display about the Jim Williams lynching within the Brick House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025

3. Display about the Jim Williams lynching within the Brick House

Jim Williams as part of the display in the Brick House about his lynching image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025

4. Jim Williams as part of the display in the Brick House about his lynching

The Brick House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025

5. The Brick House

Replica store in the Brick House in its original room image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 3, 2025

6. Replica store in the Brick House in its original room

Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2024, by Yvonne Vaughn of Elgin, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,127 times since then and 113 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 26, 2024, by Yvonne Vaughn of Elgin, South Carolina. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 5, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Brick House⎯⎯⎯Lynching of Jim Williams

Brick House
⎯⎯⎯
Lynching of Jim Williams