Huntersville in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Enslaved of Torrance Plantation
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 29, 2026
1. The Enslaved of Torrance Plantation Marker
While it remains unclear whether Hugh owned any enslaved individuals before marriage, it is documented that he purchased Phill, Binah, Ned, Nell, and Phoebe from the estate of Isabella's late husband.
Hugh's land holdings expanded, so did his dependency of enslaved labor. At the time of his death, Hugh owned thirty-three enslaved individuals. His son James significantly increased the family's agricultural operations, doubling the acreage and tripling the enslaved population who resided and worked on what would later be known Cedar Grove, the largest planation in the county.
Historic property maps indicate the dwellings for the enslaved lay down this hill in the woods. Stone ruins, which may represent foundational evidence of these structures, have been discovered. This is an area of ongoing research and
this page online
(Sidebar)
R is for the Reunion Project
Connections through collections.
The Reunion Project is the genealogical part of HEARTS, focused on connecting past, present, and future generations by researching, collecting, and preserving ancestral stories"
Over the centuries, many have called this place home, including Indigenous people, Scots-Irish settlers, enslaved people, and tenant farmers.
The HEARTS Reunion Project helps descendants reconnect with their heritage and contribute to our shared history.
(Captions)
An early photograph of the back of Cedar Grove. The woman in the photo may be Vina Johnston, who, after emancipation, legally bound herself and her four children to work for Margaret Torrance for two years, doing "anything she orders me to do." In return, Margaret provided the family with board and cotton or wool for Vina to spin her family's clothing.
Hattie Torrance, a talented early 20th-century midwife, married Abe Torrence. He was one of many descendants of enslaved individuals who lived in Smithville or Pottstown, two local historic African-American neighborhoods.
Andre' Kearns of the HEARTS Reunion Project and descendant of Charlotte Kerns, enslaved at this site, presents his genealogical research at Junion '26.
Erected 2026
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 29, 2026
2. The Enslaved of Torrance Plantation Marker at the rear side of Hugh Torance House and Store
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Anthropology & Archaeology • Civil Rights.
Location. 35° 24.436′ N, 80° 53.188′ W. Marker is in Huntersville, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. It can be reached from Gilead Road 0.1 miles west of Old Store Road, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located at the rear of Hugh Torance House and Store buildings. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8231 Gilead Rd, Huntersville NC 28078, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Greater Charlotte. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Kitchen Trail (a few steps from this marker); Hugh Torance House & Store c. 1779 (within shouting distance of this marker); Hugh Torance (within shouting distance of this marker); Visit the Store & Take a Tour (within shouting distance of this marker); Gen. William Lee Davidson Was Killed (approx. 2.1 miles away); The First Sermon of Hopewell Presbyterian Church (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Tanner (approx. 2.3 miles away); Richard Barry (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntersville.
Also see . . .
1. Hugh Torance House and Store. (Submitted on August 4, 2026.)
2. Hearts - New life for old places. (Submitted on August 4, 2026.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 2, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
