Ansonborough in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Col. William Rhett House

54 Hasell Street

— circa 1712-1720 —

Col. William Rhett House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, June 13, 2010

1. Col. William Rhett House Marker

Inscription. This residence was constructed by Col. William Rhett (1666-1722), a prominent Charleston merchant and colonial militia leader. In 1706 he led a small fleet of local ships that repulsed a combined French and Spanish invasion of the city. Rhett is perhaps best remembered for his capture of the pirate Stede Bonnet in 1718. Considered one of the oldest houses in Charleston, this two story stuccoed brick residence was originally squarish in plan, a layout typical of early Charleston houses. An addition on the northwest side as well as the east and west piazzas, by which the house is now entered from Hasell Street, were added in the early 19th century. When constructed, the house was located outside the city limits on a portion of land known as the Point Plantation. After Rhett acquired the property in 1707 he renamed the twenty eight acres surrounding the house "Rhettsbury", a name that was still in use when the area was later subdivided for his granddaughters, Susannah Hasell Quince and Mary Hasell Ancrum. In 1807 the property was purchased by Christopher Fitzsimmons, a wealthy wharf owner. His grandson, Wade Hampton,

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III (1818-1902), Confederate Lieutenant General, Governor of South Carolina (1876-1879), and United States Senator (1879-1891) was born in this house in 1818.

Erected 2001 by Preservation Society of Charleston.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1706.

Location. 32° 46.98′ N, 79° 55.83′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in Ansonborough. It is at the intersection of Hasell Street and Maiden Lane, on the left when traveling east on Hasell Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 54 Hasell Street, Charleston SC 29401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Historic Charleston

and in the Lowcountry.

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 territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one

Col. William Rhett House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, June 13, 2010

2. Col. William Rhett House

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: William Rhett House (here, next to this marker); Trinity Methodist Church Original Site / William Hammett (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Peter's Catholic Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); William C. McElheran House (about 300 feet away); Jones-Howell House (about 400 feet away); A History of Courtenay Square (about 500 feet away); Dr. Joseph Johnson House (about 600 feet away); Schreiner-Comerford House (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, June 13, 2010

3. Col. William Rhett House

Wade Hampton image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

4. Wade Hampton

from The Biographical Dictionary of America, 1906, by Rossiter Johnson.

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, June 13, 2010

5. Col. William Rhett House

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, June 13, 2010

6. Col. William Rhett House

Col. William Rhett House Historic American Engineering Record image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey, Louis I. Schwartz, August 1963

7. Col. William Rhett House Historic American Engineering Record

Habs SC,10-CHAR,69--3

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,886 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. 4. submitted on July 29, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5, 6. submitted on June 13, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. 7. submitted on January 3, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.