Jekyll Island in Glynn County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Horton House Historic Site
Warehouse Ruins
Jekyll Island
Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 18, 2009
1. Horton House Historic Site Marker
Inscription.
Horton House Historic Site. Warehouse Ruins. Jekyll Island was vey isolated from St. Simons and Brunswick in the 18th and 19th centuries. Due to this isolation the du Bignon family was mostly self-sufficient, as were previous owners of the island such as William Horton., What is now visible in this area - tabby ruins along the marsh and a brick lined well - are only a glimpse of the extensive plantation that operated on this island for over a hundred years. Most of the buildings have been lost to time and concealed by the ground, but what is known about these missing treasures paints a vivid picture of a flourishing plantation. There were wooden barns and malt houses, stables, an Overseer's home, slave quarters and several other outbuildings., During the du Bignon family's time on the island several other families rented land and lived here as well. Jekyll Island was isolated, but it was also a thriving community., How do you know that ? , The information provided on these panels was gathered by two methods, documentary research and archaeological investigations. This historic site has been of great interest since 1898, when the first attempt at preserving the site was organized by Jekyll Island Club members., Primary documents, such as personal letters written by Christophe du Bignon or census and tax records, helps archaeologists determine what is missing. If the records are detailed, they may even be fortunate enough to know precisely where a missing building was located before a survey or excavation begins., Unfortunately many of the primary historical documents are not more specific then to describe a wooden barn or a "good house for his Overseer about thirty by twenty." These references have at least given archaeologists clues about where to search for the missing sites. Recent archaeological work has provided estimated locations of the kitchen and slave quarters of the du Bignon family.
Jekyll Island was vey isolated from St.
Simons and Brunswick in the 18th & 19th
centuries. Due to this isolation the du Bignon
family was mostly self-sufficient, as were
previous owners of the island such as William
Horton.
What is now visible in this area - tabby ruins along the marsh and a brick lined well - are only a glimpse of the extensive plantation that operated on this island for over a hundred years. Most
of the buildings have been lost to time and concealed by the ground, but what is known about these missing treasures paints a vivid picture of a flourishing plantation. There were wooden barns and malt houses, stables, an Overseer's home, slave quarters and several
other outbuildings.
During the du Bignon family's time on the island several other families rented land and lived here as well. Jekyll Island was isolated, but it was also a thriving community.
How do you know that ?
The information provided on these panels was gathered by two methods, documentary research and archaeological investigations. This historic site has been of great interest since 1898, when the first attempt at preserving the site was organized by Jekyll Island Club members.
Primary documents, such as personal letters written by Christophe du Bignon or census and tax records, helps archaeologists
Click or scan to see this page online
determine
what is missing. If the records are detailed, they
may even be fortunate enough to know precisely where a missing building was located before a survey or excavation begins.
Unfortunately many of the primary historical documents are not more specific then to describe a wooden barn or a "good house for
his Overseer about thirty by twenty." These references have at least given archaeologists clues about where to search for the missing sites. Recent archaeological work has provided estimated locations of the kitchen and slave quarters of the du Bignon family.
Erected by Friends of Historic Jekyll Island, Inc. Jekyll Island Museum.
Location. 31° 6.002′ N, 81° 24.929′ W. Marker is on Jekyll Island, Georgia, in Glynn County. Marker is on Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling south. South of the Horton House Ruins. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jekyll Island GA 31527, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Horton House Historic Site (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Horton House Historic Site (about
Sometimes called Georgia's First Brewery.
Large pieces of tabby seen here on the bank of the creek, now known as du Bignon Creek, mark the site and are the remains of the first brewery established in Georgia. Crops of barley, rye, and hops, planted and raised in Horton's fields on Jekyll, were used in making beer for the soldiers at nearby Frederica on St. Simons Island.
Major William Horton, of Oglethorpe's Regiment, was the first English resident of Jekyll Island. The remains of Horton's tabby house stand northeast of this brewery. See Nearby Markers
( GlynnCounty.com )
Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 18, 2009
4. Warehouse " tabby" ruins
Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 2009
5. Horton House Historic Warehouse Ruins Site
National register of Historic Places:
Horton-duBignon House, Brewery Ruins, duBignon Cemetery *** (added 1971 - District - #71000278)
Riverview Dr., Jekyll Island
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Horton,Maj. William
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Agriculture, Social History, Architecture, Military, Industry
Period of Significance: 1700-1749, 1750-1799, 1850-1874
Owner: State
Historic Function: Agriculture/Subsistence, Domestic, Funerary
Historic Sub-function: Cemetery, Processing, Single Dwelling
Current Function: Landscape, Vacant/Not In Use
Current Sub-function: Park
Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,169 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 29, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.