The History of Lords Proprietors’ Seal Recovered From North Charleston “Dead House”
Abstract
A Lords Proprietors’ seal was found on a building called “Dead House” in North Charleston. The origin of the seal and the purpose of the Dead House is unknown, and many questions. This seal is significant because if the seal is from the Proprietors’ period, then it could be the oldest artifact in the city of North Charleston. Historical research was performed, using property titles and the history of the Lords Proprietors through their founding documents and other online resources. In addition, chemical techniques were used to determine the composition of the building and seal. Through analysis of the documents and data, this project suggests that the “Dead House” was a gunpowder magazine built around the time of the Revolutionary War by Sir Edgerton Leigh, a loyalist. To display that the magazine was only for loyalists, he may have put the Lords Proprietors’ seal on the building. Thus, the artifact may not be the oldest in North Charleston, but it is old enough to hold historical significance.
The History of Lords Proprietors’ Seal Recovered From North Charleston “Dead House”
Founders Hall 251 A
A Lords Proprietors’ seal was found on a building called “Dead House” in North Charleston. The origin of the seal and the purpose of the Dead House is unknown, and many questions. This seal is significant because if the seal is from the Proprietors’ period, then it could be the oldest artifact in the city of North Charleston. Historical research was performed, using property titles and the history of the Lords Proprietors through their founding documents and other online resources. In addition, chemical techniques were used to determine the composition of the building and seal. Through analysis of the documents and data, this project suggests that the “Dead House” was a gunpowder magazine built around the time of the Revolutionary War by Sir Edgerton Leigh, a loyalist. To display that the magazine was only for loyalists, he may have put the Lords Proprietors’ seal on the building. Thus, the artifact may not be the oldest in North Charleston, but it is old enough to hold historical significance.
