— October Marsh at Sea Cloud Plantation © Painting by Andy Corley —

Basic Information

• Location – Edisto Island, St. John's Colleton Parish, ACE Basin, Charleston County

  Botany Bay Road
  

• Origin of name – Through the marriage of a member of the Seabrook family to a member of the McLeod family
  

• Other names – Botany Bay Plantation

• Current status – Along with Bleak Hall Plantation, Sea Cloud Plantation comprises the Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area.
  

— Sea Cloud Plantation Ruins © Brandon Coffey —

Timeline

• ? – Earliest known date of existence

• ? – House built

• ? – John Ferrars Townsend became owner. John was a political leader serving in the South Carolina Senate, South Carolina House of Representatives, attending the Secession Convention as a delegate and signing the Ordinance of Secession.
  

  The Townsends also owned the nearby Bleak Hall Plantation.
  

• 1930s – Dr. James Greenway purchased Sea Cloud Plantation. Near the same time, he also purchased Bleak Hall Plantation. Dr. Greenway then combined the two plantations, forming one he called Botany Bay Plantation.
  

  Dr. Greenway had the house torn down.
  

• 1973 – John E. Meyer purchased Botany Bay Plantation.
  

  Meyer also owned White Hall Plantation.
  

• 1977 – Meyer died, leaving the property to his wife Margaret.
  

• 2007 – Margaret passed away. As stipulated by John Meyer, Botany Bay Plantation was deeded to the state of South Carolina upon his wife's death to be used as a wildlife perserve.
  

Land

• Number of acres – 1,240; 4,687 in 2012 is the combined total of Botany Bay WMA
  

• Primary crop – Sea island cotton

Owners

• Alphabetical list – Dr. James Greenway (1930s); McLeod; John E. Meyer (?-1977); Margaret Meyer Pepper (1977-2007); Seabrook; State of South Carolina (2007-present); John Ferrars Townsend
  

Slaves

• Number of slaves – ?

Buildings

• Only ruins of the foundation of the house and other structures remain today.
  

Web Resources

• Edisto's Hidden Treasure

• Edisto Island Preservation Alliance

Print Resources

• ?

Contact Information

• Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area
  Botany Bay Road
  Edisto Island, SC 29438
  

• Telephone: 843-869-2713
  Website: Click here
  

More about Charleston

• Learn more about historic Charleston County including the port city of Charleston. We have helpful guides to Charleston history and Charleston libraries and museums – plus Charleston restaurants, Charleston bed & breakfasts, Charleston hotels, Charleston real estate, and Charleston jobs.