Labor Day thoughts: How many from South Carolina know about Hephzibah Jenkins Townsend? Born before the fall of Charles Towne to the British in 1780, Hephzibahs dying mother entrusted her to slaves to take to Edisto Island and see that she survived. She grew up and married a wealthy slave-owning cotton planter. The mother of four children, Hephzibah couldnt agree to the system of only the first born male child inheriting everything (primogeniture). Over her husbands objections, she built a commercial bakery and became the first working woman of her class. Alongside a former slave, she baked and catered parties. She provided well for her sons AND daughter. She also used her earnings to build the first Baptist church on Edisto, and gave it to the black community upon her death. She founded a missionary society. I made it my mission this weekend to find and photograph the ruins of Hephzibahs ovens. It took a kayak trip, a few conversations, and two hikes. But I found them!
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 03:00:23 +0000