2025.10.28 Daily Thread – American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 29

Since we have been in the lowcountry of the great state of South Carolina, I will focus on the state’s Declaration signers that have not yet been discussed this week and next.

However, before we start we probably need to sit a spell on the porch and have some cuisine from the area. Will start with a tea that is the only one of its kind in the nation. Per the company it is the only tea grown commercially in the USA – black tea from Wadmalaw Island near Charleston. The Charleston Tea Plantation developed over a long period of time. It would start and fail, over and over again. Finally, it succeeded for a couple of decades due to involvement with Lipton, yet, shut down again. One of the former owners then cut a deal with R. C. Bigelow out of Connecticut and cranked it back up – successfully. Bigelow opened the Charleston Tea Garden on the island where you can taste test their offerings including the black tea that is grown there. It is open year round. American Classic is their go to. I found it smooth and with a good flavor.

Now that you have wet your whistle, let’s walk into a Gullah Geechee kitchen. Will focus on the more unique offerings. No lowcountry breakfast starts right without some hot sweet potato biscuits along with gravy, sausage, bacon and eggs with grits on the side straight from the Palmetto State’s farms.

Or maybe you are like me and would like to chow down on some crab cakes benny…

As the day gets long there are some low country specialty dishes that will satisfy most folks. South Carolina has some great sweet shrimp, so how about some perloo? For those unaware, it is the lowcountry’s version of jambalaya.

Or shrimp and grits?

So many versions of that to choose from in the lowcountry. Even some with SC pimento cheese grits and local bacon. Try a bit of your favorite barbecue sauce drizzled on top. 😀

As we approach Thanksgiving, it may be good to have some smoked turkey and collard greens…

They even have the official SC good luck meal on New Year’s Day known as Hoppin’ John. Carolina gold rice, black eyed peas and pork…

For dessert or to satisfy a sweet tooth snack, Benne seed cookies…

That’s just a starter pack of SC comfort food to get your attention.

Regions

South Caroline is noted for having five major regions with other smaller areas with distinctive features. They are described in the link below.

Bet you will not find another region in America called Pee Dee. 😀 Actually the name originates from a native Indian tribe that was located in the northeastern Piedmont region of the state. There is a river there named after them. A unique state with an interesting history.

They cannot help they produced two of the biggest political flimflam artists in American politics ever…

And…

With one of his proteges no less. Well, actually we need to add one more flimflamette…

Good Lawd, South Carolina. Do better.

Time for a signer.

Edward Rutledge

As the youngest of seven children of Dr. John and Sara Hert Rutledge, Edward Rutledge followed his older brothers and became an attorney. He was born in 1749 in Charleston. His father was Scots-Irish and was a physician. His mother was of English descent and was born in South Carolina. Her family was wealthy and owned plantations. Edward studied law in London. He was admitted to the Middle Temple (bar) in 1772 before returning to Charleston to set up his practice. In 1774, He married Henrietta Middleton, sister of future Declaration signer Arthur Middleton, and they had three children.

He partnered with another famous SC family member, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and became quite successful. He was an excellent orator. It was not long before he joined the patriot movement. He was elected to the Continental Congress and state’s House of Representatives. Over the next year he represented the state in many actions and discussions concerning independence. It was his ardent support as the final vote neared that swayed his fellow SC delegates to approve independence. He was the youngest Declaration signer at age 26.

Though he and his family owned slaves, he moved away from his support for it as time passed. He was careful in his approach with the issue in that he fully supported states rights on an issue that SC strongly supported. All of which made his participation in the preparation of the Articles of Confederation challenging.

Prior to the start of formal War hostilities; he, B and John Adams met with British Lord Admiral Howe to negotiate without benefit. Edwin held great respect for George Washington and said in the following in letter, “I must beg Leave to inform you that our Conference with Lord Howe has been attended with no immediate Advantages. He declared that he had no Powers to consider us an Independent States, and we easily discovered that were we still Dependent we should have nothing to expect from those with which he is vested. He talked altogether in generals, that he came out here to consult, advise & confer with Gentlemen of the greatest Influence in the Colonies about their Complaints…This kind of Conversation lasted for several Hours & as I have already said without any effect…. Our reliance continues therefore to be (under God) on your Wisdom & Fortitude & that of your Forces. That you may be as successful as I know you are worthy is my most sincere wish…God bless you my dear Sir. Your most affectionate Friend, E. Rutledge.”

Returning home in 1779 with an illness he was later appointed lieutenant colonel under Gen. Moultrie in Charleston and helped lead a victory over British forces at Port Royal. However, he was taken prisoner in the siege of Charleston and sent to St. Augustine with Thomas Heyward and Arthur Middleton. He was released eleven months later in 1781. He resumed his law practice with Charles Pinckney as well as public service in the state through the years that followed. He continued to become wealthier and purchased additional plantations. Henrietta passed away in 1792. He married Elizabeth Shubrick Eveleigh, who was a young widow and sister of two Eveleigh women who had married Declaration signers Thomas Heyward and Thomas Lynch.

Must have been something in the SC water. They sure liked to keep their love lives in the family(ies).

😉

He was offered an associate justice position on the US Supreme Court by Washington, but declined. Four years later he ran for governor of SC in 1798 and won. He served in that role until passing away in 1800. He is buried in St. Phillip’s Churchyard Cemetery in Charleston. His beautiful home in the historic district was occupied for many years until it was restored. In 1971 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Edward’s brother, John, had an equally impressive life and career during the period. From participation in the Continental Congress, to state government that included being its President and Governor, to being involved in the Constitutional Congress and as a signer, to being on the US. Supreme Court and being appointed its Chief Justice by Washington in 1795.

As to Edward’s reputation with his peers, in 1774 John Adams considered Edward “a peacock who wasted time debating upon points of little consequence.” Benjamin Rush had a more valued view although he considered him overly verbose. Whereas Patrick Henry viewed Rutledge as the greatest orator among a group that included John and Samuel Adams, John Jay, and Thomas Jefferson.

Sounds a bit like a founding father rivalry to me. Edward Rutledge (and his sibling) was a patriot of the first order who did great things for America. We appreciate his service to our nation.

Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.

Be blessed and go make something good happen!