Remembering Benjamin Ezekiel Hamilton

Elegantly scribed in brown ink on a decorated page from the family bible are the words: “Benjamin Ezekiel Hamilton Geddes Plantation born April 10, 1886.”
He regularly paid the poll tax of $1, as witnessed by the numerous receipts kept by his daughter, Diane. He paid his rent of $5 to Mr. Thomas Carr, once again small elegant receipts are written and kept to verify this.
He was issued a summons by the town of Maryville, S.C. on May 21, 1920 “to appear at the Guard House on Monday May 24th at 7 o’clock sharp with Pick, Hoe, Axe, or Shovel for the purpose of working Road of Said Town.” If he had failed to appear he would have been fined 75 cents.
He married Queen Elizabeth “Lizzie” Smalls on January 14, 1920.  The large elegant “Certificate of Marriage” reflects that both Benjamin and “Lizzie” were of Maryville, S.C. Two individuals witnessed this event and the “Judge of Probate, Charleston, S.C.” signed the certificate, affixing it with the gold seal of the Judge of Probate.
Hamilton was a foreman on the Bailey Farm that was adjacent to the town of Maryville. His wife worked for the Ravenel family when she married and chose to be a homemaker once their daughter was born. Her agricultural skills were put to growing vegetables for her family and strawberries and sugar cane for sale along Magnolia Road.  The couple moved to 6th Avenue, now Forbes Avenue. They initially rented two rooms of a four-room house from Mr. Eugene Walker and later were able to purchase the house from him making it the family residence. The family was close, discussing all matters of family business as a group before making decisions. Once consensus was attained, Diane and her father would execute whatever matter needed attending to.
The Hamiltons were members of the Graham AME church. Benjamin heard the call to ministry and served as a local minister at Graham AME church until he was appointed to his own. He served as minister for two churches, the final one being Bethel AME on Central Park Road. He retired from the church ministry in 1964 just prior to his passing in 1965. Today, Diane serves as the historian for the Graham AME and President of the Maryville Neighborhood Association. The family roots run deep and she is continuing the work of moving the stories forward.
Donna Jacobs is the author of “Byrnes Downs” and “West Ashley” and is continuing her research on the transition of St. Andrew’s Parish from an agrarian community to the suburbs of today. She loves to listen to stories; contact her at westashleybook@gmail.com.