West Ashley Flashback — How Red Top Came To Be

In 1875 James Grant had the opportunity to purchase 17 ¼ acres of highland and 7 ½ acres of marsh from land that was formally known as “Marshfield” plantation located in the area known today as Red Top. Grant was born in 1849 on the peninsula of Charleston. The 1850 U.S. Census listed James as the only son of Thomas Grant and Isabella (unknown surname) Grant on the ledger page entitled “Free Inhabitants in the Parishes of St. Phillip’s and St Michael’s.” How Grant found his way to Red Top in St. Andrew’s Parish is up for discussion. But at the young age of 23, he was one of 30 individuals who had “formed ourselves in Company” on November 11, 1872 “and agreed to make purchase of plantation property of Wm. O’Hear Marshfield.” Grant was one of the 30 people who paid into this “Company.” Listed by his name is the sum of $40.
A large detailed ledger sheet entitled “‘Marshfield Plantation’ in St. Andrew’s Parish, subdivided into 30 lots by F. C. Schulz Surveyor March 1875 and conveyed by Lawrence W. O’Hear and Arthur H. Locke Dec 14th 1875” assigned James Grant the number 20. The price per acre was 4000/1411 of a dollar/acre. Grant paid $70.17. The 11 additional columns on the ledger detail amounts to lawyers, surveyor, common area fees, etc. Even then there were “add-on” fees. On the “Conveyance of Real Estate with Plat” the numbers were assigned to the section that each person purchased. Grant’s section was almost in the middle of the land that was bordered by Rantowl’s Creek, Road to Rantowl’s Bridge, and property owned by a F.G. Cart. The spur railroad line to the Bulow mines ran through Grant’s property.
James Grant married Margaret Grant. They farmed this newly acquired land, growing okra, watermelons, sweet peas, beans and the like. They also grew a family of 8 children, five of which survived to adulthood.  One of sons, Matthew Grant, Sr. was born in 1888, raised in Red Top but joined the “Great Migration” to the Northeast looking for work. Jobs in Red Top were few and limited to farming and phosphate mining during the period after the Civil War.
Family and the Lowcountry would draw him back for visits, though. Yet with a growing family, he would always make it back to New York for work. During one trip Rebecca, pregnant with their sixth child, became ill and the decision was made for her and the children to remain with an Aunt in Red Top while Matthew continued the long commute to work in New York. Unfortunately, Rebecca succumbed to her illness and the children found themselves under the care of Matthew’s sister.
During his visits to Red Top to check on his children, Matthew would pick up odd jobs at Linstead’s store where he met Julia Brown of Yemassee who had moved to Red Top and was also working in Linstead’s store. Soon married, they settled in Red Top and added 4 more children to the family. The village concept of everyone was responsible for everyone ran strong in Red Top. This was particularly important for the Grant family due to the untimely death of Matthew. The family rallied. The village rallied.
Each member of the Grant family knew what to do, for their father had spent time with each of them and given them their “walking ticket”. School was first; and then part time jobs in the area’s grocery stores; next home to divide and conquer the chores; Sunday was church and maybe a little football to unwind. Two of Matthew and Julia’s sons, James Grant and Matthew Grant, Jr. shared this little gem of Red Top history; a gem that is only a piece of the larger Grant story, one detailed in a 157 page document compiled by the grandson James H. (Porgy) Grant and kept alive through family reunions that gather every other year to learn about the family.
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.