Old Graham Plantation Ghost
Page last updated: January 28, 2011
Written By: Carolyn Jane
Harrelson Buckley
This is her personal account of the events as handed down to her through the
generations.
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Out there on Mitchell Swamp
the crickets are chirping away. Rainy night sounds blend together as if to say
all is well. Dawn is peeking through, Captain Edward Conner, General Joseph
Graham along with his guerilla backwoods freedom fighters and fearless men are
camping down. Some of these good ole boys are playing cards and drinking ale,
home brew made right here on the Bonnie Old Graham. Plantation. The pass is well guarded by the
slaves on the plantation. The band of gutsy men is welcomed with a real Southern
Hoe-Down. A feast is prepared for a King; fresh horses are in waiting and
supplies for their next journey. The blessing was spoken by Sir William Graham;
owner of this awesome plantation, his wife Elizabeth Bellamy Graham had a lovely
voice so she began to sing entertaining the troops. Uncle Stephen pulls his
harmonica slowly out his pocket and begins to play. The slaves are tapping their toes and dancing around joyously. Ale is poured another round, laughter echoes throughout the swamp. The ebullient posses are patting Old Swamp Fox on his back for another grand success, one more daring and elusive surprise for the loyalist and the British! There’s only one way into theses swamps for strangers. Swamp Fox and his fearless warriors know these swamps like the back of their hands. After all these Swamps are a protecting friend, one more hot cooked meal eating in safety, not knowing when they’d get another one the band ate eagerly. Dusk is coming on again and nights are when the fun begins with the ole British. General Joseph Graham punches Captain Edward Conner in his rib cage animated, “Getty-Up, let’s go get-em!” Francis Marion gave the command with a gesture waving his hand high in the air, “Getty-Up!” The British dubbed the nickname “Swamp Fox” on account he and his courageous men always out run them. Uncle Stephen #1 gave a swift pat on the hind end of General Joseph’s horse, old Jack. This ole horse knew his way. General and Uncle Stephen grew up together and were greatest of friends and fishing buddies. “You take care of things while I’m away, alright Stephen?” Now Joseph just lives across from Mitchell Swamp on Bayboro and Play Card Swamps. “Don’t yaw catch that big ole catfish whilst I’m away, you hear?” In 1781 Joseph commanded guerilla warfare against the loyalists along Pee Dee and Santee Rivers chasing away three groups of loyalist turning up on them old British. Marion and the boys cut off their supplies, out running them old Tarleton dragons. In 1828 Uncle Stephen #2 was born into slavery on the Old Graham Plantation. Stephen grew up with the boys finding great admiration from the Graham family members. In 1942 Stephen journeyed over to that Great Promised Land. Here to meet and welcome him home was all his loved ones including his Grand Papa Uncle Stephen #1, smiling faces from the Old Graham clan along with all his plantation friends. There to meet him was Ole William Bellamy and Jane Conner Graham who was fond of him. The courageous ole boys rally around him shouting, “hoe-down, hoe-down, hoe-down!” Uncle Stephen #1 and Uncle Stephen #2 take out a harmonic slowly from their pockets and begin to play. Out there on Mitchell Swamp within walking distance Finklea Crossroads and present day Loris, Horry County South Carolina it’s been said on a rainy night whilst crickets are chirping a harmonica sweetly plays as if to say, “All is well.” This is a page right out of Horry County’s history and my Graham early settlers of this area. Uncle Stephen #2 out lived many Graham descendants living a ripe old age of (114) years short a few days. Just ponder Moses another one of God’s favorite lived (120) years. The old pass is gone today; new roads are winding around “Mitchell Swamp.” His friendly Spirit has been seen many times walking along the same old paths swinging an old tarnished lantern. The old fishing holes still have the biggest cat fish caught anywhere. Sweet sounds coming from an ole harmonica can be heard playing softly as if to remind us there’s no need for worry… He’s watching over Mitchell Swamp and the Bonnie Old Graham Plantation, just a friendly Spirit taking care of business as usual. He’s our Uncle Stephen, a loving kind protecting Spirit, a blessing from above. Old Graham Plantation Ghost was written by Carolyn Jane Harrelson Buckley descendant of the Gallant Old Graham’s of Mitchell Swamp, present day Loris, South Carolina, and Horry County. She was born and raised near by the Gallant Old Graham Plantation. Carolyn Jane’s grandmother, Ava Jane, great Aunt Jackie Ann Graham Harrelson, siblings and her wonderful Papa Homer Hamilton Harrelson, Sr.grew up under the loving and protecting wings of Uncle Stephen #2 reaping the rewards and outstanding Graham family history from an eye witness who lived (114) years short only a few days and died in 1942. When Carolyn Jane’s great Aunt Jackie Ann Graham Harrelson crossed over into that Great Promised Land she inherited Jackie Ann’s most valuable treasures. Hanging on the grand walls of the Harrelson home were hand painted portraits of Jackie’s father and mother, Kenneth Asbury and Avy Jane Grainger Graham and her sister Ava Jane and husband, the Honorable Doc David Harrelson. On Ava Jane’s death bed she requests her husband, Doc to go to Florida and tell Jackie to come back home and marry him and watch over her family. Jackie Ann Graham Harrelson was a wonderful lady well loved and respected all the days of her life. She never had any children of her own but claims her sister’s family as her very own. Carolyn Jane reaped the rewards of all the Graham family history and wonderful stories passed along to her by her great Aunt Jackie and her father, Homer Hamilton Harrelson, Sr. from Loris, S. C. Today Carolyn Jane lives in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tn. |
Carolyn Jane Harrelson
Buckley
Stephen Graham Floyd
1928-1942
After Uncle Steve was given
to Eliza Caroline Graham Floyd as a wedding gift he added on Floyd to his name.
Uncle Steve’s great grandson
hand painted it from an old picture. In the original picture Uncle Steve was
very dark