Gullah History

First Families of Hilton Head | The Simmons

May 4, 2021

When you drive down Spanish Wells Road, on Hilton Head, you are sure to go over the bridge that was named after Charlie Simmons, Sr., also known as “Mr. Transportation.” The story of how he used his boat to connect the native islanders to the mainland is a well-known one. He established a ferry business that enabled native islanders to bring their crops to the markets in Savannah. Not only did his transportation business impact the lives of the individual islanders, it was also instrumental in increasing the economic strength and overall development of the island. This makes his life and work an important part of Hilton Head’s history.

Digging Up the Past | Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park

April 21, 2021

“Enslaved people came with the knowledge of how to produce ceramic. Finding the ceramics was unexpected. We had thought that we would find other types of daily life like; nails, glass bones or other types of cooking ware and scattered pieces. So far, the Mitchelville dig has showed a serious intention or effort when one object, in particular, was found. As the dig was progressing, they realized that that area “was not only special, but also religious.” The types of ceramics that have been found where used in religious ceremonies and could have been bought or traded in the 1800s.

Bradley Beach | The Story Behind the Name

March 2, 2021

During that time, in the lowcountry, even if you lived near the water, Blacks were limited as to where they could go to the beach. A simple beach vacation or a day at the beach usually called for the Green Book, a guide that offered safe travel options for Blacks in the 1950’s and 60’s; although it provided only a limited number of good options from Savannah to Charleston.

Freedom Day | Exploring the Families of Historic Mitchelville

January 22, 2021

Freedom Day: Exploring the Families of Historic Mitchelville an epic documentary that will explore the journey to freedom through the stories and conversations of the descendants of the way makers in Mitchelville. On this journey, you will meet the Aiken, Brown, Burke, Jones, and Lawyer families that have called Hilton Head Island for nearly 200 years. In addition to those families, you will find out how Harriet Tubman and the American Red Cross’s Clara Barton contributed to the success of Historic Mitchelville.

The Cherry Hill School

January 11, 2021

Cherry Hill
Representing the vital importance of education to the Gullah, the Cherry Hill School still stands as yet another cherished location along the Beach City Corridor. Built in 1937, and financially maintained by Gullah community, the one room schoolhouse taught 30 elementary students between 1st and 5th grade.

Hilton Head First Families | The Aikens

December 5, 2020

From the beginning of my research, it became clear that the Aiken family was a family that strived to achieve all that they could often under very difficult circumstances. When I first asked the family how far back they could trace their family roots, I was told about James Aiken, who was born in 1871. However, when I began my research, I was not only able to find James, but also his father Joseph Goodwin Aiken, who was born in Bluffton in 1831. Remarkably, I was also able to find

Furthering Gullah Culture As A Family | The Campbell’s

November 20, 2020

Maintaining the family business is important, not only because of the financial benefits that it provides, but because it’s a vital part of the preservation of the island and the family’s Gullah culture.

Ben Greene | Changing Lives, One Fish at a Time

August 22, 2020

“If I could get one kid to become hooked on fishing and give them the opportunity to have some quiet time to reflect, it makes such a difference; it could change someone’s life. And their reward is that at the end, you can eat it.”

First Families of Hilton Head | The Lawyers

July 27, 2020

The Lawyers, like most families on Hilton Head depended on the land as well as the surrounding waters to sustain them, but for generations, they chose to make fishing the family business. This included Ned’s sons, Edward Jr. and Jack Lawyer, and all of his grandsons after him, including Arthur Lawyer Sr. However, even though an existence surrounded by water brought them life and joy, it brought tragedy and loss as well.

First Familes of Hilton Head | The Stewarts

June 12, 2020

For the Stewarts, and most of the male Native Islanders, survival meant living off the bounty of the land and sea. Developing the skills needed to fish and navigate the waters was how they were able to put food on the table, and earn a living to support the family. The Stewart family was different, because however, and one of Charles’ sons, Arthur Stewart, turned fishing the family business that served the needs of the community, and his wife, Isabel worked alongside him as a deckhand. This was unusual because, in those days, most native islander women were not taught to swim or fish.

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