Many of the homes on Hilton Head were burned down, yet again, by the British who fought in the War of 1812. However, Hilton Head could not be dragged down. Residents, yet again, rebuilt their homes and as the economy thrived thanks to the crops on the island, life returned to normal.
The economic prosperity led many of the Hilton Head residents to become millionaires. By the time the Civil War made it's mark on Hilton Head Island history, South Carolina was considered one of the richest states in the country.
(more Hilton Head Island History continues below)
Hilton Head Island history in the mid-1600's saw the Spanish having a hold on the area for a limited time.
Within twenty years, the English superpower sent Sir Francis Drake to the area. He was commissioned by Elizabeth I and was told to take La Florida from the Spanish.
While England did take over the entire coast at this point in Hilton Head Island history, it was not until 1663 before the land was actually used and distributed by the English.
The land was split up at this point into baronies by the Lords Proprietors. It was this group, who named the land Carolina.
It was in this year that a Captain by the name of William Hilton received his first glimpse of Hilton Head Island. Being a narcissist, as many men were back in those days, Hilton caught sight of the island bluffs and decided to name the island Hilton Head after himself.
The word "head" was added because the headlands were available for viewing when the English were sailing through the waters. Hilton explored the land thoroughly making notes concerning the entire structure of his island.
The Spanish wanted the land back. They were helping the Native Americans they had caused to run out of the area and in return, the Natives were attacking the English settlers and English development. It proved to be a bloody time in Hilton Head Island history.
The first settler to live on Hilton head was given 1,000 acres of land in 1717. His name was Col. John Barnwell. Within the next 50 years, the number of families living on the island increased to 25.
Braddock Cove received its name thanks to the guarding of the cove by Captain David Cutler Braddock. In 1742, it was his job to prevent the Spanish from attacking the island. Braddock’s Cove is located at the Southern tip of the island.
Increasing pressure in the original colonies as escalations occurred between the British and the colonists, led Hilton Head to take the side of the rebels. Oddly enough, the British had occupancy of the Daufuskie Island just one mile south of Hilton Head. However, support for the colonists never wavered.
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Hilton Head was raided frequently thanks to Daufuskie Island’s close proximity. This caused quite a bit of tension on the island, even after the British surrendered at Yorktown.
The Revolutionary War was during a dangerous time on the island of Hilton Head. Beautiful plantation homesteads were burned down. Slaves were captured where they were sold in the West Indies.
However, the prosperity of the island only increased after the British’s surrender. The crops on the island, especially rice, cotton, and indigo did incredibly well in the fertile Hilton Head soil.
The inhabitants of Hilton Head traveled between their large plantations on the island and posh townhouses they owned in Charleston and Savannah.
Hilton Head Island History: European Power Plays & A New Country Begins
