While I read throughout the Tombee Plantation Journal, while learning about the Great Carolina Hurricane previously, I discovered many other weather events Chaplin described. In addition to the hurricane in 1854, I found continuous dry conditions repetitively mentioned in Chaplin’s journal in spring and summer of 1845. Unlike the hurricane, which is confirmed by many scientific documents and organizations, I cannot find any documents proving this event. However, there were endless primary documents, which include journals, letters, and newspapers, with citizens describing endless dry conditions and referring to them as a drought. I found documents in University of South Carolina’s Caroliniana library, such as Josiah J. Evans’s letters. From these, I found personal letters from the research period that provided information to support the drought and information described by Chaplin, Elliott, and numerous local newspapers (Edgefield Advertiser, 1845; Savannah Daily Republican, 1845; Scafidel, 1978; Tombee Plantation Journal, 1845-1886). Whether in the Lowcountry or further north, much of South Carolina’s land and vegetation suffered for the need for rain and its effects were seen throughout. For example, in the spring and into the summer, people were still seeing side effects of the lack of precipitation. In Society Hill, South Carolina, Evans wrote: “the drought has been very severe and our corn crops will be very short” (August 6, 1845). Newspapers, such as Edgefield Advertiser and Savannah Daily Republican, further confirmed and added experiences within the South Carolina Lowcountry. Just south of
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Edgefield, South Carolina, in Aiken, a citizen wrote to the Edgefield Advertiser on May 4, 1845. They said that the gardens in his neighborhood were “burning up” due to the need for rain (Edgefield Advertiser, May 14, 1845, p. 2).
With these examples, in addition to the descriptive letters from Elliott, journal entries by Chaplin, and many newspaper articles and letters, this event can be defined as a socio-economic drought. One of the four drought categories, socio-economic, defines a drought that incorporates meteorological, agricultural, and hydrologic features (Wilhite & Glantz, 1985, p. 8). With my thesis’ methods and these additional primary documents, it is possible to look further into this event and determine its impact on that society and time period. This research could add, and begin, new scholarship in an area of
climatology and environmental history that does not appear to exist. This research and study would prove the strength in using historical primary and secondary sources to determine the social, agricultural, and economic impacts on people during a study time.
The Tombee Plantation Journal, and other primary sources, show that the livelihood of plantation owners in the Lowcountry and its sea islands was strongly dictated by weather and the success of each season’s crops, especially sea island cotton. The analysis of the Great Carolina Hurricane, through these sources, proved that a first- hand account of the event showed the economic and social impacts that these
meteorological events had on plantation owners and their families. Through descriptive writing, the analysis of Chaplin’s journal and other sources showed the vulnerability of the sea islands and surrounding Beaufort District to severe weather and climate events. The journals also present the geographic impact and change that these events had on the land during this study time. The research presented new knowledge about meteorological
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event’s impacts on South Carolina Lowcountry sea island cotton plantation owners from the mid-nineteenth century.
There is a lot of contemporary scholarship and research on adaption and
experience of hazards related to severe or major weather events. However, there is a lack of this scholarship related to historical events in periods such as the antebellum. This thesis helps raise questions or offers suggestions for resources that can help people understand these issues from a personal and emotional perspective. With examples such as the Great Carolina Hurricane and drought in 1845, this study shows that with methods, such as these, it is possible to learn more about past weather event’s impact on social and economic perspectives of people’s lives. We can understand differential impacts based on socioeconomic status-something they know today, but situated in historical context.
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Theses and Dissertations
Mayes, Douglas O. (2006) “A reanalysis of five 19th century South Carolina major
hurricanes using local data sources.” (Masters of Science) University of South Carolina.
Scafidel, Beverly R. (1978) “The letters of William Elliott” (Doctoral Dissertation) University of South Carolina.