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around Orton Plantation was settled in the early 1700's. The land known as
Orton was first owned by Colonel Maurice Moore, but he sold
it to his brother Roger. It was Roger Moore who developed it
into a leading rice
plantation with a "reserve" over 5 miles in
length. |
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The
first house built on the site by Roger Moore was
destroyed by local Indians. "King" Roger
obliterated the tribe and then built again at Orton around
1735, settling his family there. The plantation later passed into the
hands of Benjamin Smith, whose financial misfortunes
cost him the ownership of Orton. In 1824, the
plantation's 4975 acres was put up for auction.
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Doctor Frederick
Jones Hill became the owner of Orton in 1826. Around
1840 he adding another floor and attic and installed
four fluted Doric columns. |
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Orton was purchased by James
Sprunt LLD and presented to his wife Luola. In 1910 Mrs. Sprunt had
wings added to Orton house, and with encouragement
of her husband, began to design and plant
gardens. Sprunt
built Sunnyside for his daughter
in the 1890s. After the death of Luola in 1916, Dr. Sprunt
had the Orton Chapel named as a
memorial to her. The plantation has had an interesting history of
abandonment and dazzling renaissance through a
parade of owners over the years to its current
ownership by the Sprunt descendants. You can
purchase a complete account of Orton's place in the
history of the area The Story of Orton Plantation by
James Laurence Sprunt in the ticket and gift
shop oe at Orton
Online.
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