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Dissertation Information for George Winston Lane Jr.

NAME:
- George Winston Lane Jr.

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- History

SCHOOL:
- Emory University (USA) (1990)

ADVISORS:
- John T. Juricek

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected

Title: The Middletons of eighteenth century South Carolina: A colonial dynasty, 1678-1787

Abstract: This dissertation is a narrative history of four generations of the Middleton family of eighteenth-century South Carolina. It specifically examines the forebears and descendants of immigrant Edward Middleton of The Oaks Plantation, St. James Parish, Goose Creek. After a brief background of the family in England (1604-1678), the paper examines the personal and collective lives of family members from 1678 to 1787. The biography of this family, however, is more than a history of individual lives. The Middletons' experiences provide additional insight into the evolution of the South, the plantation system and family dynamics of the eighteenth-century plantation gentry.

Within the plantation household, significant changes occurred. With the appearance of inoculations, families increased in size. Middleton households, already child-oriented by the 1720's, became increasingly so by 1787. The nature of marriages also changed. While daughters were increasingly allowed romantic marriages, sons were not so fortunate. Differential treatment between daughters and sons also appears in inheritance patterns. Sons received land and slaves, daughters received only slaves. As the eighteenth century progressed, widows were increasingly bequeathed only life estates with remaining legal interest left to sons. Land was increasingly a male domain. Patriarchy appears, but throughout the four generations of Middletons, fathers possessed sufficient assets to establish their sons as members of the gentry as soon as sons attained legal age.

Between 1678 and 1787, individual plantations were replaced by self-sufficient family estates. Certain plantations grew rice which produced Middleton fortunes; certain plantations grew grain and indigo; while increasingly the original plantation became an ornamental country seat from which the other plantations were supervised. As plantations grew more distant from the home plantation, Middletons found themselves dependent upon overseers for the daily supervision of such holdings. Slaveholdings also increased in size as well as diversification of slave labor. In 1737, the only skilled Middleton slaves were coopers. In 1787, agricultural workers ranged from field hands to trunk tenders while house servants ranged from a hairdresser to pastry cook.

While developing vast landed estates, Middletons were politically prominent throughout this period. Brothers were continuously elected to parish vestries and the Commons House of Assembly, while it became commonplace for the head of the family to serve on the Council. Although part of the political status quo, Middletons never hesitated to balk at London authority whenever they perceived their rights as English citizens violated. Consequently, Arthur Middleton's (1742-1787) signing of the Declaration of Independence is less startling upon realizing that his grandfather had been one of the leaders in the overthrow of the Royal Proprietors. At least for the Middletons, environment proved as important in shaping their lives as destiny.

MPACT Scores for George Winston Lane Jr.

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-06-01 15:36:36

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Students under George Winston Lane Jr.

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None