Borough House, Hooper Tombs, State Route 261 & Garners Ferry Road, Stateburg

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,43-STATBU,1D-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

On the grounds of the Borough House plantation complex on west side of State Route 0.8 mile north of intersection of Route 261 and State Route Stateburg, Sumter County, South Carolina U.S.G.S. VJedgefield, SC 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Coordinates: Present Owner Richard K. Anderson The Borough House RFD 3 Box 276 Sumter, South Carolina

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,43-STATBU,1D-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Hooper Tombs contain the remains of Thomas Hooper and his wife, Mary Heron Hooper, who were the first occupants of the Borough House to begin to develop the house and its grounds. The tombs are located in the northwest corner of the present formal gardens whose outlines were first planned by Hooper. The Eorough House complex was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Stateburg Historic District in and as an individual site in PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION NOTE: Background material and site history for the Hooper Tombs and the Borough House may be found in data pages for the Borough House, Stateburg, Sumter County, South Carolina, HABS No. Data specific to the tombs follows below.

According to Anderson, the original tomb structure was wooden and succumbed to the hungry attentions of "on old billy goat" early in the century. It was rebuilt in masonry by Walter C, White, Mars. Anderson's mother. Hooper Tombs HAPS No. (Page 2)

Part Ti. Architectural Information

The present tombs consist of a single, ivy-covered semi-cylindrical structure built of brick with two marble headstones on the eastern end. The structure measures about by in plan and is oriented on an approximate east-west axis. It lies next to the western allee bounding the west side of the northwestern quadrant of the gardens. The headstones appear to date to the early judging from their wording, carving style, and weathering hence they may survive from the earlier wooden structure, about whose appearance no information is available. The headstone inscriptions read, first (at left): IN this tomb are deposited the remains of Thomas Hooper Esq.

Who died August the The many virtues he possessed Endeared him to all who knew him and as a good Citizen, an excellent Friend and kind Relation His loss is sincerely regretted His afflicted widow has caused This stone to be erected In memory of his virtues and of her affection Ah what avails it now dear shade That grief with rending sighs the heart invade Upon the silent tomb in vain I call The spirit fled to God, the God of all and second (at right): SACRED To the memory of Mary Hooper who died the of September in the year of her age Her remains are depositied in this tomb, which many Years before She had Erected over those of her husband Hooper Tombs HABS No. (Page 3) PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Please see data pages for the Borough House for a complete bibliography PART IV.

PROJECT INFORMATION These data pages for the Hooper Tombs were completed as part of the Borough House recording project. Please see data pages for the Borough House for the project description