rosedale plantation
SANKOFA'S PLANTATION DATABASE
Rosedale
Plantation
Location: Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC; Sugar Creek Community
Constructed: 1815
History: The history of Rosedale Plantation begins in the historic village
of Charlotte. The plantation's founder Archibald Frew arrived in Charlotte in
the late 1790s. Archibald soon bought property and opened a store in the village.
In 1802 he began to amass land in the Sugar Creek community. Eventually Archibald
Frew was the holder of a 911 acre plantation and upon this land he had constructed
a lavish plantation home. It is unknown when the house became known as "Rosedale".
The house was occupied in the 1830s by D. T. Caldwell and his family. Dr. Caldwell,
in addition to his medical practice, ran the plantation with the support of approximately
20 slaves.
Associated Surnames: Caldwell, Frew, Davidson
Associated Free White Names
- (1815 - 1819) Archibald Frew: Founder of what was later called Rosedale
Plantation; postmaster and tax collector
- (1815 - ?) Ann Cowan Frew: wife of Archibald Frew
- (1819 - ) William Davidson
- (1833 - 1861) Dr. David Thomas Caldwell: second owner of the Rosedale
Plantation.
- (1830's - 1845) Harriet Elizabeth Davidson Caldwell: wife of D.T. Caldwell;
died in 1845
- (1861 - 1867) William David, Sarah Jane, Robert Baxter,
Margaret Abigail, Alice Caldwell: children of D.T. Caldwell, inherited
Rosedale plantation after his death
- (1867 - 1919) Robert Baxter Caldwell: acquired full interest from siblings
- (1919 - 1948) Baxter Craighead Davidson: inherited from uncle R. Baxter
Caldwell.
- (1948 - 1960) Louise Heagy Davidson: inherited from husband B. C. Davidson.
- (1960 - ) Mary Louise Davidson and Alice Caldwell Davidson Abel:
inherited from mother.
Associated Black Slave Names
Slaves of William Davidson
- Cherry/ "Nurse Cherry" - Sarah Frew Davidson owned a slave
named Cherry, part of the property settlement at the death of her first husband
Thomas Davidson. When Sarah died Cherry became the property of William Davidson
Slaves of D.T. Caldwell, some listed as families
- Parents Ben and Jenny: children Charles, Narcifer,
Scott, Lewis, Adam, Rena and Benjamin
- Parents Nat (a blacksmith) and Aggy: children Little Nat
(a blacksmith), Manda, Randall (a blacksmith), Martha, Caroline
- Alphred - a blacksmith
- Ephriam - a blacksmith
- Jean
- Mark
- Jeff - The family tells of Jeff saving the life of Baxter in Rock Hill
and was rewarded by being given a house and property probably in the Mallard Creek
community. Mecklenburg Co. Marriage records show the marriage of Jeffrey Caldwell
to Amanda Hanley January 2, 1866
- Nice
Agriculture
- Cotton - The plantation, although one of the largest in Mecklenburg
County, was a subsistence plantation. Cotton was raised but only what could be
sold locally.
- Orchard
Description of Associated Architecture
- Cotton mill and press
- Saw mill
- Blacksmith shop
Research Leads
RESOURCES