Editing Kingstree, South Carolina (section)

==History==
The original town was laid out as '''Williamsburg''' by the [[Province of Carolina|Lords Proprietors]] in colonial times, but a lone, unusually large [[Eastern white pine|white pine]] was found along the [[Black River (South Carolina)|Black River]].  Since tall white pines were ideal for use as masts for ships, it was claimed by the [[the Crown|Crown]] on behalf of the king.  The [[Broad arrow#Use in the American Colonies|broad arrow]] mark was carved into the tree to prevent any colonists from cutting it. Though white pines are native to the Appalachians as far south as Georgia, it is the only tree of King George’s ever found in the [[Southern United States|South]].<ref name="Boddie">{{cite book|last=Boddie|first=William Willis|title=Traditions of the Swamp Fox|year=2000|publisher=The Reprint Company, Publishers|location=Spartanburg, SC}}</ref>{{rp|166}}  Over time, the county kept the name Williamsburg, but the county seat became known as the King's Tree. In 1867 Twenty-two African-American prisoners were killed in a fire at the jail.

===Battles===
====Battle of the Lower Bridge====
General [[Francis Marion]], known as the Swamp Fox, defeated the British at the Battle of the Lower Bridge in March 1781. A historical marker between US Highway 521 and the Black River denotes the battle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Battle of Lower Bridge|url=http://www.scaet.org/markers/display.cfm?id=867|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425141136/http://www.scaet.org/markers/display.cfm?id=867|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2012|work=SC Historical Markers|publisher=SC Association for Educational Technology|access-date=November 5, 2011}}</ref>

====Battle of King's Tree====
After the British had captured Charles Town during the revolution, General Marion gained supporters from Major John James. The Battle of King's Tree took place on August 27, 1780. The city sustained losses, including Indiantown Presbyterian Church being burned to the ground.<ref name="Williamsburg Hometown Chamber">{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.williamsburgsc.org/history.htm|access-date=November 10, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131184534/http://www.williamsburgsc.org/history.htm|archive-date=January 31, 2012}}</ref>

===Historical homes and buildings===
The [[Kingstree Historic District]], [[M.F. Heller House]], [[Colonel John Gotea Pressley House]], [[Scott House (Kingstree, South Carolina)|Scott House]], and [[Thorntree (Kingstree, South Carolina)|Thorntree]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

====Williamsburg Presbyterian Church====
Williamsburg Presbyterian Church was founded in August 1736.  The church consisted of three structures. Its founders built the first church in 1738 across from the Williamsburg Cemetery in town; the second building was constructed in 1828 and was across from the Williamsburg Cemetery as well. The third, the current structure of the church located on North Academy Street was built in 1914. The stained glass windows on the roof of the church today were imported from Austria. One of the stained glass windows on the roof was removed in 1989 during a renovation and was placed behind the pulpit of the sanctuary.<ref name="The Kingstree News">{{cite news|title=A Candlelight Tour of Homes and Churches on Academy Street|newspaper=The Kingstree News|date=November 1, 1990}}</ref> The first person to be buried in the church cemetery was John Witherspoon(1670–1737), the father of James Witherspoon, builder of Thorntree.<ref name="DayTime">{{cite book|last=Todd|first=Caroline W.|title=South Carolina: A Day at a Time|year=1997|publisher=Sandlapper Publishing Company, Inc.|location=Orangeburg, South Carolina|pages=333}}</ref>

Williamsburg Presbyterian Church celebrated its 275th Birthday in October 2011. The church held a service to share Kingstree's history. The church is the oldest church that still exists today between the Santee and Cape Fear Rivers in North and South Carolina. Williamsburg Presbyterian is the mother church to 33 other Presbyterian churches. Two daughter churches include nearby Union Presbyterian church in Salters, South Carolina, and Indiantown Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg County.<ref name="The Kingstree News 2">{{cite news|title=275th Anniversary of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church|url=http://www.kingstreenews.com/story/275th-Anniversary-of-the-Williamsburg-Presbyterian-Church|access-date=November 10, 2011|date=October 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002201700/http://www.kingstreenews.com/story/275th-Anniversary-of-the-Williamsburg-Presbyterian-Church|archive-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Kingstree company formed at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church's original churchyard in July 1780. The company was led by Captain Henry Mouzon and later turned into the battalion and then formed a brigade led by Francis Marion against the British.<ref name="Boddie" />{{rp|135}}

====The Arnette House====
The Arnette House is one of the three oldest homes in the town and was built in 1840. The home holds significance in the town because the dining room was used as a school for two periods of history during the early years of the home.<ref name="The Kingstree News" />

====Thorntree House====
Thorntree House is the oldest home in the lowcountry area of South Carolina. The early plantation home was constructed from native materials of South Carolina. James Witherspoon built the home in 1749 when the house was located six miles outside of town near where the Battle of the Lower Bridge took place. Witherspoon was a part of Francis Marion's brigade. After Witherspoon's death, Witherspoon's son inherited the plantation home.<ref name="Williamsburg County">{{cite web|title=History of Williamsburg County|url=http://www.williamsburgcounty.sc.gov/index.aspx?page=258|access-date=November 7, 2011}}</ref> The British occupied the home during the revolution when it was at its original location, on the Black River. Gavin Witherspoon was the owner at the time.<ref name="Williamsburg County" /> The house was later moved to its current location in 1969 when it was being restored by the Williamsburg Historical Society and is currently registered by the National Historic Register.<ref name="The Kingstree News" /> The Williamsburg Historical Society moved the house into Kingstree city limits to provide protection by the city's police and fire department.<ref name="Williamsburg County" />

====Williamsburg County Courthouse====
The Williamsburg County Courthouse is located in the business district of Kingstree on Main Street.<ref name="DayTime" /> The original grounds of where the courthouse stands were the original parade grounds in the town of Kingstree and were used by the militia during the revolution. The courthouse was built in 1823 by Robert Mills, a nationally known architect who hailed from South Carolina.<ref name="Williamsburg County" /> The second level of the courthouse suffered a fire in 1883 but because the walls were 30&nbsp;inches thick and fireproof, the building was restored. Other changes and additions were added to the courthouse including in parking for horses in 1901, and a third floor in 1954.<ref name="Williamsburg County"/>

[[File:BlackRiver0786.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Black River, Kingstree, South Carolina]]