Bessie and the Manigaults: Reconstructing a Plantation Boat and Antebellum Boating Culture in South Carolina Rice Country

Abstract

Bessie is a plantation boat originally constructed and owned by the Manigault family of South Carolina. It was built and used on a mid-nineteenth century rice plantation, and is now a permanent exhibit in the Charleston Museum, in Charleston, South Carolina. The vessel is characterized by the elegant boat-shape of its dugout cypress hull, and the use of extensive framing in its interior. Although ubiquitous in the region and period, this is one of the last remaining examples of a vessel type that has not been extensively studied, and has no clear economic purpose on the plantation. This thesis argues that the vessel can best be understood in a cultural context, and is representative of class values and social status in the planter culture of the Old South. An archaeological reconstruction of Bessie is used to better understand the vessel as well as boat building traditions that went into its design. The methodology of digital recording and modeling is evaluated to show clear promise for the field of ship reconstruction within appropriate practical and theoretical parameters. The reconstruction reveals Bessie to be a capable vessel best used for recreation, transportation, and demonstration of wealth and status.