Quote:
Originally Posted by kiterunner
Oh dear, reading about the sugar house at Topsham, it appears that they were slave owners.
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The Sugar House was in Countess Wear...
In 1684, a sugar-house was also built further down the river, with hogshead of sugar unloaded by crane from lighters. Samuel Buttall, the owner of a slave plantation in South Carolina, opened the factory and later took his sons, Benjamin and John into partnership. His brother, Charles Buttall also supplied the factory from his slave plantation in Barbados. Samuel Buttall died in 1723 and his son-in-law, Sir Nathaniel Hodges took a half share in the business during 1725. In 1744, Sir Nathaniel's wife, Lady Hodges sold the works as instructed by his will.
The sugar-house was demolished and Retreat House built on the site at the end of the 18th century.