In 1749 William Livingston, of London, and his associates, were granted four 50,000 acre tracts of land. Given by the British government the tracts were in the upcountry of South Carolina. These tracts included part of what is now Ninety Six. Livingston then sold this land to John Hamilton who wanted to colonize it.
John Hamilton contracted George Hunter, General Surveyor, to survey his holdings in 1751. Hamilton’s land measure about 18 miles to a side and ran from the Saluda River north to Long Cane Creek. The southern line of the survey ran northeast to southwest at an orientation of 45 degrees crossing the Cherokee path at Ninety Six. Hamilton’s plans for colonization fell through. The majority of the land was later subdivided and sold.
Visitors to Ninety Six National Historic Site can walk part of Hamilton’s survey line. Located behind the Star Fort, the path is approximately 0.2 mile long.
