Born in 1800, Colonel Joshua John Ward also known as “King of the rice” was a successful businessman and the 44th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, but he remained known in history as the largest slaveholder in the United States before his death in 1853.
How many slaves did Joshua John Ward have?
In 1850, when there were only 18 people in the United States who owned more than 500 slaves, Joshua owned 1.092, which represented a full 5 percent of the slaves in the whole district. After his death in 1853, his heirs held 1.131 slaves.
What was Joshua John Ward’s net worth in the 1800s?
Joshua John Ward’s net worth was estimated to be in the range of approximately $904,800.
How many plantations did Joshua John Ward have?
Joshua John Ward owned and controlled six plantations and produced 3.9 million pounds of rice. He inherited the Brookgreen Plantation from his parents and over the years he bought another five called Springfield, Alderly, Longwood, Oryantia, and Prospect Hill.
How many people held slaves in the United States in the 1800s?
At that time, 393.975 slave owners were officially registered throughout America.
Does the Bookgreen plantation still exist today?
Listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 1992, the Bookgreen plantation still exists and is open to the public. The price of a ticket is $10 for adults and $6 for children.
