Author Archives: Bill Hamilton

No Heyward Reunion in 2020

The annual Heyward Family Reunion, traditionally observed on the second Saturday after Easter, will not be held this year.

The reason is the nation-wide prohibition of such gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic. When the prohibition went into effect, the HFA board had made tentative arrangements for a reunion site, assuming the reunion date would be April 25. After the prohibition, the board considered holding the reunion or a similar gathering in the fall of 2020. However, because of the uncertainties surrounding the prohibition, nothing is currently planned.

The tradition of the Heyward family newsletter, however, will continue this year and registered family members should expect them to arrive soon in their mailboxes.

2019 Reunion Report

The Heyward Family Association’s 2019 reunion took place May 4 at Cockfield Plantation, about 14 miles south of Walterboro, SC and less than a mile from last year’s reunion site at Combahee Plantation.

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2019 Reunion – May 4 at Cockfield

Leslie Heyward Smodic, HFA president, announced the details of 2019 reunion in the newsletter mailed out last week. The reunion date will be May 4, the second Saturday after Easter, as usual.

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Reunion Report – 2018

Weather was perfect for the 2018 Heyward reunion April 14 at the beautiful Combahee Plantation, south of Walterboro, SC. There was a good turn-out of cousins and the food was delicious.

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2018 Reunion Update (Directions)

The map below shows directions to Combahee Plantation, site of the 2018 Heyward Reunion.

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2018 Heyward Reunion – Saturday, April 14

This year’s annual Heyward reunion will take place, as usual, on the second Saturday after Easter: April 14, 2018.

The location will be:

Combahee Plantation
829 Combahee Road
Yemassee, SC 29645

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Reunion Report – 2017

Heywards gathered at the White Hall plantation for their annual reunion on April 29. For those who missed the festivities near Ridgeland, SC, some pictures and notes are posted below.

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White Hall and Old House: Their Intertwined Histories

White Hall plantation, site of this year’s Heyward reunion, is an important place in our family’s history. It was once the home of Thomas Heyward, Jr (1746- 1809), signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Close by is another plantation site of equal family significance, Old House. It was the residence of Thomas’s father, Daniel Heyward (1720 – 1777). Guests at the 2017 reunion can easily check out the Old House site. Continue reading →

Progress on the Genealogy Database

The Heyward genealogy database has been significantly expanded in the last six months. The database now contains 6,300 individuals, including Heyward descendants and their spouses.
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Heyward Genealogy Database – Status and Plans

Status Report

The Heyward genealogy database now includes 2,354 individuals. Most of the 400 individuals added in recent months are in the C-branch. That is to say, they are descendants of Nathaniel Heyward (b. 1766).

An intermediate goal of the database development is to bring all nine branches of the family to Generation 10, where Daniel Heyward (c. 1640 – 1684), the immigrant and progenitor, is defined as Generation 1. His children and their spouses make up Generation 2, his grand-children and their spouses make up Generation 3, etc. The nine branches of the Heyward family–labeled A through I–descend from the immigrant’s great-great grandchildren, in other words, from Generation 5.
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