Stoney Baynard Ruins

The Stoney–Baynard Ruins, located within the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, are the skeletal remains of a grand tabby mansion that serves as a monument to the post-Revolutionary “Golden Age” of the Sea Islands. While the physical structure was begun in 1793, its history is deeply rooted in the maritime exploits and privateering wealth generated during the War for Independence.

The Privateer’s Fortune

The estate was established by Captain John Stoney, a prominent Patriot who served as a privateer during the Revolutionary War. Operating under “letters of marque” from the Continental Congress, Stoney used his intimate knowledge of the Lowcountry’s tidal creeks and sounds to harass British shipping and capture valuable prizes.

The wealth Stoney amassed from these naval ventures allowed him to purchase vast tracts of land on Hilton Head Island following the war. In 1793, he began construction on a massive tabby mansion—a sprawling complex made from the traditional crushed-oyster-shell concrete that defined the era’s elite architecture.

Architecture and Evolution

The site features the remains of the main house, a kitchen, and several outbuildings, all constructed of tabby. These ruins offer a rare look at the structural scale required for a premier 18th-century plantation.

• The Stoney Era: The Stoney family occupied the site for several decades, overseeing a transition from indigo to Sea Island cotton, the crop that would make Hilton Head one of the wealthiest regions in the young United States.
• The Baynard Acquisition: In the mid-19th century, the plantation was acquired by William Baynard, who expanded the estate and further refined the mansion before it was eventually burned during the Civil War.

Revolutionary Context of the Sea Pines Area

Though the mansion itself is postwar, the land it sits on was a theater of conflict during the Revolution. The southern tip of Hilton Head was a constant target for Loyalist raiding parties launched from Daufuskie Island. Stoney’s decision to build such a substantial, permanent fortress-like home in 1793 was a statement of American permanence and a reflection of the hard-won security following the departure of the British from Savannah and Charleston.