Richard Edward Dereef (c. 1798–1876) was an African-American slave-owner, lumber trader, and politician.[1] A member of a wealthy family of mixed African and European descent, Dereef was a prominent member of South Carolinian society but was subject to discrimination due to his race. He was considered one of the wealthiest African-American men in Charleston, South Carolina and served as a city alderman during the Reconstruction era.
Richard Edward Dereef | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1798 Charleston, South Carolina, United States |
| Died | 1876 |
| Occupation(s) | Lumber trader, politician |
| Organization | Brown Fellowship Society |
Biography
editDereef was from a wealthy mixed race family in Charleston.[2] Although well educated and wealthy, he was subject to discrimination due to his race.[3] Unlike other freedmen, Dereef did not have to pay the Free Black Man's Tax, as he claimed Native American descent from his grandmother.[2][4] In 1823 he and his cousin, John Cain, went to court and persuaded a Charleston magistrate that the Dereef and Cain families were legitimately descended from Native Americans, exempting them and their children from the tax.[4]
He and his brother, Joseph Dereef (1802–1876) worked as wood factors. The family business operated from Dereef's Wharf.[5] He also owned rental properties on the East Side of Charleston, and some of his tenants were white people.[6] He was considered one of the richest black men in Charleston.[2][7]
Dereef built a house in Wraggborough.[8] He was a slave owner,[9] and owned as many as 40 slaves and the slaves were darker in skin color as he belonged to a lighter skin group that would not associate with darker blacks and looked down upon them in all aspects of life.[10]
Dereef served as a city alderman, having been appointed by military authorities in 1868 during the Reconstruction era.[11] He generally allied himself with Democrats.[6]
In 1872, he was elected to the standing committee of the Brown Fellowship Society.[12] He left a will and testament upon his death.[13]
Legacy
editDereef Court and Dereef Park in Charleston are named after him.[14] In 2012, Dereef Park was slated to be developed with housing units despite protests.[15] In 2017, a compromise was reached to incorporate a park and the historic praise house along with residential development.[16]
References
edit- ^ Tiffany (2010-03-25). "richard dereef". mulatto diaries. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
- ^ a b c "Black Slave Owners". gullahtours.com.
- ^ Johnson, Michael P.; Roark, James L. (June 14, 1984). Black Masters: A Free Family of Color in the Old South. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393303148 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Biddle, Daniel R.; Dubin, Murray (August 13, 2010). Tasting Freedom: Octavius Catto and the Battle for Equality in Civil War America. Temple University Press. ISBN 9781592134670 – via Google Books.
- ^ Hagy, James William (June 17, 1998). Directories for the City of Charleston, South Carolina: For the Years 1849, 1852, and 1855. Genealogical Publishing Com. ISBN 9780806348223 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Richard Edward DeReef: One of the Richest Black Men in Charleston". February 6, 2019.
- ^ "richard dereef". March 25, 2010.
- ^ Koger, Larry (November 18, 2011). Black Slaveowners: Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina, 1790-1860. McFarland. ISBN 9780786469314 – via Google Books.
- ^ Koger, Larry (2011-11-18). Black Slaveowners: Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina, 1790-1860. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-6931-4.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Brown Fellowship Society". The Charleston Daily News. November 13, 1872. p. 4 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Schweninger, Loren (June 14, 1990). Black Property Owners in the South, 1790-1915. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252066344 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Dereef's Court – Special Collections". Archived from the original on 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
- ^ Bowers, Paul (2 April 2018). "A New Life for Dereef Park". Charleston City Paper.
- ^ Behre, Robert (26 May 2017). "City, feds and neighborhood agree to settle longstanding DeReef Park dispute". Post and Courier.