Historical Hofwyl-Brailsford Plantation

William Brailsford, the son of Samuel Brailsford and his wife, Elizabeth (Holmes) Brailsford, was born 1767 in Charleston, South Carolina and died 8 April 1837 in Darien, McIntosh County, Georgia. He was married to Maria, born 1769, died 3 April 1837 in Darien, buried on the old Baillie Plantation in Eulonia. He established a rice plantation located on Hwy 17 near Darien, which he called Brailsford, later renamed Broadfield. The Georgia and South Carolina coasts were being developed into lucrative rice plantations, Pierce Butler being known as one of the more successful ones in McIntosh County. Hofwyl was bequeathed to his daughter, Camilla. After that, Camilla and her heirs, daughter of James Dent of Georgia, converted the plantation into a dairy farm. Public tours are available on the site and the outline of the old rice patties are still visible. Also, much of the original furniture, including a secretary desk dating from 1795. Visitors can also see the bedrooms, where the original five-foot beds still stand. One of the original slave cabins still stands, in excellent condition.