ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: A debt of gratitude is owed to Ruth Burton and Rosemary McCurry of the Abbeville Historic Preservation Commission of Abbeville, South Carolina. They provided an excellent tour of the old landmark, explained the history of it and included many stories concerning it and its residents over the years. Thank you Ruth and Rosemary.

The home known today as the Burt-Stark mansion was built in the 1830s by David Lesley, a planter, lawyer and judge. Lesley had spotted a similar house while on a trip up north and wanted to replicate it as closely as possible in Abbeville. One of Lesley’s slaves, a man named Cubic was an excellent carpenter. Cubic travelled North to view the house his master had spoken of and returned to Abbeville in spite of the fact that he could have been set free had he approached authorities in the North.

Upon his return, the building project was begun under the careful eye of Cubic. The house is a white Greek Revival type home.

The Lesleys lived in the house for approximately twenty years, until the death of David Lesley in 1855.

It was then sold to Pastor Thomas A. Hoyt of the Upper Long Cane Presbyterian Church. In 1859, Pastor Hoyt was called to pastorate a church in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1860, the house was sold to Andrew Simonds of Charleston. Mr. Simonds was a banker who had married his cousin, the great neice of John C. Calhoun.

In 1862, Andrew Simonds sold the house to Armistead Burt, who was also married to a niece of John C. Calhoun, Martha Calhoun Burt. Burt had been a U.S. Congressman from 1843 until 1853 and was a close friend of U.S. Congressman and later Confederate President, Jefferson Davis and his family. It was this association that would bring the old house into its place in history. With the fall of Richmond being eminent, President Davis sent his wife to Abbeville to remove her from danger. She arrived at the Burt home on April 17, 1865 and departed on April 27th. Her husband arrived a few days following her departure.

On May 2, 1865, between the hours of 2pm and 4pm, President Davis held a council of war. It was during this time that his military advisors told him that the situation was hopeless and further conflict would only result in greater loss of life and very well may end in a Confederate loss. Reluctantly, President Davis faced the group and announced, "Gentlemen, all is lost." It was reported that a very tired and beleagured President Davis tried to shield his eyes from public view as he left the room. It may not be looked upon kindly for a president to be seen weeping!

Following the meeting, the last Confederate council of war, President Davis had the troops assemble in the yard of the Burt home. There, they recieved their pay and were dismissed. Most departed quietly, leaving behind the war that had cost so many American lives. Some chose to remain loyal to President Davis and continued to accompany him as a protective force against a Union Army so determined to capture him.

After leaving Abbeville, President Davis reunited with his wife and children. Near Irwinville, Georgia, they were captured by members of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry on May 10, 1865.

The Civil War had been devastating to many Southerners. Those who had wealth before the war, lost it in almost all cases. Armistead Burt was no exception; in bankruptcy, he had to sell the house. Mr. and Mrs. Burt moved into a small apartment in Abbeville.

In 1868, the house was sold to James R. Norwood, a planter. Norwood died in 1875 and his wife, Sarah, continued to live there. Later, their daughter lived there.

In 1900, J.S. Stark, a banker and planter bought the old house. The Stark family had a deep appreciation of history and recognized the house as a valuable part of U.S. history. Almost immediately, Stark and his wife, Ann Miller Stark, began to restore it. They knew the whereabouts of the bed Jefferson Davis had slept in and they returned it to its original location in the house. Many of the furnishings in the house were in it the day the Starks took possession of the property, while others were items carefully selected by the Starks after ascertaining that they were items of the proper time period.

Mrs. Stark and her twin daughters, Fannie and Mary were quite well known in social circles throughout the South. Mary finally inherited the house with the death of her parents.

In 1971, an aging Mary Stark Davis agreed to donate the historic home if a properly funded organization would agree to maintain it for future generations. The Abbeville County Historic Preservation Commission was formed, with its members appointed by Governor Robert McNair. In 1976, Mary donated the contents of the house.

Mary Stark Davis passed away in 1987, at the age of 102 years.