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Richard Houston (Irish printmaker, c.1721-1775) An image of an 18C woman gardening
Martha Daniell Logan (1704-1779), colonial teacher, boyanist, and gardener, was born in St. Thomas Parish, S.C., the 2nd child of Robert Daniell and his second wife, Martha Wainwright. Her father, who may originally have been a Virginian, had arrived in South Carolina from Barbados in 1679; already propertied, he increased his holdings in real estate, slaves, and ships over the years. In 1704 and 1705, he had a stormy term as lieutenant governor of North Carolina; and he served twice in the same capacity in South Carolina from 1715 through 1717.
Martha's father, Robert Daniell, was a notable figure, having served as a proprietary governor of South Carolina and a major landowner. This affluent background provided Martha with access to education and social networks that were uncommon for women of her time. Nothing is known of Martha’s education, but it surely consisted of reading and writing English along with the skills of needlework. Her childhood was not prolonged.
In May 1718, when she was 13, her father died; and on July 30, of the following year she was married to George Logan, Jr. At about the same time her mother married the senior Logan, an Aberdeen Scot who, like Daniell, had held offices of trust in the province.
The younger Logans spent their early married years on a plantation some 10 miles up the Wando River from Charles Town, on land which Martha had inherited from her father. There, between 1720 and 1736, 8 children were born to them: George, Martha, Robert Daniell (who died as a child in 1726), William, John, Frances, Anne, and finally another Robert who also died before reaching adulthood.
As early as Mar. 20, 1742, Martha Logan advertised in the South Carolina Gazette that she would board students who would be “taught to read and write, also to work plain Work Embroidery, tent and cut work for 120 l. a year,” at her house up Wando River.
Twelve years later, after she had removed to Charles Town, the Gazette of Aug. 4, 1754, carried her proposal for a boarding school in which a master of writing and arithmetic would supplement her instruction in reading, drawing, and needlework.
Some believe that she also managed the Logan plantation, though this is less certain, as her husband did not die until July 1, 1764. Her first advertisement for a school did, however, offer for sale the home estate and other properties, an offer which she repeated on Mar. 13, 1749, when she announced that she acted as attorney for her son George Logan of Cape Fear.
Nicolas Bonnart I (French printer, c 1637-1718) An image of a 17C lady interested in gardening. Her cat guards the watering can, as she carries a rake and a spade sits behind her.
She is best known for her interest in horticulture. She is assumed to be the “Lady of this Province” whose “Gardener’s Kalendar” was published in John Tobler’s South Carolina Almanack for 1752, according to the South Carolina Gazette of Dec. 6, 1751. Here is her Kalendar from 1756.
Tobler's South Carolina Almanack of 1756.
Directions for Managing a Kitchen Garden every month of the year Done by a Lady
January
Plant peas and Beans: Sow Spinage for Use and for Seed: that which is preserved for Seed must never be cut: a small Quantity will yield plentifully in rich ground.
Sow Cabbage for Summer Use, when they are fit transplant them into rich Earth.
Sow Parsley. Transplant
Artichokes into very rich mellow Ground and they will bear in the Fall.
This month all kinds of Fruit-Trees may be Transplanted.
February
Sow Celery, Cucumbers, Melons, Kidney-Beans, Spinage, Asparagus, Radish.
Parsley, Lettice, to be transplanted in shady Places: they must be moved young and watered every Morning: Pond or Rain Water is the best.
If the season does not prove too wet, this Month is best for
planting all Sorts of Trees, except the Fig, which should not be moved 'til March, when the suckers may be taken from the Roots of old Trees. The Fig will not bear pruning.
The middle of this Month is the best for Grafting in the Cleft.
If Fruit-Trees have not been pruned last Month, they must not be delayed longer.
About the Middle of this Month, sow Spinage, Radish, Parsley and Lettice for the last time.
Plant Dwarf and Hotspur Pease.
Sow Onions, Carrots and Parsnips; and plant out Carrots, Parsnips, Cabbage and Onions, for Seed the next Year.
Plant Hops, Strawberries, and all kinds of aromatic Herbs
March
Whatever was neglected last Month, may be done in this, with good Success, if it is not too dry; if it be, you must water more frequently.
Now plant Rounceval Pease and all manner of Kidney Beans.
April
Continue to plant aromatic Herbs Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender etc. and be careful to weed and water what was formerly planted. Lettice, Spinage and all kinds of Salading may be
planted to use all the Summer but they must be frequently watered and shaded from the Sun.
May
This month is chiefly for weeding and watering: Nothing sown or planted does well.
June
Clip Evergreens, and Herbs for drying, Thyme, Sage, Carduus, Rosemary, Lavender, etc.
Sow Carrots, Parsnips and Cabbage.
If the Weather is dry and hot the Ground must be well
watered, after being dug deep and made mellow.
Straw or Stable Litter well wetted and laid pretty thick upon the Beds where Seeds are sown, in the Heat of the Day, and taken off at Night is a good expedient to forward the Growth.
July
What was done last Month may also be done this. Continue to water, in the evening only.
The latter end of this Month sow Pease for the Fall.
Water such things as are going to seed, is being very needful to preserve good Seed.
Turnips and Onions may be sown;
Leeks, scallions and all of this Tribe planted.
August
Sow Turneps and another crop of Hotspur or Dwarf Pease.
Still Continue to weed and water as before.
September
Showers of Rain will be frequent.
Now prepare the ground for the following Seeds viz.
Spinage, Dutch brown Lettice, Endive, and other crop of Pease and Beans.
Now you may inoculate with Buds.
The calendar and a variant version appeared often in South Carolina and Georgia almanacs into the 1780’s. Logan also contributed to the publication of "The South Carolina Gardener," a practical gardening manual that provided valuable advice on the cultivation of various plants suited to the climate of South Carolina. Her practical knowledge and experience made this publication an important resource for gardeners in the southern colonies.
Martha Daniell Logan became known as a prominent American botanist and gardener in colonial South Carolina, known for her extensive knowledge of local flora and her contributions to early American botany. She cultivated an extensive garden at her Charleston home, growing a variety of native and exotic plants. Her garden became renowned for its diversity and beauty, showcasing her expertise in plant cultivation and garden design.
One of Martha's significant contributions was her role in introducing and popularizing new plant species in South Carolina. She collected seeds and plants from the local environment and from distant places, experimenting with their cultivation and acclimatization. Her efforts significantly enriched the botanical diversity of the region, the British colonial North American on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
One of Logan's significant contributions to botany was her correspondence with European and American botanists, including the notable botanist John Bartram. Through her letters, she exchanged seeds, plants, and botanical knowledge, helping to bridge the botanical communities of the Old and New Worlds. Her efforts played a crucial role in the introduction of American plants to Europe and vice versa, enriching the botanical diversity in both regions.
Logan also contributed to the publication of "The South Carolina Gardener," a practical gardening manual that provided valuable advice on the cultivation of various plants suited to the climate of South Carolina. Her practical knowledge and experience made this publication an important resource for gardeners in the southern colonies.
Martha corresponded with leading botanists of her time, including Pennsylvania's John Bartram and England's Peter Collinson. Through these exchanges, she shared her observations and findings, contributing valuable information to the botanical community. Her letters often included detailed descriptions of plant species, their growing conditions, and their medicinal uses.
Through her letters, she exchanged seeds, plants, and botanical knowledge, helping to bridge the botanical communities of the Old and New Worlds. Her efforts played a crucial role in the introduction of American plants to Europe and vice versa, enriching the botanical diversity in both regions.
Despite the challenges of managing household and family responsibilities, Martha pursued her passion for gardening and botany with great enthusiasm. Her interest in plants was not merely a hobby but a serious scientific endeavor that contributed significantly to the botanical knowledge of the time.
The Pennsylvania botanist John Bartram met Martha Logan briefly in 1760; and, at least through 1765, they carried on an eager exchange of letters, seeds, and plants. “Her garden is her delight,” wrote Bartram to his London correspondent Peter Collinson.
Plants were also a source of income for Martja & her family. The South Carolina Gazette of Nov. 5, 1753, gave notice that Daniel (Robert Daniell) Logan sold imported seeds, flower roots, and fruit stones at his “mother’s house on the Green near Trotts point,” but perhaps because of his death the nursery business soon passed into Martha Logan’s hands, as a diary reference of 1763, and a newspaper advertisement of 1768 attest. Martha Logan died in Charleston in 1779. Martha Logan was buried in the family vault, since destroyed, in St. Phillip’s churchyard, Charleston.
In addition to her botanical pursuits, Martha played the vital role of managing her family's plantation. She was known for her knowledge of medicinal plants, which she used to treat illnesses and injuries among the plantation's inhabitants. Her skills in medicine and plant care were integral to the well-being of her community. Women had been responsible for the health of their families for yhousands of years.
Despite living in a time when women's contributions to science were often overlooked, Martha Daniell Logan earned respect and recognition for her expertise. Her work laid the groundwork for future botanical studies in the region and demonstrated the vital role women played in the scientific community of colonial British America.
Martha Daniell Logan passed away in 1779, leaving behind a legacy as one of America's pioneering female botanists. Her dedication to the study of plants and her efforts to share her knowledge with others have had a lasting impact on the field of botany, making her a significant figure in the history of American science, medicine, botany, and horticulture.
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