The Heyward House Museum is located at 70 Boundary Street in Bluffton. It was built by enslaved West Africans in 1841 for John James Cole. The house was restored to its original condition and is now open to the public as a museum. In addition to the house, the Heyward House Historic Center also features a gift shop and a garden. From a Civil War standpoint, the Heyward house was the home of Captain George Cuthbert Heyward of the 3rd SC Cavalry. Captain Heyward was murdered after the war in 1867. One evening Heyward’s horse arrived back at his home in Bluffton without him. While retracing his route back to the plantation where Heyward had ridden earlier that day to deliver payroll to his workers, his body was found beside the road where he was shot. The effect on the Heyward family was devastating. The older sons had to help care for their mother so that financially she could remain in the home. The mystery surrounding his murder and the payroll theft was solved years later, when on his deathbed a former member of Heyward’s Cavalry unit confessed to the crime. He took revenge against his former commander for giving him a poor evaluation that he felt prevented him from being promoted. In addition, a Union soldier defaced one of the mirrors in the home which is on display, who we have identified as John N. Ward.

The Bedroom

The Living Room

John N. Ward is JW. He was from Oppenheim, NY, enlisted at the age of 26, and mustered in at Fonda, NY. The 115th NY company E muster log is shown below. There is only one person with the initials J.W.

Dining Room