Terry Ferguson of Wofford College, Spartanburg SC has done considerable
research on "iron plantations" He can probably answer your questions. I can't
find his e-mail address, but his phone # is 864-597-4527.
Article: Iron Plantations and the 18th and 19th c. Landscape of the
northwestern South Carolina Piedmont. in "Historic Landscapes in SC" edited
by L. Stine, L. Drucker, M. Zierden and C. Judge. pub. by Council of SC
Professional Archaeologists.