Natural Causes
The “hand of God” is an active presence in CSI:D files. To be sure, the Almighty took no part in the suicides and homicides; those were the work of men “not having God Before [their] Eyes But moved by the instigation of the Devil.” Deaths that could be traced to what we would call ‘natural causes,’ however, were typically deemed an ‘act of God,’ a ‘visitation by God,’ or the ‘dispensation of Providence.’
Such cases expand on the point made in the introduction that coroners’ inquests paint a very particular portrait of death in the nineteenth-century South. The stock and trade of the coroner’s office were sudden deaths, especially those that intruded upon the public view. An old man succumbing to slow cancer in his own home was unsuspicious and unlikely to be investigated. This explains why heart attacks and strokes (which they called apoplexy) figure more prominently than fever among the ‘hand of God’ cases in these files. It also explains the relative frequency of deaths that occurred out-of-doors. Daniel Brown died in his cotton field; Jane Laniere died “in the woods near the public road”; Hartwell Roper “fell dead ... at his plow.”
The words ‘Hand of God’ were also used in cases where the deceased had been struck by lightning. (In perhaps the strangest case, Broderick Mason and his enslaved girl, Cinthy, were killed by the same lightning bolt, a sure sign that God does not play favorites.) Despite the similarity in terminology, however, lightning deaths have been filed as accidents because, like cave ins and train crashes, they are cases of people simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time and however ‘natural’ they might seem they are not a ‘natural death.’
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Natural Causes Inquests
| Name | Deceased Description | Date | Inquest Location |
Death Method |
Inquest Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Goswell | February 9, 1883 | at John Goswell's, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say the said Charles Goswell came to his death from natural causes unknown to the Jury |
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| Emaline Jackson | August 27, 1894 | at Dr Childs Plantation, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, that from the evidence before us by misfortune and that said misfortune was caused by the bursting of an artery And So the said jurors aforesaid, do say, that the aforesaid Emaline Jackson came to her death in manner and form |
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| Alice Miller | November 16, 1893 | in Alice Miller's house, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that she came to her death from Heart Disease and that no violence of any kind was used by any person. |
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| Phillis | August 18, 1831 | at the house of Charles P. Stone, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that, according to all the testimony adduced to them, they are inclined to believe, that on the 17th instant, the said Phillis being often last spring, complaining of Hysterical, vapours she was taken with a Hysteric Attack which caused her death |
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| Elizabeth Mitchel | October 12, 1845 | at the dwelling house of David Mitchel, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that . . .the deceased went to bed in the house of David Mitchel . . .in good health, and was found a corps on the morning of the twelfth, and do believe that She came to her death by a visitation of god |
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| Charlotte Johnson | July 9, 1906 | on the plantation of George Johnson, Chesterfield County, SC |
[No official declaration] |
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| Elijah M. Cooper | August 25, 1877 | at the residence of Elijah M. Cooper, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said E.M. Cooper came to his death. . .while engaged at work on his fieds near his residence from some cause which the jury believes to have been disease of the heart |
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| Infant Child | Infant Child | March 12, 1891 | at Ebb Hildreth, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: That the said Infant child came to the death from natural cause or causes |
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| Sealy Henry | July 1, 1873 | Laurens County, SC |
we the under named jurors do find in accordance with the opinion of Dr. S. S. Knight. By disease most probably epilepsy caused her death. |
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| Lizzie Greeg | July 4, 1884 | at Capt Taliar[?] Hearin[?], Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths aforesaid do say that the aforesaid Lizzie Greeg Came to her death from natural Causes |
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| Silvy Holmes | at Ben Glenn's place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say that Silvy Homes came to her death at her daughters Residence at the night of 28th of April AD 1887 from Providential Visitation[.] |
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| Caroline Batson | freed woman | November 21, 1866 | at Reedy River Church, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that she came to her death by exposing herself while sick with fever |
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| Huston Griffith | August 24, 1910 | at J. N. Sowell's Place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that the Said Huston Griffith came to Death By natural causes |
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| Nancy Loyns | June 25, 1889 | at Elias Ballingers, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon there oaths do say from the evidence heard in case and our belief is that she died of consumption |
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| Blair Massey | Alias: Isaac Funderburk | May 16, 1896 | at Phillip Arrant, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say that the deceased came to his death by natural causes |
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| Henry B. Mathers | November 26, 1841 | at the house of Benjamin Nettles, Kershaw County, SC |
upon their oaths do say the believe it was by the visitation of God |
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| Henry Williams | October 13, 1889 | at the Plantation of C.C. Garlington, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Henry Williams came to his death by "Natural Causes." |
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| Amy Thompson | June 12, 1878 | at or near Shelton, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the Said Amy Thompson came to her Death from Disease of the Heart. |
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| negro child | negro child | September 23, 1848 | at the plantation of Davis Foudalock, Union County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that . . .it must have dyed by the visitation of god |
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| E. A. Teal | September 1, 1883 | near and on the north side of the Public Road leading from Chesterfield C. H. to Abrahams Creek and the middle prong of said Creek, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said E.A. Teal, came to her death from natural causes there neing no marks of violence upon her body |
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| Charity Johnson | March 11, 1847 | at the Residence of Charity Johnson, late deceased, Edgefield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths, that the said Charity Johnson. . .died by the visitation of God |
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| Lewis Denham | December 6, 1883 | Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that said Lewis Denham ... in the field near his house died of natural causes |
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| Clarissa Campbell | freedwoman | March 29, 1867 | at the residence of Sarah Campbell, Anderson County, SC |
that the said Clarissa Campbell a freedwoman came to her death natural by the act of God |
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| John Day | January 28, 1878 | at the Guard house, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said John Day came to his death from the natural cause to wit[?] congestion of the brain |
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| Eddie Watson | Infant | April 25, 1892 | at Bob Stevens, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do Say that the Said Eddie Watson came to his death from Natural Causes |
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| Calline Crosby | Fairfield County, SC |
up pon these oths do say that She came to her death from heart failure[.] |
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| Wiliam Clinton | May 11, 1928 | at Wiliam Clinton's place, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that Wiliam Clinton came to his Death from natial causes |
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| John Gregory | September 3, 1862 | at John Gregory, Union County, SC |
do say that the Decd Came to his death by the hand of God |
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| Mary Elizabeth Rallings | February 6, 1900 | at Sanford Rallings', Chesterfield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say That Mary Elizabeth Rallings came to her death by mischance or natural causes |
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| Jacob Briges | September 18, 1832 | at the house of Jacob Briges, Spartanburg County, SC |
do say upon their oaths that it was the visitation of God |
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| unnamed infant | unnamed infant | September 8, 1855 | at the Plantation of the late William Montgomery, Horry County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say That upon a Post-morten examination, that from the decomposed state of the Child, having been dead 8 days and buried 7 days, that we can not see any sign of violence or Poesen,--but from the emty state of the Childs Stomach and Bowels, believe that the death of the Child was caused by withholding the necessary nurishment, from its Mothers breast, or otherwise |
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| Infant of Susie Redfern | Infant of Susie Redfern | at Mt. Croghan, Chesterfield County, SC |
[No official declaration] |
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| Dick | August 13, 1818 | on the plantation of John Boyd, Laurens County, SC |
the said Dick came to his death by the Act of God do Say upon their oaths here inserted. |
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| Sallie Walker | at M.J. Steel's[?] place, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their Oaths do say tha the deceased Sallie Walker came to her death from heart diseas on the Plantation of Mrs M.J. Slide[.] |
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| Wade Barronton | October 8, 1860 | at Wade Barrontons Residence, Edgefield County, SC |
upon there oaths do say that the said Wade Barronton came to his death. . .by the Visitation of God |
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| Sally Williams | July 19, 1880 | n.a., Anderson County, SC |
find her lungs badly affected and diseased came to her death from consumption & had consumption badly. |
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| James Robertson | September 13, 1885 | at Calvin Brewton's, Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the aforesaid James Robertson came to his death by disease of the heart |
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| Dora Jackson | December 26, 1893 | near Cheraw, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths aforesaid do say that the deceased Dora Jackson came to her death in the manner and from aforesaid that is from natural causes |
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| Loucinda Alexander | December 7, 1883 | at the house of Camel Alexander, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to her death by the acts of Providence unknown to us |
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| infant, child | infant, child | November 29, 1894 | at the plantation of J. P. Roton, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that. . .the said Infant aforesaid. . .came to its death from natural causes |
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| Bessie Marshal | child | November 22, 1893 | at Henry Foster's, Laurens County, SC |
upon their oaths do say "that Bessie Marshal came to her death by the hand of Providence, at the house of Henry Foster, on the 22nd day of November 1893." |
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| May | March 20, 1832 | at the plantation of Doctor William Bratton on Wateree Creek, Fairfield County, SC |
do say upon their oaths, that according to the evidence adduced to them, they believe that on the 19th instant in a field where the said May was breaking Cotton Halks, he was taken with an appoplectic fit and expired in an instant |
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| Samuel Mitchell | April 10, 1837 | on the plantation of Robert Glen, Union County, SC |
do say upon thear Oaths that the Sd Samul Mitchell . . .at a Spring . . . was found dead . . .and died by the visitation of God in a natural way |
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| E. D. Holly | September 21, 1907 | at Holley's Mill, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: She died from natural causes |
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| Leanora M. Cannon | February 25, 1879 | Spartanburg County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that ... the said Leonora M. Cannon died from the rupture of a blood vessel which caused a rush of blood into the lungs and instant death ensued |
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| Child of Mary Muree | Child of Mary Muree | October 8, 1833 | at the meeting house nown by the name of Pleasant Hill, Laurens County, SC |
do say upon their oaths, the affore said child then and their died of the visitation of God, and not otherwise. |
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| B. J. Mims | January 20, 1885 | at the Residence of Capt B J Mims, Edgefield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the deceased came to his death by the visitations of Providence from heart disease |
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| Pinkie Lemmon | at J.H. Aiken's, Fairfield County, SC |
upon their oaths do say, the said Pinkie Lemmon came to her death from Heart Disease[.] |
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| Milton Ponder | January 19, 1867 | at Milton Ponder's, Greenville County, SC |
upon their oaths do say that the said Milton Ponder came to his death . . . by the hand of Providence |
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| Ben Harris | July 8, 1910 | at McBee, Chesterfield County, SC |
upon their oaths, do say: that he came to his death form natural causes |
