The State vs. the Dead Body of John Wilson

Date: 
July 26, 1817

Deceased

John Wilson
Sex: 
Male
Race: 
White
COD Category: 
Homicide
COD: 
Blunt Instrument
COD Method/Implement: 
stake
COD Inquest Finding: 

do say upon their oaths & affirmations that the said John Wilson decsd. Son John came to his death on the twenty sixth day of July in the year aforesaid by a stroke or strokes with a part of a fence rail or stake on the forehead of the said John above the left Eye and the Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths and affirmations aforesaid do say that from the Evidence... before them that a certain John Wilson decsd. son of James then and there with the fence rail or stake aforesaid did Kill and murder against the peace of the said state.

Coroner

Coroner: 
William Foley
Coroner Title: 
Coroner

Location

Inquest Location: 
at Laurens Court House
County: 
Laurens County, SC

Source

South Carolina Department of Archives & History
Columbia, SC

Perpetrator

Perpetrator: 
John Wilson, son of James
Inquest Images: 
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0164.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0165.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0166.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0167.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0168.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0169.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0170.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0171.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0172.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0173.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0174.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0175.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0176.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0177.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0178.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0179.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0180.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0181.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0182.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0183.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0184.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0185.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0186.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0187.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0188.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0189.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0190.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0191.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0192.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0193.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0194.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0195.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0196.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0197.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0198.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0199.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0200.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0201.jpg
Laurens_Cor_D5852_0202.jpg
Transcription: 

Before me personally appeared John Willson who being duly sworn saith that on the 26th day of July 1817 he this deponent and his son John Willson was at the village of Laurens he saw John Willson son of James in the act of abusing and beating a man by the name of Coil, when the deponant interfeared to prevent the abuse, the said John Willson bit this deponents thumb, and his son John Willson being present interfered to prevent further altercation by throwing down and hitting the said John Willson (son of James) until he appeared to be pacified... and on looking around he this deponant saw the said John Willson son of James give his son John Willson a second blow... above the left eye ...

Get in touch

  • Department of History
    220 LeConte Hall, Baldwin Street
    University of Georgia
    Athens, GA 30602-1602
  • 706-542-2053
  • admin@ehistory.org

eHistory was founded at the University of Georgia in 2011 by historians Claudio Saunt and Stephen Berry

Learn More about eHistory

Supporters

+ American Council of Learned Societies
+ DigiLab, Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, University of Georgia