Anderson County, SC

County Name: 
Anderson
State: 
South Carolina

Total population (1850): 32,318
Enslaved population (1850): 19,262
Percent enslaved: 60%
Extant nineteenth-century inquests: 153
Date range: 1830-1883
Percentage of violent crimes in county sample: 32% (49/153)

Anderson County was named for Robert Anderson, a Revolutionary War hero who helped wrest the land away from the Cherokee in 1777. The resulting cession was then broken into Pickens and Anderson Counties (technically Pickens and Anderson Districts) in 1826. Lacking a central county seat, Anderson Courthouse was built, which gradually became the town of Anderson, now known as 'The Electricity City' because it was the first in the country to have continuous power thanks to a water mill located in the high shoals. Like many counties in the area, Anderson became heavily invested in cotton and textile mills as the nineteenth century progressed.

Anderson County, SC Inquests

Displaying 51 - 100 of 153
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Typesort descending Death Method
John Calhoun Clemson August 11, 1871 at Pendleton Accident train
Edward Whitt March 1, 1846 near John Baurman's Accident horse
Henry slave December 25, 1830 on public highway from Pendleton to Pickensville [modern-day Easley] Accident
M. J. Wilson June 17, 1876 at Broadway trestle on the line of the Greenville and Columbia Railroad Accident train
Bonaparte Bates March 26, 1856 at the Fuller old field Accident
Abram Clement October 6, 1868 at Martin Williamston's residence Accident
Cyrus slave September 15, 1860 at the shanty [?] upon the grounds of the Blue Ridge Rail Road Company at Anderson Accident train
Truman Miles October 22, 1839 at Anderson Courthouse Accident
Henry Cobb December 16, 1868 at Warnock's Crossing on the Anderson Branch of the Greenville & Columbia Rail Road Other
Joseph Poor December 17, 1857 at William Holand's residence Other
John Edmonson July 26, 1854 near the road leading from Anderson Court House to the Double Branches. Other
Caleb Chappell January 22, 1835 at or near house of John Ledbetter Other
James Robinson May 20, 1883 n.a. Natural Causes
James Wilson March 27, 1846 at the house of Alexander Moorehead Natural Causes
Morriss unknown free man of color January 7, 1858 at Grief Tater's residence Natural Causes
infant January 13, 1868 at Anderson Court House Natural Causes
James Drake December 7, 1854 at residence of James Drake Natural Causes
John Seawright October 22, 1881 on the public road leading from Craytonville to Anderson Court House Natural Causes
Eber B. Stevens March 5, 1873 at Pendleton Natural Causes
Sophia Hall March 19, 1859 at or near Samuel Martin's residence Natural Causes
John Saylor August 6, 1870 at or near the Ridge road near E. R. Cobb's residence Natural Causes
Daniel Brown October 8, 1881 at the plantation of Willis Watkins Natural Causes
Fanny Payton colored woman, free from birth June 20, 1870 at residence of Harry Gallard[?] Natural Causes
Sarah Martin July 14, 1844 at residence of Mrs. Sarah Martin Natural Causes
Joe Jenkins October 8, 1881 at the residence of Matilda Rud Natural Causes
Strather Freeman March 2, 1876 at Flat Rock Church Natural Causes
John M. Bonds December 16, 1850 at Isom R. Bond's Natural Causes
Samuel Ward July 19, 1859 at Church Cross Roads Natural Causes
Martha Morris January 9, 1881 at the residence of Warren Morris Natural Causes
Lila Gambrell October 21, 1875 at the house of Ran Duckworth Natural Causes
Jane Laniere August 13, 1880 at the residence of G. B. Whiton Natural Causes
Anna G. Cason June 10, 1883 at Williamston Natural Causes
James Coleman September 16, 1873 at or near Mrs. Fantt's residence and one and 1/2 miles south east of Anderson Natural Causes
Mary May April 14, 1854 at J. W. May's Natural Causes
George Norris November 23, 1876 at Anderson Courthouse Natural Causes
Clarissa Campbell freedwoman March 29, 1867 at the residence of Sarah Campbell Natural Causes
Harry slave December 17, 1855 at Jesse Gray's residence Natural Causes
Charity Bozeman June 11, 1880 at the house of Aby McAlister Natural Causes
John Williams February 9, 1879 at the house of Newton Perry [?] on the plantation of Thomas Cox Natural Causes
Israel slave November 3, 1845 on the plantation of David Gentry Natural Causes
Peter Williford May 2, 1876 at Daniel Williford's Natural Causes
Beller McAlester March 11, 1876 at house of deceased Natural Causes
Elias Smith August 24, 1869 in the county of Anderson Natural Causes
Harry slave July 7, 1855 at Pendleton village Natural Causes
infant January 23, 1873 at residence of M. A. Snipes Natural Causes
Sally Williams July 19, 1880 n.a. Natural Causes
Hardy McKinney freedman July 28, 1867 at an old field near F. Wyne's Natural Causes
Elizabeth McHolister August 16, 1855 at the house of Elijah McHolister Natural Causes
infant November 27, 1870 at William Stuart's residence Natural Causes
John Brownlee June 7, 1863 at Williamston Natural Causes

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