Edgefield County, SC

County Name: 
Edgefield
State: 
South Carolina

Total population (1850): 39,262
Enslaved population (1850): 22,725
Percent slave: 58%
Extant nineteenth-century inquests: 524
Date range: 1829-1899
Percentage of violent crimes in county sample: 39% (202/524)

The small, rural district of Edgefield, South Carolina was the Deadwood of its day, amassing a reputation for murder and mayhem unique in the nation. Forget the gangs of New York, the toughs in tailored suits strutting about Edgefield's Court House Square were up for almost anything. Take this typical exchange between Thomas Cherry and Charles Cobb.

Cherry: "You Damn puppy."

Cobb: "What are you?"

Cherry: "Do you mean to call me a Damn puppy?"

Cobb: "What are you?"

Cherry: "If you call me a Puppy, I will ag you in the face."

Cobb: "You are nothing else."

With that Cherry stabbed Cobb through the face with an umbrella.

"If we over in Edgefield insult each other, there is generally a fight or a funeral afterwards."

"If we over in Edgefield insult each other, there is generally a fight or a funeral afterwards," noted Ben Tillman, one of the ten men of the district to serve the state as governor. Like Tillman, circuit judge Thomas Mackey took an almost perverse pride in the region's reputation. "I am going to hold court in Edgefield," he told a friend, "and I expect a somewhat exciting term, as the fall shooting is about to start."

Like most reputations, Edgefield's was at once deserved and exaggerated. At 39 percent, Edgefield County does have the highest proportion of violent crimes in the CSI:D sample. At 35 percent, Greenville County is not that far behind. More important, Edgefield's reputation for affairs of honor masks the mountain of dishonorable violence revealed by the morgue. Men spoiling for a fight on the street are rarely much different at home. In June 1893, Bill Gasten was sitting near his wood pile when his wife emerged from the house to draw some water from the well. Something she said set him off and he grabbed up a walking stick, hit her with it, then threw her down and began choking her. Emerging from the kitchen, her sister grabbed up the stick and told Bill to "let his wife alone." She had just started back to the kitchen when Bill cracked her head with a hoe.

Edgefield County, SC Inquests

Displaying 1 - 50 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
infant child infant child August 5, 1878 at the residence of H J Wright Homicide
John Henry King October 29, 1865 in Hamburg Homicide
Clara Bell colored child June 23, 1868 at Rev. H.T. Baitleys Homicide
George Mitchel June 21, 1881 at J. R Corleys Accident
Everett Hook July 18, 1891 at the saw Mill of M J Hook Accident
Cap Bryan February 25, 1893 at the plantation of Mrs Doziers Accident
James L. Hill January 10, 1867 at James L Hills Accident
infant infant March 24, 1892 at Pinksville Homicide
Milton Barter[?] youth August 24, 1849 at Capt. Andrew J Hammonds Mills Accident
Lousay November 25, 1860 at Doct John E. Padgett Accident
Jane Glover January 12, 1883 at Handy Tanks House on John Wir[?] plantation Unknown
Ansabelle Brown October 21, 1866 near the Tambor[?] Soba[?] Rail Road Unknown
Amanda Glover August 30, 1892 at Mr Pofse[?] Lotts Plantation Natural Causes
Peter Negro man December 30, 1859 at the Plantation of Mr Wm Bunch Accident
William Lundy August 28, 1846 at house of John Rainsford Accident
John Young June 27, 1891 at the residence of John Young Accident
infant child infant child October 6, 1891 at her Residence Unknown
J. J. Jennings November 16, 1860 at J J Jennings Suicide
Daniel slave, boy April 28, 1859 at L. Halls Tisery[?] Suicide
Lindy Jones March 15, 1882 at George Holingsworth House Accident
Joseph W. Glover September 2, 1844 at Charles Comptys[?] Hotel Homicide
George W. Medlock January 1, 1848 at the house of Daniel Abby Natural Causes
Lula Smith child June 22, 1894 at James A Satcher's Plantation Homicide
Adam Barker August 10, 1879 at the Residence of Adam Barker Decd Suicide
William M. Tredaway March 27, 1851 at the house of William M Tredaway at Beach Island Homicide
Lidda Hampton November 24, 1893 at A Derrecks Natural Causes
Milledge Denny colored child June 23, 1868 at Rev. H.T. Baitleys Homicide
Willie Toney March 26, 1899 at Edgefield Court House Homicide
infant child infant child January 10, 1892 at Trenton Accident
Edward Johnston December 26, 1892 at William Bushes Unknown
Elleck free boy December 13, 1866 at Johnathan Gregorys Accident
infant child infant child September 15, 1861 at the residence of Mrs Margret Willis Accident
Charley Geeter October 27, 1881 at Violets Geeter's house Accident
Tom Slave, old negro man January 12, 1853 near the residence of Harry Scott Accident
Berry Butler October 9, 1892 at J. H Lagroons[?] plantation Accident
Hardy Boulware January 2, 1862 at Hardy Boulwares Homicide
A. P. Shultz January 9, 1850 at or near Solomon Clickleys[?] Unknown
Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] January 5, 1892 at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary Accident
J. M. Long October 10, 1891 at J. M. Longs Homicide
John Whitlock boy September 8, 1869 at Grainteville Accident
Mary Slave May 17, 1847 at the Plantation of A. Perrin Homicide
Lizzie Greeg July 4, 1884 at Capt Taliar[?] Hearin[?] Natural Causes
Joseph Moore Jr. April 19, 1846 at the house of Dr John D. Nicholson Natural Causes
William Samuel April 26, 1891 at Scima[?] Hill Church Homicide
Eva Blocker February 11, 1893 at J. P. Wrights Plantation Accident
Richmond slave March 3, 1857 at V[?] Elbert Blands residence at Edgefield Court House Homicide
Tom negro slave December 18, 1858 at Chlo Watsons Homicide
Lizzy Rardon September 28, 1879 at Clansey Holloways plantation Accident
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Lona May Hamilton child October 18, 1893 at or near Longmires PO[?] Natural Causes

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