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 301 - 350 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
Nelson Smith freedman, boy October 4, 1866 at Andrew Warts Homicide
Selena Allen child, boy, baby December 12, 1890 at Mrs Blacks[?] Plantation Accident
J. J. Jennings November 16, 1860 at J J Jennings Suicide
Milledge Stuard October 8, 1881 at Mount [??] Yard Natural Causes
Peter Negro man December 30, 1859 at the Plantation of Mr Wm Bunch Accident
Ana May Blocker child December 2, 1894 at Ben Boatwrights farm Natural Causes
infant child infant child November 23, 1891 at the plantation of Willis Owdom[?] Accident
Lula Smith child June 22, 1894 at James A Satcher's Plantation Homicide
Richard J. Barton December 28, 1866 at Mrs Lucinda Bartons Accident
Martha Lanham January 29, 1892 at Wilts[?] Curryes place Natural Causes
William M. Tredaway March 27, 1851 at the house of William M Tredaway at Beach Island Homicide
Elmira Jackson May 18, 1884 at George Holingsworths House Accident
Lewis slave May 21, 1861 at S. H. Roggers Suicide
infant Boy infant Boy October 29, 1894 at [?] Coleman Natural Causes
Abram slave October 8, 1860 at the Residence of H. B. Raborns Natural Causes
Elleck free boy December 13, 1866 at Johnathan Gregorys Accident
Lidda Hampton November 24, 1893 at A Derrecks Natural Causes
Rose negro woman Slave March 14, 1846 at Michael Longs Homicide
Mid[?] Griffin February 2, 1895 at the Govelace[?] Place Natural Causes
negro man negro man April 10, 1850 near Kilcreases Ferry Accident
Tom Slave, old negro man January 12, 1853 near the residence of Harry Scott Accident
Rose three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide
infant infant January 22, 1894 at Oak Gilchrist House Natural Causes
infant child infant child June 14, 1891 at Kenny Grave Yard Accident
John Whitlock boy September 8, 1869 at Grainteville Accident
Gus West October 11, 1883 at Jack Holms Unknown
Hardy Boulware January 2, 1862 at Hardy Boulwares Homicide
Robert slave, boy April 8, 1847 at Edward Hampton's Suicide
Emaline Jackson August 27, 1894 at Dr Childs Plantation Natural Causes
John E. Paul June 14, 1892 at Edgefield CH Homicide
Eva Blocker February 11, 1893 at J. P. Wrights Plantation Accident
Henry slave, boy May 1, 1857 at Arthur Glovers House, Horns Creek Accident
Warren Kirkland November 16, 1858 at Benjamin Bartons Homicide
John Webb March 26, 1899 at Edgefield Court House Homicide
John H. Anderson March 21, 1891 at Tom Anderson place Homicide
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Elick Youngblood child March 21, 1881 at S[?] R Warren Homicide
Sindy Brighthop August 21, 1898 on S.W. Gardners place Homicide
Henry Jennings September 14, 1891 at the residense of diceased Natural Causes
Lona May Hamilton child October 18, 1893 at or near Longmires PO[?] Natural Causes
Charles negro boy November 14, 1842 On Mr Thos Oliver's Plantation, at or near Said Oliver's residence Accident
Luther Sullivan October 26, 1898 near John Stuarts Homicide
Pink Williams October 6, 1898 at or near Mr E.F. Pickles residence Homicide
Jack negro boy May 14, 1852 at the house of H. W. Posey Accident
Henry negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at New Savannah in beach Island Accident
Albert Jones April 29, 1885 at Pickens Reynolds house Homicide
Hartwell Roper June 17, 1869 at the residence of Rev. J.P. Mealing Natural Causes
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
Julia Banks September 4, 1891 at Mr Banks Plantation Natural Causes
infant infant January 10, 1898 at Johnston Homicide

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