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 201 - 250 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Typesort ascending Death Method
Henry Padget freedman November 14, 1866 at Wm Padgets premises on Clouds Creek Homicide
Britton McClendon November 11, 1850 near the residence of Henry C. Turner Homicide large hunting knife
James Thomas colored July 20, 1869 at Liberty Hill County Homicide
Mary Grace Aldrich infant child August 11, 1856 at Graniteville Homicide
Jim McKie October 26, 1898 near John starks Homicide
Mary Slave May 17, 1847 at the Plantation of A. Perrin Homicide
Namro negro man August 11, 1844 at the house of Rob King Esqr Homicide club or stick
Milledge Denny colored child June 23, 1868 at Rev. H.T. Baitleys Homicide
John M. Tillman May 6, 1860 at Mr J.A Tillmans Steam Mill Homicide
Lucious Perry November 8, 1891 at the plantation of Ben Boatwright Homicide
Keal Johnson colourd man October 20, 1866 at J.M. Proctors Residence Homicide pistol
Alfred Hollingsworth October 10, 1898 at David Strothers place Homicide razor
Ben Shubrick col December 24, 1869 at Negro heade Lane Natural Causes
Julia Banks September 4, 1891 at Mr Banks Plantation Natural Causes
Tom negro boy February 5, 1853 at the late residence of Col Harling Quarles[?] deceased Natural Causes
Simon C. Wood[?] December 26, 1857 at Wm Calelaziers[?] Natural Causes
Henry Jennings September 14, 1891 at the residense of diceased Natural Causes
Rhoda female slave July 4, 1857 at Dorn's[?] Mill Natural Causes
Jim slave June 10, 1859 at M, L, Bonham Esqr residence on the Pine House road Natural Causes
William Anderson April 14, 1864 at the plantation of T.[?] S Boles Natural Causes
white man white man October 21, 1849 in the woods near Holsonbakers[?] old fields Natural Causes
James Mitchell February 18, 1879 at L D Laudrums Natural Causes
Sam negro, slave September 18, 1846 at the residence of Mrs Nancy Delaughter Natural Causes
Charity Johnson March 11, 1847 at the Residence of Charity Johnson, late deceased Natural Causes
Martha Lanham January 29, 1892 at Wilts[?] Curryes place Natural Causes
Lizzie Greeg July 4, 1884 at Capt Taliar[?] Hearin[?] Natural Causes
Thomas Prince July 31, 1848 at the Joal of Said District Natural Causes
Reubin Weaver December 28, 1895 at Elijah Boatwrights Plantation Natural Causes
George Hatcher freedman June 19, 1867 at B. W. Hatchers Mill on Shaws creek Natural Causes
Tephius[?] Cornwall January 14, 1845 on one of the Public Streets of the Town of Hamburg Natural Causes
B. C. Bryan March 16, 1884 at B C Bryan Residence Natural Causes
Infred Padgett July 12, 1848 at the Joal of Edgefield Natural Causes
Pompy Robinson November 1, 1898 at Norris Place Natural Causes
Edmond Smallwood October 19, 1892 at E. C. Ridgells Plantation Natural Causes
infant, child infant, child November 29, 1894 at the plantation of J. P. Roton Natural Causes
Kizziah[?] slave, servant March 11, 1860 at the residence of Mr M Lanham Natural Causes
Abram slave October 8, 1860 at the Residence of H. B. Raborns Natural Causes
Albert Watson June 15, 1892 at the plantation of W.B. Maffett Natural Causes
Lidda Hampton November 24, 1893 at A Derrecks Natural Causes
Harriet negro woman July 20, 1859 at the residence of JB Rease Natural Causes
Peyton Bird colored September 29, 1869 at Edgefield CH Natural Causes
Lona May Hamilton child October 18, 1893 at or near Longmires PO[?] Natural Causes
Victor male slave April 24, 1859 at A. L. Dearing Plantation Natural Causes
Mary Gillam January 1, 1891 at Mrs Francis Wrights Plantation Natural Causes
Isaac Jones July 1, 1881 at Ridge Spring Natural Causes
Eddie Watson Infant April 25, 1892 at Bob Stevens Natural Causes
Caroline Coleman July 25, 1893 at Brisel[?] Blacks Residence Natural Causes
Matt Loyd February 24, 1891 at Mr. Carmal cemetary near the Old Wills Natural Causes
Robert W. Kincade December 27, 1845 at the house of Baley[?] Corley Natural Causes
George W. Medlock January 1, 1848 at the house of Daniel Abby Natural Causes

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