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 51 - 100 of 524
Namesort ascending Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Method
Toby negro man July 10, 1844 near Bauskett Bridge on Stevens Creek Accident
Tilman Attaway April 14, 1849 at the corner of the Oharer[?] old field Accident
Thomas Welheu[?] June 19, 1868 at Benjamin Better[?] wheat field on the Columbia & Augusta Rail Road Accident
Thomas Styson June 22, 1856 at R. M. Fullers Homicide hoe
Thomas Rosseter[?] August 30, 1852 at Hamburg SC Accident
Thomas Prince July 31, 1848 at the Joal of Said District Natural Causes
Thomas O'Donald September 13, 1869 at Dr. John E. Padgetts Homicide pistol
Thomas Glover August 2, 1893 at Bill Werk[?] Residence Homicide
Thomas Booth August 23, 1878 at E. C. House Homicide pistol
Thomas child of Thomas M Chandler September 11, 1850 at Thos M. Chandler's house, and at the old Pottery Accident
Tephius[?] Cornwall January 14, 1845 on one of the Public Streets of the Town of Hamburg Natural Causes
Teague Tillman October 2, 1899 at the plantation of Thos. H. Ramsford Homicide pistol
Tandy Holmes September 21, 1894 at or on Dr. W.C. Prescotts Plantation Homicide
Susan Medlock April 7, 1894 at Johnston Homicide
Susan Churchwell October 6, 1884 at Allen Simkins House Unknown
Steve Yeldell October 28, 1894 at Edgefield Accident cart
Stepney negro man September 29, 1848 at the Swamp Platation of Wiley Glover, decd on Savannah River Suicide
Stephen Stalmaker August 30, 1850 at J.M.C. Freeland's Homicide plank
Stanmore B. Chappell January 19, 1867 at S.B. Chappells Residence Homicide pistol
Spencer Mays freedman November 8, 1866 at John Buslys Accident pistol
Solomon Ellenberg February 18, 1859 near the Residence of G.M. Ouzts[?] Suicide
Solomon negro man June 24, 1844 near the Mill of George A. McKee on Stevens Creek Accident
Sis Bonham child February 18, 1894 at M.B. Davenports Accident
Sindy Brighthop August 21, 1898 on S.W. Gardners place Homicide
Simon C. Wood[?] December 26, 1857 at Wm Calelaziers[?] Natural Causes
Simon slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Silvy Nix January 1, 1891 Natural Causes
Sherod Holms October 10, 1884 at Sherod Holms House Accident horse
Seware[?] Stuart November 4, 1893 at J.[?] E. Griffiths Accident
Selena Allen child, boy, baby December 12, 1890 at Mrs Blacks[?] Plantation Accident
Scipio slave April 1, 1862 at E. J. Youngbloods Homicide hatchet
Sarah Scurry September 28, 1844 at the House of Sarah Scurry Suicide
Sarah Lucas October 30, 1890 at Mr. M L Holson Accident
Sarah Jowls[?] November 16, 1858 at Mrs Mary Ann Keys Suicide rope
Samuel Posey October 21, 1860 at P. B. McDaniels Homicide pistol
Samuel M. Dowel July 25, 1844 at James Murrels Suicide knife
Samuel Harrison February 18, 1881 at [inelligible - faded] Accident
Sam Howard Freedman August 6, 1866 at L. L. Halls Homicide knife
Sam negro, slave September 18, 1846 at the residence of Mrs Nancy Delaughter Natural Causes
Sam Slave June 14, 1858 at Henry Spiers[?] Accident
Sam negro man October 19, 1856 on the track of the South Carolina Rail Road between the Paper Mill and Marsh's Accident train
Sam slave, boy October 10, 1857 at the Carolina Hotel, Edgefield C.H. Unknown
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
Sallie Holmes December 20, 1893 at D. P. Bodies[?] Accident
Sallie Busch August 21, 1892 at Lewis Beans plantation Natural Causes
Ryal Negro Slave July 28, 1851 at Mr Thos McKies Batteau landing on Big Stephen's Creek Accident
Rufus Harling September 16, 1897 at Clarks Hill Homicide
Rose negro woman Slave March 14, 1846 at Michael Longs Homicide
Rose three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide
Robert W. Kincade December 27, 1845 at the house of Baley[?] Corley Natural Causes

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