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 151 - 200 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
Rebeca Eidson May 29, 1861 at the Residence of William Eidson Natural Causes
Pete slave October 31, 1864 at Liberty hill Unknown
Ora Weaver February 21, 1891 at the plantation of D B. H Holfarth[illegible - ink blot] Accident
Thomas Glover August 2, 1893 at Bill Werk[?] Residence Homicide
Belaus[Velaus?] slave, boy March 30, 1863 at Robert Smiths Accident
Elick Youngblood child March 21, 1881 at S[?] R Warren Homicide
Tom negro slave December 18, 1858 at Chlo Watsons Homicide
James Leppard February 13, 1893 at F. M. Leppards Natural Causes
William Harlin February 19, 1856 at a new place sitting by Mr James Swearingem(Jr) on the Akien Road Accident
Simon C. Wood[?] December 26, 1857 at Wm Calelaziers[?] Natural Causes
Edmond Price April 30, 1892 at Kennys Graveyard Unknown
George Ross June 29, 1898 at Adoms[?] place Homicide
Sarah Lucas October 30, 1890 at Mr. M L Holson Accident
Jack Taylor April 11, 1892 at the house of Hal[?] Miles Natural Causes
Jack negro boy May 14, 1852 at the house of H. W. Posey Accident
Joe Elam February 16, 1882 at Nicholson premises Natural Causes
Tandy Holmes September 21, 1894 at or on Dr. W.C. Prescotts Plantation Homicide
Doublin male slave, boy April 5, 1857 at the Residence of Mrs Delila Philips Natural Causes
Edinborough Ryan December 30, 1882 at Mrs D. L Bussy Plantation Accident
Charity Johnson March 11, 1847 at the Residence of Charity Johnson, late deceased Natural Causes
Allen Bauknight freedman June 11, 1866 at William Bauknights Accident
Bettie Willis March 24, 1892 at the Croker place the home of Miss Bettie Willis Natural Causes
Levi S. Mathews July 13, 1892 at G. C. Wheerles[?] Residence Natural Causes
Joshua negro man slave June 26, 1860 at Harmon Gallman Unknown
Susan Churchwell October 6, 1884 at Allen Simkins House Unknown
William Padgett February 22, 1894 at W.D. Readys plantation Homicide
Wilson Griffin freedman February 13, 1867 at Luke Rodgers Homicide
Lucious Perry November 8, 1891 at the plantation of Ben Boatwright Homicide
Richard Mims August 1, 1899 at the plantation of Mrs. H. Carter Accident
Minda negro girl August 17, 1851 at Mr Geo Robinsons Unknown
Louisa Wooden October 13, 1893 at Mose Woden Accident
Willis Cumings child October 10, 1890 at C. M. Lanhams Accident
J. F. Styron April 21, 1891 at residence of J. F. Styron[?] Accident
Edward slave, boy October 22, 1857 at the residence of Wm Miller Natural Causes
Lovina negroe girl, a slave September 4, 1860 at Doct H M Folks[Faulk?] Suicide
Milton Barter[?] youth August 24, 1849 at Capt. Andrew J Hammonds Mills Accident
William Bailey July 19, 1846 at the House of Samuel C Scott Homicide
Sam negro, slave September 18, 1846 at the residence of Mrs Nancy Delaughter Natural Causes
Jno. C Swearingin April 24, 1895 at Edgefield CH Homicide
Ernest Bean April 6, 1884 at the Mill of B[?] Hill Accident
Ansabelle Brown October 21, 1866 near the Tambor[?] Soba[?] Rail Road Unknown
Cap Bryan February 25, 1893 at the plantation of Mrs Doziers Accident
Rhoda female slave July 4, 1857 at Dorn's[?] Mill Natural Causes
Sarah Scurry September 28, 1844 at the House of Sarah Scurry Suicide
J. J. Jennings November 16, 1860 at J J Jennings Suicide
Peter Negro man December 30, 1859 at the Plantation of Mr Wm Bunch Accident
Selena Allen child, boy, baby December 12, 1890 at Mrs Blacks[?] Plantation Accident
Ana May Blocker child December 2, 1894 at Ben Boatwrights farm Natural Causes
Infant Boy Child Infant Boy Child June 18, 1883 at Marsh Grobe Yard Accident
A. G. Leek February 23, 1859 at A. G. Leeks Residence Other

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