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 351 - 400 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort ascending
Richard J. Barton December 28, 1866 at Mrs Lucinda Bartons Accident
Wade Barronton October 8, 1860 at Wade Barrontons Residence Natural Causes
Samuel Harrison February 18, 1881 at [inelligible - faded] Accident
Bartly negro man January 16, 1846 in the woods near the plantation of Dr Wm M Bent Unknown
infant infant January 24, 1893 at Clintonwards Accident
Curry slave March 17, 1856 at Mrs Elizabeth Middletons Plantation Accident
Ana May Blocker child December 2, 1894 at Ben Boatwrights farm Natural Causes
Kenneth Martor[?] January 15, 1852 at Thomas Samar's[?] Mills on horse creek Accident
Wallace E. Bland July 4, 1880 at Edgefield C. House Homicide
Cap Bryan February 25, 1893 at the plantation of Mrs Doziers Accident
Learma Butler November 7, 1890 at W.H. Folks plantation Natural Causes
Bob negro September 23, 1864 in the District Natural Causes
Alexander P. Kennard February 16, 1847 in the District Natural Causes
Riller three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide
Peyton Bird colored September 29, 1869 at Edgefield CH Natural Causes
Julia Van June 20, 1892 at the plantation of Mr Joe Thurmond Homicide
Peter Negro man December 30, 1859 at the Plantation of Mr Wm Bunch Accident
infant child infant child November 17, 1891 at Mr M Toneys place Unknown
Isaac Grimer December 10, 1868 at Jacobs Branch on the Spaun Church road Accident
Gus West October 11, 1883 at Jack Holms Unknown
Robert slave, boy April 8, 1847 at Edward Hampton's Suicide
infant child infant child January 18, 1892 at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger Accident
Mid[?] Griffin February 2, 1895 at the Govelace[?] Place Natural Causes
infant infant January 22, 1894 at Oak Gilchrist House Natural Causes
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
James Booth August 23, 1878 at E. C. House Homicide
Elmira Jackson May 18, 1884 at George Holingsworths House Accident
Lewis slave May 21, 1861 at S. H. Roggers Suicide
Robert Johnston May 23, 1891 at Clarks Ferry below bridge on C. & G.[?] R R Accident
Emaline Jackson August 27, 1894 at Dr Childs Plantation Natural Causes
Lidda Hampton November 24, 1893 at A Derrecks Natural Causes
Thomas Rosseter[?] August 30, 1852 at Hamburg SC Accident
Rose negro woman Slave March 14, 1846 at Michael Longs Homicide
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
George Watkins October 10, 1866 at George Watkins Homicide
Rose three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide
infant Boy infant Boy October 29, 1894 at [?] Coleman Natural Causes
Hardy Boulware January 2, 1862 at Hardy Boulwares Homicide
Edmond Price April 30, 1892 at Kennys Graveyard Unknown
George Washington Crowder October 19, 1866 at Grannetville Accident
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
Sarah Lucas October 30, 1890 at Mr. M L Holson Accident
Luther Sullivan October 26, 1898 near John Stuarts Homicide
Henry slave, boy May 1, 1857 at Arthur Glovers House, Horns Creek Accident
Pete slave October 31, 1864 at Liberty hill Unknown
Albert Jones April 29, 1885 at Pickens Reynolds house Homicide
Sindy Brighthop August 21, 1898 on S.W. Gardners place Homicide
Warren Kirkland November 16, 1858 at Benjamin Bartons Homicide
Solomon negro man June 24, 1844 near the Mill of George A. McKee on Stevens Creek Accident
Belaus[Velaus?] slave, boy March 30, 1863 at Robert Smiths Accident

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