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 ascending
Liz slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Dave negro man Slave March 16, 1849 at Kilcrease's Ferry Accident boat
Peter slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Betsey slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Lizzy three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide axe
Augustus W. Burt March 25, 1847 at the Plantation of A.W. Burt Homicide axe
Ned Dozier September 27, 1893 at MJ Holsteins Homicide
Jim Brown Child April 19, 1882 on Jasper Talbert Premises Unknown
Curry slave March 17, 1856 at Mrs Elizabeth Middletons Plantation Accident
J. J. Jennings November 16, 1860 at J J Jennings Suicide
Eunice Hogan October 26, 1851 at the house of John Briskey Homicide
infant infant March 24, 1892 at Pinksville Homicide
Unknown August 30, 1866 at Fosity[?] Creek ford Unknown
Henry Turner September 24, 1878 at Johnstons Homicide
Learma Butler November 7, 1890 at W.H. Folks plantation Natural Causes
Lula Smith child June 22, 1894 at James A Satcher's Plantation Homicide
Joseph Shaw July 26, 1858 at the residence of John H Shaw near Edgefield C.H. Accident
George W. Medlock January 1, 1848 at the house of Daniel Abby Natural Causes
Infant Boy Child Colored Infant Boy Child Colored February 15, 1883 at the residence of Charles Coleman Unknown
John Young June 27, 1891 at the residence of John Young Accident
John Henry King October 29, 1865 in Hamburg Homicide
Robert W. Kincade December 27, 1845 at the house of Baley[?] Corley Natural Causes
Isham Glover August 10, 1892 at Edgefield C.H. Homicide
George Robinson January 12, 1892 at the plantation of E. B. Davis Natural Causes
Milton Barter[?] youth August 24, 1849 at Capt. Andrew J Hammonds Mills Accident
James L. Hill January 10, 1867 at James L Hills Accident
Harriet negro woman July 20, 1859 at the residence of JB Rease Natural Causes
Ansabelle Brown October 21, 1866 near the Tambor[?] Soba[?] Rail Road Unknown
Clem slave, boy October 3, 1858 at Tabitha Abney's Accident
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
Esther Jeter April 17, 1893 at Huiets x Roads Accident
Willie Toney March 26, 1899 at Edgefield Court House Homicide
John Whitlock boy September 8, 1869 at Grainteville Accident
Dick male slave July 13, 1859 at Ted Scurrys residence Accident
Edward Johnston December 26, 1892 at William Bushes Unknown
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
Eva Blocker February 11, 1893 at J. P. Wrights Plantation Accident
A. G. Howard February 28, 1860 at Grannet Ville Depot Accident
Joseph Moore Jr. April 19, 1846 at the house of Dr John D. Nicholson Natural Causes
John Rufus Russell October 10, 1884 at John L Russell House Accident
Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] January 5, 1892 at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary Accident
William M. Tredaway March 27, 1851 at the house of William M Tredaway at Beach Island Homicide
Cooper slave March 17, 1852 at the plantation of L.H. Mundy decd Natural Causes
infant child infant child November 17, 1891 at Mr M Toneys place Unknown
Whit Terry October 19, 1894 J.K. Corleys Place Homicide
Lilla Olophant female infant August 18, 1879 at Simpton[?] Pinns[?] Accident
infant child infant child January 18, 1892 at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger Accident
Elleck free boy December 13, 1866 at Johnathan Gregorys Accident
Dinah Woman Slave May 22, 1849 at Allen Griffith Natural Causes
Joe slave, boy September 13, 1860 at the residence of D. M. Glover Homicide

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