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 251 - 300 of 524
Namesort ascending Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Method
John G. Riddle July 3, 1860 at the residence of Mr Richard Burton Natural Causes
John E. Paul June 14, 1892 at Edgefield CH Homicide
John E. Elsmore November 28, 1869 at the house of John E. Elsmore Homicide pistol
John David Twiggs September 15, 1864 in Hamburg Homicide
John Crawford June 25, 1853 at the house of John Crawford Suicide pocket knife
John Butler October 23, 1850 at the House of Mr Seth Butler Homicide knife
John Brown December 20, 1844 at the house of John Brown Natural Causes
John Agner December 26, 1883 at Mr. John Agner's Homicide knife
John slave September 27, 1863 at the residence of Johnson A Bland Accident
Joel W. Warren November 9, 1894 at Joseph Mirren[?] House Natural Causes
Joel Roper Sr. August 30, 1845 at the house of Joel Roper Sr Suicide rope
Joel Etheridge November 29, 1893 at Joel Etheridge Residence Unknown
Joe Weston January 31, 1895 in Edgefield County Homicide
Joe Elam February 16, 1882 at Nicholson premises Natural Causes
Joe slave, boy September 13, 1860 at the residence of D. M. Glover Homicide
Joe infant negro August 26, 1860 at John Huiets Accident
Jno. C Swearingin April 24, 1895 at Edgefield CH Homicide
Jim McKie October 26, 1898 near John starks Homicide
Jim Coleman freidman November 15, 1866 at the Mackey Place on horse Creek Accident
Jim Brown Child April 19, 1882 on Jasper Talbert Premises Unknown
Jim slave June 10, 1859 at M, L, Bonham Esqr residence on the Pine House road Natural Causes
Jim negro boy July 23, 1855 at Wade Holsteens Homicide knife
Jesse Weatherford September 4, 1849 at the plantation of Mrs R Blaylock Homicide shotgun
Jesse Moragna[?] March 3, 1882 at Luke Moragines[?] House Accident
Jesse Limbecker June 18, 1869 at Hamburg Accident
Jane Glover January 12, 1883 at Handy Tanks House on John Wir[?] plantation Unknown
James Thomas colored July 20, 1869 at Liberty Hill County Homicide
James S. Aiton June 19, 1893 at J.S. Aiton deceased Suicide pistol
James Reynolds December 20, 1860 at the residence of James Reynolds Homicide
James Ramsey December 12, 1869 at the residence of Andrew Ramsay Sr Homicide pistol
James Perry December 27, 1894 at Mt Enon Church Accident
James Mitchell February 18, 1879 at L D Laudrums Natural Causes
James Miller March 29, 1847 at the house of James Miller Suicide rope
James Leppard February 13, 1893 at F. M. Leppards Natural Causes
James L. Hill January 10, 1867 at James L Hills Accident
James Frazier Babie October 24, 1890 at D. B Hollingworth Accident
James Edward Settle boy March 9, 1884 on Henry Hill Plantation Accident
James Booth August 23, 1878 at E. C. House Homicide
James Blocker May 6, 1897 Accident train
James Bledsoe May 15, 1893 at Dr D.P. Lalsrones[?] Residence Homicide pistol
Jacob Long Jr. December 19, 1848 at Jacob Longs Suicide razor
Jacob Horn February 25, 1866 at the hous of Jacob Horns Homicide
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
J. M. Long October 10, 1891 at J. M. Longs Homicide
J. J. Jennings November 16, 1860 at J J Jennings Suicide
J. Hancock June 13, 1859 at J. Hancocks Suicide shotgun
J. H. Christian July 21, 1856 in the village of Edgefield in Room No 11, in B. J. Ryans Hotel Homicide pistol
J. F. Styron April 21, 1891 at residence of J. F. Styron[?] Accident
J. E. Black May 8, 1861 at the Residence of J. E. Black Other

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