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 301 - 350 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
Dudley Roundtree August 10, 1856 at the dwelling house of the late Dudley Roundtree Natural Causes
infant child infant child January 18, 1892 at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger Accident
Willie Toney March 26, 1899 at Edgefield Court House Homicide
Joe slave, boy September 13, 1860 at the residence of D. M. Glover Homicide
Tom Slave, old negro man January 12, 1853 near the residence of Harry Scott Accident
George Watkins October 10, 1866 at George Watkins Homicide
Esther Jeter April 17, 1893 at Huiets x Roads Accident
Edward Johnston December 26, 1892 at William Bushes Unknown
infant child infant child September 15, 1861 at the residence of Mrs Margret Willis Accident
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
John Whitlock boy September 8, 1869 at Grainteville Accident
A. P. Shultz January 9, 1850 at or near Solomon Clickleys[?] Unknown
Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] January 5, 1892 at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary Accident
Dick male slave July 13, 1859 at Ted Scurrys residence Accident
Eva Blocker February 11, 1893 at J. P. Wrights Plantation Accident
Mary Slave May 17, 1847 at the Plantation of A. Perrin Homicide
Cooper slave March 17, 1852 at the plantation of L.H. Mundy decd Natural Causes
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
John Rufus Russell October 10, 1884 at John L Russell House Accident
William M. Tredaway March 27, 1851 at the house of William M Tredaway at Beach Island Homicide
Belaus[Velaus?] slave, boy March 30, 1863 at Robert Smiths Accident
Lizzie Darian child November 21, 1894 at Waldo Richardsons Accident
Jack Taylor April 11, 1892 at the house of Hal[?] Miles Natural Causes
Tom negro slave December 18, 1858 at Chlo Watsons Homicide
Edmond Price April 30, 1892 at Kennys Graveyard Unknown
Julia Mundy June 17, 1881 at Jas H Banknight Homicide
Simon C. Wood[?] December 26, 1857 at Wm Calelaziers[?] Natural Causes
Joel Etheridge November 29, 1893 at Joel Etheridge Residence Unknown
Sarah Lucas October 30, 1890 at Mr. M L Holson Accident
Lawrence Frazier child January 14, 1895 at D.B. Holingsworths Accident
Cesar Negro, negro boy July 7, 1843 at the house of Elijah Watson Homicide
Will Collens October 20, 1894 at Gaines SC Homicide
Solomon negro man June 24, 1844 near the Mill of George A. McKee on Stevens Creek Accident
John McManas December 4, 1883 at the Jail Accident
Hartwell Roper June 17, 1869 at the residence of Rev. J.P. Mealing Natural Causes
white man white man October 21, 1849 in the woods near Holsonbakers[?] old fields Natural Causes
Callen O'Neall November 11, 1855 at Luke Havirds[?] Accident
Rebeca Eidson May 29, 1861 at the Residence of William Eidson Natural Causes
Thomas Glover August 2, 1893 at Bill Werk[?] Residence Homicide
John G. Riddle July 3, 1860 at the residence of Mr Richard Burton Natural Causes
Wade Medlock July 12, 1894 at Benjamin Boatwrights Plantation Unknown
Jacob Horn February 25, 1866 at the hous of Jacob Horns Homicide
Ora Weaver February 21, 1891 at the plantation of D B. H Holfarth[illegible - ink blot] Accident
Moses Blalock May 19, 1882 on the Plantation of W G McDavid Homicide
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Joshua negro man slave June 26, 1860 at Harmon Gallman Unknown
Mary Harrison September 10, 1894 at Dornville Accident
J. F. Styron April 21, 1891 at residence of J. F. Styron[?] Accident
Lucious Perry November 8, 1891 at the plantation of Ben Boatwright Homicide
Lila Washington February 20, 1879 at Wesley Barns Mill Accident

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