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 51 - 100 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
Thomas Glover August 2, 1893 at Bill Werk[?] Residence Homicide
Gus Blocker August 18, 1892 at the plantion of July Blocker Homicide
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
William Harlin February 19, 1856 at a new place sitting by Mr James Swearingem(Jr) on the Akien Road Accident
Wade Medlock July 12, 1894 at Benjamin Boatwrights Plantation Unknown
Isaac Oliphant November 9, 1882 at Ritch Thomson Accident
Mike negro man September 13, 1844 at Dr John D. Nicholsons Mill Accident
Warren Kirkland November 16, 1858 at Benjamin Bartons Homicide
George Ross June 29, 1898 at Adoms[?] place Homicide
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Jack Taylor April 11, 1892 at the house of Hal[?] Miles Natural Causes
Charles negro man February 27, 1850 at Scotts Shoals on Savannah River Accident
Belaus[Velaus?] slave, boy March 30, 1863 at Robert Smiths Accident
Lizzy Rardon September 28, 1879 at Clansey Holloways plantation Accident
James Reynolds December 20, 1860 at the residence of James Reynolds Homicide
Lawrence Frazier child January 14, 1895 at D.B. Holingsworths Accident
Matt Loyd February 24, 1891 at Mr. Carmal cemetary near the Old Wills Natural Causes
Charles negro boy November 14, 1842 On Mr Thos Oliver's Plantation, at or near Said Oliver's residence Accident
W. W. Miller Sr. white man July 10, 1891 at J M. Mays place Accident
Henry negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at New Savannah in beach Island Accident
B. C. Bryan March 16, 1884 at B C Bryan Residence Natural Causes
Sallie Busch August 21, 1892 at Lewis Beans plantation Natural Causes
Allen Bauknight freedman June 11, 1866 at William Bauknights Accident
Levi S. Mathews July 13, 1892 at G. C. Wheerles[?] Residence Natural Causes
Gertrude infant child December 1, 1891 at Edgfield Court house Accident
John Brown December 20, 1844 at the house of John Brown Natural Causes
infant infant May 5, 1893 at F. L. Foys Natural Causes
infant child infant child December 14, 1877 at Dr. K N Hudsons plantation Homicide
Richard Mims August 1, 1899 at the plantation of Mrs. H. Carter Accident
Prince negro man October 27, 1844 at Mrs Elizabeth Timmermans Suicide
Charles negro boy March 7, 1857 at Archy Clark residence Accident
Louisa Wooden October 13, 1893 at Mose Woden Accident
J. F. Styron April 21, 1891 at residence of J. F. Styron[?] Accident
Ryal Negro Slave July 28, 1851 at Mr Thos McKies Batteau landing on Big Stephen's Creek Accident
Joshua negro man slave June 26, 1860 at Harmon Gallman Unknown
Willis Asbell December 7, 1877 at Ridge Spring Homicide
Hurnon[?] April 4, 1862 at Doct H R Cooks Plantation on Savanah River Unknown
Kizziah[?] slave, servant March 11, 1860 at the residence of Mr M Lanham Natural Causes
Garett Doby October 11, 1880 at William Rufus Natural Causes
Adam negro man Slave, boy August 3, 1850 at Vaucluse Factory Accident
Tandy Holmes September 21, 1894 at or on Dr. W.C. Prescotts Plantation Homicide
Edinborough Ryan December 30, 1882 at Mrs D. L Bussy Plantation Accident
Edward slave, boy October 22, 1857 at the residence of Wm Miller Natural Causes
Allen Holmes March 4, 1882 at Oscar Seigler Residence Homicide
infant child infant child July 24, 1892 at Promised Land School house Unknown
Peter Negro man December 30, 1859 at the Plantation of Mr Wm Bunch Accident
Ana May Blocker child December 2, 1894 at Ben Boatwrights farm Natural Causes
infant child infant child October 6, 1891 at her Residence Unknown
Daniel slave, boy April 28, 1859 at L. Halls Tisery[?] Suicide
Henry Turner September 24, 1878 at Johnstons Homicide

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