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 201 - 250 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort ascending
Rose three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide
John Matthews October 13, 1829 at the house of William Adams Other
Gus Blocker August 18, 1892 at the plantion of July Blocker Homicide
Thomas Glover August 2, 1893 at Bill Werk[?] Residence Homicide
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
John H Webb January 22, 1882 at James Webb Residence Accident
James Leppard February 13, 1893 at F. M. Leppards Natural Causes
Mike negro man September 13, 1844 at Dr John D. Nicholsons Mill Accident
William Harlin February 19, 1856 at a new place sitting by Mr James Swearingem(Jr) on the Akien Road Accident
Warren Kirkland November 16, 1858 at Benjamin Bartons Homicide
Charles negro man February 27, 1850 at Scotts Shoals on Savannah River Accident
B. J. Mims January 20, 1885 at the Residence of Capt B J Mims Natural Causes
George Ross June 29, 1898 at Adoms[?] place Homicide
Jack Taylor April 11, 1892 at the house of Hal[?] Miles Natural Causes
Matt Loyd February 24, 1891 at Mr. Carmal cemetary near the Old Wills Natural Causes
Lawrence Frazier child January 14, 1895 at D.B. Holingsworths Accident
George Washington Crowder October 19, 1866 at Grannetville Accident
Charles negro boy November 14, 1842 On Mr Thos Oliver's Plantation, at or near Said Oliver's residence Accident
Joseph Powel August 18, 1879 at [??] Accident
W. W. Miller Sr. white man July 10, 1891 at J M. Mays place Accident
Sallie Busch August 21, 1892 at Lewis Beans plantation Natural Causes
Henry negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at New Savannah in beach Island Accident
Pete slave October 31, 1864 at Liberty hill Unknown
Gertrude infant child December 1, 1891 at Edgfield Court house Accident
Allen Bauknight freedman June 11, 1866 at William Bauknights Accident
Levi S. Mathews July 13, 1892 at G. C. Wheerles[?] Residence Natural Causes
John Brown December 20, 1844 at the house of John Brown Natural Causes
James Edward Settle boy March 9, 1884 on Henry Hill Plantation Accident
William Padgett February 22, 1894 at W.D. Readys plantation Homicide
Prince negro man October 27, 1844 at Mrs Elizabeth Timmermans Suicide
Richard Mims August 1, 1899 at the plantation of Mrs. H. Carter Accident
Minda negro girl August 17, 1851 at Mr Geo Robinsons Unknown
Charles negro boy March 7, 1857 at Archy Clark residence Accident
Ryal Negro Slave July 28, 1851 at Mr Thos McKies Batteau landing on Big Stephen's Creek Accident
Enoch Douglass August 11, 1879 near Wesly Barrs on the rail road Accident
Louisa Wooden October 13, 1893 at Mose Woden Accident
J. F. Styron April 21, 1891 at residence of J. F. Styron[?] Accident
Rachiel Mitchel June 21, 1881 at J. R Corleys Accident
Garett Doby October 11, 1880 at William Rufus Natural Causes
Jim Coleman freidman November 15, 1866 at the Mackey Place on horse Creek Accident
Adam negro man Slave, boy August 3, 1850 at Vaucluse Factory Accident
Alick Croker boy September 29, 1878 at Mrs. Marshes premises 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
infant child infant child July 24, 1892 at Promised Land School house Unknown
J. J. Jennings November 16, 1860 at J J Jennings Suicide
infant child infant child October 6, 1891 at her Residence 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
Daniel slave, boy April 28, 1859 at L. Halls Tisery[?] Suicide

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