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 Typesort descending Death Method
John Whitlock boy September 8, 1869 at Grainteville Accident
infant child infant child June 14, 1891 at Kenny Grave Yard Accident
Wily Royal January 7, 1895 at J.S. Hancocks Accident pistol
Isaac Oliphant November 9, 1882 at Ritch Thomson Accident
Benjamin Cockroft March 18, 1847 in the woods near the house of Beryman[?] Bledsoe Accident
Cap Bryan February 25, 1893 at the plantation of Mrs Doziers Accident
Peter slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
John Seigler February 13, 1856 at J.H. Christians Accident buggy
Charles S. Harrison November 25, 1878 at E.C. House Accident pistol
Lizzy Rardon September 28, 1879 at Clansey Holloways plantation Accident
Richard negroe Boy April 21, 1863 in the District of Edgefield Accident train
Lucy Roper June 29, 1899 on the pantation of S.W. Miller Accident lightning
Peter Negro man December 30, 1859 at the Plantation of Mr Wm Bunch Accident
John Young June 27, 1891 at the residence of John Young Accident
Henry Peterson June 13, 1893 at Ridge Spring Accident train
Cland Elam child March 17, 1892 at A. J. Norris Place Accident
Betsey slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
John slave September 27, 1863 at the residence of Johnson A Bland Accident
Toby negro man July 10, 1844 near Bauskett Bridge on Stevens Creek Accident
Auson Peeler July 25, 1868 near Kalmia[?] Mills Accident horse
Julia Hightower child November 9, 1890 at Mr Sam Marshes Place Accident
Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] January 5, 1892 at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary Accident
Milledge Fuller freedman February 18, 1867 at John Ransford plantation Accident
Henry Goodman May 4, 1851 at or near to William H Adams on little horse Creek Accident
infant child infant child December 9, 1891 at a colored cemetary Accident
Steve Yeldell October 28, 1894 at Edgefield Accident cart
Mary female Slave January 13, 1853 at Isaac Bowles[?] Accident
Henry Jones September 21, 1855 Accident
Henry slave, boy May 1, 1857 at Arthur Glovers House, Horns Creek Accident
Emanuel Johnson October 7, 1893 at Wards Accident train
Hugh Wetherford June 25, 1895 at Edgefield CH Accident train
William H Maharey May 25, 1863 at Haslin Factory on the Procelian Manufacturing Company Accident
Lawrence Frazier child January 14, 1895 at D.B. Holingsworths Accident
Andrew negro man October 6, 1855 on the track of the South Carolina Rail Road Accident train
James Frazier Babie October 24, 1890 at D. B Hollingworth Accident
Joe infant negro August 26, 1860 at John Huiets Accident
John Rufus Russell October 10, 1884 at John L Russell House Accident
J. F. Styron April 21, 1891 at residence of J. F. Styron[?] Accident
Edinborough Ryan December 30, 1882 at Mrs D. L Bussy Plantation Accident
Hampton Reynolds July 30, 1892 at J.W. Reynolds Plantation Accident
Dick male slave July 13, 1859 at Ted Scurrys residence Accident
Ezekiel Thomas February 4, 1879 near Johnstons Accident train
infant infant December 15, 1892 at Mr. Pleasant Grave Yard Accident
Richard Mims August 1, 1899 at the plantation of Mrs. H. Carter Accident
Tilman Attaway April 14, 1849 at the corner of the Oharer[?] old field Accident
Lilla Olophant female infant August 18, 1879 at Simpton[?] Pinns[?] Accident
Charles slave July 31, 1851 at the house of John M. Norris Esqr in Edgefield Accident
John Radford April 12, 1860 at the residence of John Radford Accident wagon
George Low col June 6, 1869 at Sand Bar Ferry Accident stems of yellow jasmine
Mary Blocker December 6, 1894 at R H Parks Accident strychnine

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