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 ascending
John McManas December 4, 1883 at the Jail Accident
Callen O'Neall November 11, 1855 at Luke Havirds[?] Accident
Hartwell Roper June 17, 1869 at the residence of Rev. J.P. Mealing Natural Causes
Sallie Busch August 21, 1892 at Lewis Beans plantation Natural Causes
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
John G. Riddle July 3, 1860 at the residence of Mr Richard Burton Natural Causes
Jacob Horn February 25, 1866 at the hous of Jacob Horns Homicide
Wade Medlock July 12, 1894 at Benjamin Boatwrights Plantation Unknown
Moses Blalock May 19, 1882 on the Plantation of W G McDavid Homicide
Lizzie Darian child November 21, 1894 at Waldo Richardsons Accident
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Mike negro man September 13, 1844 at Dr John D. Nicholsons Mill Accident
Warren Kirkland November 16, 1858 at Benjamin Bartons Homicide
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
Jim slave June 10, 1859 at M, L, Bonham Esqr residence on the Pine House road Natural Causes
Julia Mundy June 17, 1881 at Jas H Banknight Homicide
Joel Etheridge November 29, 1893 at Joel Etheridge Residence Unknown
Cesar Negro, negro boy July 7, 1843 at the house of Elijah Watson Homicide
Lawrence Frazier child January 14, 1895 at D.B. Holingsworths Accident
Will Collens October 20, 1894 at Gaines SC Homicide
Matt Loyd February 24, 1891 at Mr. Carmal cemetary near the Old Wills Natural Causes
Garett Doby October 11, 1880 at William Rufus Natural Causes
Adam negro man Slave, boy August 3, 1850 at Vaucluse Factory Accident
Edinborough Ryan December 30, 1882 at Mrs D. L Bussy Plantation Accident
Charles slave, boy September 25, 1861 at Elijah Watson Homicide
Patrick Burns[?] November 4, 1858 at the residence of Richard Campbell Natural Causes
infant child infant child July 24, 1892 at Promised Land School house Unknown
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
Jesse Moragna[?] March 3, 1882 at Luke Moragines[?] House Accident
Sam slave, boy October 10, 1857 at the Carolina Hotel, Edgefield C.H. Unknown
infant infant May 5, 1893 at F. L. Foys Natural Causes
Mingo Mosley January 13, 1883 at Samuel[?] Corley's Accident
Richard Mims August 1, 1899 at the plantation of Mrs. H. Carter Accident
Mary Harrison September 10, 1894 at Dornville Accident
Prince negro man October 27, 1844 at Mrs Elizabeth Timmermans Suicide
Charles negro boy March 7, 1857 at Archy Clark residence 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
George Hatcher freedman June 19, 1867 at B. W. Hatchers Mill on Shaws creek Natural Causes
Lila Washington February 20, 1879 at Wesley Barns Mill Accident
Infant Infant December 18, 1894 at the Rinheart Grave yard Unknown
Hurnon[?] April 4, 1862 at Doct H R Cooks Plantation on Savanah River Unknown
Kisiah Frazier December 17, 1893 at the plantation of T S Rainsforde Natural Causes
Alexander P. Kennard February 16, 1847 in the District Natural Causes
Jno. C Swearingin April 24, 1895 at Edgefield CH Homicide

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