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
Lizza colered woman October 7, 1866 at the house of Thomas S. Miller Natural Causes
Thomas Prince July 31, 1848 at the Joal of Said District Natural Causes
William White December 10, 1898 at Savanah River Accident
Mary Bright Hanpt[?] October 6, 1881 at Bright Hanpt[?] Unknown
infant child infant child January 18, 1892 at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger Accident
E. M. Whatley August 31, 1893 at E M Whatley's Suicide
Eva Blocker February 11, 1893 at J. P. Wrights Plantation Accident
infant, child infant, child November 29, 1894 at the plantation of J. P. Roton Natural Causes
Levi H. McDaniel March 9, 1859 at or near the 17 mile Post on the Scotts Ferry Road Homicide
William M. Tredaway March 27, 1851 at the house of William M Tredaway at Beach Island Homicide
Eldrige Padgett February 9, 1859 at Eidson Padgetts Accident
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
Edmond Smallwood October 19, 1892 at E. C. Ridgells Plantation Natural Causes
John M. Tillman May 6, 1860 at Mr J.A Tillmans Steam Mill Homicide
Ed Glover July 8, 1882 at Poore House Accident
John slave September 27, 1863 at the residence of Johnson A Bland Accident
Elleck free boy December 13, 1866 at Johnathan Gregorys Accident
Larrence Valentine December 28, 1893 at Mt[?] Willing Accident
Wesley male slave, child October 5, 1857 at the residence of Sophia A Tilman Homicide
Tom Slave, old negro man January 12, 1853 near the residence of Harry Scott Accident
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
infant child infant child September 9, 1891 at Wards Natural Causes
infant male child infant male child January 3, 1894 in Edgefield County Natural Causes
Joe infant negro August 26, 1860 at John Huiets Accident
Hartwell Roper June 17, 1869 at the residence of Rev. J.P. Mealing Natural Causes
Edmond Price April 30, 1892 at Kennys Graveyard Unknown
Harry negro boy September 9, 1858 at the residence of the Rev. J. L. Brooks Accident
Infred Padgett July 12, 1848 at the Joal of Edgefield Natural Causes
Alice Adkinson October 18, 1898 at Republican Church Homicide
John H Webb January 22, 1882 at James Webb Residence Accident
Sarah Lucas October 30, 1890 at Mr. M L Holson Accident
Nancy Weaver December 20, 1893 at Edgefield Court House Accident
Wade Medlock July 12, 1894 at Benjamin Boatwrights Plantation Unknown
Milledge Fuller freedman February 18, 1867 at John Ransford plantation Accident
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
B. J. Mims January 20, 1885 at the Residence of Capt B J Mims Natural Causes
Solomon negro man June 24, 1844 near the Mill of George A. McKee on Stevens Creek Accident
William C. Goff May 7, 1865 at Bethany Church Accident
Mahlon Jones December 25, 1891 at Landrams Farm Homicide
Jim slave June 10, 1859 at M, L, Bonham Esqr residence on the Pine House road Natural Causes
Rebeca Eidson May 29, 1861 at the Residence of William Eidson Natural Causes
Victor male slave April 24, 1859 at A. L. Dearing Plantation Natural Causes
Apling negro man April 5, 1849 in the woods in said district near the Lexington line on a branch of McGier Creek Homicide
Joseph Powel August 18, 1879 at [??] Accident
Ora Weaver February 21, 1891 at the plantation of D B. H Holfarth[illegible - ink blot] Accident
Eddie Watson Infant April 25, 1892 at Bob Stevens Natural Causes
Charles slave, boy September 25, 1861 at Elijah Watson Homicide
Charles slave July 31, 1851 at the house of John M. Norris Esqr in Edgefield Accident
Lucious Perry November 8, 1891 at the plantation of Ben Boatwright Homicide
Joseph Riddle April 10, 1856 at Hamburg Homicide

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