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
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Alice Adkinson October 18, 1898 at Republican Church Homicide
H. P. Church December 27, 1842 in the house of C. H. Goodman in the Vilage of Edgefield Other
Thomas Welheu[?] June 19, 1868 at Benjamin Better[?] wheat field on the Columbia & Augusta Rail Road Accident
W. W. Miller Sr. white man July 10, 1891 at J M. Mays place Accident
Joseph Powel August 18, 1879 at [??] Accident
Tom negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at H. L. Maysons in Beach island Accident
Mahlon Jones December 25, 1891 at Landrams Farm Homicide
J. D. Wells December 14, 1890 at Edgefield C.H. Natural Causes
Hartwell Roper June 17, 1869 at the residence of Rev. J.P. Mealing Natural Causes
Thomas child of Thomas M Chandler September 11, 1850 at Thos M. Chandler's house, and at the old Pottery Accident
John H Webb January 22, 1882 at James Webb Residence Accident
Silvy Nix January 1, 1891 Natural Causes
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
Louisa Wooden October 13, 1893 at Mose Woden Accident
Enoch Douglass August 11, 1879 near Wesly Barrs on the rail road Accident
Elijah Sullivan April 24, 1898 at Cow-buel[?] place Accident
Violet negro woman (slave) March 25, 1844 at John Dinkinses Suicide
Rachiel Mitchel June 21, 1881 at J. R Corleys Accident
Caroline Coleman July 25, 1893 at Brisel[?] Blacks Residence Natural Causes
Solomon Ellenberg February 18, 1859 near the Residence of G.M. Ouzts[?] Suicide
Jim Coleman freidman November 15, 1866 at the Mackey Place on horse Creek Accident
Hurnon[?] April 4, 1862 at Doct H R Cooks Plantation on Savanah River Unknown
Tandy Holmes September 21, 1894 at or on Dr. W.C. Prescotts Plantation Homicide
Alick Croker boy September 29, 1878 at Mrs. Marshes premises Accident
Presley Wise July 11, 1891 at D W. Padgetts plantation Homicide
Robert Reynolds July 30, 1892 at J.W. Reynolds Plantation Accident
Allen Bauknight freedman June 11, 1866 at William Bauknights Accident
Al White October 12, 1898 at Mundy[?] Place Homicide
Seware[?] Stuart November 4, 1893 at J.[?] E. Griffiths Accident
James Edward Settle boy March 9, 1884 on Henry Hill Plantation Accident
Eddie Watson Infant April 25, 1892 at Bob Stevens Natural Causes
Isham Glover August 9, 1892 at Edgefield C.H. Homicide
infant infant May 5, 1893 at F. L. Foys Natural Causes
David West boy January 30, 1862 at Graniteville Accident
Richard J. Barton December 28, 1866 at Mrs Lucinda Bartons Accident
infant child infant child August 5, 1878 at the residence of H J Wright Homicide
Henry Goodman May 4, 1851 at or near to William H Adams on little horse Creek Accident
Bartly negro man January 16, 1846 in the woods near the plantation of Dr Wm M Bent Unknown
Rufus Harling September 16, 1897 at Clarks Hill Homicide
George Mitchel June 21, 1881 at J. R Corleys Accident
Curry slave March 17, 1856 at Mrs Elizabeth Middletons Plantation Accident
James L. Hill January 10, 1867 at James L Hills Accident
William H Maharey May 25, 1863 at Haslin Factory on the Procelian Manufacturing Company Accident
Cap Bryan February 25, 1893 at the plantation of Mrs Doziers Accident
Jane Glover January 12, 1883 at Handy Tanks House on John Wir[?] plantation Unknown
Mary female Slave January 13, 1853 at Isaac Bowles[?] Accident
Riller three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide
Learma Butler November 7, 1890 at W.H. Folks plantation Natural Causes

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