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
Hampton Reynolds July 30, 1892 at J.W. Reynolds Plantation Accident
Mary Grace Aldrich infant child August 11, 1856 at Graniteville Homicide
Mary Bright Hanpt[?] October 6, 1881 at Bright Hanpt[?] Unknown
Luther Harris May 26, 1899 at the plantation of George F Towns Homicide
Rose negro woman Slave March 14, 1846 at Michael Longs Homicide
Dave Gillam August 25, 1892 at the house of Cal Smiths Homicide
John Whitlock boy September 8, 1869 at Grainteville Accident
Hartwell Roper June 17, 1869 at the residence of Rev. J.P. Mealing Natural Causes
William Harlin February 19, 1856 at a new place sitting by Mr James Swearingem(Jr) on the Akien Road Accident
B. J. Mims January 20, 1885 at the Residence of Capt B J Mims Natural Causes
Henry negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at New Savannah in beach Island Accident
Belaus[Velaus?] slave, boy March 30, 1863 at Robert Smiths Accident
Mike negro man September 13, 1844 at Dr John D. Nicholsons Mill Accident
George Ross June 29, 1898 at Adoms[?] place Homicide
Alice Adkinson October 18, 1898 at Republican Church Homicide
Wade Medlock July 12, 1894 at Benjamin Boatwrights Plantation Unknown
Charles negro man February 27, 1850 at Scotts Shoals on Savannah River Accident
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Joseph Powel August 18, 1879 at [??] Accident
Matt Loyd February 24, 1891 at Mr. Carmal cemetary near the Old Wills Natural Causes
W. W. Miller Sr. white man July 10, 1891 at J M. Mays place Accident
Warren Kirkland November 16, 1858 at Benjamin Bartons Homicide
Mahlon Jones December 25, 1891 at Landrams Farm Homicide
Sallie Busch August 21, 1892 at Lewis Beans plantation Natural Causes
John H Webb January 22, 1882 at James Webb Residence Accident
Gus Blocker August 18, 1892 at the plantion of July Blocker Homicide
Charles negro boy November 14, 1842 On Mr Thos Oliver's Plantation, at or near Said Oliver's residence Accident
Adam negro man Slave, boy August 3, 1850 at Vaucluse Factory Accident
Eddie Watson Infant April 25, 1892 at Bob Stevens Natural Causes
Enoch Douglass August 11, 1879 near Wesly Barrs on the rail road Accident
Joshua negro man slave June 26, 1860 at Harmon Gallman Unknown
Prince negro man October 27, 1844 at Mrs Elizabeth Timmermans Suicide
Louisa Wooden October 13, 1893 at Mose Woden Accident
Rachiel Mitchel June 21, 1881 at J. R Corleys Accident
Elijah Sullivan April 24, 1898 at Cow-buel[?] place Accident
infant infant May 5, 1893 at F. L. Foys Natural Causes
Ryal Negro Slave July 28, 1851 at Mr Thos McKies Batteau landing on Big Stephen's Creek Accident
John Brown December 20, 1844 at the house of John Brown Natural Causes
Caroline Coleman July 25, 1893 at Brisel[?] Blacks Residence Natural Causes
Alick Croker boy September 29, 1878 at Mrs. Marshes premises Accident
Edward slave, boy October 22, 1857 at the residence of Wm Miller Natural Causes
Garett Doby October 11, 1880 at William Rufus Natural Causes
Tandy Holmes September 21, 1894 at or on Dr. W.C. Prescotts Plantation Homicide
Charles negro boy March 7, 1857 at Archy Clark residence Accident
Presley Wise July 11, 1891 at D W. Padgetts plantation Homicide
Hurnon[?] April 4, 1862 at Doct H R Cooks Plantation on Savanah River Unknown
infant child infant child July 24, 1892 at Promised Land School house Unknown
Allen Bauknight freedman June 11, 1866 at William Bauknights Accident
James Edward Settle boy March 9, 1884 on Henry Hill Plantation Accident

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