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 Typesort descending Death Method
Clem slave, boy October 3, 1858 at Tabitha Abney's Accident
Hampton Weaver colored July 17, 1869 at the house of and on the farm of James T Outz Accident shotgun
Joseph Shaw July 26, 1858 at the residence of John H Shaw near Edgefield C.H. Accident
James L. Hill January 10, 1867 at James L Hills Accident
Joseph Ruffington January 9, 1893 at Thos O Attaways Accident
John McManas December 4, 1883 at the Jail Accident
Esther Jeter April 17, 1893 at Huiets x Roads Accident
John Scott May 10, 1851 at Vaucluse[?] Factory Accident horse
Minnie Johnson December 22, 1892 at John Bettis plantation Accident
Mingo Mosley January 13, 1883 at Samuel[?] Corley's Accident
Seware[?] Stuart November 4, 1893 at J.[?] E. Griffiths Accident
Abram negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at Henry L Maysons Accident
A. G. Howard February 28, 1860 at Grannet Ville Depot Accident
Jesse Moragna[?] March 3, 1882 at Luke Moragines[?] House Accident
Hugh Duffey Sr. August 26, 1855 at Bethany Church Accident horse
Robert Reynolds July 30, 1892 at J.W. Reynolds Plantation Accident
Unknown October 10, 1869 at Graniteville Accident train
Lila Washington February 20, 1879 at Wesley Barns Mill Accident
Billy November 28, 1857 at the South Carolina Rail Road Accident wagon
Sis Bonham child February 18, 1894 at M.B. Davenports Accident
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
John Matthews October 13, 1829 at the house of William Adams Other
J. E. Black May 8, 1861 at the Residence of J. E. Black Other
A. G. Leek February 23, 1859 at A. G. Leeks Residence Other
Martin B. Elam January 28, 1851 at Mrs Mary Elams Other
H. P. Church December 27, 1842 in the house of C. H. Goodman in the Vilage of Edgefield Other
Milledge Stuard October 8, 1881 at Mount [??] Yard Natural Causes
Alexander P. Kennard February 16, 1847 in the District Natural Causes
Learma Butler November 7, 1890 at W.H. Folks plantation Natural Causes
George Robinson January 12, 1892 at the plantation of E. B. Davis Natural Causes
Polly Vines April 20, 1892 at the house of Ben. Holt Natural Causes
Bluford Abney November 14, 1894 at M.A. Colemans plantation Natural Causes
Kisiah Frazier December 17, 1893 at the plantation of T S Rainsforde Natural Causes
J. B. Whittle November 28, 1894 at Mrs Whittles Natural Causes
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
Patrick Burns[?] November 4, 1858 at the residence of Richard Campbell Natural Causes
Rebeca Eidson May 29, 1861 at the Residence of William Eidson Natural Causes
Joel W. Warren November 9, 1894 at Joseph Mirren[?] House Natural Causes
Chaney negro woman December 11, 1855 at the dwelling house of Mrs Randall in the Town of Hamburg Natural Causes
Wade Barronton October 8, 1860 at Wade Barrontons Residence Natural Causes
Hartwell Roper June 17, 1869 at the residence of Rev. J.P. Mealing Natural Causes
Bob negro September 23, 1864 in the District Natural Causes
Richard Stevens February 21, 1898 at Johnston S.C. Natural Causes
Joe Elam February 16, 1882 at Nicholson premises Natural Causes
Doublin male slave, boy April 5, 1857 at the Residence of Mrs Delila Philips Natural Causes
infant infant May 5, 1893 at F. L. Foys Natural Causes
Frank Milton child January 26, 1894 at Sanders Loricks Natural Causes
Bettie Willis March 24, 1892 at the Croker place the home of Miss Bettie Willis Natural Causes
Jack Taylor April 11, 1892 at the house of Hal[?] Miles Natural Causes
Rhoda female slave July 4, 1857 at Dorn's[?] Mill Natural Causes

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