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
Henry Ethredge June 2, 1899 at the plantation of P.B. Mayson Accident
James L. Hill January 10, 1867 at James L Hills Accident
John Young June 27, 1891 at the residence of John Young Accident
Isah Zimmerman December 26, 1881 at the Residence of W F Ste[?]eies Accident pistol
Dave negro man Slave March 16, 1849 at Kilcrease's Ferry Accident boat
Jack negro boy May 14, 1852 at the house of H. W. Posey Accident
Ransom Hollaway May 14, 1862 at Ransom Holaways Accident lightning
Willie Glover July 26, 1892 at Lark Glovers Plantation Accident mule
Richard J. Barton December 28, 1866 at Mrs Lucinda Bartons Accident
Clem slave, boy October 3, 1858 at Tabitha Abney's Accident
Richard negroe Boy April 21, 1863 in the District of Edgefield Accident train
Richard negro boy Slave September 9, 1850 at Thomas Garretts Accident machinery
Lucy Roper June 29, 1899 on the pantation of S.W. Miller Accident lightning
Hugh Duffey Sr. August 26, 1855 at Bethany Church Accident horse
Billy November 28, 1857 at the South Carolina Rail Road Accident wagon
Robert Reynolds July 30, 1892 at J.W. Reynolds Plantation Accident
Auson Peeler July 25, 1868 near Kalmia[?] Mills Accident horse
Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] January 5, 1892 at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary Accident
Esther Jeter April 17, 1893 at Huiets x Roads Accident
Seware[?] Stuart November 4, 1893 at J.[?] E. Griffiths 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
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
Jack Taylor April 11, 1892 at the house of Hal[?] Miles Natural Causes
Patrick Burns[?] November 4, 1858 at the residence of Richard Campbell Natural Causes
John Brown December 20, 1844 at the house of John Brown Natural Causes
Levi S. Mathews July 13, 1892 at G. C. Wheerles[?] Residence Natural Causes
Kisiah Frazier December 17, 1893 at the plantation of T S Rainsforde Natural Causes
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
Chaney negro woman December 11, 1855 at the dwelling house of Mrs Randall in the Town of Hamburg Natural Causes
Bob negro September 23, 1864 in the District Natural Causes
Dilsey Seigler September 20, 1869 at Miles Mills Natural Causes
Ana May Blocker child December 2, 1894 at Ben Boatwrights farm Natural Causes
Rebeca Eidson May 29, 1861 at the Residence of William Eidson Natural Causes
B. J. Mims January 20, 1885 at the Residence of Capt B J Mims Natural Causes
Joel W. Warren November 9, 1894 at Joseph Mirren[?] House Natural Causes
Wade Barronton October 8, 1860 at Wade Barrontons Residence Natural Causes
Mid[?] Griffin February 2, 1895 at the Govelace[?] Place Natural Causes
Bettie Willis March 24, 1892 at the Croker place the home of Miss Bettie Willis Natural Causes
Emaline Jackson August 27, 1894 at Dr Childs Plantation Natural Causes
infant Boy infant Boy October 29, 1894 at [?] Coleman Natural Causes
Doublin male slave, boy April 5, 1857 at the Residence of Mrs Delila Philips Natural Causes
infant infant January 22, 1894 at Oak Gilchrist House Natural Causes
Frank Milton child January 26, 1894 at Sanders Loricks Natural Causes
Ben Shubrick col December 24, 1869 at Negro heade Lane Natural Causes

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