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
Sam negro man October 19, 1856 on the track of the South Carolina Rail Road between the Paper Mill and Marsh's Accident train
Mike negro man September 13, 1844 at Dr John D. Nicholsons Mill Accident
James L. Hill January 10, 1867 at James L Hills Accident
John Shumport[?] November 7, 1851 at John Shumports[?] Accident
Richard negroe Boy April 21, 1863 in the District of Edgefield Accident train
Lucy Roper June 29, 1899 on the pantation of S.W. Miller Accident lightning
John McManas December 4, 1883 at the Jail Accident
John Young June 27, 1891 at the residence of John Young Accident
Mary Blocker December 6, 1894 at R H Parks Accident strychnine
Charles negro man February 27, 1850 at Scotts Shoals on Savannah River 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
Billy November 28, 1857 at the South Carolina Rail Road Accident wagon
Lila Washington February 20, 1879 at Wesley Barns Mill Accident
Auson Peeler July 25, 1868 near Kalmia[?] Mills Accident horse
Gertrude infant child December 1, 1891 at Edgfield Court house Accident
Lesthia Ridlehouse[Ridlehover?] January 5, 1892 at the Residence of Mrs Edny Mary Accident
Mingo Mosley January 13, 1883 at Samuel[?] Corley's Accident
Ryal Negro Slave July 28, 1851 at Mr Thos McKies Batteau landing on Big Stephen's Creek Accident
H. P. Church December 27, 1842 in the house of C. H. Goodman in the Vilage of Edgefield Other
J. E. Black May 8, 1861 at the Residence of J. E. Black Other
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
John Matthews October 13, 1829 at the house of William Adams Other
A. G. Leek February 23, 1859 at A. G. Leeks Residence Other
Martin B. Elam January 28, 1851 at Mrs Mary Elams Other
Alexander P. Kennard February 16, 1847 in the District Natural Causes
Amanda Glover August 30, 1892 at Mr Pofse[?] Lotts Plantation Natural Causes
infant male child infant male child January 3, 1894 in Edgefield County Natural Causes
Milledge Stuard October 8, 1881 at Mount [??] Yard Natural Causes
Jack Taylor April 11, 1892 at the house of Hal[?] Miles Natural Causes
Levi S. Mathews July 13, 1892 at G. C. Wheerles[?] Residence Natural Causes
Wade Barronton October 8, 1860 at Wade Barrontons Residence Natural Causes
Bob negro September 23, 1864 in the District Natural Causes
J. D. Wells December 14, 1890 at Edgefield C.H. Natural Causes
Dilsey Seigler September 20, 1869 at Miles Mills Natural Causes
Silvy Nix January 1, 1891 Natural Causes
Ana May Blocker child December 2, 1894 at Ben Boatwrights farm Natural Causes
infant Boy infant Boy October 29, 1894 at [?] Coleman Natural Causes
Cooper slave March 17, 1852 at the plantation of L.H. Mundy decd Natural Causes
infant infant January 22, 1894 at Oak Gilchrist House Natural Causes
Dudley Roundtree August 10, 1856 at the dwelling house of the late Dudley Roundtree Natural Causes
Mid[?] Griffin February 2, 1895 at the Govelace[?] Place Natural Causes
Joe Elam February 16, 1882 at Nicholson premises Natural Causes
Emaline Jackson August 27, 1894 at Dr Childs Plantation Natural Causes
Henry Jennings September 14, 1891 at the residense of diceased Natural Causes
William Anderson April 14, 1864 at the plantation of T.[?] S Boles Natural Causes
Learma Butler November 7, 1890 at W.H. Folks plantation Natural Causes
Ben Shubrick col December 24, 1869 at Negro heade Lane Natural Causes
George Robinson January 12, 1892 at the plantation of E. B. Davis Natural Causes

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