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 101 - 150 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
Pompy Robinson November 1, 1898 at Norris Place Natural Causes
Duke negro man March 25, 1855 near Dennis Carpenters Accident
Learma Butler November 7, 1890 at W.H. Folks plantation Natural Causes
infant infant January 24, 1893 at Clintonwards Accident
Robert Johnston May 23, 1891 at Clarks Ferry below bridge on C. & G.[?] R R Accident
infant, child infant, child November 29, 1894 at the plantation of J. P. Roton Natural Causes
infant child infant child September 9, 1891 at Wards Natural Causes
Eldrige Padgett February 9, 1859 at Eidson Padgetts Accident
Thomas Rosseter[?] August 30, 1852 at Hamburg SC Accident
infant child infant child November 17, 1891 at Mr M Toneys place Unknown
Lewis slave May 21, 1861 at S. H. Roggers Suicide
Ed Glover July 8, 1882 at Poore House Accident
Edmond Smallwood October 19, 1892 at E. C. Ridgells Plantation Natural Causes
Lizza colered woman October 7, 1866 at the house of Thomas S. Miller Natural Causes
infant child infant child January 18, 1892 at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger Accident
Abram slave October 8, 1860 at the Residence of H. B. Raborns Natural Causes
Larrence Valentine December 28, 1893 at Mt[?] Willing Accident
Rose negro woman Slave March 14, 1846 at Michael Longs Homicide
E. M. Whatley August 31, 1893 at E M Whatley's Suicide
Isaac Grimer December 10, 1868 at Jacobs Branch on the Spaun Church road Accident
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
Rose three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide
John Matthews October 13, 1829 at the house of William Adams Other
Dave Gillam August 25, 1892 at the house of Cal Smiths Homicide
Robert slave, boy April 8, 1847 at Edward Hampton's Suicide
Mary Bright Hanpt[?] October 6, 1881 at Bright Hanpt[?] Unknown
James Booth August 23, 1878 at E. C. House Homicide
William White December 10, 1898 at Savanah River Accident
Wesley male slave, child October 5, 1857 at the residence of Sophia A Tilman Homicide
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
James Leppard February 13, 1893 at F. M. Leppards Natural Causes
Warren Kirkland November 16, 1858 at Benjamin Bartons Homicide
infant male child infant male child January 3, 1894 in Edgefield County Natural Causes
B. J. Mims January 20, 1885 at the Residence of Capt B J Mims Natural Causes
Edmond Price April 30, 1892 at Kennys Graveyard Unknown
Mahlon Jones December 25, 1891 at Landrams Farm Homicide
Harry negro boy September 9, 1858 at the residence of the Rev. J. L. Brooks Accident
Sarah Lucas October 30, 1890 at Mr. M L Holson Accident
Charles negro boy November 14, 1842 On Mr Thos Oliver's Plantation, at or near Said Oliver's residence Accident
Nancy Weaver December 20, 1893 at Edgefield Court House Accident
Joseph Powel August 18, 1879 at [??] Accident
George Washington Crowder October 19, 1866 at Grannetville Accident
Solomon negro man June 24, 1844 near the Mill of George A. McKee on Stevens Creek Accident
Henry negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at New Savannah in beach Island Accident
William C. Goff May 7, 1865 at Bethany Church Accident
Rebeca Eidson May 29, 1861 at the Residence of William Eidson Natural Causes
Pete slave October 31, 1864 at Liberty hill Unknown
R. Mackgrath January 5, 1852 at the house of John Dobey Other
John H Webb January 22, 1882 at James Webb Residence Accident
Alice Adkinson October 18, 1898 at Republican Church Homicide

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