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 Typesort descending Death Method
Clem slave, boy October 3, 1858 at Tabitha Abney's Accident
Jack negro boy May 14, 1852 at the house of H. W. Posey Accident
Richard J. Barton December 28, 1866 at Mrs Lucinda Bartons Accident
Richard negroe Boy April 21, 1863 in the District of Edgefield Accident train
Dave negro man Slave March 16, 1849 at Kilcrease's Ferry Accident boat
Lucy Roper June 29, 1899 on the pantation of S.W. Miller Accident lightning
Richard negro boy Slave September 9, 1850 at Thomas Garretts Accident machinery
Ransom Hollaway May 14, 1862 at Ransom Holaways Accident lightning
John Young June 27, 1891 at the residence of John Young Accident
Willie Glover July 26, 1892 at Lark Glovers Plantation Accident mule
Isah Zimmerman December 26, 1881 at the Residence of W F Ste[?]eies Accident pistol
Hugh Duffey Sr. August 26, 1855 at Bethany Church Accident horse
Robert Reynolds July 30, 1892 at J.W. Reynolds Plantation Accident
Esther Jeter April 17, 1893 at Huiets x Roads 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
Seware[?] Stuart November 4, 1893 at J.[?] E. Griffiths Accident
Henry Goodman May 4, 1851 at or near to William H Adams on little horse Creek Accident
Uriah Koon October 16, 1847 at the house of Col John Hunt Accident wagon
Infant Boy Child Infant Boy Child June 18, 1883 at Marsh Grobe Yard Accident
Mary female Slave January 13, 1853 at Isaac Bowles[?] Accident
Callen O'Neall November 11, 1855 at Luke Havirds[?] Accident
Henry negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at New Savannah in beach Island Accident
Lizzie Darian child November 21, 1894 at Waldo Richardsons Accident
Emanuel Johnson October 7, 1893 at Wards Accident train
Hugh Wetherford June 25, 1895 at Edgefield CH Accident train
Joseph Jay October 4, 1860 at Joseph Jays Accident horse
William H Maharey May 25, 1863 at Haslin Factory on the Procelian Manufacturing Company Accident
Curry slave March 17, 1856 at Mrs Elizabeth Middletons Plantation Accident
Lawrence Frazier child January 14, 1895 at D.B. Holingsworths Accident
Charles negro boy November 14, 1842 On Mr Thos Oliver's Plantation, at or near Said Oliver's residence Accident
Joe infant negro August 26, 1860 at John Huiets Accident
Ernest Bean April 6, 1884 at the Mill of B[?] Hill Accident
J. F. Styron April 21, 1891 at residence of J. F. Styron[?] Accident
Ed Glover July 8, 1882 at Poore House Accident
Edinborough Ryan December 30, 1882 at Mrs D. L Bussy Plantation Accident
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
Mary Harrison September 10, 1894 at Dornville Accident
infant infant December 15, 1892 at Mr. Pleasant Grave Yard Accident
infant child infant child January 18, 1892 at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger Accident
Richard Mims August 1, 1899 at the plantation of Mrs. H. Carter Accident
Charles negro boy March 7, 1857 at Archy Clark residence Accident
Eldrige Padgett February 9, 1859 at Eidson Padgetts Accident
Adam negro man Slave, boy August 3, 1850 at Vaucluse Factory Accident
Edward Horton August 7, 1879 near Wesley Barrs[?] Accident sunstroke
George Low col June 6, 1869 at Sand Bar Ferry Accident stems of yellow jasmine
Solomon negro man June 24, 1844 near the Mill of George A. McKee on Stevens Creek Accident
Sherod Holms October 10, 1884 at Sherod Holms House Accident horse
Elijah Flour[?] youth July 24, 1849 at the hous of Mrs Salley Spradley Accident
Ora Weaver February 21, 1891 at the plantation of D B. H Holfarth[illegible - ink blot] Accident

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