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 351 - 400 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
Cland Elam child March 17, 1892 at A. J. Norris Place Accident
Charity Johnson March 11, 1847 at the Residence of Charity Johnson, late deceased Natural Causes
infant child infant child December 14, 1877 at Dr. K N Hudsons plantation Homicide
Joshua negro man slave June 26, 1860 at Harmon Gallman Unknown
Toby negro man July 10, 1844 near Bauskett Bridge on Stevens Creek Accident
Willis Asbell December 7, 1877 at Ridge Spring Homicide
Edinborough Ryan December 30, 1882 at Mrs D. L Bussy Plantation Accident
Wilson Griffin freedman February 13, 1867 at Luke Rodgers Homicide
Kizziah[?] slave, servant March 11, 1860 at the residence of Mr M Lanham Natural Causes
Levi S. Mathews July 13, 1892 at G. C. Wheerles[?] Residence Natural Causes
Edward slave, boy October 22, 1857 at the residence of Wm Miller Natural Causes
Julia Hightower child November 9, 1890 at Mr Sam Marshes Place Accident
Lovina negroe girl, a slave September 4, 1860 at Doct H M Folks[Faulk?] Suicide
Allen Holmes March 4, 1882 at Oscar Seigler Residence Homicide
William Padgett February 22, 1894 at W.D. Readys plantation Homicide
Richard Mims August 1, 1899 at the plantation of Mrs. H. Carter Accident
Minda negro girl August 17, 1851 at Mr Geo Robinsons Unknown
Albert Watson June 15, 1892 at the plantation of W.B. Maffett Natural Causes
Lizzy three negro children October 2, 1846 at the house of Philip Brogden Homicide axe
Augustus W. Burt March 25, 1847 at the Plantation of A.W. Burt Homicide axe
Dave negro man Slave March 16, 1849 at Kilcrease's Ferry Accident boat
Louisa slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Simon slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Ellen slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Liz slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Peter slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
Betsey slaves March 4, 1860 at the mill Pond of W. Glover on mill Creek Accident boat
John Seigler February 13, 1856 at J.H. Christians Accident buggy
Balus Harrison November 14, 1893 at Edgefield CH Accident cart
Steve Yeldell October 28, 1894 at Edgefield Accident cart
William Thurmond February 14, 1856 at Edgefield Court House, Planters[?] Hotel Homicide chair
Aaron slave December 5, 1852 at A. Bushnells Shop Homicide chisel
Baze negro slave March 31, 1863 at the D. J. Howls Homicide chop axe
Namro negro man August 11, 1844 at the house of Rob King Esqr Homicide club or stick
Aaron slave December 3, 1851 at the house of Larkin Swearinghim Homicide cow hide
Randal negro man May 9, 1844 at Grancis Bettis's plantation on Horns Creek Homicide cow skin
Robert Neid free man of Colour August 26, 1847 at Vaudun[?] Factory Homicide dirk knife
Joshua Hammond Jr. September 6, 1849 at a place belonging to John Bauskett[?] on little horse creek Homicide fence rail
Scipio slave April 1, 1862 at E. J. Youngbloods Homicide hatchet
Henry male slave July 15, 1858 at Edgefield C.H. Homicide hickory stick
Bill King August 9, 1881 at H C Kings Residence Homicide hoe
Thomas Styson June 22, 1856 at R. M. Fullers Homicide hoe
Bridgett Etheridge June 26, 1893 at John Etheridges Residence Homicide hoe
Ben Culbreath July 24, 1895 at Jno A Corleys plantation Accident horse
Auson Peeler July 25, 1868 near Kalmia[?] Mills Accident horse
Hugh Duffey Sr. August 26, 1855 at Bethany Church Accident horse
Joseph Jay October 4, 1860 at Joseph Jays Accident horse
Sherod Holms October 10, 1884 at Sherod Holms House Accident horse
John Scott May 10, 1851 at Vaucluse[?] Factory Accident horse
Lewis Glanton September 8, 1846 near the church of Antioch Accident horse

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