USA > South Carolina > Williamsburg County > History of Williamsburg; something about the people of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the first settlement by Europeans about 1705 until 1923. > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
Colonel Hugh Ervin was second in command of Marion's Brigade. He was as a general rule left in command at Marion's headquarters when the general was in the field. He was a son of Hugh Ervin, Sr., and was born in the Cedar Swamp community of Williamsburg. He moved to the Aimwell community on Pee Dee just before the War of the Revolution and was one of the founders and first Elders of the Aimwell Presbyterian Church.
120
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
Colonel Archibald McDonald was born in Orangeburg and later moved to Williamsburg and served in the Revo- lution from this district.
Major William Buford lived on the Santee River and was a valuable officer in Marion's Brigade.
Major James Conyers was one of the most dashing offi- cers South Carolina furnished in the Revolution. He was born on his father's plantation in the Brewington com- munity where a lake is still known as Conyers' Lake. He first enlisted in Captain Fullwood's company in 1775 along with his younger brother, Daniel. James Conyers was a major in Wade Hampton's Regiment of State Cavalry in 1782 and served under General Sumter in the northwestern section of South Carolina, and under General Green in his campaigns in northern South Carolina. Major Con- yers was the officer chosen by General Green to bear his confidential communications to General Marion, eviden- cing unmistakably the high esteem in which he was held by the Commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Armies of South Carolina.
Judge James, in his Life of Marion, relates how Major Conyers, when attacked by cavalry force of the British by night, rather than fall back on the main body in camp where he knew it must be asleep and liable to disastrous surprise, took the dangerous risk of leading the enemy off on another road, continuing a running fight, and by so doing, saved the camp. Major Conyers was killed after the British in South Carolina had been driven into the City of Charleston and the War of the Revolution had been practically won. One day late in the year 1782 his body servant came home leading his master's horse and telling that Major Conyers had been killed by a foraging party of the British at the Round O near Charleston.
Captain John Nelson was born September 17, 1753, and died December 27, 1803. In the War of the Revolution, he first enlisted as a private in Fullwood's Company, Sep-
1
121
SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION
tember 30, 1775, and afterwards became a captain in Marion's Brigade. He married a Miss Kingswood who was born 1768 and died 1864. Captain Nelson lived on his plantation in the Brewington community. Close by was the ford across Black River Swamp frequently used by General Francis Marion in his military forays. A few miles from this Nelson plantation Marion fell on the Tories at Tarcote and scattered them with great loss. Captain John Nelson's house was burned by Wemyss, the British Commander, but rebuilt on the same spot.
Captain Nelson was an interesting character and his home was the center of the social life of the Brewington community. As long as he lived, Captain Nelson kept at his home a cannon that had been used in the War of the Revolution ; and, whenever he desired that his friends and Revolutionary comrades gather at his home for a few hours of feasting and fellowship, he would fire this old cannon and everybody in the community would hasten to his home. They knew very well that Captain Nelson had already roasted many pigs, and a barrel of good old brandy had been skidded out in the grove and made ready for tapping. His bread was baked in a large brick Dutch oven built out under the oaks. Sometimes a hill of luscious sweet pota- toes was baked all at once in this oven. The corn meal used on his plantation was all ground in a hand mill and his slaves knew how to bake corn bread in a manner not known in the present day. The fact is the baking of corn bread is as much a lost art in Williamsburg as the tem- pering of Damascus' swords is in the world at large.
Captain Nelson loved his friends and hated his enemies. The story is told that after the War a man who had been a troublesome Tory during the conflict and who after- wards wanted the Captain's friendship and to "neighbor" with him rode up the long avenue one day and, prudently remaining on his horse outside the gate, hailed. When Captain Nelson appeared on the porch, the former Tory
122
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
began to announce his errand, which was never finished, for the old Captain stepped back within the door where his loaded rifle always hung and the kind hearted housewife or somebody who understood, cried out, "Ride, Tory, ride," and when Captain Nelson with his rifle appeared on the porch, the only thing visible in the land was a cloud of dust.
Captain William Gordon was a native of Pennsylvania. He settled in the Cedar Swamp section in 1770. Some time later, he married Margaret, widow of Samuel Scott, and daughter of John Gregg. In 1774, William Gordon moved into the Aimwell community. He died in 1783, before any claims for the services of Marion's men were paid. When his widow submitted her claim for his ser- vices, the separate items amounted to a considerable sum. Endorsed on this claim for payment and signed by Robert Baxter, Justice of the Quorum, is the following: "Cap- tain Gordon is dead; there is therefore no person to prove his account; however, I can assure the Auditor that Mr. Gordon was as constantly and as regularly in the service of his country as any Militia officer in the Pee Dee Regi- ment; and, from the character of the officers who have given his service, I really think his account must be just." The claim was paid in full. Captain Gordon was elected a member of the General Assembly of South Caro- lina for the district "East of the Waterees" in 1782.
Captains John McKenzie, William McKenzie, and John Mills were from the northwestern section of Williams- burg and served under General Sumter. Captain Samuel Taylor lived in the Pudding Swamp community and was an aide-de-camp to General Sumter and one of his most dashing officers.
Lieutenant Roger Gordon was a grandson of Colonel Roger Gordon, an original settler in Williamsburg in 1732. In 1781, General Marion sent him out to patrol on Lynch's Creek. He and his company were surrounded by a much
LIEUT. JOSEPH SCOTT, MARION'S BRIGADE
123
SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION
larger body of Tories; and, after having capitulated, he and all his men were murdered. Lieutenant Gordon left a widow and one son, who was an infant. They lived afterwards in Sumter District.
Lieutenant Joseph Scott was born August 18, 1747, son of John Scott, an original settler in Williamsburg. He married Jannet McCrea, born August 5, 1747, daughter of Alexander McCrea, original settler in Williamsburg. They had four daughters, Margaret, Jannet, Elizabeth, and Mary, and one son, John. Lieutenant Joseph Scott was one of the most daring officers in Marion's Brigade. He served under Marion but a short time, from the formation of the Brigade in June until wounded by a rifle ball which shattered his thigh in the Battle of Black Mingo, which prevented him from further active duty with troops. His record was such that he has always been a favorite Revo- lutionary hero in Williamsburg, and fiction writers have frequently found material in his exploits. The bullet which shattered his thigh still remains in the possession of one of his descendants in Kingstree.
Major John James was born in Ireland, April 12, 1732, son of Elizabeth Witherspoon and William James, who brought him to Williamsburg when he was less than a year old. Major James' grandfather was John James, Cap- tain of Dragoons, under William of Orange against James II. Major James was a powerful man from every point of view, broadshouldered, clearminded, and commanding in appearance and character. He was captain of militia under George III in 1775 and immediately resigned when the Revolutionary War began and served with distinction during that seven year conflict. He gained special dis- tinction in commanding a company at the battle of Tuli- finny's Bridge before the fall of Charleston.
Major James, before the fall of Charleston, was sent by Governor Rutledge to Williamsburg to organize the district into a fighting force for service in the Revolution.
1
124 HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
While doing this work, Charleston was taken by the Brit- ish and thus Major James escaped capture. A number of the men of Williamsburg were soldiers in the American forces at the fall of Charleston, May 12, 1780. These soldiers were paroled and allowed to come home on con- dition that they would refrain from further active par- ticipation in the war against the King's forces. Major James had already begun his work organizing and train- ing soldiers in Williamsburg for service in the Revolu- tion when these paroled soldiers reached home. Their coming on parole gave an element of uncertainty in the district. The men who Major James had already incited to action and enlisted in the service of the colonies did not know just what to do. Major James was sent to Georgetown to interview Captain Ardesoif, British Com- mander at that time. The military record of Major James is shown along with the story of the participation of Marion's Brigade in many battles of the Revolution. History is full of records of his daring deeds. Frequent references to him are found in Weems' Life of Marion, Simms' Life of Marion, McCrady's History of South Caro- lina, and Ramsay's Revolution.
Major James was Ruling Elder in the Indiantown Church, represented his people in the Provincial Assembly, and was a member of the Legislature after the formation of the State. His statesmanship is well shown in his services in the State Legislature during the trying time when the colony was being transformed into the State. January 18, 1753, Major James married Jean, daughter of William Dobein, of Indiantown, and to them were born four children; John, who was a Captain in the Revolu- tion; William Dobein, a seventeen year old soldier in the Revolution, later a Chancellor in Equity and the author of the Life of Marion; and two daughters, Eliza- beth and Jannet.
125
SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION
Captain John Witherspoon, the son of Gavin and his cousin, Jane James, was born in Williamsburg in 1742 and died in 1802. He married Mary Conn. He was an Elder in the Hopewell Church and lived in the Pee Dee section. He was a captain in the Revolutionary War. Simms in his life of Marion says of him, "Like his brother, Gavin, he is distinguished for great coolness, strength, and courage, and delighted in rash adventure, the rashness giving a sort of relish to the danger."
Gavin Witherspoon, son of Gavin, was born in Wil- liamsburg in 1748 and died in 1834. Marion called him an extraordinary soldier. He was a great athlete all of his life. He died at eighty-five years old; and, on the day of his death, he rode thirty miles on horseback and died in his chair. The children of Gavin Witherspoon all gave distinguished service in the Revolutionary War : John and Gavin as captains, and Robert and William as private soldiers, while two of his daughters married the Colonels Ervin, who ranked next to Marion in his Brigade.
Captain James Witherspoon, son of Robert and Eliza- beth Heathly, was born March 20, 1759, and died Sep- tember 9, 1791. On July 15, 1781, he was commissioned first Lieutenant of Captain John McBride's company, Colonel Archibald McDonald's Regiment. On April 16, 1782, he was promoted to be Captain of the Kingstree Com- pany. In transmitting his commission, as Captain, Gen- eral Marion in a letter thus referred to him, "A man whose conduct and spirit I have been an eye-witness of, whom I have always had the highest opinion and the highest regard for." Captain Witherspoon was one of the most popular officers in Williamsburg. He was engaged in most of the battles of the Revolution fought in South Carolina. He is buried in the old Indiantown Church- yard. No stone marks the spot. He married Miss Nancy White January 8, 1782, and to them were born four chil-
126
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
dren, Robert Lynn, James Harvey, George White, and Martha Ann.
John Witherspoon, son of John and his first cousin, Mary Witherspoon, was born in 1755 and died in 1827. He was an active soldier in Colonel Taylor's Regimnet during the Revolution. He married Rebecca Ervin, widow, whose maiden name was McBride. He lived near Midway Church and served for a time as Judge of Probate in Wil- liamsburg District.
Captain David Witherspoon lived near Salem Church. He was an active officer under Marion. He married twice : first, Elizabeth Bradley; and second, Mary Story.
Gavin Witherspoon was a Corporal in Captain Daniel Conyers' company of Marion's Brigade.
Captain Daniel Conyers was a daring officer under Marion. Many tales of his exploits are told. One story in which the young woman who afterwards became his wife figures. The British were encamped on the Wither- spoon plantation about seven miles South of the King's Tree. They held possession of the place for several days. It seems that the British protected the Witherspoon women and showed them commendable courtesies. Mary Witherspoon, daughter of the house, was affianced to Cap- tain Conyers. He was then serving under Marion and Marion's forces were preparing to drive the British from the Witherspoon plantation. Before Marion had made his final successful attack on the British at the Witherspoon house, Captain Conyers had ridden up the Witherspoon Avenue and challenged any British officer to mortal com- bat. On the afternoon of the day on which Captain Conyers had issued this challenge, a British officer was taunting Miss Mary with the hopelessness of the American cause and telling her how soon Captain Conyers would be his prisoner. Miss Mary pulled off her slipper, struck the British officer in the face, saying at the same time,
127
SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION
"He is ready to meet you; go out and fight him, you coward."
From these old pay vouchers on file in the office of the South Carolina Historical Commission, Columbia, S. C., the following statements are taken: "Thomas Ferguson furnished Marion with seventy-five thousand feet of lum- ber which Marion used in the Brewington vicinity ; Samuel Montgomery made boots and shoes for Marion's men; Alexander Kennedy, a saddler; James Hamilton, a pay- master; William Murrell, commissary; Richard George frequently ferried Marion's men across the Pee Dee; Daniel Eaddy was a bootmaker; John Perdreau was Marion's ferryman at Lenud's; Ben Duke was saddler for Colonel Peter Horry ; John Dickey was one of Marion's purchasing commissaries ; James Armstrong was a wagon master; Governor Rutledge in 1781 impressed five hundred thirty- four pounds of indigo from Allard Belin; John Hamilton was one of the keenest observers in Marion's remarkable secret service."
The four Nesmith brothers, John, Robert, Samuel, and Lemuel, were General Marion's bodyguard. These Ne- smiths were herdsmen in their boyhood days and knew the country from following the cattle. They were excep- tional physical men, each one of them more than six feet, straight, active, and alert as Indians, and every one an expert rifleman. They all loved their leader with surpassing loyalty and devotion. Tradition says that General Marion and a Continental officer, who had a mes- sage from General Green to General Marion, were dis- cussing one day at Tarcote conditions then existing when a body of Tories under Major Gillis appeared in the dis- tance. General Marion and the Continental officer stood their ground but the four Nesmith brothers disappeared immediately behind a little milk house. Marion understood, but the Continental officer doubted. The Tories came on. When their leader had arrived at a
128
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
point about three hundred yards from General Marion, four rifles from behind the milk house shot as one and the Tory leader fell. His followers fled. General Marion and the Continental officer walked up to the body of the dead Tory. General Marion placed his hand over the heart of the dead man and asked the Continental officer to locate the wound. The four Nesmith brothers had each placed a bullet in the space covered by Marion's hand. The Continental officer then told General Marion that he would go back to General Green and tell him that the swamps of South Carolina were safe for liberty.
The four captains, Henry Mouzon, Robert McCottry, John Macauley and John James, Jr., who organized the companies forming the Williamsburg battalion about which Marion's Brigade grew, are outstanding officers in the War of the Revolution.
Captain Mouzon was of French Huguenot descent, had been schooled in France, and spoke French as fluently as English. He was one of the peculiarly active influences in the amalgamation of the Huguenot and the Scotch- Irish elements in Williamsburg. It was largely due to him that these two peoples lived so harmoniously in the first days of contact and finally united in the Americans of the present time. He was a civil engineer of the first rank. He made the first map of North and South Caro- lina drawn anything like to scale, which map became the basis of all maps of these States made since 1775. It was in that year that his map was first published in London and afterwards in Paris. He made the first survey for the Santee Canal. Within a month after Marion's Brigade began its work, Captain Mouzon was so severely wounded in the battle of Black Mingo that he could not further participate on the field. He was buried in the Mouzon graveyard near where he lived on Pudding Swamp.
Captain Robert McCottry developed, in all probability, the most effective fighting unit of his age. Tales of
129
SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION
McCottry's riflemen told by Tarleton and Wemyss and Ardesoif in London caused all the world to wonder; and it may be that the marksmanship displayed in battle by these men of Cedar Swamp and Black Mingo has had much to do with the careful training of modern riflemen. Captain McCottry was the leading man of his organiza- tion, from every point of view. When he fired, a victim fell. Many stories are told of his unerring aim. One tale of him goes : He saw across Black River a Tory leader, raised his rifle, drew a bead on the Tory, and the men looked to see the Tory fall. But Captain McCottry lowered his rifle without firing. The unconscious Tory did not know. Three times Captain McCottry raised his rifle, and every time he refused to fire. His men wondered. "That Tory is one of my neighbors, Captain John Brockinton," he explained, "and I cannot kill him." Captain McCottry is buried in George's Field and no stone marks his grave. McCottry's Lake, a favorite pleasure ground of Williamsburg, is named for him.
Captain John Macauley was the conservative force in the Williamsburg battalion. He was of the scholar type. It must not be understood from this statement that he was wanting in daring, dash, and executive ability, for no man could have commanded his company a single day unless he had these qualities. But, rather, that his un- derstanding was a positive factor. When Captain Macauley expressed an opinion, his soldiers ceased to think and translated it into action. Captain Macauley was elected to the General Assembly for many years after the Revolution, and was of great usefulness and strength in that body while it was building the State on the broken
*Captain McCottry was called "Robert" by his family and his namesakes for gen- crations have been Roberts. Family records refer to him as Robert. He is known, however, as "William" in the South Carolina General Assembly Journal, and so de- nominated by some historians who have referred to Williamsburg in the Revolu- tion. His name was probably William Robert McCottry.
130
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
colonial foundation. He was for some time Major of the upper Williamsburg battalion of Militia. He was buried with his fathers in the Frierson graveyard. No stone shows the spot.
Captain John James, son of Major John James, was born in 1754. Although young and somewhat overshad- owed by his illustrious father, Captain James was worthy of his place in the "Big Four" captains of Revolutionary Williamsburg. He was the chief actor in many thrilling exploits during the War wherein he added reputation for valor to his name and to the lines of his blood. He was a soldier in the War before the fall of Charleston. After he had joined Marion's Brigade, he was, therefore, out- lawed by the British. Once they captured him and he escaped the halter merely because the British soldiers who could identify him would not testify against him. He was long a useful, substantial citizen and a ruling elder in the Indiantown Church. He was buried in his church- yard, and his family placed a tombstone to mark his grave.
Nearly every man in the foregoing lists of officers and men of Marion's Brigade now has descendants living in Williamsburg County. Careful study indicates that less than one per centum of the people now living in Williams- burg have none of the blood of these heroes of the Ameri- can Revolution in the veins.
CHAPTER XII.
GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE.
During the Revolution, the State of South Carolina considered few matters than those directly related to prosecuting the War to its successful conclusion. The General Assembly did, however, virtually abolish the over- lordship of the Church of England. It enabled men who were not communicants of this Church for the first time to hold official positions. This permitted the Scotch-Irish to enter politics.
In 1782, Williamsburg, or Prince Frederick's Parish, sent to the House of Representatives the following : Colonel John Baxter, Major John James, Major John Macauley, Captain Robert McCottry, and Dr. Thomas Potts. All of these men were serving as officers in the Revolutionary War at that time. Dr. Potts was a surgeon in Marion's Brigade. James Postell was the sixth member chosen from Williamsburg, but he was elected at the same time from St. Philip's and St. Michael's Parishes in Charles- ton and represented these parishes.
The General Assembly of 1783 began real constructive work for the permanent welfare of the State of South Carolina. Williamsburg was fortunate in having in this Legislature such an able delegation. This General Assem- bly found the State in a most precarious condition. The people of the state had determined to form a republic and had little precedent for guiding them along the way they had chosen.
The Whig or Patriot element in the state, while vic- torious and dominating, had the defeated Tory faction always present and portending evil to the new state. This Tory element included most of the men who had theretofore governed the colony and were therefore conversant with conditions and experienced in controlling. A majority
132
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
of the men who lived in Beaufort, Charleston, and George- town had opposed the Revolution and had remained loyal to the Mother Country during that great struggle. The "back country" in South Carolina, of which Williamsburg formed a part, was composed almost entirely of men who had favored the Revolution and fought the war for independence to its successful conclusion. Beaufort, Charleston, and Georgetown, before the Revolution, had paid but little attention to this "back country" and this "back country" had no special bond of union with these places. When a certain element of these three cities elected to remain loyal to England and the men of the "back country" determined to struggle for independence, this breach was widened.
The Tories in South Carolina, while in the minority and defeated in war in 1783, for the most part were even then unwilling to accept the result of the War and to enter enthusiastically into the formation of the inde- pendent State of South Carolina. This Legislature of 1783 had this Tory opposition to face. The Patriots were in the majority in the Legislature, however, and passed laws confiscating the property and banishing many of the lead- ing Tories from South Carolina. Of the three Tories of Williamsburg, Major Sabb died during the War; Major Hamilton left the colony when the British finally evacu- ated Charleston and did not return; and Captain John Brockinton remained on his plantation on Black Mingo. This Legislature ordered that his property be confiscated and that he be banished. Immediately in 1783 upon the passage of this act naming him for banishment, he peti- tioned the General Assembly to waive the penalties pro- vided in the act so far as he was concerned and his peti- tion was referred to the delegates from this parish and from Saint David's. Every member of this committee knew Captain Brockinton personally before the War of the Revolution and liked him.
133
GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE
This committee, although composed entirely of men who had served under Marion, among whom were Major John James and James Bradley, took a large view of the whole situation, and their decision to remove the disabilities im- posed upon Captain Brockinton had much weight in deter- mining the future liberal policy of the State of South Caro- lina toward the Tories. Perhaps that one act dissipated more of the hatred then existing between the Whigs and Tories in South Carolina than any other, and opened the way for all men to unite for the upbuilding of the commonwealth. A few of the Tories were banished and' the estates of some of them were confiscated; however, the State very soon began to welcome these men, once so hated, as valuable citizens of the new nation, which they so soon proved themselves.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.