OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY
NUMBER 5
REPORT FROM SUMTER COUNTY
Among the local historical organizations in South Carolina, the Sumter County Historical Society has long been an unusually active one. Recently it acquired the Williams-Brice House, a Sumter landmark, and has established a museum-archives on the ground floor. Of interest to genealogists is the collection of the late Miss Janie Revill, now owned by the society. This collection consists of more than 70,000 file cards containing abstracts from legal documents, newspapers and books concerning South Carolinians from provincial days to the Civil War. The society has been given a portable microfilm reader and has made it available on a rental basis to members. In addition, the complete censuses (1800-1880) of Sumter, Clarendon, and Williamsburg Counties, plus the 1800-1850 censuses of the entire state are being acquired.
The society offered a course in genealogical research during the past summer. Although it was conducted primarily for the benefit of members, the classes were opened to the public as well. The instructor was Miss Margaret McElveen, an active member of the South Carolina Genealogical Society.
CEMETERY SURVEY
As this issue goes to press, members of the SCGS from Columbia, Sumter and vicinity will be conducting their first organized cemetery survey. The cemetery is that of the Church of the Ascension (Episcopal) near Hagood in Sumter County. The parish was organized in 1895, but the cemetery is much older. Church records show that in 1807 the "Shiloh Burying Association" established a public cemetery on the location. The earliest marked grave, however, dates from 1875. In conjunction with the cemetery survey, members of the church are compiling biographical sketches of those who are buried in the cemetery. The combined results should become an extremely valuable document for future genealogists.
DAR COLLECTION IN COLUMBIA
A large collection of books, manuscripts, and other documents belonging to the Daughters of the American Revolution in South Carolina, formerly housed at Lander College, has found a new home at the Richland County Library in Columbia. It is now being catalogued and indexed, and when this is completed, will be put into a Genealogy Room with the library's present collection. The library plans to have a full-time attendant in the room. We hope to be able to give a more complete report of these plans in our next issue.
GENEALOGY AT MIDLANDS TECH
Anne Gilbert, a member of this society, was instructor in genealogy at the Midland Technical Education Center in Columbia during the summer. In her 6-weeks long course, Miss Gilbert placed particular emphasis on deeds, wills, and requirements for hereditary organizations. She reports that of her nineteen students, several will become members of the Huguenot Society and the DAR. The course may be repeated later.
Volume 2 Number 3 Summer 1973
THE CAROLINA HERALD is the quarterly newsletter
of the
South Carolina Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 11353, Columbia, S. C. 29211
President: Lawrence R. Fanning
Annual Subscription: $2
Single Copy: 75¢
Free to members of the South Carolina
Genealogical Society
Editor: James L. Haynsworth
Co-editor: Theresa M. Hicks
We suspect that a great many people become interested in genealogy when they decide to join a patriotic or hereditary organization such as the DAR , SAR, or Colonial Dames. Identifying an ancestor who participated in the American Revolution and documenting one's descent from him are necessary parts of the process. As the Bicentennial approaches, we expect to see an upsurge of interest in the American Revolution; therefore we have decided to devote this issue of THE CAROLINA HERALD to that subject.
South Carolinians are blessed with a disproportionate number of Revolutionary forebears. After all, at least 168 separate military actions took place within our borders; far more than any other state. For a man (or woman) living here between 1775 and 1783 it must have been difficult indeed to avoid some sort of participation on one side or the other. The war in South Carolina was largely a civil war, Americans against American. For that reason a greater proportion of South Carolinians fought in the American Revolution than did the residents of any other section.
Terry W. Lipscomb, who is on the staff of the S. C. Department of Archives and History, has compiled a list of military engagements. He is also the author of a series of articles on that subject, the first of which will appear in the 1973 edition of Names in South Carolina, published by Professor Claude H. Neuffer, a member of this society. We recommend it as a geographical guide to the battlegrounds of this state. But because of the complexity of the military structure, it is often difficult to "tell the players without a program". For that reason we have attempted to explain, in a very general way, the organization of the American army in South Carolina and to describe some sources of information concerning the men who fought in it.
Genealogists are frequently frustrated by the repetition of names in generation after generation of family. Not only sons and grandsons, but also cousins can be confused because they (and often enough, their wives) bore names identical to those of relatives who lived in the same area.
Among the planters of the low country the practice arose of attaching a geographic designation, in the manner of Scottish lairds, to a particular person. Thus "John James of the Lake" and "John James of Ox Swamp" were so identified to prevent confusion. But names of residences were sometimes not enough. Williams Allston of Clifton was frequently confused with William Allston of True Blue, even though the former (who was enormously wealthy) was also called "King Billy" while his less affluent cousin was only "Gentleman Billy". Finally "King Billy" dropped on "l" and became an Alston, a difference which still exists.
Less flattering was the soubriquet attached to Stephen Mazyck who was called "Hickory Faced Stephen" to differentiate him from his relatives "Upstairs Stephen" Mazyck and "Woodboo Stephen" Mazyck. ("Upstairs Stephen" disfigured by smallpox, was so disgusted with his appearance that he spent several years in his bedroom and refused to leave it.)
Nowadays, in keeping with the trend toward equality, conformity and anonymity, we find that a name is seldom modified by anything other than "Jr." or "III". Only rarely does "II" occur because parents seem reluctant to use a name that already exists, albeit in a collateral line. Surnames just aren't being created any more, and attrition has taken its toll of many. Bureaucrats and bankers may eventually turn us all into numbers anyway. In the meantime, we advocate the continued use and repetition of family names, not only because we're hung up on tradition, but also because the practice provides valuable (though confusing) clues to genealogists of the future. As a matter of fact, we would rather be known to posterity as "Hickory Faced Stephen" than as Old 248-36-1985".
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Blood, we are told, is thicker than water; thus consanguinity naturally promotes nepotism. The practice is decried by politicians,; it exists nonetheless, and some flagrant examples of the national political scene come quickly to mind.
It was ever thus. On June 10, 1775 the Provincial Congress of South Carolina began the task of selecting officers for the regiments of Provincial troops it had just raised. Six field officers for the two regiments of foot were elected by ballot and the following morning the Congress began selecting the captains. The job was quickly accomplished, and before the sun had set over Wapoo Cut, twenty new captains had been appointed. Oddly enough, seventeen of the twenty-six commissions were bestowed on members of the Congress, but even more remarkable is the fact that all but three of the new officers were connected by blood or marriage. Who were the three? Backwoodsmen Alexander McIntosh from Cheraw and the McDonald brothers from Williamsburg. Two were members of the Congress, and all had had military experience.
This chart shows the relationships and the officers' names
are in boxes. There were many interlocking connections not shown here, of
course. William Mason, the only other officer not shown, seems to have
been closely related to William Scott, but the proof is not immediately
available. A word of explanation: some of the offspring were not from the
wife shown here, but were from another marriage. A few of the connections were
actually made at a later date. But take it for what it's worth.
ORGANIZATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S REVOLUTIONARY ARMY
By James L. Haynsworth
On June 6, 1775 the Provincial Congress of South Carolina (later to become the General Assembly) ordered 2 regiments of foot and one regiment of cavalry raised for the protection of the province. The first two regiments were recruited and officered, for the most part, be residents of Charlestown and its vicinity. (See ALL IN THE FAMILY on page 3). Command of the two regiments was given to Christopher Gadsden and William Moultrie. The third regiment, called "Rangers", was commanded by Col. William Thomson and was recruited primarily from the area around Orangeburg. In November, 1775 a regiment of artillery was raised, and command was given to Lt. Col. Owen Roberts. Soon it became necessary to enlist still more troops, and in February, 1776 two additional regiments of "expert riflemen" were raised and were commanded by Thomas Sumter and Isaac Huger. At the same time, two more units of the artillery regiment were organized at Georgetown and Beaufort, commanded by Capt. Paul Trapier and Capt. William Harden. On September 14, 1776 these six regiments were taken onto the Continental establishment; that is, they became a part of the regular army or "Continental Line" which had been organized by the Continental Congress.
The South Carolina militia was composed of some 10 regiments of troops, each representing a geographical area in the state. All adult males were subject to militia service, and were called up periodically. They served for a specified period of time and went home. The militiamen, who were part-time soldiers., correspond to the National Guard or Reserves of today, while the Continental troops, who enlisted for a specified number of years, or for the duration of the war, served continuously and correspond to our regular army.
In February, 1779 another regiment of cavalry, called "dragoons" was recruited. This regiment, commanded by Col. Daniel Horry, was raised for 16 months service, and was neither Continental (although they were "regulars") nor militia, but were "State Troopers"--that is, organized and paid by the State of South Carolina.
By early 1780 the number of troops in the Continental units had fallen so low that the 5th and 6th regiments (Sumter and Huger) were abolished and their officers and men were assigned to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd regiments. On May 12, 1780 the entire American army in the South surrendered when Charlestown was taken by the British. The militiamen were paroled and sent home, as were the Continental enlisted soldiers. The Continental officers were interned near Charlestown until such time as they were paroled or exchanged. The term of enlistment of the State Dragoons ended with the capture of Charlestown, and the unit ceased to exist.
After the fall of Charlestown there was no regularly organized military force in South Carolina. The S. C. Continental units never again took the field in organized form, although the Continental Congress reorganized them on paper into two regiments, theoretically commanded by Francis Marion and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. The state government was in exile, so there was no one to call up the militia that remained. Under the accepted military custom of the time, a soldier on parole was forbidden to fight under pain of hanging; only after he was exchanged could he take up arms again. But when the British officials violated their part of the surrender agreement, a number of former American soldiers considered themselves no longer bound by their parole and they joined guerilla units in the field. Lt. Col. Francis Marion and Col. Thomas Sumter, both former Continental officers (but neither of whom had been captured at Charlestown) organized their volunteer bands, as did Andrew Pickens, a militia officer. Since these men were not serving under the authority of the state militia or the Continental army, and were not being paid by anyone, they were "volunteers", and came and went as they chose. Governor John Rutledge, in exile in North Carolina, appointed Sumter, Marion and Pickens Brigadier Generals of militia, and so the existing militia came under their command. But because of conditions, a regularly organized force was impossible to maintain.
In the spring of 1781 Thomas Sumter, with the approval of General Greene, organized 6 regiments of regular state troops to serve for 10 months and to be paid in slaves confiscated from the Tories. (In addition, he already commanded several regiments of volunteers.) Many of his soldiers were recruited in North Carolina. By December, these state troops had been reduced to two regiments commanded by Wade Hampton and Charles S. Middleton.
During the summer of 1781, two officers serving under Marion each organized independent cavalry regiments. These two units, one commanded by Col. Peter Horry and the other by Col. Hezekiah Maham, were "regulars", yet neither Continental nor militia. There was some confusion in everyone's mind as to their status; General Greene (the overall commander in the South) did not seem to consider them part of the Continental Line, and called them "independent corps...upon the same footing as Lieut. Col. (Henry) Lee's Legion". But Lee's Legion, sent to South Carolina from Virginia, was treated as a Continental unit, and Maham, when captured, was paroled and carried on the official list as a Continental officer.
In addition to the three general classifications of Continental, State and Militia units, there were special military organizations formed from time to time. These were the s0-called "Volunteers" or "Independent Companies". The Charlestown Artillery, for example, was an elite corps which had been formed in 17760 from Charlestown Regiment of Militia. It served throughout the war in a somewhat independent capacity, yet was governed by the militia laws. Several "independent companies" were formed, two of them composed of Frenchmen living in Charlestown, and served for various lengths of time. After the war, the bounty grants of land which had been promised to the 6 regiments of Continental troops were also extended to "the officers on the staff (such as the Quartermaster General's Department, the Hospital staff, etc.), the three independent companies commanded by Captain Bowie and Captain Moore, and to the officers of the Navy of this state".
South Carolina had a state navy which was small but active throughout the Revolution. Commodore Alexander Gillon became its commander in the latter part of the war. There was also a Continental navy in which a few South Carolinians served.
HOW TO USE THE INDEX TO REVOLUTIONARY ACCOUNTS AUDITED
Let's say you want to look up your ancestor, John Doe, a soldier in the Revolution. You'll find his name on a file card in a drawer labeled:
AA 1900 - AA 2280
DEV - EZ
This means that his file, if he has one, will be numbered somewhere between 1900 and 2280. But his name may appear in the files of other soldiers. These references are cross-indexed on his file card. The imaginary card below shows the kind of information you will find.
When you have found the references you want to see, ask the attendant to get the files, rolls, or other items for you.
SOME OTHER SOURCES FOR MILITARY SERVICE INFORMATION
SC Treasury Records, 1775-1780. Eleven books: journals, ledgers, cash books, etc.
Journals of the Council of Safety, Provincial Congress, and General Assembly.
SC Historical Magazine. Rosters, payrolls, order books, letters, etc.
Published and unpublished collections; Lincoln Papers, Greene Papers, Draper Papers, Carlton Papers, etc.
Various lists of soldiers; DeSaussure, Ervin, and others.
Gibbes Collection. Revolutionary records collected by Dr. R. W. Gibbes. Some published in the Document-History, others by A. S. Salley. Some have not been published.
Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications. National Genealogical Society publication. Index to pension applications in the National Archives.
DAR Patriot Index. Lists revolutionary soldiers who are represented in the Daughters of the American Revolution.
REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE RECORDS
By Theresa M. Hicks
The War Department has compiled the service records of Federal troops who served in all wars beginning with the Revolution. Unfortunately, the Revolutionary records are fragmentary because many were destroyed by fire in 1800 and 1814. "Abstracts" have been assembled on cards for the Civil War service records. The service record itself is kept in an envelope and consists of the original documents pertaining to the soldier. Copies of these records may be ordered from the National Archives in Washington. The service record may give the soldier's age and place of birth and enlistment, but little information of a genealogical nature is usually found. This is more often found in the pension records which cover claims for service from 1775 to 1916. The Acts of Congress governing the requirements for Revolutionary pensions varied from time to time; originally for disability only, they were gradually liberalized to include service for 9 months, "need for support", and finally were extended to widows who had remarried and were subsequently widowed again. The pension file may contain such things as Bible records, affidavits giving details of marriages, military service, descendants--or it may contain nothing! The S. C. Department of Archives and History is currently buying microfilm copies of all the Revolutionary pension applications. The National Archives has many other types of records, of course, and descriptive pamphlets may be obtained.
RECORDS AVAILABLE IN S. C.
One of the most valuable sources for Revolutionary service is the index to Revolutionary Accounts Audited. This card file, located in the search room of the Department of Archives and History, is arranged alphabetically by surname. The cards contain a series of numbers which refer either to the file of the person named, or to files of other persons which contain references to him. They may also refer to the Continental Rolls, the Pension Roll of 1835, the Stub Entries to Indents, and the Bounty Grants.
Unfortunately, there are few militia records extant from the Revolutionary period. A number of officers' names, often with dates of their commissions, and references to commanding officers in payroll accounts, can be found in the S. C. Treasury Records for the period before 1780. The S. C. Historical Magazine contains rosters, payrolls, etc. of militia units. The best source for service after May, 1780 is the index to the Audited Accounts.
The Audited Accounts are the records of unpaid claims filed after the Revolution. Documentation of either military service or of provisions supplied were produced to support these claims. The Stub Entries (which have been published) record the amounts which were paid and briefly describe the service rendered. The Continental Rolls were compiled in 1780, possibly during a reorganization of the army, and contain a list of the officers and men who were serving in the Continental Line. The Pension Roll of 1835 is a report on the Secretary of War, published in 1835, containing the names of the pensioners and their rank.
BOUNTY GRANTS
In addition to money and slaves, land was offered as an incentive for enlistment in the Continental Line and State Troops. These grants are recorded in 4 volumes called "Bounty Grants", and are indexed in the South Carolina Historical Magazine, VII, 173-178 and 217-224. Valuable information on family relationships can be found in the Statutes At Large under special acts covering warrants for land and lists of pensioners.
Since the same man might well have served in the Continental Line, State Troops and Militia at different times during the war, the records of all three should be studied carefully in compiling a service record. A pensioner may at one time have been on a state pension roll and later on the National roll. Understanding the laws governing applications and receipt of pensions is important in interpreting the status of a pensioner.
ABSTRACT OF REVOLUTIONARY BOUNTY GRANT TO WILLIAM SCOTT
By Dr. Jean Stephenson, F. A. S. G.
(Editor's Note: The following abstract from a bounty grant in the National Archives shows how extensive the genealogical content of these records may prove. Colonel William Scott (1728-1807) was the son of William Scott and Susannah Simmons of Charles Town. Married Mary Waring, May 22, 1764. Elected Captain in First Regiment, S. C. Continental Line in 1775; Major in 1777; Lieutenant Colonel, 1780. Taken prisoner at Charles Town, May 12, 1780. Original member of the Society of the Cincinnati; now represented in that organization by his great-great-great-grandson, Henry Charles Cheves, III, President of the Society, and by his son, Henry Middleton Cheves.)
WILLIAM SCOTT - Elizabeth Ann Poyas Bounty Land Warrant 2305- 300 acres
Charleston District, S. C., 18 October, 1842. Elizabeth Ann Poyas, widow, granddaughter of Col. William Soctt and one of the heirs at law, stated that Colonel William Scott entered the service in 1775 for the term of the War and served as Lieutenant Colonel in the S. C. Continental Line and continued in said service until the end of the War. She has never received the bounty land warrant promised William Scott. Appoints Honorable Isaac E. Holmes as attorney. Signature witnessed by Ann Ball Jenkins.
18 October 1842. Thomas Lehre, Ordinary for Charleston District, stated that evidence had been produced to prove that Colonel William Scott died about 1807 leaving two children, to wit: Richard and Susanna, first married James Stanyarn and afterwards Thomas Lehre, that said Richard subsequently departed this life and left six children viz:
1. Mary afterwards, Mrs. Perry who died leaving 1 child named James.
2. Elizabeth Ann now Mrs. Poyas, widow.
3. Ann Ball afterwards Ann Waring and Ann Ryan who died leaving four children, namely, Elizabeth Waring, age 17 years, James Ryan age 12, Ann age 10 and Thomas Ryan age 7 years. William Rice, Esquire, Attorney, Administrator and their trustee.
4. Eleanor H. afterwards Mrs. Smith
5. Henry Scott who is dead. He died intestate and left a widow since married, her name is Ann Lawton.
6. Elias B. Scott.
The aforesaid Susanna afterwards Susanna Stanyarn and Susanna Lehre died in 1830 - her husband is also dead. She left by her two marriages 5 children to wit:
1. Jane Stanyarn.
2. Mary Stanyarn afterwards Mrs. Flud.
3. Julia Lehre afterwards Julia Davis, wife of John N. Davis who is living - said Julia is dead and left 5 children, namely: Martha now Mrs. Cooper, Julia now Mrs. Mitchell, Ellen now Mrs. Boyle, William and Thomassina.
4. Caroline Lehre afterwards Mrs. Bulow, deceased - she left two children viz: Thomas and Carolina.
5. Thomas Lehre.
CAROLINA HERALDRY
The Harlestons of South Carolina are descended from an old and illustrious family of Essex. A painting of their arms, made for Robert Harleston in 16440, has been preserved and handed down in the family. John Harleston, son of the immigrant John Harleston, was the father of seven children. Two of his sons were active in the Revolutionary army; one of them Isaac Child Harleston, became Major of the 2nd Continental Regiment of Foot. A third son married the niece of General William Moultrie.
ARMS - 1 and 4: Argent, a fesse ermine, cottised sable (Harleston). 2 and 3: Sable, a chevron between 3 leopards' heads, or (Wentworth). CREST - Out of a ducal coronet or, a stag's head ermine attired of the first, bearing between the attires a hawthorn bush with berries proper.
JAMES
Few South Carolina families can claim a record of patriotic activity in the American Revolution that can equal that of the Jameses of Williamsburg County. Five sons of John James "of Ox Swamp" (b. 1688) served under Francis Marion. William James (1701-1750), brother of John, also produced a body o descendants who achieved distinction by their conspicuous loyalty and bravery. And William Dobein James (1764-1830) has left us an invaluable first-hand account of Marion's partisan activities (and incidentally, the only physical description of Francis Marion himself-- the General left no portrait).
Major John James (1732-1791) was born in Ireland and brought to Williamsburg by his parents. He became a wealthy planter, horse breeder, Elder in the Indiantown Presbyterian Church, and Major in the Militia. It was he, according to family legend, who organized the band of volunteers that later became Marion's brigade; and would have commanded it himself except for a speech impediment which made it difficult for him to give commands. After the Revolution he represented Williamsburg in the Legislature.
Captain John James, son of Major James and Jane Dobein, was born on May 26, 1757. He too was an officer in Marion's brigade. He became prominent in politics and community affairs, and served in the State Senate of South Carolina. Some of the exploits of these two officers are recounted in James' Life of Marion. William Dobein James joined Marion's band at the age of 15; he later became a judge and Chancellor of the state.
The genealogical chart shown here is based on information compiled by the late Kenneth McIver James (1886-1965), edited and augmented by his son-in-law, Mr. Blanding DeSaussure Clarkson of Hartsville, S. C.
The South Carolina Herald Index
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