Edgefield County

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Perrys, Colemans, Trotters, &c

There were other early settlers in that part of Edgefield bordering on Big Saluda and Persimmon Creek, not yet mentioned. These were the Perrys, Colemans, Trotters, Berrys, Nunns, Summerses, Rileys, and McCartys, to say nothing as yet of the Brookses. As the settlements in Abbeville began about the same time with those on the Saluda side of Edgefield, we will make a little excursion into that county. Both counties being parts of the original District of Ninety-Six their histories are necessarily very intimately connected. In the year 1756, the same year in which the Culbreaths came to “Scotland,” Patrick Calhoun, […]

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Stewart Settlement, Edgefield County, South Carolina

Just below Dannett Abney’s, on Saluda River, was the Stewart settlement, notorious in local annals for devoted attachment to the Royal cause during the Revolution, and for their warm personal friendship for Ned Turner and Bill Cunningham. Their homestead was at or near the mouth of Tosty Creek, a small stream emptying into the Saluda, and called Tosty, or Tosta, by the natives. This settlement began as early as 1760, or about that time. Mr. John Stuart, of New Windsor, on the Savannah River (whether connected with the Stewarts above named I do not know), was an officer of the

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History of Ferries in Saluda, South Carolina

In the year 1770, a ferry was established at Saluda Old Town, from the lands of Charles Carson on the south side of Saluda, to the opposite shore at the lands of William Turner. The ferry was vested in Charles Carson, his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns. By the same Act a road was ordered to be made and laid out from the south side of the ferry to the nearest and most contiguous part of the road lately laid out and established by the name of Kelly’s Road. Anderson’s Ferry over Saluda was established December 19th, 1795. This, I believe,

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Towlses, Carsons, &c.

The Towleses, very active and brave Whigs, were, I think, settlers about the year 1760 above “Scotland,” in the Half Way Swamp country. Between them and Ned Turner, in fact between them and almost all Tories, burned the fire of implacable hatred. The Chappells were also in the same neighborhood. About Saluda Old Town were the Carsons, brave and true Whigs. Old Mr. James Carson used to tell an anecdote of one of the family, his father, I think, very much like one related by Kennedy of his hero in the story of Horse Shoe Robinson. He said that one

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Abneys, &c.

A little out from Saluda, and a mile or two below “Scotland,” and on the old Ninety-Six Road, we find that land was granted to William Abney, February 14th, 1772, sixteen years after the Culbreaths came. William Abney settled and lived upon the land thus granted until his death. Some of his descendants, at least some of the Abneys, lived upon the place in the old house as long as it was a homestead, not a great many years since. William Abney was the ancestor of John R. Abney, a lawyer now living in New York City, and of Ben

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Culbreaths, Hazels, &c.

Among the earliest settlers on the Saluda side of Edgefield, was a Scotch family, or perhaps there were several families, who settled in the year 1756 about four miles south of where Chappell’s Ferry now is, and near where afterwards was organized and built by them the Baptist Church of Chestnut Hill. This church, by the way, was named Chestnut Hill because it was built on a hillside near where grew many chestnut trees, some very large. This growth was found nowhere else in the neighborhood. This settlement was called Scotland, and is still known and recognized by that name

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Conceptualized Drawing of Fort Prince George

Building Fort Keowee – Fort Prince George

Note: Fort Keowee as it was commonly called in the 1800’s is now known by the name Fort Prince George. A fort on the borders of the nation, or in the nation, had long been desired by the traders and settlers, and even by some of the best disposed Indians themselves. As early, even, as 1734, the importance of such a fort had been recognized in Charleston: but its erection had been put off, from time to time. And the colonists, instead of building the fort themselves, had petitioned the Parliament of Great Britain build it. After years of delay

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Edgefield County Genealogy and History

Edgefield County is situated in the west part of the state, and contains 1,680 square miles. Saluda River runs on its northeast border, and Savannah River on its southwest. Drained by Little Saluda River and Stephens’ Creek. The surface is moderately uneven; soil not very fertile, but well adapted to cotton, of which it produces annually 35,000 bales. Capital, Edgefield. There were in 1840, neat cattle 36,339, sheep 15,324, swine 62,184; wheat 40,295 bush, produced, rye 3,023, Ind. corn 1,063,521, oats 120,334, potatoes 62,069, cotton 7,613,125 pounds; 6 commercial and com. houses, cap. $26,000; 39 stores, cap. $205,500; 1 cotton

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Roving Traders of the Ninety-Six District

For many years before there was any permanent settlement the whole upper country was traversed by roving traders, who bought skins and furs from the natives and made large profits by the trade. Beavers, buffaloes, bears, and other animals, whose skins were very valuable, as well as wolves, catamounts, and wild cats, were quite as plentiful as squirrels and rabbits are now. There were also many wild deer, and at one time the exportation of skins from the State, or colony, ran up as high as to two hundred and fifty thousand a year. As far back as the year

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