Thoughts on the American Revolution

At the Williamsburgh Historical Society's 2019 annual meeting May 4, Jack Parker, author of Parker's Guide to the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, gave a presentation highlighting some of the Revolutionary War action in Williamsburg County.

Approximately 30 people attended the historical society's annual meeting.

Mr. Parker concentrated on British Major James Wemyss' march through South Carolina, highlighting the part of the march that took place in Williamsburg County. This included what has come to be known as the Battle of Kingstree, although it was more likely something of a skirmish. Gen. Francis Marion had sent Major John James to lie in wait for Wemyss' party as it approached Kingstree. James' instructions were only to count the number of men Wemyss had with him, not to engage. James, however, couldn't resist, and in the resulting skirmish killed or wounded 15 men, while capturing 15 more. James, however, also lost five men and had 15 wounded and 10 captured. James himself returned to General Marion with news that the group of British and Tories was too large for Marion's men to have any success in stopping them, and Marion withdrew into southern North Carolina, while Wemyss and his company burned homes, killed livestock, and otherwise terrorized residents along their path.

The Historical Marker for the Battle of Kingstree is located on West Academy Street.

From our vantage point looking back, it is hard for us to remember that South Carolinians during the Revolution were not only fighting the British, but also their friends and neighbors who remained loyal to the King. We also tend to forget that the wholesale destruction of property had a long-lasting effect on this area. One example of this is seen in this small article from the August 13, 1859, issue of the Keowee Courier in upstate South Carolina. 

"There is a lady, a Mrs. Singleton, residing in this District (Williamsburg) who is supposed to be around 140 years old. The record of her age was consumed in a house burnt by the British and Tories, hence her age cannot be exactly ascertained. Her youngest child, a daughter, was a grown-up lady in the time of the Revolution, and her youngest grandchild is now 50 years old. She has lived all her life in the Districts of Georgetown and Williamsburg."

Jack Parker, center, answers a question during his presentation on Wemyss' march

And while Major John James, grandson of John Witherspoon, is perhaps the best known hero of the American Revolution from Williamsburg County, other citizens did their part, including two women whose stories have been handed down, although one is much better known than the other. 

Jane Hawkins is little remembered today, but according to a story told by Nell Gilland in The State newspaper on July 3, 1932, Mrs. Hawkins was approached one day by seven British soldiers who told her that they had lost their way and were wondering if she could give them directions on how to get back to their camp. She told them that it would be easier for her to show them the way back to camp so she mounted her horse and began to lead them while engaging the men in pleasant conversation, all the while extracting information from them about the British army's next moves. The seven soldiers did not realize it until too late that while Mrs. Hawkins kept them distracted by conversation, she led them to General Marion's headquarters instead of back to their own camp. Marion's men were only too happy to take the seven as prisoners.

The name of the other woman lives on today in the Margaret Gregg Gordon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Two stories about Mrs. Gordon were related by the Rev. James Wallace in his history of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. In one, he stated that one of a group of British soldiers fleeing from the Americans got himself hung up in a fence on Mrs. Gordon's property. Seeing this, she ran out and stood guard over him until the Americans could take him prisoner. In another instance, the British stole several horses from the Gordon stable. Mrs. Gordon followed them at a distance, and that night after the British were asleep, she untied their horses and rode away on a far better animal than had been stolen from her.

On January 21, 1915, the Margaret Gregg Gordon chapter of the DAR was founded with Martha Brockinton Scott, regent; Corinne McFadden, vice-regent; Lula Brockinton, secretary; and Eleanor McCabe, treasurer. Ada Brockington was named registrar and Maud Logan, historian. The Board of Management was made up of Mamie McLees, Cornelia Gamble, and Mag Brockington. Five of the founding members were direct descendants of Margaret Gregg Gordon.