South Carolina: Isaac Huger

Born on March 19, 1742, to a wealthy South Carolina family, Huger spent his early childhood 

exploring the area around his family’s plantation, Limerick Plantation, in Berkeley County, SC. 

His family later sent him and his brothers to be education educated in Europe.159 By 1761, the

18-year-old returned to South Carolina and joined the Provincial South Carolina Regiment, with 

whom he fought in the Anglo-Cherokee War as a lieutenant. When the war ended, Huger 

returned to his family’s plantation and attended to his personal affairs and served as a member 

of the First Provincial Congress of South Carolina.

160

Soon after the American Revolution began, Huger joined the 1st

South Carolina Regiment as a lieutenant colonel. Over the course of 

the conflict, Huger rose through the ranks of the Continental Army 

and became a brigadier general on January 9, 1779. With his new 

command, Huger was transferred to the Southern Theater of the 

war and participated in the battle of Stono Ferry, the sieges of 

Savannah and Charleston, and the battles of Guilford Courthouse 

and Hobkirk's Hill. When the war ended in September 1783, Huger 

returned home and focused on his private ventures and serving in 

local government, including as Sheriff of the Charleston District, until 

President Washington made him a U.S. marshal in September 

1789.161 

Huger faced numerous challenges related to overseeing the 1790 enumeration of South 

Carolina’s population. Like a majority of his colleagues, he relied on deputies to serve as the 

enumerators—18 in all. Despite this, he failed to turn in his returns by the initial deadline of 

September 5, 1791.162 163

Huger’s failure to complete his count on time is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. First, the 

1790 Census Act stated that the marshals would be fined $800, if they failed to their file their 

returns by the September deadline.164 Because Huger made $300 for overseeing the 

enumeration process, he would have had to pay the rest of the fine from his personal wealth. 165 

In addition to risking a fine, Huger struggled to find enough people who were willing to face the 

 

159“History - The First Generation of United States Marshals/The First Marshal of South Carolina: Isaac Huger,” U.S. 

marshals Service, last estimated release October 25, 2019, 

https://www.usmarshals.gov/history/firstmarshals/huger.htm. (Accessed October 25, 2019). 

160 Ibid.

161 “History - The First Generation of United States Marshals/The First Marshal of South Carolina: Isaac Huger.” 

162 "Assistant marshals for the state [South Carolina]: 1790," in Heads of Families/1790/A Century of Population 

Growth South Carolina (Washington, D.C,: Government Printing Office, 1907), 12:9. 

163 Gazette of the United-States. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]), 10 March 1790. 

164 Ibid.

165 Ibid.

Isaac Huger, date unknown

Courtesy of the U.S. Marshals Service
physical dangers and financial challenges that many of the deputies faced.166

 Finally, many of 

the citizens refused to cooperate with the enumerators because they feared the federal 

government would use their information for tax purposes.167 These challenges came to a head

in September 1791, when a federal Grand Jury indicted six citizens and one enumerator for 

failing to adhere to 1790 Census Act.168 Additionally, the Congressional delegation from South 

Carolina secured an extension for Huger to complete the enumeration of South Carolina’s 

population.169 170 

Huger finally delivered his 1790 census return to the Secretary of State on February 5, 1792—

the last state to do so.

171 He continued to serve as South Carolina’s U.S. marshal, before poor 

health and financial difficulties forced him to resign from his position in August 1793.172 He

passed away on October 17, 1797 in Charleston, SC.

173

 

166 W.S. Rossiter, “The First Census of the United States,” pg. 46.

167 W.S. Rossiter, “The First Census of the United States,” pg. 45-46.

168 Ibid, pg. 46.

169 Ibid.

170 National gazette. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 10 Nov. 1791. Chronicling America: Historic American 

Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025887/1791-11-10/ed-1/seq-1/. 

(Accessed October 25, 2019).

171 W.S. Rossiter, “The First Census of the United States,” pg. 46. 

172 “History - The First Generation of United States Marshals/The First Marshal of South Carolina: Isaac Huger.”

173 Ibid.