Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-08-10
Misturp ut s. Gatalin&.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
EarIy Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
INCIDENTS.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
INCIDENTS.
During the Revolutionary war there we're
in America three classes of citizens. One
class was called Wings or patriots. This class
fought against Great Britain for freedom.
The second class was called loyalists, and was
opposed to the war on principle. They
thought the rebellion was uncalled for, and
from pure motives they did not take part with
the patriots. The other class was called to-
ries. This class was made up Of a set of des'
picable vagabonds, who had no higher aims
than plunder. In the lower section of South
Carolina, there were great many loyalists,
from the fact that Scrth Carolina had been a
kind of pet with the English government,
and many of the citizens had been treated
very kindly, and that placed them under last
ing obligations to the British crown.
In the up-country-especailly in the terri.
tory embraced by the counties Of Lancaster,
York, Chester and part Of Fairfield, there
were few loyalists, but very considerable
number of plundering tories. These tories
were accrctomed to make extensive journeys
for the sake of plander. For the sake Of pro-
lection, they had congregated into settlements
of their own.
There was considerable squad Of them in
the neighborhood of Mobley's Meeting House,
on Little river, in Fairfield county. There
was another squad near the present site Of
Chester village; another, short distance
southeast of Yorkville, on Fishing creek ;
and another near Kings Mountain battle
ground.
It was often hard times with these tories.
Frequently, they were forced to leave one
neighborhood and fly to another for safety.
In each of the communities mentioned, there
were leading men among the tories. To the
houses of these leaders the men Of less note
we're accustomed to resort.
These tories were regarded by the Wings
as friends of the British, and such was the
case generally; but with most of them friend
ship and the love of country were nothing,
and plunder everything. They were notori-
ous horse.thieves. They would form into
bands and camp out, and in small parties
scour the country in search of horses. Rob-
bing parties would come from Newberry, and
in conjunction with those settled on the east
side of Broad river, steal and carry off every
horse they could put their hands upon.
On one occasion, noted tory by the name
of Peter Murphy, came from Newberry and
camped near the spot where man by the
name of Hemphill now lives, on the road
leading from John MackroPs to the "old
Glover place." in Fairfield county. Ihia
Peter Murphy had made very extensive horse
stealing expeditions. He had extended his
Journeys as far as Jackson's creek. A band
of Wings collected and pursued him, and
after long pursuit, they came up with him,
at what is called the "County branch" on the
road leading from Chester to Winnsboro, on
the plantation owned by William Douglass.
Here he was shot by McCreight, the great
grandfather of the McCreights about Winns-
boro. From the "County branch" Peter Muir
ply was taken about three.quarters of mile
to the tory camp. Here the party was met
by the wife or concubine of Peter Murphy.
She was desperately enraged, and swore ven-
geance against all concerned in Peters death.
The grave of Peter Murphy is on the right
hand side of the road, short distance above
where John Glover's overseer's house once
stood, and about three miles southeast Of
Blackstocks depot, on the railroad leading
from Charlotte to Augusta.
Some time in September, 1880, a party Of
these tories were passing through York coun-
ty and stopped at the house Of a man by the
name of Stallions. This man Stations, lived
on the plantation now owned by Mrs. Isabella
Steele, of Yorkville. The plantation is known
as the "McCaw Fishing creek place." A
brother of Stations lived on the plantation
owned by B. T. Wheeler, about fifty yards
north of the bridge on the road leading from
Wheeler's saw.mill to J. T. Lowry's planta-
ton. Both the Stations were tories. The
Stations that lived on the plantation. now
owned by Mrs. Steele married sister Of COL
Love, the great grandfather of DR.. R. L.
Love, of McConnellsville. Notwithstanding
this fact, both Colonel Love and his sister,
Mrs. Stations, were true Wings. By some
means, Col. Brandon, of North Carolina, and
Col. Love, who lived within short distance
of where A. J. Davinney now lives, learned
that band of tories we're at Stations.
Brandon and Love gathered up few men
and surrounded the house of Stations. The
tories were desperately frightened and kept
themselves as close as possible. Several shots
we're fred into the house, but no one was kill
ed. At last Mrs. Stations, seeing that the
tories would be taken, and perhaps all shot,
her husband amongst the rest, partially open
ed the door for the purpose Of surrendering
the house into the hands of the Wings and
begging her brother, Colonel Love, to spare
the life of her husband. Mrs. Stations had
a mans hat on her head, and just as soon as
the head was seen ball pierced it-she fell
dead. What makes the thing more sad is,
that it was generally thought that the shot
which killed Mrs. Stations was fred by Col.
Love, her brother. So soon as Mrs. Stations
fell, Stations leaped into the yard, and in
frantic state of mind cried out to Col. Love
"You have killed my Wife You have killed
your sister, Sorrow and anguish filled the
hearts of the Wings, and they retired. Stall
lions was permitted to remain at home undis-