The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-06-01
Written For the Times.
REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES.

u.
REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES.
james Meek was q soldier of the revolution,
ary war, and resided on Bullock's creek, in
York County, s. C. He served under Marion
during the war, and suffered oil the hardships
and privations of that partisan officer. On one
occasion he was captured by squad of Tories
commanded by Capt Mayfed, of Union County,
3. C., and for fear he might make his escape,
they pinioned his arms with ropes and drove
him before them like dumb brute TO tho slaugl-
ter pen. They had river to cross after they
captured Mr.. Meek, and finding no boat or
other means of conveyance by which they could
cross the river, after looking around they at
length found large hog trough, which they
launched into the river, and into which they
placed their prisoner and ferried him over The
stream They reached MayfelPs house about
noon, where they halted for dinner. They,
- sta6AAd- lie-i- arms in thu ward and placed q
tsr1ffnxf 10 t1-i- tnvmy tns
alarm in case of danger. Mrs. Mayield hastily
prepared dinner for them, and while they were
enjoying their repast the sentinel cried out
'Yonder comes Marions Men," They oil
dropped their knives and forks-leaving their
guns-and made their escape through back
door and fed to the nearest thicket rs fast ms
their legs could carry them. With Marion's
men there was man by the name of Hood,
father Of Abner Hood, who once resided in
Winston County, Miss, who, on reaching May
fields house and finding his friend Meek with
his arms firmly tied behind him, out with his
knife and cut the cords that bound him and
carried him safely back to Marion's camp
Many years after the close of the war, and after
his children had grown up around him, Mr..
Meek started to Alabama 20 attend the land
sales Mt Cahawba. His body was found shortly
afterwards on the Seneca river, in the North
west part of s. c., where he was drowned or
was murdered By. highway robbers: for,s his
money and his body thrown into the stfeam.
His remains were buried on tho premises Of
Colonel Anderson, near the Seneca river. lie
left many respectable descendants, his Son Eli
died in Northern Mississippi; AMI, JAS B.
and William b., died in Louisville, Miss. ABB,
ner died in Alfalfa County, M.s. one of bis
daughters married Chesterfield McKenny of
Rutherford County, N. c.
This captain May field resided in the neighbor-
hood of Josiah Culbortson, in Union County, S.
G., and among his tory friends were such men
as Bloody Bill Cunningham, Sam Brown, Sam
Smith, who married Sally White, and others.
During one of their tory raids they captured
Benjamin Savage and endeavared to make him
take an cath, "to be true to the Royal cause;"
but Benjamin refused to take the oath, so they
hung him until he was nearly dead and then
out him down; but he still persisted in his firm
resolution and told them that they might kill
'-.--r--s "s no'or ""rrri- -runv I,aufain
'Mayfeld married q sister Of Charley Crane,
sterling whig, of Union County, s. c., who
fought by the side of such men as Gen. Thomas
Brandon, Col. Jo. Hughes. Josiah Culbertson,
VIM. Kennedy and others. Although his sister
married the notorious tory, Capt. Mayfeld. yet
she was true whg in principle. The tories
were in the habit of meeting at Maybe house
at right, to consult and make known their plans
to each other, as to where they would 90 and
what whig families they would mob and kill
during the next few days, and then disperse TO
meet at q certain designated place. Mrs. May
field, during their consultation, would monifest
perfect indifference rs to their conversation
and plans of attack upon the wings; but, so
soon as her husband and his tory gang would
leave, and she could get her children safely
locked in the arms of Morpheus she would mount
her pony and ride four miles and back under
cover Of night. to inform her brother, Charley
Crane of the plans, &c., of the tories. The
tories at length made a prisoner of Charley and
informed him that unless he took an oath to
support tbs Royal Cause they would put him
to death. Charley, knowing into whose hands
he had fallen, and dreading tory vengeance,
reluctantly took the oath to save his life. He
soon returned to his whg friends and offered TO
hazaSd his life in the cause of liberty. They
asked him, what was he going to do with his
oath. lie replied 81 only took the oath from
my lips outwards." The above mentioned items
Of information / obtained from the descendants
of Jas. Meek, Sr., Of York County, s. c., and
from the Hughes family of Union County, s. G.
Louisville Miss, May 18th 1888.
WIN. 7. LEWIS
Mr.. EDITOR III you consider the above
sketch worthy of a place in your paper, you can
insert it. If you publish this | may write
you another sketch, about old VIM. Kennedy,
Gen. Thos Brandon and others. My wife
isn great grand daughter of VIM. Kennedy
who married o sister, of Gen. Thos. Brandon Of
revolutionary memory. w,TL
A WORD FOR THE CRUw. Don't kill the crows,
1t is only within few years that speakers at
Al. IL I.oI AZ l.