The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-27
ABBEVILLE HISTORY.
Some Odds ana Ends Regarding the
Past.

/
Past.
Mr., EditOr:-ProfesSOr Morrison spends an
hour on Saturday in teaching the local hso-
nv of the counties of our State. Attendance
upon these Saturday lectures is entireiy VOL
untary on the part of the Cadets. Aobeyille
County was the subject recently, and hand
YOU, for publication, some notes of the lesson
we had that morning.
Abbevilie is double as rich in local history
as any other county in the State. The deri-
yation of the name suggests TO us that it was
taken from town in France. THIS reminds
MS that the first white settlers were French
Hugueno,s. The first important settlement
In this district was as early as the year l7j6,
when Patrick Calhoun, with four families OF
his friends, settled at Long Cane.
On his arrival there were only two other
families OF white settlers; one name Grandy
and the other. Edwards. in that northwest
extremity of the province. In l7Gt two hun
dred and twelve French emigrantS settled in
Abbeville under the guidance of Rev. Mr..
Gilbert.
Soon after the peace of Paris, the R<v. Mr..
Gilbert prevailed on a number of prosecuted
Protestants to seek an asylum in South Caro-
lima: They arrived in Charleston in April,
and in october, they moved to Abbeville, and
settled ON both sides of Long Cane creek. a
part OF this settlement they named New Bor-
deaux, and part New Rochelle. They were
The climate, like that OF southern France,
agreed with them so well that some OF them
lived TO be more than eighty years OF age.
The following names are on record: Mr.. At
wood, lOO years; Thos. Lee, resident in Abbe-
vile Tor forty years, age lOi; James Hem
minger, born in Scotland, age9I years; Maj
John Bowie, more than SS years; Maj. Alex
ander Hamilton, more than sc years. There
were many others whose ages exceeded So
years, and who were natives.
SITUATION.
Abbeville is situated in the west central part
of the State, and is almost a square, being
thirtV hnnn6a6
the Northeast by the Saluda river, and on the
Southwest by the Savannah river, on the
Southeast by nearly straight line from the
mouth Of Little river to the mouth of Mason Is
creek on the Saluda side, near the "Island-
ford'; and on the Northwest by a straight
line drawn from noted Black Gum, on the
East bank Of the Savannah river at the foot
OF CRATES shoals, 10 a Willow oak, marked
~. & p" on the South side Of Saluda river.
The seat of justice is named after the county,
Abbeville, and Is in the center OF the same
near the head waters of Norris creek, q tribu-
tary of Long Cane creek.
The village, seventy years ago contained,
besides q Court House and Jail, about forty
houses and population of four hundred. An
Arsenal was once located lere some distance
from the village.
Several other settlements were made In the
"District," as 1t was called.
Vienna was laid out on the Savannah river
in expectation OF becoming place OF consld-
erable commerce. Vienna was opposite the
mouth of Broad river, and South Hampton
was on the hill above Vienna. These towns
have declined, and now are almost deserted
West from Vienna. about four miles is Will
lington noted formerly, as the seal OF Df.
Waddels Academy which possessed reputa-
ton equal TO any institution Of the Kind In
the State.
The most conspicuous of all our early settle
ments was Cambridge. or Ninety Six. so call
ed from it's being ninety six miles from Fort
Prince George, the frontier iort whlcn Is
about fifteen miles above Fort Hill.
Cambridge was place OF considerable M
portance once, and was noted during the Rev
olution for being the seat OF war a length OF
time and therefore, suffered much injary.
The Revolutionary Cambridge was located
about half mile from the present town war
and times have, however, destroyed IL. Az
this day several OF the lines may be traced
The British redoubt and the mine dug by the
Americans.
II is evident that the Americans, while dig
ging this mine, worked without compass
and thereby lost much lime. There are two
branches of this mine, the left having been
dug through mistake, consequently this ac-
counts for there being two branches. The
risht-hand one, is the one that leads direct TO
the British redoubt.
The Americans would have soop blown up
the redoubt, had not the enemy been rein
forced. When the English made their attack,
the miners were all at work, and some were
killed.
Many anecdotes have been told OF those
times. THE principal British spring was eX.
posed, but the Americans allowed the women
to come for water. II was found that the Brit
Sh soldiers availed themselves OF thlS
privilge, after which the Americans found
il necessary TO fire at such as wore the female
dress.
Soon after the evacuation of Cambridge by
the British, the Cherokee Indians broke their
engagement of neutrality, and maSsacred
some families and burned several houses
Gen. Andrew Pickens, at the head OF three
hundred and ninety-iOur American morse
men made an invasion into the Cherokee Ma
tion and in a short time burned thirteen
towns and villages, killing upwards OF forty
Indians and took great, many prisoners; err
Not one of his men were Killed, and only IWo
were wounded.
The exposed situation OF this part OF the
country during the war, subjected IL 20 con-
siderable loss. Within the boundary of the
old ..96' District, 1t was computed by well In
formed persons, resident therein, that there
were fourteen hundred widows and orphans
made so by the war.
time aud contained a few houses, stores, and
one or two taverns. II was situated ABOUT
six miles east of the Saluda river, with fer
tile district around 1t. A respectable acaue-
my was established there.
Hamburg and Augusta were the CHIEF mar
kets of exports OF the surplus products. such
as, corn, wheat, and cotton.
MANUFACTURES.
Mr.. Gilbert, a descendant Of the Rev. Mr..
Gilbert before mentioned, established Il tton
factory on Little river, and had the Whole
work castings. turningS, ETC., executed on the
spot. an instance OF considerable energy and
enterprise
EDUCATION.
Seventy years ago, we are told. there was
liberal contribution for free schools, support
ed by the State at a cost OF eighteen (slSOU
hundred dollars annually, in which from TWO
hundred and fifty to four hundred and thirty
poor children were educated. w
The principal academies were Wilington,
Della Howe and Cox kesbury. OF these three
that OF Wellington had the most celebrity. IL
was conducted for some years by DR.. Waddell
and was an excellent preparatory school lot
college.
RELIGION.