The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-12-08
Interesting Documents Which Tell
of Old Colonial Days.
ARE WORTHY OF COMPILATION
Soldiers of the Revolution were Paid in
NegrOes-Pay Rolls and Roster OF Sum.
ter'S Brigade.

4
book Showing the grant of territory to
settlers in the 18th century. Andrew
Jackson's will, and other historical
treasures in the secretary of States
Office. But there are many valuable old
books and papers hidden away in dark
recesses which are really more valuable
from al historical standpoint. While
looking for some records of land deeds,
etc, Prof Il. Means Davis found some
extremely interesting documents which
tell of old colonial days and of the
struggle for independence from
Britaln's rule. These papers are prin-
cipally the pay rolls and clothing ac
counts of Sumters men the Revolu
tionary war. The official returns are
there signed by Coles, Henry Hamp-
ton, Middleton, Hill and their cap
tains. The utter absence Of red tape,
as compared with the methods of the
present United States army, is the first
thing which attracts attention. The
clerical work and chirography is IN
many instances beautiful, and will
compare with the work of expert pen
men of this day.
Another very remarkable thing IS
that the soldiers were paid off, or were
promised pay In negroes. 1t will be
news to South Carolinians even that
the negro was ever used as legal tender.
A negro is said in those days to have
been valued at hundred pounds,
nearly $500. AS grown negro" was
private soldiers pay for ten months,
Ais wages must have been about $50 a
month, or the promise of that much.
The sergeants received one and one
quarter negroes for the ten months SER
vice. The interesting question arises,
how did they manage about the quarter
of q negro? One of the old papers en-
titled, "'Pay list of Capt. Bsrnett's
troop in Lieut.. Col. Henry Hampton's
regiment of Light Dragons, COM
manded by Brig. Gen. Sumter, 10th
March, 1882" will give some idea of
the pay of the soldier in those days.
From:.this paper it seems that for ten
months the pay Of Jacob Barnett, cap
tain, was two grown negroes. Andrew
Baxter. first lieutenant, was due one
grown and one small negro; James
Flanagan, second lieutenant, received
the same pay, one grown and one small
| negro. Samuel Barnett, first sergeant,
and the six other sergeants, received
nearly as much pay as the lleutenants,
esch sergeant receiving one and one
quarter of grown negro. The pri-
Yates each received one grown negro.
The total number of negroes due the
company for the ten months service
was GSS. OF this number 20 had al
ready been given the company when the
pay roll was made out. The paper does
not state whether or not the remainder
of the illegal tender" WAS turned over
to the company, nor does it show how
each sergeant was to receive his quar-
ter of of grown negro. Another inter-
esting document is the ''regImental pay
list of State troops, commanded by
Lieut. Col. Wade Hampton, April ~,
1882"
Lieut. Col Hampton's pay for ten
months was three grown and one small
negro. Joseph Rutherford, MAJOR,
killed, received three grown negroes.
Andrew Anoddy, adiutant for three
months, was to have received half of a
grown negro and half of small negro.
Z. Whorthers, adiutant for seven
months, was due the same amount.
John Harriss, quartermaster, received
q fifth of a grown negro and a fifth Of
small negro for two months pay.
John Lotion, quartermaster for the re-
manning eight months, received the
remaining four fifths of grown and
of small negro. Thomas Allston,
postmaster, received one grown negro
and one half of small one for eight
months service. The pay of Colonel
Charles Middleton for ten months, as
shown by these documents, was three
grown and one small negro. The pay
roll of Col. VIM. Hilps regiment Is
also among these papers. From an
historical standpoint one of the most
valuable of these documents is the ros
ter OF General Sumtor's brigade. 1t
contains the name of every soldier in
that command, and IS arranged by
companies and alphabetically. This
roll is evidently copy of the original,
/! for the handwriting is more modern In
its style.
There are some other papers which
were presented to the legislature in
1897 by the committee on public claims.
Manv Of these claims are for pensions
and for money due for services in the
Revolution. 1t is noteworthy that
while these soldiers were engaged
per negro" still they applied for
pensions and for war pay in the coin
of the realm, dollars and cents. The
coroner of Laurens county was paid
eS.57 for holding an inquest. Post
mortems were about as cheap in those
days as they are now. Another an-
preparation suggested by the commit
tee was "To the Corporation of the
City board of Charleston for money
| expended by them for the relief Of the
unhappy sufferers from Saint Domingo
IN l1g3.94, S9GG. Co" The bill states
that while there was NO law to forcs
the payment of this claim, still the
committee thought IL wise to reimburse
the city f Charleston.
there are many, many papers here
which would be valuable to bibllo-
maniac or curio hunter. and there are
many which are valuable as history.
There is vast amount of unwrItten
history and love and legend stored
away ID the musty vaults at the State
house. In discussing the revelation Of