The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-12-13
\ J. THRILLING 'STORY
of'he s'isrdIsh Massacre OF Tho
siampton Fsmi'y
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DURING The REVOLUTIONS.

osn Wsd Hampton's aged
orands're Was slain by,hs
Hand Ha orasped il
Frisrdship.
Stories Of tho Hampton family arc
siways read with bloasuro, for this
family of unsworvlng patriotism has
beon. closely identified with tho most
stirring events in State biptory since
me beginning OF tho struggle for lib
e!ss. As no - IN receipt OF numerous
requests Tor iafc'ristion as to his fam
iiy' den. Haml or has consented to let
the appended sket oh be republished. It
ls tho original manuscript Of tho late
Gov, Perry and was first published in
Jupe. 1913, in "Magnolia." Following
ls tho story under tho caption:
"REvoLUTIoNARY INCIDENTS IT II f
HAMPTON FAMILY"
Anthony Hampton, tho father Of
Gon. Wsde Hampton, was among The
first emigrants from Virginia 10 tho
nppor part Of South Carolina. He rot.
tlod with his family on Tiger river in
tho district Of Spartanburg In 1775 a
war with tho mother country. as Eng.
land was theL oailod, beoamo ineyita-
bio, and it was mattor of tho hiehnst
importance to tho inhabitants Of the
frontiers Of Carolina to aoouro a nosoe
With the Cherokee Indians To eff .ot
thia tho chiefs Of that war.liko and
powerful tribe we're invited to "Big
Iaik' at some convenient town in their
nation.
Edward and Preston Hampton, tho
sons of Anthony Hampton, wore dole
gated by thoir frionds and neighbors 10
moot the Indians at this conference.
and ondeavored to persuade them, il
possible, to romain neutral in the ap.
proaohing struggle. But tho British
emiesnrios had already engaged. the
Cherokoo warriors to mako an incur
slon into tho sottlemonts in tho upper
part OF tho State, at the same time that
the Nnglish fleet under Hensy Clinton
and Peter Parkor was to attack Char
lesion. 1t is well-known in history
That these movements Ware eimultane-
| Gus.
Tho young Hampaons hadOjust ro-
turned from this talk With the Indiana
whom a large nunbor Of their warriors
commenced thein work Of death and
destruction upon the inhabitants Of
areenville and Spartanburg, Aftor
| killing tho Elite family in Ennorce, thew
proceeded to Mr.. Hampton'n where
they fonud the old gentleman, his lady
thalr son Preston HAmntoa. n lad by
the namo Of John Bynum, and an in.
faht child Of Mr.. James Harrison. Thev
approached the house from every direo
tion in order to prevent any Of ita in
mates from escaping thoir inhumnn
carnage. Some OF these Indians wore
known to both Preston Hsmpt on and
his fatihor, and having rooeivsd no in
formation OF their hostilities, thoir visit
was at fret supposed to be friendly
ono. Thoy woro mot cordially and old
Mr. Hampton was in tho act Of shak-
ing hands wish one Of the chiofs when
ne saw q gun iiro and his son Presta,a
fall TO tho ground. -
This was tho signal for an indiaaSirn-
mate murder The very hand. whioh
Mr.. Hampton had, but moment be-
fore grahped in friendslip, now sent.
tomahawk into his skull. His wif#
was eoon dispatched in tbs, samo mass
nor. The infant son oe Mr.. Hamptsaa
was dashed against tho wall Of Mshf
house whioh it bosprinkled with &ite
blood and brains. John Bynura, the
lad already monsionod stood perfectly
astounded amidgt this murder and oar
mage, having lost all prosonea Of mind
snd making; no effort to escape. AT
length an Indian warrios raised hia
hand to. dispatch the youth aleo, whom
tho blow was arrested by the hand Of. q
chief, who took the lad under bis pro-
tQation. nm
MRS. Harrison, who was tho daugt.ssr
oi hlr. Hampton. had gone to- noigh.
Dors houso, and on her return aaw fssr
father's houBo in lsmos, tho lndiass
standing. around it exaltng with fond
lsh maiignity, the inanglea bodies Of
nor tathor, mothor brots.er and son
lying scattered to and fro in tho yard.
She was coming to rush forward, in tho
frenzy OF the moment TO mako an.
Other victim, whom sh..,ws restraineG
Dy her husband aud &orood ia anothar
direction. Thoy ao1ga1 conceal men nt ip
q swamp and ron ,;hed ,h,ro undisooy.
cred until tho aaysges loft tho place,
The lad who was rescued by tho
cnief was takan by the Indians to their
nation, and romaincd with them until
tho treaty of 1777 when tho district
OF Pandloton and Greenvillo wero
oedesh 10 the whitos. Ono article Of
th1t agreement waa that the Ohorokeos
Rhould sufrender to tho commissioners
al their prisoners and children taken
from tho homes Of inhabitants along
tho frontiers. Among those who woro
thus surrondorod was John Bynum. Ho
hhaf, however, been SO long with tho
Indians that it was with reluctance ho,
was porsusded to losvo them.
Shortly after this taassaoro a lergn
body of the South Carolina militia unr
dor tho command Of Col. Williams,
marched into the Cherokee country
burnt and destroyed groat many Of
thor towns and settlements. Horny
Hampton, a son Of Anthony Hampton,
commanded in this body Of militia ant,
killed with his own hand an lndiaN
warrior attiaed in Preston Hhmnton's 8
coat whioh was Immediately rooognizsd
as tho ons in which his brothen was
lnuydorod.
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