Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-09
GBN. EDWARD LACEY.
Lion Hearted Champion Of
American Liberty.

American Liberty.
YORK'S EARLY HISTORY IN REVIEW.
interesting Old Pamphlet That Gives
the People Of the Present Generation
Some Idea Of the Part Their Fathers
Played In Establishing Their Inds.
perdence.
[Reprint OF Pamphlet Published by
/ DR.. Maurice A. Moore In 1881.
Edward Lacey. father Of Gen. Ed
ward Lacey, emigrated from England,
a farmer. and settled first on the Ches-
apeake Bay; afterward he removed to
Shipper township Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, where the subject Of this
sketch was born, September, 1742.
Nothing more is known of the far
mer's boy until 1855, when a call was
made on the province of Pennsylvania
for a regiment, to oppose the French
and Indians on the Ohio. Young Lacey
seeing the soldiers parading the streets.
for the expedition against Fort Du-
Quesne. was seized with a love for
military Life. ran away from his faith
err, at the tender age Of thirteen, and
Joined General Braddock's unfortunate
campaign. However, he was consider
ed too young to bear arms, and was
employed as a pack-horse rider and
driver. He was at Braddocks defeat
and continued In the army for two
years. At this time his father having
discovered where he was, went In pur-
suit Of him: found and took him home,
where he remained nearly one year.
AT the age OF sixteen, he again ran
away from his home. and emigrated
to Chester district, South Carolina,
with William Adair, (the father Of
Governor John Adair of kentucky to
whom Lacey bound himself an appren-
ticet to the bricklaying business, and
from Mr.. Adair he received q fair Eng
Hsht education.
At the age of twenty-one, Edward
Lacey was Ave feet. eleven inches high,
weighing about ITO pounds, with per-
feet symmetry Of form, and command
ing aspect: he excelled in all the ath-
Ietic exercises, which were the fashion
OF his day. His hair was black, his eyes
were dark, and he had an uncommonly
handsome face, and also fine address.
He was man Of strong native INTEL
lect, fond Of pleasure, entirely devoted
to bis friends, generous to fault, "and
every inch a soldier"
When about twenty-four years OF
age, he married Miss Jane Harper Of
Chester District, and settled on the
head waters of Sandy river. six miles
west of Chester c. H., South Carolina.
He had ten children, four were born
before the Revolutionary war. At the
commencement Of the Revolution, La
cey took sides with the Whigs and
soon became an active partisan leader.
His military experience In Brad6ocks
war. was row of great importance, and
gave Lacey decided ascendancy over
others. His first military service, In
the Revolution, was In 1776. (Taken
from Robert Wilson's Declaration OF
York; About this time the Tories
and the Seminole Indians Of Florida,
made frequent incursions upon the
thinly inhabitated settlements of Geor-
gia. General Williamson Tin the spring
Of 1880, Williamson turned traitor and
went over to the enemy was sent to
South Carolina, with nearly one thou
sand men to chastise the marauders
and to attack the British port at st.
Augustine. The regiment had just
crossed the Altamaha, when a man was
seen on the opposite bank waving a
white handkerchief; 1t proved to be
an express from congress. General
Williamson had his command formed
into a hollow square. and two large
horses held in the centre; he called on
Captain Edward Lacey, who COM
manded a company to mount and
stand upon the backs Of the horses
and read the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, for Lacey had the most musical,
clear, distinct voice and articulation OF
any officer in his command. Having
finished, Lacey cries out, Thank God!
We can now act on the offensive as
we'll as the defensive!"-which was fol-
lowed by three deafening cheers. From
bad management Of the commander
the expedition was a failure. Lacey
was four months and twenty days In
this campaign.
Lacey was a man Of very popular
manners; a great favorite Of the peo-
ple; this fact influenced British officer
to offer him. through his father who
was a Tory, a large amount Of gold to
abandon the Rebels and join the Roy
alists. Although a poor man, Lacey
Indignantly spurned the offer. this act
of self denial gave him no pain, and
ne continued boldly to fight for liberty
and his country's cause. He organic
ed now and then, companies and bat
! talions, as the fortunes Of war de-
manded after the manner Of the par
tisan leaders, with which he annoyed
the Tories greatly. taking many OF
them prisoners. OF these there were
few In his neighborhood, but not
among the Irish. To their eternal
honor, be 1t spoken, none OF the York
or Chester Irish were Tories; and but
few Of them took British protection.
Upon one occasion, Lacey learned
by some means, that a party Of Tories
had assembled at the house Of Roy
alist, by the name Of Lamb, a fe"
miles from Lacey's residence. He
knew before he could get his men COL
lected together, in all Likelihood
they would all be gone to some
other point. So he boldly wen'
to the house alone. and demanded
a surrender. The Tories refused
Lacey retired to the woods. about one
hundred yards off-rather behind hill
but In view Of the house, and as soor
as any of the Tories would open the
| door and show themselves Lacey woulc
fire on them. He kept up his fight ir
this way for some time, and then went
| - u,ou and Q6.