Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-10
S0vFa eaR0hmA m
FRK REq0h VFt0a
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive BY an
UncOnquerable People.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM, ID. ID.
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1876
INSTALLMENT XXI.
Incidents.

INSTALLMENT XXI.
Incidents.
During the Revolutionary war there
were in America three classes of citi-
zens. One class was called Wings or pa
triots. This class fought against Great
Britain for freedom. The second class
was called loyalists, and was opposed
to the war on principle. They thought
the rebellion was uncalled for and from
pure motives they did not take part
with the patriots. The other class was
called Tories. This class was made up
of a set of despicable vagabonds, who
had no higher aims than plunder. In
the lower sections of South Carolina,
there were a great many loyalists from
the fact that South Carolina had been
a kind of pet with the English govern
ment, and many Of the citizens had
been treated very kindly and that
placed them under lasting obligations
to the British crown.
In the -country-especially in the
territory embraced by the counties OF
Lancaster York, Chester and part OF
Fairfield, there were few loyalists,
but a very considerable number Of
plundering Tories. These Tories were
accustomed to make extensive Journeys
for the sake Of plunder. For the sake
Of protection they had congregated in
to settlements Of their own.
There was a considerable squad OF
them in the neighborhood Of Mobley's
Meeting house, on Little river. In
Fairfield country. There was another
squad near the present site Of Chester
village; another a short distance south
east of Yorkville, on Fishing creek;
and another near Kings Mountain bat
tie ground.
1t was often hard times with these
Tories Frequently, they were forced
to leave one neighborhood and fly to
another for safety. In each Of the
communities mentioned there were
leading men among the Tories. To
the houses Of these leaders the men Of
less note were accustomed to resort.
These Tories were regarded by the
Wings as friends of the British and
such was the case generally; but with
most of them friendship and the love
of country were nothing and plunder
everything. They were notorious horse
thieves. They would form into bands
and camp out and in small parties
would scour the country in search OF
horses. Robbing parties would come
from Newberry and in conjunction with
those settled on the east side OF Broad
river steal and carry off every horse
they could put their hands upon.
On one occasion, noted Tory by the
name of Peter Murphy, came from
Newberry and camped near the spot
where a man by the name Of Hemphill
now lives, on the road leading from
John Mackrol's to the "old Glover
place" in Fairfield county. This Peter
Murphy had made very extensive horse
stealing expeditions. He had extended
his Journeys as far as Jackson creek.
A band of Wings collected and pursued
him, and after long pursuit, they
came UP with him at what is called
the county branch" on the road lead
ing from Chester to Winnsboro on the
plantation owned by William Douglass.
Here he was shot by a McCreight, the
great-grandfather Of the McCreights
about Winnsboro. From the county
branch" Peter Murphy was taken about
three quarters of a mile to the Tory
camp. Here the party was met by the
wife or concubine of Peter Murphy.
She was desperately enraged and swore
vengeance against all concerned In Pc
ter's death. The grave of Peter Muir
ply is on the right hand side of the
road, a short distance above where
John Glover's overseer's house once
stood, and about three miles south
east Of Blackstock's depot, on the rail-
road leading from Charlotte to Au-
gusta.
Some time in September, 1880, par
ty of these Tories were passing through
York county and stopped at the house
of a man by the name of Stations.
This man Stations, lived on the plan
tation now owned by Mrs. Isabella
Steele of Yorkville. The plantation Is
known as the "McCaw Fishing creek
place" A brother Of Stallion's lived on
the plantation owned by B. T. Wheeler
about fifty yards north Of the bridge
on the road leading from Wheelers
saw mill to ]. T. Lowrys plantation.
Both the Stations were Tories. The
Stations that lived on the plantation
now owned by Mrs. Steele, married a
sister of Col. Love, the great grand
father of DR.. R. L. Love Of McConnells-
VILE. Notwithstanding this fact, both
Col. Love and his sister, Mrs. Stations
were true Wings. BY some means
Col. Brandon of North Carolina and
Col. Love, who lived within a short
distance of where A. ]. Devinney now
lives, learned that a band Of Tories
were at Stations. Brandon and Love
gathered up a few men and surround
ed the house of Stations. The Tories
were desperately frightened and kept
themselves as close as possible. Sew
eral shots were fired into the house,
but no one was killed. At last Mrs.
Stations seeing that the Tories would
be taken and perhaps all shot, her
husband amongst the rest, partially
opened the door for the purpose Of sur
rendering the house into the hands of
the Wings and begging her brother,
Col. Love to spare the life Of her hus-
band. Mrs. Stations had a mans hat
on her head, and just as soon as the
head was seen a ball pierced it-she
fell dead. What makes the thing more
sad is, that it was generally thought
that the shot which killed Mrs. Stall
lions, was fired by Col. Love, her broth
er. So soon as Mrs. Stations fell. Stall
lions leaped into the yard, and in a
frantic state of mind cried out to Col.
Love-"You have killed my wife! You
have killed your sister," Sorrow and
anguish filled the hearts of the Wings
and they retired. Stations was per-
mitted to remain at home undisturbed.
At the house of the other Stations
on onnthar nrpo cipn M rtV nf Tories