The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-06-16
MARLBORO IN REVOLUTION
STORY OF THE KILLING OF COL.
KOLB BY TORIES.
Interesting Revolutionary History OF
the Ayers, who Later Moved
to Barnwen County.

OlU MdilUOIO 10 IO1o ". -'AA9
Aver Vandiver, of Anderson, in the
Sunday News, the main features OF
which are recorded in Gregg's and
McCrady's histories Of the Pee Dee
people.
1T Is not a question Of property,
but of liberty" This was the reply
made to Tory neighbors who urged
him to save his property by taking the
oath of allegiance to Great Britain,
by Thomas Aver, one of the sturdy
Scotchc-Irish stock, which in the ear
~ and middle years of the eighteenth
century poured into the new world.
Aver located first in Virginia and al
ter in Marlboro district, S. c., on the
banks of the Great Pee-Dee River, a
few miles below Hunts Bluff, where
he established a trading post and a
mill, and amassed considerable prop
erty. This Irishman with his innate
love for liberty and his inherited hat
red to England, embraced heartily
the sentiments OF the Revolution, and
Joined Marion's partisan forces,
faithfully serving his adopted coun-
try on many trying occasions.
On one occasion he was sent with
an armed force to take band of To-
ries which had become very obnox-
ius to the community by their law
lessness and depredations. Aver cap
tured the party and effectually Sc
cured the country against further
trouble from them by hanging them
to the nearest trees. For this act
he became an object of especial de-
testation to the Britist officer, Nc
Arthur, who offered a large reward
for his detention. Being thus un-
der British ban, it became necessary
that Aver remain away from his
home as much as possible. But the
men who rescued Carolina from
CORVALLIS and Rawdon were not
enlisted soldiers, they were citizens
who shouldered muskets and sailed
forth under their peerless leaders,
fighting fercely until their i'm
mediate object was attained. Then
laying down arms, returned to their
homes and persued their daily avo-
cations until necessity called them
forth again. 1t was imperative that
the, men return frequently to look
aftehtheir affairs and see to the we'll
being of their families. The faith
full black slave, who protected his
mistress and her children and work
ed the plantation during his masters
absence was a later development,
reaching perfection during the war
between the States. When the men
who won the Revolution went forth
they left not a faithful, humble
friend, but a treacherous and cruel
black savage in their homes.
On one of the stolen visits Thomas
Aver was discovered by his implaca-
Bile foes and late In the afternoon
sixteen of them rode up to mis- house
and took him captive in sight of his
wife and two sons. Binding him hand
and foot with buckskin thongs fur
nished by his neighbor and quandam
friend. Magnus Corgill, they had in
tended taking their prisoner at once
to Macarthur, but a terrific storm
arising, they determined upon reach
ing Blunt's Bluff, not to attempt to
cross the swollen and raging stream,
but to take shelter for the night
in an abandoned hut near it's banks.
There feeling secure, they stacked
arms and leaving their prisoner
bound, lying upon the earth floor,
they proceeded to amuse themselves
by playing cards.
Very soon after the capture Of
Thos. Aver his eldest son, Hartwell,
himself soldier, with5 companions,
reached the desolate home. Learn
ing the state of affairs, the young
men Immediately remounted and
started in pursuit /of the marauders.
Under cover of the storm they eau
tiously approached the rude shelter
taken by their adversaries. Then
making sudden assault, they seized,
the arms, then bayonetted the whole
party, with the exception of Asal
John, son of a neighbor and former
friend of Thos. Aver. The old man
with his own body protected the
youth, pleading for his life until it
was granted.
One other Of the Tories escaped
death, he was pinned to the floor by
a sword and left for dead, but after
the victorious assailants, with their
rescued prisoner we're gone this To-
~ revived from the swoon caused
by the loss of blood, and pulling out