The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-07-05
STORY OF MUSCROYF'S MILL
Written for the State by Mrs. L. ID. ChiIds.


| Just about fortnight ago there
was planned by party of ladies in
the upper part of South Carolina
peculiar pilgrimage-shall l say pleas
ure party when l record the object
that of hunting for a grave? The trip
had its pleasures, however, as every
bitter has it's sweet.
This little body of women formed
patriotic organization whose ambition
was to place deserved honor where
1t has long been neglected. The party
consisted of the members of Musgrove
Mills chapter, ID. A. r., and being
direct descendent of the Musgrove
| family, | was especially invited to he
guest of honor. The expedition start
ed from Clinton and drove 10 miles
in the country to visit the old battle
| iround and homestead and to meet a
certain old inhabitant who would To-
cate the grave of Mary Musgrove. On
reaching the objective point we were
enthusiastic admirers of the surround
ings SO full of interesting associa-
tons.
The house has an ideal situation
on prominence overlooking the
Enoree river "a a point once known as
the Horse Shoe bend, where q long
bridge connects it with the opposite
shore, rising in mountainous peaks
From where we stood we could COM
mand view of three counties, Spar
tanburg, Union and Laurens, and sec
the smoke of factory chimneys in
meath us nestled the mill, SO well
known in history, it's wheel turned
now by this same power which turned
it during the Revolutionary war. in
which 1t figured. A grove of cedar
trees forms 4 beautiful setting for
the houses and there old-fashioned
flowers, which must have been plant
ed generations ago, are still struggling
for existence.
There is the skeleton of a grand old
oak tree with dead limbs outstretchcd
still standing as a sentinel of the
past. 1t sheltered one cnu OF tn,
original house and furnished the
means of escape for the two Amcri-
can officers confined here by the Brit
ish who took possession of old Ed
ward (called ALLEN" in the story)
Musgrove's home and turned it into a
prison They planned their escape by
climbing out from the roof of the
house to the oak tree while their
guards were at supper. The rescuing
parties were on the west side of the
river and gave the signal by flash
light One of the men fell but was
saved from the hands of the enemy;
the other was successful and the es-
cape was effected by the help Of Mary
Musgrove.
1t was by reason of the brave deeds
of this girl and of her father in help
ing the Americans that their home
was burned by the Tories and the two
were forced to wander homeless TO
find resting place with friends.
Mary Musgrove's fiance was John
Ramsey, brave, impetuous soldier.
who lost his life at the hands of the
| British for the part he played in the
successful escape of one of the pris-
oners mentioned above. Butler by
name. Ramsey was an enthusiastic
admirer of Butler and i'm reckIessly
defending him in his flight before the
pursuing enemy was himself killed.
/ History relates in touching man
ner the story of Mary Musgrove, re-
Vealing her beautiful unseliish char
acter as she administered to the com
fort and welfare of others Going
/ from place to place she wound UP at
7 Kings Mountain where she viewed
/ the httle from distance After the
war was over she pined away i'm sor-
row over her lost love and died
/ broken hearted 1t was by her re-
| quest that her pallbearcrs were her
three girl friends and her sister. Sus-
an. Her little form was so emaciated
that she was carried to her grave on
silk handkerchefs. This grave was
said to be about 100 yards from the
house and it was to find this spot that
we made this recent pilgrimage.
Plans OF ID. A. II.