Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-04-14
Early History of Edgefield.
(By Miss Sarah Rainsford' ColIett.)

rians, to collect and preserve the
history of our respective counties.
1 herewith present all article entitled
Early History of Edgefeld."
During the war of the Revolution.
when South Carolina was mobillz-
Ing troops from her scanty popula
ton, aud sending supplies of food
and ammunition to her army head
quarters, tradition tells us that the
people of that part of Ninety Six
district which afterwards became
Edgefeld entered the fray, and
fought and suffered. perhaps more
than in any other part Of the state.
One of the bloodiest episodes of
that bitter war, which ragged be-
tween Whig and Tories in the fight
for American independence, was
fought at Clouds Greek in 1882.
And here fell thirty-two martyrs to
the American cause. A handsome
monument should mark this spot,
but instead it is in an old field,
overgrown with trees and shrub
berry, and with nothing to tell the
coming generations of the bloody
massacre which occurred there. This
took place in the eastern part of
Edgefeld district, just three miles
from the town of Leesville.
Another battle OF note in this
district was fought at, or near.
"Old Pine House" only six miles
from Edgefeld. 1t has been sug-
gested that members of the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution In
Edgefeld county have a marker
placed where this battle was fought.
Pine House. as a good many know,
was, ssuntil the completion of the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta
railroad, the name of the post office
in that community, which, after the
building of said road, the post office
and station were named Trenton,
after the ancient and historic town
of Trenton, N. j., and battle which
took place there December 26, l777.
Old Pine House was the ancestral
home of the Weavers, family not
ed for It's wealth and lavish hos
pitality. Old..Pine House, which had
become the property of the late Mr..
Benjamin Belts, was burned short
ly after the war between the states.
While these events are recorded,
other operations were made that
were of lesser Importance, and the
early settlers of this county were
massacred, their homes burned and
an earthly paradise changed into
utter desolation. 1t was during these
troublous times, and while her hus-
band, James Scott, was fighting for
American independence. that Han
nah Beale. Scott, my greatgreat-
grandmother, had buried in a pot,
or other iron. vessel, all of the fami-
ly siIver-including coin as well as
silver plate-in an old field, which,
owing to the death of the old ser
want who assisted her, together with
the long and continuous operations
of the enemy, that the place where
the treasure was buried became
overgrown with briars and shrub
berry and was never recovered. Mrs.
Scott's home was frequently visited
by the Tories, demanding food and
other assistance, and on one occa-
sion she, with her little grand
daughter, were alone in the house,
and just at the twilight hour she
had visit from the marauding ene-
my demanding money and other
valuables. Mrs. Scott stoutly de-
clared that she had neither, which
was true, owing to the fact that a
few days previous she had had all
of her valuables buried-when, the
rascals discrediting her, turned to
the little granddaughter and de-
manded that she tell where the
treasures were hidden, whereupon
the little girl, who was barefoot,
crawled under the bed to escape the
questions and threats of these out
rageous men. They persisted in their
search, and even punched the little
girls bare feet with the ends of
their bavonets, put neither Mrs.
Scott nor the little girl betrayed
themselves, and so the pillagers
were forced to leave without Sc
curing any booty. Mrs. Scott lived
on large plantation on Turkey
Creek, three hundred acres of which
was granted to her husband, James
Scot, on the 18th day of May,
17Gs. Washington's trail, leading
from Charleston to Washington, is
said. 10 have passed near that part