The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-06-23
The Quaint, But Not Unex-
citing, Lives of Pioneers
as Told by One Whose
Span of Days Almost
Touched the Historic
Epoch of the Revolution.

EpOcn OF the Revolution.
written by the late Miss Addie
Sims and contributed by Mrs. Carrie
Boyd Robertson, relative of Miss
Sir, and member of Fair Forest
chs. pr, D. A. R.)
'-sssndal shoals is not unknown to
all who are familiar with the history
of South Carolina. 1t was on the
north side of Pacolet at Grindal ford
that Morgan camped just before the
battle of Cowpens. The place is we'll
described by John Kennedy in his
famous novel, "Horse Shoe Robinson"
In the very earliest settlement fam
lily by the name of Grindal lived on
the north side, owned the shoal, which
was noted fishery, and from them
it was called Grindal shoals.
How the little river got the name of
Pacolet has always been a mystery to
us. Pacolet in it's origin is French
and is found in an old ballad written
in the time of Pepin, familiar to us
all as nursery rhyme valentine
and Orson." Pacolet means swift mes
tie stream. We well know that our
old frontiersmen had no acquaintance
with literature, and it is yet unknown
to. us who named the river. 1t was
called Pacolet long before Walter
Scott introduced Norma of the fitful
head and her dwarf attendant to the
reading world.
The earliest settlers known to us
were families from Virginia and
North Carolina who moved here prior
to the Revolution. One Chesney, an
Englishman, was probably one of the
earliest settlers. Chesney owned a
large grant of land on the north side
# Pacolet river extending above and
Tor several miles below Grlndal's ford.
When the war came on he was more
= grateful to George Ill than, some of
US who accepted his gifts. Chesney
adhered to the Royalist side and it
was soon made too hot for him about
here. He fled to Charleston and es-
capped to England. Maj. Chesney of
the English army, who was in Vir-
ginia during our Confederate war, an
ardent admirer of Gen. Lee and SYM
pathizer with the South, was de-
scendant of this Chesney who once
lived on Pacolet. Maj. Chesney dis
covered amongst his ancestors old
papers diary which he kept during
his reidence here and which contains
an account of the rude war in which
the ''rebels" forced him to leave the
country.
Victim of Tories.
John Nuckolls came from Virginia
with his family about 1867 and set
tied . place on Thickety, afterward
known as Whig Hill. There also came
brother of Mrs. Nuckolls, Maj.
Iachariah Bullock of Virginia, who
owned grant of land on the north
side Of Pacolet three or four miles
above Grindal. This place remained
In possession of the Nuckolls and
Bullock descendants until very re-
Gently. 1t was the property of Miss
Julia E. Norris and her nephews,
Frank and Will Anderson, the sons
cf Maj. F. l.. Anderson of Spartan
blrg. They sold the place and moved
to Tennessee. 1t was this same John
Nuckolls, mentioned above, who was
murdered by the Tories for his devo-
tion to liberty and whose tombstone,
bearing the following inscription, may
be seen today in Whig Hill ceme-
terry:
"In memory of John Nuckolls, Sr.,
who was murdered by the Tories for
his devotion to liberty in the 10th year
of his age.
''Rest noble patriot, rest in peace;
The prize you sought, your country
won.' -
Then came the Goudelocks. The
Goudelocks were from Rock Fish, AL
bemarle, Va. They lived before and
during the Revolution at place since
known as the homestead of Maj. Eli
jah Dawkins, now the home of Durbin
Littejohn. This place is on the north
side of the river above Grindal shoals.
William Henderson came prior to
the war and owned a large grant of
land on the south side of the river.
, John Beckham and family followed
and settled on part Of the Henderson
grant. Mrs. Beckham was sister
of Henderson. At the beginning of
the Revolution William Henderson
Joined Sumter, who was an old friend,
and at the battle of Eutaw Springs
was severely wounded. 1t was after
this engagement that he was made
general. The war over Henderson
married and settled on the Santee.
About 1884 Maj. John Henderson
moved from Halifax, N. c., bought the
whole grant Of land from his brother,
Gen. William Henderson, and settled
N ullare n mile From fhe sbDa1 m, tha