Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 17: The Hampton Family, 1900

The ancestor of the Hampton family in Sonth Carolina was Anthony Hampton, who, with his wife and daughter, his sons, Preston, Wade,* Edward, Henry and Richard, and his son-in-law, James Harrison, emigrated in the year 1774 from Virginia to the extreme western border of South Carolina, settling in the territory afterwards embraced in Spartanburg county. The place of his settlement was at what was afterwards known as the Asa Cunningham place, about one mile northeast of South Tyger River, f which is within a few hundred yards of the dividing line between the counties of Greenville and Spartanburg, but was at that time the dividing line between the old district of Ninety-six and the Cherokee Indian Nation.

While the lower and middle portions of the territory in South Carolina, acquired by the treaty of Governor Glen in 1756, were being generally settled up, the emigrants from the colonies north were slow to venture to make settlement in the western portion of this valuable acquisition of territory which was obtained by treaty, as

* In the account of the Hampton family in Howe's " Histon- of the Presbyterian Church of South Carolina" the name Wade Ilampton \s omitted, leaving the matter in doubt as to whether he emigrated with his father to South Carolina. This doubt is removed in reading the account of the Hampton Massacre, in Johnson's Traditions of South Carolina. (Seep. 443.)

t For a more accurate description of the place where the Hampton's lived, were murdered and buried, .see Professor Morrison's letter, July 27th, 1891, in "Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upjaer South Carolina," p. 87.

stated. The reason being that it bordered along the frontier line of the Indian Nation, in close proximity to the Cherokee villages and at no great distance across said line. We notice that Anthony Hampton did not make his settlement nntil almost on the verge of the ontbreak of the Revolntion.

Of the early history of Anthony Hampton we can gather bnt little. He was a man, unquestionably, of the highest respectability, and the tradition of the neighborhood is that he was a flax-breaker by trade, and well up to his business in that line. Major William Hoy, in his writings states that he itinerated amongst the Irish people and dressed their flax, and that they regarded him as one of their most useful citizens. His importance and usefulness in this line can be better appreciated when it is remembered that at that time cotton was not produced in the country, and, with the exception of the imported flax spinning-wheel, machinery only of the rudest construction was used for the manufacture of flax from which the necessary clothing was made.

It may be truly said of Anthony Hampton that he was one of the entering wedges, as it were, of the opening up of a civilization along the borders of Western Carolina. He, with his sons and son-in-law, in their manhood, and a few others of like patriotic spirit, with the determination to confront the Indian tomahawk and scalping-knife, and to brave all the dangers which surrounded them, settled upon the border line where, heretofore, others had not dared to venture settlement. Living as they did, on the very outskirts of civilization in South Carolina, they fully realized the dangers to which they were all the time exposed, and as a means of protection to their families and defence against unexpected outbreaks by the Indians, Wood's Fort on Beaverdam

The near approach of hostilities between the colonies and the mother conntry admonished these pioneer settlers of the increased dangers to which they were about to be exposed. They believed that whenever war was openly declared the Indian, under tempting bribes, would in all probability side with Great Britain, in which event they would be exposed to impending danger. An effort was made to enlist them on the side of the patriots, or else make such terms with them as would cause them to remain neutral in their attitude toward their neighboring white settlers.

To effect this object, Edward and Preston,* sons of Anthony Hampton, were sent by the people of the frontier settlem ents who resided within the present limits of Spartanburg county, to invite the nation to " a talk " at any convenient town they might propose, and to see if they could not be made to comprehend the cause of differences growing between the colonies and the mother country.

Edward and Preston Hampton, upon their arrival in the Indian country, found Cameron, deputy superintendent among the Cherokees under royal authority, and other emissaries already at work among them. Cameron made prisoners of the Hamptons, and gave their horses, guns and a case of pistols and holsters to the Indians. By some means they managed to escape with their lives, and returning home they reported to the people of the settlements the result of their mission. The people grew alarmed for their safety, and sought protection in

* Howe's Ilistor}' states Edward and Preston, but in Johnson's " Traditions and Reminiscences," p. 443, it is stated that it was Edward, Richard and Henry that were sent on the mission to the 'Cherokees.

the old forts that were already constructed, and in others, perhaps, that were being hurriedly constructed. Through the machinations of the British emissaries, the Indians commenced their marauding expeditions in 1776 in western North Carolina and along the frontier settlements of South Carolina. In another volume* we have oriven an extended account of these Indian invasions and massacres, hence we cannot again, in this brief narrative, recount them.

After the murder of the Hite family on Enoree River (see Johnson's Traditions, p. 45S), the Indians visited the home of Anthony Hampton, in the month of July, 1776, the location of which has already been described. As they approached the house they recognized the face of Preston Hampton, whom, as we have already stated, had recently, with his brother Edward, returned from the Indian towns and had given warning of the intended rising of the Indians. Some of the children of Mr. Hampton were sent to give warning to their neighbors. Mr. and Mrs Harrison were at the time absent for a short distance. Old Mr. Hampton, it is said, met the Indians cordially. He gave the chief a friendly grasp of the hand, but had not more than done this, when he saw his son Preston fall from the fire of a gun. The same hand which he himself had grasped a moment before sent a tomahawk through his skull. In the same way his wife was killed. An infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison was dashed against the wall of the house, which was spattered with its blood and brains. The Indians then set fire to the house of Mr. Hampton. Mrs. Harrison, on coming up and seeing her father's house in flames, t came very near rushing in the midst of the savages ; her husband, anticipating what the trouble was, held her back until the savages were gone. Edward Hampton was at this time at the house of Baylis Earle, his father-in-law, on North Pacolet, and Henry and Wade, the other sons of Mr. Hampton, were also absent, and thus preserved to avenge this atrocious deed.

Of the members who escaped this terrible massacre in the Hampton family, we would specially refer to Henry, Richard, Edward and Wade, the surviving sons of Anthony Hampton.

On account of the Indian depredations occurring at different points along the borders of the outer settlements, it became necessary for the constituted authorities to take active and decisive steps to protect the people, and it was not long after the massacre in the Hampton family before General Williamson's expedition, which consisted of about twelve hundred men, was marched against the Cherokees. In this famous expedition, Captain Henry Hampton commanded a company, and behaved nobly in Williamson's second engagement with the Cherokees. He ordered his company to fire by platoons and then fall on the ground and reload, while the rest advanced in their smoke. He thus led them to the charge, advancing in the smoke, and then firing, and reloading on their backs. When he came near enough he ordered his command to charge with the fixed bayonet, and the Indians fled. He himself captured an Indian wearing the coat of his brother Preston, who had

Howe's History of the Presbyterian Church of South Carolina. From the Revolutionary sketch of Samuel Smith (see Spartan, June 28, 1S99), there seems to be some doubt aboiat the Hampton house being burned. In said sketch Mr. Smith states that he has seen the house where the Hamptons lived, and the bullet holes shot by the Indians when Preston Hampton was killed.

Edward Hampton was also engaged in the battle referred to with the Cherokee Indians, and when the latter were closely pursued, they began first to kill their own prisoners and then their own aged and wounded friends. Following close on the Indian trail, Edward Hampton came close to the bod}- of a white woman, recently murdered by them and left shockingly exposed. He alighted, in the hurry of the moment, covered the body with his own shirt (the only one he had), drew it under a bush, and resnmed the pursuit.

Of the career of Edward Hampton we only get faint glimpses here and there in the pages of history. In that trying period in South Carolina during the Revolution we find that he was true and devoted to the American cause. At the battle of Earle's Ford,t which occurred on the 15th of July, 1780, he acted a conspicuous part, and among the slain at this engagement was his son Noah, whose remains were interred in an old burial ground near by which can still be pointed out.

Noah Hampton was killed alongside of a companion whose name was Andrew Dunn. Young Hampton, when aroused from his sleep, was asked his name. He replied " Hampton." The very name enraged the Tories, who cursed him for a rebel and ran a bayonet through him. Young Dunn met with the same fate.f jThe particulars of the killing of young Hampton and Dunn were furnished by MS. communications to Hon. Lyman C. Draper, author of " Kings IMovintain and her Heroes," by Adam and James J. Hampton, grandsons of Colonel Hdward Hampton.

Whig forces on North Pacolet, were Major Dunlap, with seventy dragoons, and Colonel Ambrose Mills, with a party of loyalists. They had been detached by Colonel Innes, in command of the British and loyalists stationed at Fort Prince (on the waters of North Tyger, about eighteen miles from Earles Ford) to surprise and attack what was believed to be a small force under Colonel Jones of Georgia, who had been making some bold dashes against his enemy at Gowen's Fort and other places. On reaching Earles Ford, on the west side in night time, Dunlap supposed he was only confronted by Jones's command, on the opposite side of the stream, being unapprised of the arrival of Colonel McDowell's command. He therefore decided to attack it ; but discovering his mistake as to the numbers in front of him, he made a hasty retreat across the river, where, with his command, he remained for the balance of the night.

Says Draper : " Before sunrise the ensuing morning, fifty-two of the most active men . . . mounted on the best horses in camp were ordered to pursue the retreating enemy." This command was placed under Colonel Edward Hampton. Had the forces of the enemy retreated immediately it would have been impossible for Colonel Hampton's command to have overtaken them before reaching Innes's camp'at Fort Prince. The account of Draper says that Colonel Hampton, "after a rapid pursuit of two hours, overtook the enemy fifteen miles away ; and making a sudden and unexpected attack completely routed them, killing eight of them at the first fire. This attack, according to the traditions which the writer gathered years ago, w^as on what is known as the old Blackstock road, near Shiloh church and about one and one-half miles south of the town of Inman. The fight with the enemy continued along this road until

The pursuit of Colonel Hampton's forces was continued to a point within three hundred yards of the fort, where three hundred men were posted. Hampton did not pursue them any further as his forces were too weak to attack his enemy within the confines of Fort Prince ; but his bold dash sent consternation into their ranks. They were evidently struck with the same terror that Dunlap's forces were, who had been stampeded by Hampton's men five miles away.

Dunlap doubtless thought that IMcDowell's whole command was upon him, and beat a hasty retreat from Fort Prince, leaving his dead along the roadside unburied. The following is the entry in the diary of Allare, an English officer, for Sunday the i6th of August : "Dunlap with the men under his command marched down to Stephen White's plantation where the American volunteers and militia lay."

It will thus be seen that this daring expedition of Colonel Edward Hampton drove back for a time the British and Tory forces to the happy relief of the Whigs of the surrounding country, and by 2 o'clock in the same afternoon Colonel Hampton, with a heart burdened with grief, in the death of a brave and devoted son the night previous, had returned to McDowell's camp with thirtyfive good horses, dragoon equipage, and a considerable portion of the enemy's baggage as trophies of the victory, and all this, too, without the loss of a single man. Draper says that this was a "bold and successful venture, worthy of the heroic leader and his intrepid followers."

topermitted to enjoy the precious Liberty which, for five years, he had fought for under the most trying circumstances, enduring hardships and self-sacrifices to ac- complish, and which was now about to be realized. Even after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, when the people were rejoicing that the struggle for American freedom was at an end, the unexpected raid of " Bloody Bill " Cunningham occurred in the up-country of South Carolina,* and one of the victims of his rage was Colonel Edward Hampton

Colonel Hampton had been to the settlement on the Congaree where his family connections lived. He was returning to the house of his father-in-law, Baylis Earle, on the North Pacolet. The Tories, perchance, got wind of his passing near them and pursued him. Colonel Hampton, after having traveled all night, stopped at a house for breakfast. \"ery soon after he entered the building it was surrounded by the Tories. He snatched his pistols from the table, thinking to defend himself, but it was no use. He fired his pistols in the air. The Tories shot him down.f

A truer patriot than Edward Hampton never lived. Like many of the heroes that perished in the Revolution, he sleeps in a forgotten grave, but his memory still lives and will ever remain imperishable in the annals of our country's history.

Colonels Henry, Richard and Wade acted with conspicuous gallantry to the end of the Revolution. The record of their gallant deeds may be found in different places in the pages of history, but more especially in that part which relates to the closing scenes of Greene's operations in South Carolina and of Sumter's move-

* For an extended account of the raids of the " Blood}- Bills " Cunningham and Bates see " Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper bouth Carolina," pp. 341 to 364.

fin the Revolutionary sketch of Samuel Smith, published in Spartan, June 28, '99, it is stated that Edward Hampton was killed by the Tories at the house of John Blassingame, who lived on Middle Tvger.

Wade Hampton, one of the brothers referred to, was the father of Colonel Wade Hampton, his only surviving son, and grandfather of the present Lieutenant-General Wade Hampton of the Confederate army, than whom there is no living Carolinian more loved and respected for his lofty patriotism and distinguished services to his country both in time of peace and war. The name of Wade Hampton has been distinguished for three generations for patriotic services, talents, influence and wealth in South Carolina. The elder Wade Hampton held only the commission of colonel during the Revolution. He was a dashing cavalry officer and distinguished himself in several engagements with the enemy.

While Greene was retreating before the British army in North Carolina, after Morgan's victory at Cowpens (January 17, 1781), great efforts were made to excite the militia in the enemy's rear, in order to alarm Cornwallis for the safety of his posts, which he had left behind him. General Sumter, although far from being recovered from his wound received at the battle of Blackstocks (November 20, 1780), resolved to take the field. At that time many of his officers and bravest men were in capti\'ity after the unfortunate affair at Fishing Creek, and some of the former, having been paroled, were scattered over the country on their plantations. Of these Colonel Wade Hampton was one. A confidential emissary was sent by General Sumter into the country through which he intended very soon to march his command, to prepare the Whigs for his reception, and to collect whatever intelligence necessary to direct his movements. Some treachery, however, betrayed this intended movement to the enemy, and apprehensive of trusting Sumter's officers at large, an order was issued for seizing them and conveying them to Charleston. Of these Colonel Wade Hampton was one. A party of twelve men were transporting him to a prison ship, but did not confine his hands or feet. When the party stopped at a house for refreshments, he was made to stand in one corner of a room ; the firearms were leaned in the opposite corner, diagonally, and the guard sat down between them, in the middle of the room. Hampton shuffled a little from his corner, sometimes to the right and then to the left. At last, by one of those extraordinary efforts, which characterized the actions of men of that day, he made a spring, seized the arms, and made the guard his prisoners. He then paroled them, secured the captured arms, mounted himself and made good his escape.*

Colonel Wade Hampton, now finding himself released from his parole, soon made his way good to join Sumter at the head of a little band of gallant followers. Sumter, having recruited his command, made expeditions against Forts Granby and Watson, and gaining a stock of intelligence as to the positions and strength of the enemy,, he immediately transmitted the same to General Greene by Colonel Wade Hampton.

"The day after the battle of Guilford, Colonel Hampton arrived in the American camp, and the view presented of the state of the British posts, by one whose intelligence could be so thoroughly depended upon, afforded General Greene the best grounds on which to decide upon his future measures. The project of penetrating into the countrv was revived, and in order to give it

* See Johnson's " Life of Greene," Vol. II., p. 31, and also Johnson's "Traditions," p. 444, for accounts of the escape of Colonel Wade Hampton.

unerring effect, a letter was addressed to Gov. Jefferson to order a detachment of 1,500 men to advance to Salisbury as a support to the army in its intended movement to Camden."

Soon after this the armies of Generals Greene and Cornwallis were back to back, and the successes or reverses which attended each are well known to every reader of the history of the American Revolution.

After the close of the Revolutionary war Colonel Wade Hampton represented one of the districts in South Carolina in the National Congress as soon as the Federal Government was organized. But he soon abandoned political life and devoted his great energies and talents to planting.

He made large investments in Louisiana soon after the purchase of that territory by the United States from the French Government, which increased in value and made him a princely estate.

In the war of 1812 Colonel Wade Hampton, by reason of his distinguished services in the Revolution, was appointed a major-general in the United States army and commanded on the frontiers of Canada. He was in every sense a very remarkable man and lived to a great old age. Having been among the first to espouse the patriot cause in the territory afterwards embraced in the original county of Spartanburg, it should ever be the pleasure and pride of the people of said county to preserve and perpetuate his memory in the annals of her history.

Colonel Wade Hampton, only surviving son of General Wade Hampton the elder, and father of the present General Wade Hampton, was, like his father, a man of distinguished ability. He was a volunteer aid of General Andrew Jackson in the celebrated battle of New Orleans, which ended so gloriously to the American

James Harrison, Esq., who married the daughter of Anthony Hampton and sister of General Wade Hampton of Revolutionary fame, and who with his wdfe so narrowly escaped the massacre in the Hampton family referred to, settled in Greenville District after the close of the Revolution. From him descended a highly respectable posterity. He had seven sons, one of whom was John Hampton Harrison, who represented Greenville for several years in the State Legislature. One of his daughters married Samuel Earle. (See Sketch of Earle Family.)

Governor Perry, in his writings, states that there were several other sons of Anthony Hampton who survived the Revolution and lived in the middle part of South Carolina, but none of them accumulated fortunes. In our account of the Hampton massacre, just related, it is stated that some of the children of Mr. Hampton were sent to give warning to their neighbors. These having escaped the massacre were doubtless the same referred to by Governor Perry.