South Carolina

History of Charlesfort

Charlesfort - Vector Image 1

René Goulaine de Laudonniére described Charlesfort as a simple, triangular earthen fort, reinforced with vertical timbers and bales of faggots (small limbs.)   It contained a fairly large timber-framed warehouse in the center, plus a small house for the commander, a somewhat larger house for the officers and a barracks for the enlisted men.  Much of the construction of the buildings was done by local Natives.  Presumably, these buildings resembled Native American structures of the region. There was also a cooking shed, an outhouse, a covered oven, well and a woodshed. Charlesfort would have given little protection from a warship, a … Read more

Unanswered Questions Concerning Charlesfort

Charlesfort - Vector Image 1

Late 16th and 17th century maps published in France, the Netherlands and Germany stated that Captain René Goulaine de Laudonniére journeyed up what appears to be the Savannah River to the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1562 and claimed the gold-bearing lands for the King of France.  De Laudonniére was only at Charlesfort for less than a month in 1562, before returning to France. He does not mention making any long journeys. However, prior to leaving he was given a gold chain that was made in these mountains. He was also given a chunk of silver ore that supposedly came from … Read more

The French Colony of Charlesfort

South Carolina archaeologists currently believe that they have found the location of Charlesfort on Parris Island, SC, within the U.S. Marine Reservation. The location matches the description of Charlesfort’s landscape, provided by de Laudonniére.  French-made artifacts were found in the lower levels of a fort constructed by the Spanish. The Spanish burned the French fort in 1565, but apparently rebuilt it in 1566. The launch of the first colonial voyage occurred a month before the beginning of the French Wars of Religion.  In March of 1562, troops employed by the Duke of Guise massacred an unarmed Huguenot congregation inside their … Read more

Slave Narrative of Midge Burnett

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Midge Burnett Location: 1300 S. Bloodworth Street, Raleigh, North Carolina Age: 80 Plantation Life In Georgia An interview with Midge Burnett, 80 years old, of 1300 S. Bloodworth Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. I wus borned in Georgia eighty years ago, de son of Jim an’ Henretta Burnett an’ de slave of Marse William Joyner. I wurked on de farm durin’ slavery times, among de cotton, corn, an’ sugar cane. De wurk wusn’t so hard an’ we had plenty of time ter have fun an’ ter git inter meanness, dat’s why Marse William had ter … Read more

Slave Narrative of John Daniels

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: John Daniels Location: North Carolina I’se named fer my pappy’s ole massa down in Spartanburg, South Carolina, course I doan know nothin’ ’bout no war, case I warn’t borned. I does ‘member seein’ de ole ‘big house’ do’, maybe you want me ter tell you how hit looked? It wuz a big white two-story house at de end uv a magnolia lane an’ a-settin’ in a big level fiel’. Back o’ de big house wuz de ole slave cabins whar my folks uster live. Dey said dat de massa wuz good ter ’em, but … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – B Surnames

BACON, Joel Edward, Ensign, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Freeman Bacon, Box 199, Chester. BAGWELL, Earl C., Pfc., USMCR. Mother, Mrs. Artie H. Bagwell, Rt. 3, 218 Greenville Rd., Easley. BAGWELL, Jack Louper, Aviation Radioman 3c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. May Julie Bagwell, 142 Church St., Charleston. BAILEY, Thomas, Pfc., USMCR. Father, Mr. Dozier Bailey, Rt. 1, Box 32-D, Florence. BAKER, Ernest R., Pvt., USMCR. Wife, Mrs. Ernest R. Baker, 80 Church St., Bishopville. BAKER, John L. Signalman 3c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Billie Evelyn Baker, 224 Buist Ave., Greenville. BALLEW, Robert H., Gunnery Sgt., USMC. Notified, Mr. Harry M. McAvoy, … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – M Surnames

MACKEY, William Clyburn, Seaman 1c, USNR. Father, Mr. Christopher Columbus Mackey, Rt. 1, Westville. MACMILLAN, Henry Smith, Soundman 2c, USNR. Father, Mr. Paul M. MacMillan, 49 Gebbes St., Charleston. MADDEN, Herman Alsie, Seaman 1c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Mary McCann Madden, Laurens County Hospital, Laurens. MADDOX, Clinton Newton, Carpenter’s Mate 3c, USNR. Father, Mr. Thomas L. Luther Maddox, Rt. 1, Anderson. MANESS, Charles Franklin, Fireman 2c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Laura Bruce Maness, 107 Brigade St., Charleston. MANNING, Robert Benton, Seaman 2c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. Genie Bell Manning, 222 A. Coming St., Charleston. MARTIN, Carl Coleman, Aviation Radioman 1c, USN. Parents, Mr. … Read more

South Carolina WW2 Prisoners of War

BUCKLER, Demaree, Boatswain, USN. Wife, Mrs. Margaret Buckler, 28 Carolina Ave., Navy Yard, Charleston. DYER, William Harold, Radioman 2c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Dyer, Box 206, Piedmont. GREEN, Jame Holt, Lieutenant, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter G. Green, 62 S. Battery, Charleston. JOHNSON, Edward Irvin, Storekeeper 3c, USN. Father, Mr. Irvin Johnson, Post Office, Navy Yard. PETERS, Raymond Charles, Chief Watertender, USN. Wife, Mrs. Florine Peters, Mount Pleasant. USSERY, Frank, Platoon Sgt., USMC. Father, Mr. Benjamin F. Ussery, 366 Hampton St., Rock Hill. WALKER, George Murray, Cpl., USMC. Sister, Mrs. Frances Guiant, c/o Mrs. Ed V. … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – A Surnames

ABLES, Benjamin Franklin, Seaman 1c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Clayton Ables, Rt. 1, Anderson. ACKERMAN, Ben T. Jr., Cpl., USMCR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben T. Ackerman, Sr., Summerville. ADAMS, Andrew Clyde, Seaman 2c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Luther Adams, P.O. Box 151, Clinton. ADAMS, Milledge R., Mess Attendant 3c, USN. Father, Mr. Melton Adams, 2494 Senate St., Columbia. ADAMS, Paul Jones, gunner’s Mate 3c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Adams, Rt. 5, Pelham, Greer. ALBERT, Lonnie Leland, Seaman 1c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. Georga Sanders Albert Crawley, Gen Del., Great Falls. ALBRIGHT, Dock Eddie, Seaman 2c, … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – K Surnames

KAMINER, James Paul, Seaman 2c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. Mary Edna Kaminer, Rt. 1, Leesville. KAMPMEYER, Eric Theodore, Gunner’s Mate 3c, USN. Mother, Mrs. Edith Kampmeyer, Meggett. KAY, Erin Epting, Seaman 2c, USNR. Father, Mr. Marion Roosevelt Kay, Rt. 1, Pelzer. KELLY, Carl Fred, Seaman 1c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Lillie Elizabeth Kelly, Rt. 1, Woodruff. KELLY, Melvin Leroy, Pfc., USMCR. Mother, Mrs. Bertha E. Kelly, Ridgeway. KENNERLY, James K., Pvt., USMCR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. James C. Kennerly, Rt. 2, Swansea. KENNINGTON, Robert Bryant, Fireman 2c, USN. Mother, Mrs. Florence Kennington, 63 Reynolds St., Rock Hill. KERR, Robert Charles, Ensign, USNR. … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – L Surnames

LANCASTER, William Edward, Ship’s Cook 2c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Lancaster, Rt. 1, Blackville. LANE, Hoyt, Steward’s Mate 1c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Wilkie Lane, Gen. Del., McCormick. LAWRENCE, Groce William, Chief Machinist’s Mate, USN. Wife, Mrs. Thelma May Lawrence, 85 Broad St., Charleston. LECKLIDER, Herbert Paul, Ship’s Cook 1c, USN. Wife, Mrs. Paula Rose Lecklider, 20 2d St., Charleston. LEE, Henry Lloyd, Seaman 1c, USN. Mother, Mrs. Aggie Lee, Rt. 1, Box 89, Conway. LEES, Vern F., Sgt., USMCR. Wife, Mrs. Vern F. Lees, Gen. Del., Beaufort. LEIGH, Arthur B., Pvt., USMCR. Parents, Mr. … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – H Surnames

HADDEN, James Harvey, Jr., Seaman 2c, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Mabel Edwards Hadden, Rt. 5, Camp Rd., c/o R. J. Edwards, Greenville. HAGGOD, Albert L., Sgt., USMC. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Hagood, Box 41, Rt. 1, Winnsboro. HAIR, George V., Pfc., USMCR. Wife, Mrs. George V. Hair, 138 Hickman St., Graniteville. HALEY, George L., 2d Lieutenant, USMCR. Father, Mr. Edwin Haley, 192 Pierpont St., Spartanburg. HALL, John Victor, Seaman 2c, USN. Father, Mr. Otis B. Hall Rt. 5, Anderson. HAMLET, Samuel W., 1st Lieutenant, USMCR. Wife, Mrs. Samuel W. Hamlet, 133 S. Ott Rd., Columbia. HAMLIN, William Jefferson, Signalman … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – I Surnames

IRWIN, Luther, Amos, Gunner’s Mate 1c, USN. Wife, Mrs. Eva Irwin, 145 williman, Charleston. ISEMAN, Jake D., 2d Lieutenant, USMCR. Mother, Mrs. Lelia Stokes Iseman, Rt. 2, Darlington. IVEY, Robert Louis, Apprentice Seaman, USNR. Father, Mr. Luther Louis Ivey, Rt. 1, Spartanburg.

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – J Surnames

JACKER, James Andrew, Machinist’s Mate 1c, USN. Wife, mrs. Eleanor Priester Jacker, Allendale. JACKSON, Herman Steward 2c, USN. Mother, Mrs. Margaret Grant, Rt. 1, Box 91 Beaufort. JACKSON, Solomon, Jr., Steward’s Mate 1c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. Hattie Singleton Jackson, 658 1/2 Liberty St., Sumter. JEANES, John Oscar, Seaman 2c, USN. Mother, Mrs. Katie Spearman Jeanes, 22 1st St., Poe Mill, Greenville. JEFFERSON, Benjamin Franklin, Mess Attendant 2, USN. Mother, Mrs. Maggie Jefferson, Rt. 2, Box 41, Pineville. JENKINS, Chalmers J., Pvt., USMCR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Jenkins, 30 Fairview Inn, Ware Shoals. JENKINS, William Robert, Chief Machinist’s Mate, USN. … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – T Surnames

TATE, Ernest Jefferson, Seaman 1c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. Irene Skelton Shelton, 8 Speed St., Monaghan, Greenville. TAVEL, Alfred L., Jr., Pfc., USMCR. Grandmother, Mrs. S. A. Tavel, Adams Run. TAYLOR, Ernest Jessie, Machinist’s Mate 1c, USN. Wife, Mrs. Vivian Doris Taylor, 50 Hanover St., Charleston. TAYLOR, Richard, Machinist’s Mate 3c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. Viola Taylor, Rt. 1, Ulmers. TAYLOR, Samuel V., Jr., 1st Lieutenant, USMCR. Father, Mr. Samuel V. Taylor, Sr., Greelyville. TAYLOR, Thomas Earl, Pharmacist’s Mate 2c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Lee Taylor, 149 Maryland Ave., Honea Path. TEAGUE, Robert Clair, Radarman 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – V Surnames

VASSAR, Curtis Lisbon, Jr., Ship’s Cook 1c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Lisbon Vassar, Manning. VAUGHAN, Samuel Lawrence, Jr., Aviation Radioman 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lawrence Vaughan, Sr., Van Wych. VAUGHN, Nathaniel C., Cpl., USMC. Mother, Mrs. Eva Vaughn, Main St., Barnwell. VE HAUN, John Robert, Jr., Aviation Radioman 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Robert, Vd Haun, Sr., 45 William St., Spartanburg. VEHORN, James Broadus, Yeoman 1c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Louis Vehorn, Rt. 3, Inman. VIEIRA, Douglas Selby, Lieutenant (jg), USNR. Wife, Mrs. Ginger Marie Vieira, c/o Mrs. C. T. Owens, … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – W Surnames

WAITES, James, Mrss Attendant 2c, USN. Mother, Mrs. Elearn Waites, 163 Smith St., Charleston. WALKER, Amos L., Pvt., USMCR. Wife, Mrs. Amos L. Walker, Converse. WALLACE, Robert B., Cpl., USMC. Mother, Mrs. Susan J. Wallace, Bowling Green. WALLS, James Washington, Seaman 2c, USNR. Father, Mr. John Samuel Walls, 23 Smythe St., Pelzer. WALTERS, William Calhoun, Electrician’s Mate 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. And Mrs. William Adison Walters, Reevesville. WAMPLER, Joe Edward, Chief Machinist’s Mate, USN. Wife, Mrs. Constance Marie Wampler, Tom Mcmillian Hones, Charleston. WARD, Marvin Richard, Seaman 2c, USNR. Mother, Mrs. Cora Lottie Ward, 18 2d St., Judson Mills, Greenville. … Read more

South Carolina WW2 NMCG Casualty List – E Surnames

EADDY, David C., Jr., Cpl., USMCR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. David C. Eaddy, Sr., Rt. 2, Box 125, Branchville. EDENS, Charles Samuel, Fireman 2c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edgworth Olin Edens, Rt. 2, Marietta. EDWARDS, David Hinton, Jr., Ship’s Cook 2c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Hinton Edwards, Sr., Fort Lawn. EDWARDS, Emmett Russell, Jr., Ensign, USNR. Wife, Mrs. Margaret Eargle Edwards, Blythewood. EDWARDS, Robert Waymon, Fireman 1c, USN. Mother, Mrs. Elsie Rebecca Edwards, Box 114, Taylors. EDWARDS, Thomas David, Gunner’s Mate 3c, USN. Father, Mr. Richard Earl Edwards, Rt. 1, Cameron. ELLIOTT, Edwin, Pvt., USMCR. Parents, Mr. … Read more