JAMES WIGINGTON FAMILY CEMETERY, Anderson County, SC a.k.a. > Version: 3.0 Effective: 7-Oct-2006 Text File: A383.TXT Image Folder: A383 ******************************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the recording contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the following USGenWeb coordinator with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn (visit above website) SCGenWeb "Golden Corner" Project Coordinator Anderson: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scandrsn/ Oconee: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Pickens: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scpicke2/ DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Oct-2006 GPS MAPPING .... : Gary L. Flynn at (visit above website) in Oct-2006 HISTORY ........ : W. Hampton Wigington Jr in Oct-1960 IMAGES ......... : Gary L. Flynn at (visit above website) in Oct-2006 RECORDING ...... : James T. Wigington in Oct-2006 ******************************************************************************** CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ Property Owner as of Oct-2006: Vance Cooley Jr. 208 Pelzer Williamston, SC 29697 864-847-7948 Local Family Historian: James T. Wigington 401 Timber Piedmont, SC 29673 864-859-3548 GPS = Latitude N34 42.374 x Longitude W82 33.223 CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ First Generation draft 16 Oct. 1960 WIGINGTON Family John Wigington was born in Virginia, from where his father removed to South Carolina in 1755, and settled presumably in the District of Ninety-Six. I estimate that John Wigington was born about 1754, and that he married about 1779. The name of his wife is not known to me. At the South Carolina Archives Department in Columbia is a Revolutionary folder (file #8488) for John Wigenton, consisting of two accounts, both for military services. The first is account #984Y, and is for 55 days duty as private under the command of Lieutenant Martin Williams at Augusta, Georgia. The first paper in this account is dated 2 May 1784, and is a certificate by Lieut. Martin Williams, as follows: "this is to certify that John Wiginton Did faithfully serve under me as a soldier - at Agustia in Georgia for the turm of fiftifive days which time he did truly serve Certifide by me." John Wigenton appeared before Justice John Rodgers in Laurens County on 17 Sept. 1785 to declare that the account was not returned for satisfaction for this service. He signed by his Mark thus +++. He made his Mark the same way on 23 Oct. 1786 when he signed an order asking the Treasury to deliver his indent to Wm. Steel. This order was certified before John Rodgers, J.P. The account was closed on 26 January 1787 (although the papers are dated 1786!) when Wm. Steel received payment. The second account, #411U, is for militia duty as a private since the reduction of Charles Town. John Wiginton signed an order on 29 May 1790 before Justice Joshua Saxon in Laurens County asking the Commissioners of the Public Treasury to deliver his indent to Charles Smith. this time, John Wiginton made his Mark, thus +++. [but one above the other] The account was closed on 28 May 1790 when Chas. Smith received payment. If this is our John Wigington, we have an ambiguity, because he signed papers in Laurens County in 1785, 1786, and 1790, yet his son 11 John Wigington was supposed to have been born in Edgefield County in 1786. The following Wigingtons are listed in the 1790 Census for South Carolina: Males Males 16 & under Name page County up 16 Females Wigginton, George 58 Abbeville 1 1 2 Wigginton, John 73 Laurens 1 3 2 Wigginton, George 73 Laurens 1 4 1 On 1 Aug. 1799 in Washington District Greenville County a tract of land containing 212 acres was surveyed for John Wigington. The State of South Carolina granted this land to John Wiggington on 6 Jan. 1800. The land was "on a branch of Wolfs Creek waters of the Middle Fork of Saluda River and a branch of Mill Creek waters of the North Fork of said River. Bounded by vacant land and lands of Joseph Dennis, Jesse Mayfield, Joseph Cobb, and John Young." It looks as though John Wigington moved from Laurens to Greenville sometime between 1790 and 1799. Other Wigingtons who settled in Greenville District were George, William, and Fielding. Myrtle K. (Mrs. E.C.) Wiginton of Birmingham, Ala., in her 14 June 1957 letter to me, lists six early Greenville, S.C. Deeds, as follows: Bk. F, p. 69 George Wigginton bought land from Pleasant Parker, 30 Dec. 1799 - recorded 18 Nov. 1800. Witnesses: Richard Young, John Young. Bk. F, p. 302 John Wigganton bought land from Abner Norris 19 Nov. 1801. Witnesses: Wm. Gowen, George Wigginton. Bk. F, p.302 John Wigganton bought land from Thomas Young 6 Oct. 1801. Witnesses: Elijah Reese, George Wigganton. Bk. F, p. 475 Henry and Joshua Benson sell two lots to Wm. & Fielding Wigginton May 1802. Bk. H, p. 75 Wm. & Fielding Wigginton trade for another lot the two lots that they in 1802 from H. & J. Benson. 8 Mar. 1808. Witnesses: Samuel White, Wm. Fisher. Bk. I, p. 514 George Wigginton of Greenville Dist. sold 175 acres on north fork of Saluda River to E. Warren - 29 July 1816. Witnesses: John R. McCurly & James C. Warren. In what is now Anderson County there was at least one Wigington prior to 1800. O22 Feb. 1799 Charles Wiggington sold to John Booth 150 acres on Hurricane Creek waters of Saluda River (Anderson County S.C. Deed Book K, pp. 155-6). On 16 June 1947 at the National Archives in Washington I reviewed the 1800 census records for Abbeville & Edgefield Districts (Vol. I), Pendleton District (Vol. 4), and Laurens & Newberry Districts (Vol. 5), but did not find any Wigingtons listed. I have not had an opportunity to search any of the census records for Greenville County. The 1810 Census for S.C., Vol. 5, in Pendleton District, (embracing what is now Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee Counties), lists four Wigington families: p. 142A - John Wiggington - under 26, with wife under 26, and 4 daughters under 19. p. 142A - Mary Wiggington - 26 but under 45, with 1 daughter 16 but under 26, 2 daughters 10 but under 16, 1 daughter under 10, and 2 sons under 10. p. 156 - Jno. Wiggington - under 26, with wife under 26, and 2 daughters under 10. p. 156 - George Wiggington - under 26, and with wife under 26. Neither of the Johns listed above is old enough to be our 1 John Wigington. I think the Jno. Wiggington listed on p. 156 is 11 John Wigington, and I suspect that the George Wiggington listed on the same page is John's brother 12 George Wigington. Pursuant to a warrant of 7 January 1811, a survey was made 10 January 1811 for 112 acres on Hurricane Creek of Saluda River in Pendleton District, and on 4 March 1811 this land was granted to John Wiganton. It was bounded by land of Daniel Schamlin, John Wiganton, and Samuel Maverick. I am not positive as to which John Wigington this was, but I believe the land adjoins that on which 1 John Wigington is buried. The Hurricane Creek area was also the site of 11 John Wigington's home. The 1820 Census for Pendleton District does not show a John Wigington old enough to be our 1 John Wigington; nor does the 1830 Census for Anderson Territory. I think we can assume that 1 John Wigington died sometime between 1801 and 1830. Where is 1 John Wigington buried? In the National Genealogical Society Quarterly for June 1933 is a five page contribution by A.L. Pickens, entitled "At the Heart of South Carolina's Last Large Frontier." A.L. Pickens is a great-great-grandson of 1 John Wigington. On page 44 of A.L. Pickens' article is mentioned, "John Wigington, also of the Revolution, in a family cemetery half-way between Greenville and Anderson, by the Durham road." In August 1957 I visited this grave site. It was shown to me by my father, to whom it had been shown by Andrew L. Pickens, to whom it had been shown by his father Welborn Pickens, who used to plow in the adjoining fields as a boy. The site does not bear much resemblance to a cemetery. In the middle of a field there is a row of trees and brush. About midway of this row there are one or two unmarked field stones. I don't think we can be certain that the remains of 1 John Wigington lay beneath these stones, which may have been moved several times through the years. The site is on Cooley property. The adjoining neighbor, Mrs. Bagwell, told me that the Cooleys were living in Williamston, S.C. A Josiah Cooley witnessed a deed covering 25 acres on Hurricane Creek, sold to James Anderson by John Wiginton on 22 July 1814. For the benefit of future researchers, the exact position of the above mentioned grave site is North 34° 42' 21.6" by West 82° 33' 13.7". I determined this position with the aid of aerial photographs taken in 1946, and Geological Survey map for Anderson quadrangle dated 1957, which is to the scale of 1:62500. How many children did 1 John Wigington have? We don't know. We think that the following three sons were his. I believe it is possible, and even likely, but I certainly wish that we had definite proof. *11 John Wigington, b. 28 Feb. 1786, d. 14 Mar. 1869, married Agnes Garrett. 12 George Wigington, b. 1784-1794, married ____ West (?). *13 Henry Wigington, b. 1800-1810, married Arene ___. References: 1. as cited in text. 2. Yates Snowden, editor; History of South Carolina, 5 volumes (1920); Vol. III, p. 107. (A biography of John Thomas Wigington) 3. U.S. Bureau of the Census; Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States taken in the year 1790 - South Carolina; Government Printing Office; 1908. this draft prepared by W. Hampton Wigington, Jr., 18 Westland Street, Worcester 2, Massachusetts. Second Generation draft - around 1960-? WIGINGTON Family 11 John Wigington was born 28 Feb. 1786 in South Carolina. Family tradition¹ says that he was born in Edgefield County, but I am inclined to believe that he was born in Laurens County. An act of 1785 created Edgefield County from the District of Ninety-Six. The Edgefield County of 1785 embraced the area that now includes all of the counties of Edgefield, Aiken, and Saluda, and parts of the counties of Greenwood and McCormick. I do not know where in this area John Wigington was born, nor have I had an opportunity to do research in this area. Family tradition also says that 11 John Wigington was "a son of John Wigington, who was born in Virginia and whose father came to South Carolina from that old Commonwealth in 1755."¹ I believe that 11 John Wigington settled in Pendleton District prior to 1810. I believe him to be the Jno. Wiggington who appears on page 156 of the 1810 census for S.C., Vol. 5, Pendleton District. The household consisted of one male 16 but under 26, one female 16 but under 26, two females under 10, no others, and no slaves. The wife of 11 John Wigington was Agnes Garrett, who was born 22 Aug. 1791 in South Carolina. She was the daughter of Jesse and Agnes (Wimpey) Garrett. Agnes Wimpey was born in 1771 and died 13 Oct. 1830. Her father was David Wimpey. In November 1945, lld:1f Benjamin Franklin Wigington showed me a faded piece of paper which he had found in one of the books of 11d:1 John Thomas Wigington. On this paper, in the handwriting of 11d:1 John Thomas Wigington, was the following: In Memory of John Wigington Who was borned Feb. 28th 1786 And died March 14th 1869 Aged 83 years He was an affectionate husband And a kind father He was a member of the Baptist Church 35 years In Memory of Agnes Garrett Wife of John Wigington Who was borned Aug. 22, 1791 And died Dec. 31st 1867 Aged 76 years She was a member of the Baptist Church 33 years 11 John Wigington and his wife Agnes Garrett are buried at Mt Pisgah Baptist Church. Their graves are marked by a stone monument which first was used to Mark the graves of 11d H. Elihu Wigington and his wife Frances Martin at Mountain Springs Baptist Church, but which later was reworked and relocated to Mt. Pisgah. This information was given to me by 11d:1f Benjamin F. Wigington on 22 June 1953 when he, and I, with 11d:1i Wade Hampton Wigington, Sr., and 11d:1i1 Linda Gail Wigington visited the grave site at Mt. Pisgah. 11 John Wigington's children were: 11a Elisabeth (called Betsy) Wigington, m. Bryan Boroughs (who later m. 11e Mary Wigington). 11b a daughter, name unknown, b. 1805-10, left home or died between 1820 and 1830. 11c George W. Wigington, b. 1811 - 1815, m. a West - ? 11d H. Elihu Wigington, b. 28 April 1818, d. 3 Sept. 1894, m. Frances Martin 11e Mary (called Polly) Wigington, m. Bryan Boroughs (who previously had married 11a Elisabeth Wigington. 11f Louisa Wigington, m. A.A. Smith. 11g Lucinda Wigington, b. 1821-1825, m. James H. Browning. 11h Martha Wigington, m. Jehu Browning. 11j Enoch G. Wigington, b. 1830-1833, m. Harriet Wyatt. 11k John E. Wigington. 11m Licena Wigington. 11n possibly also Louis Wigington, a little boy. Footnotes: 1. History of South Carolina, edited by Yates Snowden (1920), Vol. III, p. 107. 2. Heads of Families At The First Census of the United States Taken In The Year 1790 South Carolina. Gov't. Printing Office, 1908. Third Generation draft - around 1960? WIGINGTON Family 11c George W. Wigington, according to S.C. census reports up to 1840, was born between 1811 and 1815. He married between 1830 and 1840 a girl who was born between 1820 and 1820. He left Anderson County between 1840 and 1850. It is likely that he married a daughter of Solomon West, because on 17 Aug. 1957, 11d:1f Benjamin F. Wigington showed me an unrecorded deed dated 26 Jan. 1837 wherein the legatees of Solomon West of Anderson District, for $300.00, sold to Henry Wigington 179 acres on Little Brushy Creek. The deed was signed by George W. Wigington, Solomon West, John West, Elizabeth West, and Charles Davis. According to the 1840 census for Anderson, 11c George Wigington was engaged in manufacturing and trade, and he had no slaves. In November of 1945, 11d:1b Thomas Austin Wigington told me that 11c George Wigington went west. 11d:1d Jane Thomasia (Wigington) Simpson's 10 June 1956 letter to me says "I think Geo. went to Mississippi." When the estate of 11 John Wigington was settled, a petition for sale of land - real estate of John Wigington Decd., filed Sept. 22nd 1869 by 11d Elihu Wigington, mentions "heirs at Law of George Wigington names and number unknown who reside without the State." George Wigington's children per 1840 census were a daughter 5-9, and a son under 5. 11d H. Elihu Wigington was born 28 April 1818 in South Carolina. He died 3 Sept. 1894 in Brushy Creek Township of Anderson County South Carolina, and is buried there at Mountain Springs Baptist Church. On 19 Oct. 1848 he married Frances Martin, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Martin) Martin. Jacob and Catherine were cousins. Frances Martin was born 22 July 1818 in Anderson County, S.C. She died 13 Dec. 1913 and is buried at Mountain Springs Baptist Church. The 1850 Census for S.C., Anderson County, Eastern Subdivision, shows Elihu Wiggington, male age 32 born S.C., farmer, $1200 real estate, with household of Frances Wiggington, female age 32 born S.C., and John T. Wiggington, male age 1 born S.C. The 1860 Census for S.C., Anderson County, Newell Post Office, shows Elihu Wigginton, male age 41 born S.C., farmer, $3000 real estate, $3600 personal estate, with household of Frances, female age 41, John male age 10, Mary female age 8, Margaret female age 7, Josephine female age 6, and Jacob male age 3, all born S.C., and all children except three year old Jacob having attended school within the past year. 11d Elihu Wigington was primarily a farmer. He also operated a cotton gin and a corn mill, plus a general store which he and his son 11d:1 John Thomas Wigington operated. Elihu is said to have served very briefly as a Confederate soldier. My uncle 11d:1f Benjamin Franklin Wigington told me on 17 August 1957 that his grandfather Elihu went to Mississippi for a year or so. 11d H. Elihu Wigington's children were: 11d:1 John Thomas Wigington, b. 24 Aug. 1849, d. 4 Feb. 1938, m. Cynthia Jane Cason 19 Dec. 1872. 11d:2 Mary Catherine "Kate" Wigington, b. 10 June 1851, d. 17 Mar. 1946, m. Robert Welborn Pickens. 11d:3 Margaret Agnes "Magg" Wigington, b. 1852 or 53, d. between 1932 and 1938, m. James Allen Woodson. 11d:4 Louiza Josephine Wigington, b. 1853 or 54, d. 7 Dec. 1932, m. William Holbert Pickens. 11d:5 Jacob Martin Wigington, b. 1857, d. 1938, m. Nannie Elizabeth Moore, b. 1858, d. 1918, who was his first wife and the mother of all his children. 11d:6 Frances Marian Sevilla Wigington, b. after 1860 census, m. Marshall C. Stone. Above Family History By: W. Hampton Wigington Jr. 49 Woodbridge Rd Holden, MA 01520 TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife Per James T. Wigington: 1.) WIGINGTON, John-(1), b. in VA about 1754 & d. early 1800's 2.) WIGINGTON, John-(2), is buried at A180 Mt Pisgah Baptist Church, b.02-28- 1786(?) & d.03-14-1869 (?) 3.) WIGINGTON, Elihu, b. 28-apr-1818, d. 3-sep-1894 4.) WIGINGTON, John Thomas, b. 24-aug-1849, d. 2-feb-1938 5.) WIGINGTON, Elihu, b. 1-mar-1895, d. 18-oct-1989