PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA - Murder of French P. Willard, 1869 ********************************************************************** SCGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed SCGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** Submitted by: hwall@pdq.net (Helen Wall) Attached is the text of three articles on the supposed murder of French P. Willard on May 29 1869 French P. Willard was born November 15, 1845 in Santuck, Union, SC and died May 29, 1869 in Liberty, Pickens, SC. He is buried at the Enon Baptist Church in Easley, Pickens, SC. He was the second of 11 children born to Thomas E. Willard and Sarah Ann Whitten and a Confederate veteran. His siblings were: Rosalene H. Willard, who wed Benjamin F. Boggs Pascal Choice Willard, who wed Lou O'Dell Jay Caldwell Willard, who wed Bettie Eubank (Erastus) Moman Willard, who wed (1) Julia Wilson and (2) Della Boggs Solistine Willard, who wed Joel L. Gray Emma Willard, who wed Thomas G. Boggs Millison Almeda Willard, who wed Frank R. McClannahan Marinda Olivia Willard, who wed J. Frank Jennings Ella Zeedora Willard, who wed (1) R.A. "Zack" Gober, and (2) Olin Dantzler McCravey Wagner Ossie Willard, who wed Fannie Rowe Eubank Moman Willard and Julia Wilson are my great-grandparents. I have been told that the killing was never "solved" and that the pack of papers has been missing from the courthouse files for many years. Source: Early Anderson County, SC Newspapers, Marriages and Obituaries 1841-1882 Issue of June 3, 1869, page 90: Death. On Friday night last, near Salubrity, in Pickens County, a white man by the name of Willard was killed. The stable on the premises was discovered to be in flames, when the deceased and his father, with other persons, rushed out of the dwelling and a volley was fired into them with the result above stated. From all we can learn, the attack in this instance was expected and the combat between the parties was desperate, and a number of shots being exchanged. As the matter will probably undergo official investigation, we will refrain from giving the particulars as related to us.” Source: A Collection of Upper SC Genealogical and Family Records, Vol. 1, Editor, James E. Wooley, 1979, Southern Historical Press, Vol. II (1981), Page 320. Willard, French P. (Pack 564 #1), Clerk of Court Office, Pickens, SC. An inquest held over the body of French P. Wilalrd on the 30 May 1869. Thomas E. Willard the father sworn says that between one and two o’clock in the night he discovered his barn on fire. He called the boys also Young Rampey was staying with them that night. Moman his son passed him and turned the mares and mules out. He stopped at the corn crib to try and save it when he heard a short, thinking it to be an alarm. There were more shots and found his son lying on the ground. Erastus M. Willard sworn that he and Harleston Ramphey were sleeping together when his father yelled that the barn was on fire. He and Harleston took a pistol to the yard to sound an alarm but the pistol would not fire, and he threw it to the ground, then heard 4 or 5 shots and saw Wallace Boggs and his brother Edward Boggs with the light from the fire. He helped to track the horses from the Willard house to the Boggs’ barn. Source: Some South Carolina County Records, Vol. 2, 1989, Southern Historical Press Murder of French P. Willard, Pack. 545, No. 2 Clerks Office, Pickens, SC. On July 28, 1969, Thomas E. Willard made oath that he is the father of French P. Willard with whose murder T. Edward Boggs and Marcus Boggs are charged with. That the warrant against them was issued upon the affidavit of John B. Hubbard Chief Constable of the State of S.C. and that this deponent supposed and believed that sd Hubbard was the Proscr. against sd defendants and would take all the steps which were necessary to collect testimony and secure the attendance of all the witnesses at this term of the court, that this deponent relying upon the sd Hubbard taking these steps did not begin to make any preparation for the trial of the above case until some 10 days ago, when he did have a number of witnesses recognized to attend court, but that the shortness of the time has prevented him from procuring the attendance of several important witnesses. This deponent therefore prays for a continuance of the case and believes that if sd continuance is granted he will be able to procure important testimony which he will be unable to present at this time. That there is a freed woman whose name and exact residence this deponent is at present was acquainted with, but which he can procure who testimony he believes to be important, and will go to show that these defendants were guilty of the crime with which they are charged. That Miss AMY YOUNG is an important witness for the prosecution but is as present too sick to attend and consequently has not been recognized to this court, that she had a conversation with one of the defendants which showed that he had some knowledge of the sd murder. That S.F. Templeton lives in Anderson as this deponent believes and believes the sd Templeton to be an important witness, but has not had time to procure his attendance. Sworn to this July 28, 1869. **************************************************************** USGENWEB 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 contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************