History of Georgetown, (Georgetown County) South Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

Thomas Rothmahler Mitchell, representative, was born at Georgetown, S.C., about 1783. He was graduated at Harvard. A.B., 1802, A.M., 1805; studied law, and was admitted to the bar at Charleston, S.C., in 1808. He settled in practice at Georgetown. S.C., and was a representative in the 17th, 19th, 20th and 22d congresses, 1821-23, 1825-29 and 1831-33, defeating Col. Robert B. Campbell of Brownsville, and being defeated for the 18th, 21st and 23d congresses by Colonel Campbell, who was his political opponent at every election, 1820-34. He died at Georgetown, S.C., Nov. 2, 1837.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Francis Marion, soldier, was born at Winyah, near Georgetown, S.C., in 1732, youngest son of Gabriel and Esther (Cordes) Marion. He was brought up on his father's plantation and in 1748 shipped on a small vessel for the West Indies, was wrecked, and with three companions rescued by a passing vessel. Upon the death of his father in 1756 he engaged with his brother Gabriel in planting on the Santee canal. He became owner of a plantation at Pond Bluff, St. John's parish, S.C., in 1759; engaged in the war with the Cherokees and in 1761 served as a lieutenant under Capt. William Moultrie, in the battle of Etchoee. He was a member of the Provincial congress of South Carolina in 1775; was appointed a captain in the 2d regiment of South Carolina infantry, June 21, 1775, and recruited two companies, consisting of fifty men each. He took part in the capture of Fort Johnson in Charleston harbor, Sept. 14, 1775; and was placed in command of the military stores at Dorchester, S.C. He completed the defences of Fort Johnson; was promoted major, and on June 20, 1776, took an important part in the defeat of the British fleet in Charleston harbor. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel and was placed in command of Fort Moultrie. In the disastrous assault on Savannah by the allied forces of Count d'Estaing and General Lincoln, in September, 1779, he was conspicuous for his bravery, and on Oct. 9, 1779, his regiment passed into the ditch of the Spring Hill redoubt and planted its colors on the parapet, but was obliged to retreat under a heavy fire. Lincoln retreated to Sheldon, S.C., and left Marion in temporary command of the army, while he was in Charleston to look after its defences. In February, 1780, Marion was sent home to recover from a sprained ankle, and this enforced absence saved him from being among the number surrendered to Sir Henry Clinton after the investment of Charleston. He set out to join the army sent by Washington under Baron de Kalb, to rescue Charleston, but upon finding General Gates in command he returned to his home where he was commissioned brigadier-general and organized "Marion's brigade," which after Gates's defeat at Camden, Aug. 16, 1780, and Sumter's at Fishing Creek, Aug. 18, 1780, was the only organized American force in South Carolina. Most of his troopers were of Irish parentage. He advanced upon a large body of Tories under Major Garney at Briton's Neck and totally routed them without the loss of a single man, and subsequently defeated Captain Barfield. In August, 1780, he defeated a strong force of Tories at the Black Mingo river, and in September he dispersed a detachment of British regulars under Colonel Tynes at Tarcote. He escaped from General Tarleton after a chase for twenty-five miles, by disappearing in a swamp, and the exploit caused Tarleton to call him the "Swamp Fox." After the battle of King's Mountain recruits came to swell Marion's brigade and in December, 1780, he made his first attempt upon Georgetown, which was unsuccessful, and his nephew Gabriel Marion was taken prisoner, and as soon as his name was disclosed was put to death. Marion retired to Swan Island and established "Marion's Camp." The second attempt upon Georgetown was made in concert with the troops of Col. Henry Lee on Jan. 13, 1781, but was also unsuccessful, and when Lee was recalled by Greene, Marion organized four companies of cavalry, a preceding necessitated by the scarcity of ammunition, and harassed the British and Tory posts on the Pedee river. In April, 1781, he cooperated with Lee in reducing Fort Watson and when the fort surrendered April 23, 1781, Rawdon was obliged to evacuate Camden. In conjunction with Leland Eaton he captured Fort Motte on the Congaree, and he made a third and successful attempt upon Georgetown. In August, 1781, Marion made a raid, covering 200 miles of country, and at the battle of Eutaw Springs, Sept. 8, 1781, he commanded the right of the first line and joined Lee in the pursuit of the defeated enemy, taking many prisoners. On Oct. 9, 1781, he received the thanks of congress for his service in that battle. In January, 1782, he was elected to the state senate, serving continuously until 1790. He was appointed commandant of Fort Johnson in 1784, and was married the same year to Mary Videau who survived him but had no children. He was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1790, and in 1794 he resigned his commission in the state militia. While in the senate he advocated gentle usage of the Tories and bitterly condemned the confiscation act of 1782. The state senate voted him a letter of thanks and a gold medal for his patriotism. His last words were: "Thank God I can lay my hand on my heart and say that since I came to man's estate, I have never done, intentionally, wrong to any." He died at Pond Bluff, S.C., Feb. 27, 1795.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joseph H. Rainey, representative, was born in Georgetown, S.C., June 21, 18332; son of slave parents, who subsequently obtained freedom by their industry. Although legally debarred from attending school, he was well educated, and removed to Charleston, S.C., where he followed the occupation of a barber until 1862, when, forced to work on the Confederate fortifications, he escaped to the West Indies, and remained there until the close of the war. He returned to Georgetown; was elected a delegate to the state constitutional convention, 1868, and was a state senator in 1870, resigning to take his seat in the 41st congress, June 21, having been elected a Republican representative in place of Benjamin T. Whittemore, who was elected but not allowed to take his seat. Mr. Rainey was re-elected to the 42d-45th congresses, serving, 1870?79, his seat in the 44th congress being contested by Samuel Lee. He died in Georgetown, D.C, Aug. 1, 1887.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Edward Octavus Flagg, clergyman, was born in Georgetown, S.C., Dec. 13, 1824; son of Henry Collins and Martha (Whiting) Flagg; grandson of Henry Collins and Rachel (Moore) Flagg, and of William Joseph and Martha (Lyman) Whiting, and great-grandson of Ebenezer and Mary (Ward) Flagg. His great-grandfather, Ebenezer, was a merchant, born in Boston, Oct. 10, 1710; his great-grandmother was a daughter of Gov. Richard Ward of Rhode Island; his grandfather, Henry Collins, was a surgeon in Gen. Nathaniel Greene's army, and his father (born Jan. 6, 1792, died July 22, 1875) was graduated at Yale in 1811, was a, prominent lawyer in both Connecticut and South Carolina, editor of the Connecticut Herald, and for five years mayor of New Haven, Conn. In 1837 Octavus accepted the position of assistant in a large school in New Haven. He attended Trinity college, Hartford, was ordained deacon in the Protestant Episcopal church in 1848 and was admitted to the priesthood in 1849. He became the first rector of Trinity church, Norwich, Conn., and in the meantime established a church at Yantic. He was afterward temporarily in charge of Trinity church, New Orleans, declining the rectorship, and in 1854 accepted a call to St. Paul's church, Paterson. N.J. He was rector of All Saints' church, New York city. 1857-61, and in the latter year founded the Church of the Resurrection, and became chaplain of the 9th regiment, N.G.S. N.Y., serving in the civil war. He was senior assistant of Grace church, N.Y., 1865-71, and rector of St. Mark's church, Tarrytown, N.Y., 1871-74. He then retired from the active duties of the ministry and devoted himself to literary pursuits and to lecturing. He is the author of several well known poems, including "Live it Down," which, were collected in a volume. In 1898, he was appointed secretary of the American author's guild, which position he resigned and became a member of its board of managers. He received from the University of the city of New York, the degree of D.D. in 1866; also the degree of LL.D. from St. John's college, Annapolis, in 1898 on the occasion of addressing the graduating class.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor