William Ballentine Loyalist signed a letter in Revolutionary War in SC
THE CAROLINA HERALD
AND NEWSLETTER
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
SCENES OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
VOL. XXX October-December 2002 No.4
The Carolina Herald and Newsletter 18 Vol. xxx, No.4
FLETCHALL'S ADDRESS
Massacred Loyalists
Transcribed by Linda D. Smith
The importance of this article is to bring to light the names of three hundred men said to be have been murdered by the American "rebels". Their names are listed in an address written by Col. Thomas Fletchall to the King of England on 18 April 1782. It is also not my purpose to analyze the reasons behind neither the letter nor the accuracy of the list. Caution has been taken to list each name as it is written; however, because of the condition of the pages, several names or titles were difficult to read In those few cases the use of brackets and a question mark were used.
Thomas Fletchall came to South Carolina about 1760 and settled in the Fair Forest region where he accumulated 1,600 acres of land and farmed and operated a gristmill. By 1769, he was commissioned in the local militia.(1) Col. Fletchall was in charge of the area between the Broad and Saluda Fork which was a hot bed for the rebels. This was indicated in a letter dated 18 Apri11782 written to his Majesty the King. The petition was prompted by a speech delivered by the Duke of Richmond on 21 Jan 1782 in which the Duke expressed his disapproval of the execution of the rebel Isaac Haynes. Richmond declared "that the loyalists of South Carolina did not hesitate to denominate the execution of Haynes to be Murder and that of the foulest complexion" (2).
Fletchall responded with "this we deny and are fully of opinion that his execution was a proper example and just reward for this treason. . . "(3)
The petitioners go on to tell the king of the "usurpers in this Province have murdered about three hundred men, some after and some without pretense of trials, on a suspicion of their being attached to your Majesty's government.” (4)
The following men signed the address to the King:
Thos. Fletchall, Col. of the Forks of Broad and Saluda Rivers
Joseph Robinson, Lt. Col. So. Carolina Royalists
Evan McLaurin [Jr.1], Lt. Col. 2nd Bn. So. Caro. Royalists
Thos. Edghill, Lt. Col. of Little Saluda Reg. Of Militia
John Hamilton, Col. Lower Reg. Of Militia Dnl. Clary, Lt. Col. Dutch Fork
Wm. Ballentine, Lt. Col. Dutch Fork Zacharias Gibbs, Major, Pacolet
Daniel Plummer [or Summer?], Lieut. Col. Tiger River
John Phillips, Col. Winnsborough Militia. Camden
Jas. Miller, Capt. Jackson Creek
Samuel Austin James Clark and a Youth his Son
John Anderson Waller Clark
John Andrews William Chester
Joseph Atkins David Chester
Thomas Atkins William Conivay
William Adams George Cornet
John Atcheson John Chapman
Thomas Allison Joseph Cain
James Abendree Chesley Davis
Joseph Alexander, Lieut. Jacob Devalt
John Atkinson aged 65 John Donahoe aged 75
John Allen [blank] Dunlop Major of Dagoons
John Barton Capt. George Dawkins aged 78
James Barr Daniel Henry
David Brasil Charles Draper
John Boseman George Davis
Nicholas Bundrick William Daly
John Butteran [blank] Downs Major
Thomas Broome Sill Delasnett Capt.
Ezekiel Beams Elijah Davis Lieut.
John Bryant of Bush River Alexander Daly
John Bryant of Fair Forrest
I South Carolina Loyalists in the American Revolution by Robert S. Lambert, page 35.
2 SC State Archives, Columbia, SC, microfilm number C.O. 5/82, P.R.O. KTO, Public Records of Great Britian, Indian Affairs, Reel 10, dated 18 April 1782, pg. 296.
3 Ibid
4lbid.
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=40&p=localities.northam.usa.states.southcarolina.schist.old96http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=40&p=localities.northam.usa.states.southcarolina.schist.old96