Samuel Campbell Clegg
Encyclopedia
Samuel Campbell Clegg was a Tory
in the American Revolution
.
Samuel Campbell Clegg may have been born in Virginia, birth data unknown. He was an ensign in the South Carolina
Royalists. Prior to the American Revolution, he married Barbara Maria Flick, who had immigrated to the South Carolina colony from Germany
in 1764. They were married about 1772 in Ninety Six District, South Carolina and had four children before Samuel was captured at the Battle of Kettle Creek
in Georgia and hanged for his activities as a Tory in 1779.
After the successful capture of Savannah
by the British forces in December 1778, a Colonel Boyd was dispatched to recruit a band of Loyalist militia in the back county of the Carolinas and to join the British forces in Augusta, Georgia. Colonel Andrew Pickens
and his patriot forces planned to engage the Loyalists before they could cross the Savannah River. However, his scouts discovered the Loyalist band of about 600 men encamped on Kettle Creek, near present day Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia
. On 14 February 1779, the Loyalists were surprised and defeated by the Whigs commanded by Colonels Andrew Pickens, John Dooly
and Elijah Clarke
. About 20 men were captured and 78 surrendered. All were marched to the stockade in Augusta, Georgia.
South Carolina authorities proclaimed the men criminals under civil jurisdiction, rather than prisoners of war; and most of them were marched to the Ninety Six jail in South Carolina. “On March 8, the prisoners crossed the Savannah and were held one night at Mathis Pond near Edgefield. A second night they were crowded into an unsanitary, cramped bull pen on Williamson’s (Col. Andrew Williamson) Whitehall Plantation. They arrived under guard at the Ninety Six jail on March 10.” (Cann) They were charged with sedition
and treason
, crimes punishable by hanging
and forfeiture
of all property. For various reasons, about half of the men were released and charges dropped. About 20 men were sentenced to death and scheduled to be executed on April 17. The men were transferred to Orangeburg for security reasons. All but five men were granted reprieves and those were marched back to Ninety Six, where they were hanged in late April 1779. The five men were Samuel Clegg, James Lindley, John Anderson, Aquilla Hall, and Charles Draper.
There are several records of Samuel Clegg at the Ninety Six jail. The Sheriff of Ninety Six District, William Moore, compiled a list of the five men as part of his claim for money owed to him by the state treasury. "To the gaol fees on commitment of James Linley, John Anderson, Aquilla Hall, Samuel Clegg and Charles Draper who were hanged &c L 86 : 4: 0 each." (William Moore file)
2. Campbell B. Clegg was born about 1775 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. He married Nancy Faulkner. He died in January 1843 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.
4. Nancy Clegg was born about 1777 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. She married a Johnson man about 1796.
3. Elizabeth Clegg was born about 1778 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. She married Jacob Timmerman about 1794. She died 10 August 1860 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Samuel Campbell Clegg may have been born in Virginia, birth data unknown. He was an ensign in the South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
Royalists. Prior to the American Revolution, he married Barbara Maria Flick, who had immigrated to the South Carolina colony from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1764. They were married about 1772 in Ninety Six District, South Carolina and had four children before Samuel was captured at the Battle of Kettle Creek
Battle of Kettle Creek
The Battle of Kettle Creek was one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia. The battle was fought on February 14, 1779, in Wilkes County about eight miles from present-day Washington, Georgia...
in Georgia and hanged for his activities as a Tory in 1779.
After the successful capture of Savannah
Savannah
Savannah or savanna is a type of grassland.It can also mean:-People:* Savannah King, a Canadian freestyle swimmer* Savannah Outen, a singer who gained popularity on You Tube...
by the British forces in December 1778, a Colonel Boyd was dispatched to recruit a band of Loyalist militia in the back county of the Carolinas and to join the British forces in Augusta, Georgia. Colonel Andrew Pickens
Andrew Pickens
Andrew Pickens may refer to:*Andrew Pickens , American revolutionary soldier and US Congressman, South Carolina*Andrew Pickens , War of 1812 and Governor of South Carolina...
and his patriot forces planned to engage the Loyalists before they could cross the Savannah River. However, his scouts discovered the Loyalist band of about 600 men encamped on Kettle Creek, near present day Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...
. On 14 February 1779, the Loyalists were surprised and defeated by the Whigs commanded by Colonels Andrew Pickens, John Dooly
John Dooly
Colonel John Dooly , born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, was an American Revolutionary war hero. He commanded a regiment at the Battle of Kettle Creek in 1779 and was killed at his home by Tories in 1780....
and Elijah Clarke
Elijah Clarke
Elijah Clarke , born in Anson County, North Carolina, was a soldier and officer with the Continentals and considered a hero of the American Revolutionary War. Afterward he was elected to the Georgia legislature. In 1794 he organized the Trans-Oconee Republic, several settlements in counties of...
. About 20 men were captured and 78 surrendered. All were marched to the stockade in Augusta, Georgia.
South Carolina authorities proclaimed the men criminals under civil jurisdiction, rather than prisoners of war; and most of them were marched to the Ninety Six jail in South Carolina. “On March 8, the prisoners crossed the Savannah and were held one night at Mathis Pond near Edgefield. A second night they were crowded into an unsanitary, cramped bull pen on Williamson’s (Col. Andrew Williamson) Whitehall Plantation. They arrived under guard at the Ninety Six jail on March 10.” (Cann) They were charged with sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
and treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, crimes punishable by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
and forfeiture
Asset forfeiture
Asset forfeiture is confiscation, by the State, of assets which are either the alleged proceeds of crime or the alleged instrumentalities of crime, and more recently, alleged terrorism. Instrumentalities of crime are property that was allegedly used to facilitate crime, for example cars...
of all property. For various reasons, about half of the men were released and charges dropped. About 20 men were sentenced to death and scheduled to be executed on April 17. The men were transferred to Orangeburg for security reasons. All but five men were granted reprieves and those were marched back to Ninety Six, where they were hanged in late April 1779. The five men were Samuel Clegg, James Lindley, John Anderson, Aquilla Hall, and Charles Draper.
There are several records of Samuel Clegg at the Ninety Six jail. The Sheriff of Ninety Six District, William Moore, compiled a list of the five men as part of his claim for money owed to him by the state treasury. "To the gaol fees on commitment of James Linley, John Anderson, Aquilla Hall, Samuel Clegg and Charles Draper who were hanged &c L 86 : 4: 0 each." (William Moore file)
The family of Samuel Campbell Clegg and Barbara Maria Flick
1. Jonathan Clegg was born 22 February 1773 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. He married Louisa Phoebe (or Pharabay) Holloway. He died 31 May 1841 in Social Circle, Walton County, Georgia.2. Campbell B. Clegg was born about 1775 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. He married Nancy Faulkner. He died in January 1843 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.
4. Nancy Clegg was born about 1777 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. She married a Johnson man about 1796.
3. Elizabeth Clegg was born about 1778 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. She married Jacob Timmerman about 1794. She died 10 August 1860 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.
Sources
- Roberr S. Davis, "The Loyalist Trials at Ninety Six in 1779." South Carolina Historical Magazine 80 (April 1979): 172-81.
- Dr. Marvin L. Cann, “Kettle Creek and Ninety Six: The story of a Revolutionary Battle and a Loyalist Trial,” The Carolina Herald (Summer Issue 2004): 4-7.
- William Moore, Revolutionary Accounts Audited File #5335. South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia.
- Murtie June Clark, Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1981).