Thicketty, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Thicketty is an unincorporated community
in Cherokee County
, South Carolina
, United States
. It lies between Gaffney
and Cowpens
along U.S. Route 29
. Thicketty is located about 12 miles (19.3 km) northeast of Spartanburg
.
Well known in this area is "Thicketty Mountain
" as well as "Thicketty Creek," which is part of the Broad River
Basin. Except for a convenience store, this location has no public services whatsoever. There used to be a train station nearby for the Norfolk Southern and CSX
trains that pass right through Thicketty.
Historical note: Before the Boundary Line Survey of 1772, much of the northern part of South Carolina was thought to be in North Carolina. Accordingly, many North Carolina land grants were issued to land later found to be within the bounds of the Province of South Carolina. In example, on 26 October 1767, John Steen (brother of Lt. Col. James Steen) received three land grants totaling 650 acres (2.6 km²) from the Province of North Carolina. All three tracts were on Thicketty Creek in an area then thought to be in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (See NC Royal Patent Book 23, page 154).
Lt. Col. James Steen (1734-1780) was a successful planter who, at the time of the American revolution, resided in the Thicketty Creek area of what was once the northern part of Union County (formed in 1785) and is now part of Cherokee County (formed 1897), South Carolina. Steen, a staunch Presbyterian, had been born in County Antrim, Ulster Province, Ireland in about 1734. In the 1750s, he moved to America along with his father's family, that included his brother John Steen. Originally residing in Pennsylvania for only a few years, John and James both had recorded land deeds on Thicketty Creek 1766 & 1767(See SC Royal Land Grant Book 16, page 572 & SC Royal Land Grant Book 14, page 507 & NC Royal Patent Book 23, page 154).
Both John and James Steen, as well as many other local natives of Thicketty Creek, were heavily involved in the revolutionary war. There were families who were British loyalists, as well as families such as the Steen's who were Whigs and Colonial Militia Officers. In quite a few instances, Thicketty Creek neighbors found themselves on opposite sides and battles throughout the war, in surrounding areas.
According to Lyman Draper (1815-1891), as written in his well-known book titled Kings Mountain and it's Heroes (first published in 1881):
"James Steen, also of Irish descent, was probably a native of Pennsylvania, and early settled in what is now Union County, South Carolina. In August 1775, he "was fully convinced and ready to sign the Continental Association" and doubtless led a company on the Snow campaign, as he did the following year against the Cherokees, and, in 1777, commanded at Prince's Fort
. In 1779, he served in Georgia, then at Stono, and Savannah; and performed a tour of duty from November in that year till February 1780, near Charleston. At this period, he ranked as Lieutenant-Colonel, distinguishing himself at Rocky Mount (Battle of Rocky Mount
), Hanging Rock (Battle of Hanging Rock
), Musgrove's Mill (Battle of Musgrove Mill
), King's Mountain (Battle of King's Mountain), and probably with his superior, Colonel Brandon, at the Cowpens (Battle of Cowpens
). In the summer of 1781, while endeavoring to arrest a Tory, in Rowan County, North Carolina
, he was stabbed by an associate, surviving only a week."
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Cherokee County
Cherokee County, South Carolina
Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The county was formed in 1897 from parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties. It is included in the Gaffney, South Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 United States Census, the county's...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies between Gaffney
Gaffney, South Carolina
Gaffney is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, South Carolina, United States, in the upstate region of South Carolina. Gaffney is also sometimes referred to as the Peach capital of South Carolina. The population was 12,414 at the 2010 census...
and Cowpens
Cowpens, South Carolina
Cowpens is a town in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,162 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Cowpens is located at ....
along U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, to Pensacola, Florida. This highway's northern terminus is at Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City, Maryland...
. Thicketty is located about 12 miles (19.3 km) northeast of Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
.
Well known in this area is "Thicketty Mountain
Thicketty Mountain
Thicketty Mountain is a mountain summit in Cherokee County in the state of South Carolina . Thicketty Mountain climbs to an elevation of around 1,194 feet . Thicketty Mountain is also one of the three mountain peaks of Cherokee County....
" as well as "Thicketty Creek," which is part of the Broad River
Broad River (Carolinas)
The Broad River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 150 miles long, in western North Carolina and northern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean...
Basin. Except for a convenience store, this location has no public services whatsoever. There used to be a train station nearby for the Norfolk Southern and CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
trains that pass right through Thicketty.
Historical note: Before the Boundary Line Survey of 1772, much of the northern part of South Carolina was thought to be in North Carolina. Accordingly, many North Carolina land grants were issued to land later found to be within the bounds of the Province of South Carolina. In example, on 26 October 1767, John Steen (brother of Lt. Col. James Steen) received three land grants totaling 650 acres (2.6 km²) from the Province of North Carolina. All three tracts were on Thicketty Creek in an area then thought to be in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (See NC Royal Patent Book 23, page 154).
Lt. Col. James Steen (1734-1780) was a successful planter who, at the time of the American revolution, resided in the Thicketty Creek area of what was once the northern part of Union County (formed in 1785) and is now part of Cherokee County (formed 1897), South Carolina. Steen, a staunch Presbyterian, had been born in County Antrim, Ulster Province, Ireland in about 1734. In the 1750s, he moved to America along with his father's family, that included his brother John Steen. Originally residing in Pennsylvania for only a few years, John and James both had recorded land deeds on Thicketty Creek 1766 & 1767(See SC Royal Land Grant Book 16, page 572 & SC Royal Land Grant Book 14, page 507 & NC Royal Patent Book 23, page 154).
Both John and James Steen, as well as many other local natives of Thicketty Creek, were heavily involved in the revolutionary war. There were families who were British loyalists, as well as families such as the Steen's who were Whigs and Colonial Militia Officers. In quite a few instances, Thicketty Creek neighbors found themselves on opposite sides and battles throughout the war, in surrounding areas.
According to Lyman Draper (1815-1891), as written in his well-known book titled Kings Mountain and it's Heroes (first published in 1881):
"James Steen, also of Irish descent, was probably a native of Pennsylvania, and early settled in what is now Union County, South Carolina. In August 1775, he "was fully convinced and ready to sign the Continental Association" and doubtless led a company on the Snow campaign, as he did the following year against the Cherokees, and, in 1777, commanded at Prince's Fort
Prince's Fort
Prince's Fort was built in South Carolina for protection against the Cherokee Indians. It was near the residence of John Prince. Fort Prince was the general rallying point in times of danger when the people of the settlement sought safety. Just in front was a creek for their washing. Nearby stood a...
. In 1779, he served in Georgia, then at Stono, and Savannah; and performed a tour of duty from November in that year till February 1780, near Charleston. At this period, he ranked as Lieutenant-Colonel, distinguishing himself at Rocky Mount (Battle of Rocky Mount
Battle of Rocky Mount
The Battle of Rocky Mount took place on August 1, 1780 as part of the American War of Independence. Loyalists commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Turnbull occupying an outpost in northern South Carolina withstood an attack by 600 American Patriots led by Colonel Thomas...
), Hanging Rock (Battle of Hanging Rock
Battle of Hanging Rock
The Battle of Hanging Rock was a battle in the American Revolutionary War that occurred between the American Patriots and the British...
), Musgrove's Mill (Battle of Musgrove Mill
Battle of Musgrove Mill
The Battle of Musgrove Mill, August 19, 1780, occurred near a ford of the Enoree River, near the present-day border between Spartanburg, Laurens and Union Counties in South Carolina...
), King's Mountain (Battle of King's Mountain), and probably with his superior, Colonel Brandon, at the Cowpens (Battle of Cowpens
Battle of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens was a decisive victory by Patriot Revolutionary forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
). In the summer of 1781, while endeavoring to arrest a Tory, in Rowan County, North Carolina
Rowan County, North Carolina
-Demographics and economics:As of the census of 2010, there were 138,428 people, 53,140 households, and 37,058 families residing in the county. The population density was 270.7 people per square mile . There were 60,211 housing units at an average density of 117.7 per square mile...
, he was stabbed by an associate, surviving only a week."