The Smith, Maynard, Culbreath, Hazle and Cox Families
from Edgefield County South Carolina, By Leila Mayberry
William Smith and Frances,Our Revolutionary War Veteran and
A Genuine Revolutionary War Heroine
William Smith was born 1762 and died March 17, 1848 in Edgefield just a few months before his son died.
Frances was born 1763 in Virginia of unknown parentage and died in South Carolina after 1850 and before
1860. The children of William and Frances are Benjamin F, David, William, Jacob, and an unnamed son
and daughter. All were born in Edgefield County.
In 1779, at the tender age of 17, William Smith enlisted as a volunteer in Captain Henry Foster�s Company,
South Carolina Regiment commanded by Colonel Leroy Hammond, and joined General Williamson�s Brigade
at Liberty Hill opposite Augusta, Georgia. He then joined with General Lincoln�s army until after the battle of
Stonewall. He again volunteered under Captain Toules (Towles) and joined General Greene�s army at the siege
of Ninety-Six (The town of Ninety-Six). William was well acquainted with the area so was used during the siege
to forage and provide provisions for the troops. He was attached as a guard to the wagons sent to Anderson�s
Mill on the Saluda River to procure meal for the army. He was separated from Greene�s army and lost a valuable
horse in the retreat from 96. After the army retreated to North Carolina William remained in South Carolina as a
scout against the Tories under Captain Pickens and Capt. Toules. Eight months later he enlisted under Captain
Sinqufield to build a block house at Anderson�s Mill on Saluda River with the purpose of overthrowing the Tories
and providing refuge for the Whigs (Patriots). He acted as a scout for the remainder of the war.
William�s pension application reveals that on November 21, 1837 Samuel Deen swore before James Maynard, JP
that he knew William well during the Revolutionary War and that �he is a man whose character for veracity entitles
his statements made on oath to full credence�.
(Revolutionary War Papers,William Smith W3729, BLWt 26259-160-55)
Frances Smith�s widow�s pension application relates that she herself rendered service independent of William�s
during the Revolution. It was she and Behetheland Butler who, at great personal risk, paddled a canoe up the
Saluda River to 96 to inform Captain Wallace of the imminent approach of the English under Lord Rawdon
thereby providing the Patriot forces time to retreat to North Carolina where they were able to live to fight
another day.
Benjamin F. Smith and Unity
Benjamin F. Smith is the son of William and Francis Smith who married September 2, 1784 in Edgefield County, SC.
Benjamin was born 1785 and died October 1848 in Edgefield County, SC. He and married about 1815 to 1819 and
had 8 children: David M, John Wesley, Nancy Caroline, Franklin, Silas H, Sarah A, William J, and Warren Smith.
All were born in Edgefield County.
Benjamin died a mere seven months after his father in 1848. His estate administration is documented in "Abstracts
of Old Ninety Six and Abbeville District Wills and Bonds": Page 485: Smith, Benjamin - Box 121, Pack 3586:
Estate administration Oct 16, 1848 by David, David M., John Smith bound unto David Lesly Ord. Abbeville District.
SUM $8,000.00. On Oct 14, 1848 Unity Smith relinquished her right of administration. David Smith sheweth that
his brother Benj. Smith died intestate leaving a widow and several children. Settled Jan 14, 1851. Present, David
Smith, admr, Mrs Unity Smith wid., John W. Smith, David L. Rotten who married a daughter, Benj. F. Smith.
Absent were David, Silas H., Sarah Ann, W.J. Smith, minors. On Jan 14, 1851 J. Wesley Smith recd. $473.38.
David Loveless Rotten married Nancy Caroline Smith. The Rotten, Still and Cochroff families have been thoroughly
researched. Documentation concerning them is located at
Knotty Roots and Gnarled Branches.
John Wesley Smith and Lucinda
John Wesley Smith is the son of Benjamin F. and Unity Smith. John Wesley Smith was born 1823 in Edgefield County,
SC and Lucinda was born about 1826/1828. John and Lucinda�s children are BW or W Scott, Meady T, RWB,
John Wesley,BB, Nancy Caroline, FC, SB and DB Smith. All were born at Fruit Hill, Edgefield County, South Carolina.
According to the censuses John Wesley Smith was a farmer and an engineer. Family lore relates that he was a distiller
whose whiskey was so good that during the Civil War the Union Army requested he make whiskey for them - an
invitation he not so politely refused. (Family members had been killed during the Civil War.) Fearing reprisals he left
South Carolina for Alabama arriving in Lee County in 1868. He and his family established themselves in Lee County
as hardworking, honest people who have contributed to the growth, development and history of the county and state.
Many of their descendants still reside in Alabama today.
Census comparisons and children�s birth dates indicate they resided in Edgefield through 1866 and arrived in Alabama
about 1868.
Remember that David Loveless Rotten married Nancy Caroline Smith, sister of John Wesley Smith. David�s father,
William Rotten/Roten/Roton died 1845 in Edgefield County. He married Catherine Cochroft and had a daughter,
Lucinda, born 1826 to 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Both David and Lucinda are named in William�s
1845 will and I had thought it proof of John W. Smith�s wife, Lucinda�s, identity as his daughter. But Lucinda Smith
is not the daughter of William Rotten or sister of David Rotten. This raises the question,�Who Is Lucinda,
wife of John Wesley Smith?�
This question is answered in detail in my book about the Smiths of Edgefield County
The short answer is that Lucinda was born 1826 to 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina and is the daughter
of John Maynard of Edgefield County, South Carolina and Jones County, Georgia.
John Maynard died 1829 in Jones County, Georgia. John Minyard's will was written 28 August 1829 and names all
his children including �my little Lucinda�, who was born 1826 to 1828. His will was proved 19 October 1829 in Jones
County, Georgia and recorded there 4 January 1829. It is also recorded in Edgefield County South Carolina, Wills,
p 204, 28 Aug 1829.
John Minyard's will written 28 August 1829, proved 19 October 1829 in Jones County, Georgia
(Will Book B, p 187-189)
JOHN MINYARD
Wife: not named
Children: Elizabeth Minyard, Martha Ann Minyard, Tabitha Catherine Minyard, Lucinda Minyard,Jonathan O. Minyard,
James Madina Minyard, George Washington Minyard Others mentioned: Brothers, James Minyard, Edwin Culbreath
of SC, guardians; William S. Middlebrooks; Simpson Taylor
Edgefield County, SC Wills, p 204, 28 Aug 1829
John Miniard (MAYNARD)
3 sons, Jonathan D. Miniard, James Madison Miniard, George Washington Miniard
daughters: Elizabeth Miniard, Martha Ann L. Miniard, Tabetha Catharien Miniard,
and �my little daughter�, Lucinda Miniard
their mother:(unnamed)
brother, James Miniard
Brother-in-law, Edward Culbreath
has lands in Jones co, Ga & several slaves ( will recorded there 4 Jan 1829)
The marriage of J.W. Smith and Lucinda Maynard was performed on April 28, 1850 by Rev. A. P. Norris and was
reported in The Edgefield Advertiser. (�Edgefield Marriage Records�, published by Carlee T. McClendon dated 1970
from The Edgefield Advertiser newspaper, family bibles, marriage bonds, and other published records. page 148)
The will John Miniard naming Lucinda as �my little daughter� and the marriage report of J.W. Smith and Lucinda
Maynard firmly establishes her identity as Lucinda Maynard, daughter of John Maynard and wife of John Wesley Smith. .
