A petition, of William White, was presented to the House,
and Read in the words following (viz) That on the 24th day of july 1768, your
Petitioner was summoned by George Thompson, Sergeant of the Company of Militia,
to which your Petitioner belongs, to assist him, who was also a Constable, in
serving a warrant of Robert Weaver Esquire for relieving Joseph Holland,
Lieutenant of the said Company of Militia, who was taken and forceable confined
by a number of disorderly People. That he being ready and desirous to show his
affection for the Laws and Liberties of his country, did meet at the place
appointed by said Sergeant, and did on the next day, march under his Command
towards the House where Mr. Holland was confined, near which they were met by a
great number of People of different Colours (viz) Whites, Blacks, and Mulattoes,
who formed two Lines, into which as soon as the Constable and four men had
entered, the rioters immediately surrounded, and knocked them down. That when
this was done, one of the chief of the Rioters, Gideon Gibson, called,
"shoot down Billey White, for I have got Reuben, and if you kill Billey we will
manage the rest easy enough." Your petitioner finding several armed Men
surrounding him, drew his Cutlass, disired them to keep off, and endeavoured
to defend himself, but was soon knocked down. That by his Fathers help, he got
up, and tried to get his Father away, but in a very little time, the latter being
again knocked down, he turned to his assistance, when severa of Guns were
discharged at your Petitioner, a Ball from one of which passed thro the skin of
his Hip, and a second entered the Bone of his right arm, about five Inches above
his Elbow, and going along the said Bone, came out a little below his Elbow,
totally shattered and destroyed the bone of his said arm. That your petitioner
finding himself thus disabled, either to help his Father or himself, endeavoured
to make his Escape, but after running a little way, fainted and fell; after some
time recovering, he found several of the Rioters about him one of which said
"Shoot him thro' the Head at once;" but another replied, "no Damn him he can't
live long, let him feel himself Die." That they carried him into the House, and
threw him on the Floor, where he lay weltering in his own blood; when after
having whipped his Brother and others of the Party whom they had taken, they
permitted your Petitioners Brother to take him away. That your Petitioner by
this Melancholy accident, hath not only lost the use of his right arm, but finds
his Constitution reatly weakened and impaired by the great quantity of Blood
which he lost. That your Petitioner is by Trade a Cooper, and did usually earn
thirty shillings per day, by working at the Trade, by which he was enabled to
support his large Family, consisting of his wife and eight young Children,
besides three poor Orphans, Relatives of his wife, who have not any other Person
to take care of them. But that by loss of his arm, he in not only totally
disabled from working at his Trade, but also in a very great measure to do
anything in the Planting business. Your Petitioner therefore humbly Prays your
Honor to take his Malancholy Case into Consideration, and to grant him the
Annuity allowed by the Militia Act, to such as are maimed and disabled in the
Public Service, or to relieve him in such other Manner, as to your Honors great
Wisdom shall seem meet.
A Petition of James Taylor White was also presented to the House, and Read,
Complaining of his being also Beat and Maimed, by the Riotous Persons
mentioned in the foregoing Petition, and praying that the annuity may also be
allowed to him.
South Carolina Gazette, Aug. 15, 1768
dateline:Charles Town (Charleston) Aug. 15.
... near Marr's Bluff, on Peedee-river .. an armed company of them, headed by
one Gideon Gibson, on the 25th past, near Marr's Bluff, surrounded a
constable and twelve men, who were sent to bring one of the villans before a
Magistrate, and after a short skirmish, where two of the Constable's Party
were mortally wounded, and one shot thro the shoulder, took the Rest Prisoners,
whom he discharged, after ordering them 50 lashes each.
October 24, 1768
If we are to credit the
depositions of George Thompson, William Loving, James White, Stephen Sebastian,
Godfrey Kerfoy, John Holloway, Reuben White, and William White, produced ...
by Robert Weaver, Esq. of Marr's Bluff, the conduct of Gideon Gibson was not
misrepresented in the Paper of the 15th of August, unless by the omission of
some aggravating circumstances.
(the "company of them" referred to were Regulators). GW