I was born in the town of Beaufort, South Carolina on the fifth of November 1804. My father was Charles Jones Colcock and my mother Mary Woodward Colcock whose maiden name was Mary Woodward Hutson.
My father was born 11th August 1771. My father was the son of John Colcock, a lawyer by profession who died at Jacksonboro, South Carolina in the year 1782, leaving a widow Mrs. Milliscent Colcock and four children, two sons and three daughters. Milliscent and Eliza Milnor Charles and Mary died in infancy. My father's mother lived to a great old age. She died on the 25th of April, in the year 1829, at the age of 86. Her mother was a Pinckney and hers was a Cotesworth. After the death of her husband she opened a school in Charleston and was very successful, realizing a handsome competence for the education and support of her family and a comfortable provision for her old age.
My father was sent by his mother to Princeton College at 14 and was graduated there in 1787. The celebrated Dr. Whitherspoon was at that time President of the College. I have found among my father's papers one or two letters written by him to his mother whilst he was at Princeton. The copies of these letters are in the "Appendix" to this volume.
My paternal grandfather John Colcock must have been a lawyer of reputation for he was of council for Col. Isaac Haynes when he was captured and executed by the British. I have found an opinion of his on the legality of the tribunal before which Col. Haynes, it was supposed, would be tried. This opinion is published and I have copied it in the "Appendix." My grandfather's father was named John and commanded a vessel which traded between Charleston and Boston.
Beyond him I know nothing of our paternal ancestors. He left two sons, John (my grandfather) and Job. The latter married a wife Harriet Bradwell and had two children, Job and Susan, both of whom died unmarried and their line became extinct. I remember them both very well. Job died of consumption at my father's house in Prince Williams sometime between 1815 and 1818, and Susan died in Camden, where she was keeping a school about the year 1819.
I have said that my great-grandfather left two sons, John and Job. I never knew that he left any other child for I never heard my father speak of any other, but in the year 1874, I went to My Father the law office of my friend Gen.Wilmont de Sanssuse who is a great antiquarian and he gave me the following information:
Isaac Haynes (the martyr) kept a record of deaths, births, and marriages and from his original Gen. de Sanssuse made a copy from which I made the following extracts.
John Colcock of Charleston married Amelia Jones, November 17th, 1768.
The name Amelia here was a mistake of Col. Haynes and should have been Milliscent.
Francis Clayton married Mary Colcock, November 16th, 1766.
This "Mary Colcock" must have been the sister of my grandfather, and Mr. Clayton, for the reasons I give hereafter, must have been I think a gentleman from Georgia.
Several years ago my son Cornelius was in Savannah and there met the venerable Judge Law who told him that his mother or grandmother was a "Colcock." When Cornelius returned, he mentioned this to me and I could not understand it. This was before I saw the above extract from Col. Haynes' Register and I have now come to the conclusion that this "Mary Colcock" was the lady from whom Judge Law was descended. I intend to make inquiry as to Judge Law's pedigree and if the inquiry confirms my conjecture, I will make a note of it in a subsequent part of this volume. Note: I made inquiry but failed to find an answer.
My father studied law in the office of Ford and De Saussure, the latter of whom became our distinguished "Chancellor De Saussure." My friend Gen. De Saussure, at the same time he showed me his copy of Col.Haynes' Register showed me alone the day dock of Ford and De Saussure from which I made the following extract:
1779, June 8
Mr. Charles Colcock, son of the late Mr. John Colcock, came to study law in our office. Compensation Received.
The year here stated is certainly an error and must has been entered for 1789, for my father's father was married, as Col. Haynes' Register shows in 1768, and my father graduated in 1787. After his admission to the Bar my father settled in Cambridge in Abbeville District. He was elected Solicitor of the Southern Circuit in December 1798, and in December 1811, he was elected Law Judge and remained on the bench until 1830, when his health became feeble and he My Father resigned and was immediately thereafter elected, by our Legislature President of the "Bank of the States" which office he held until his death on the 26th day of January 1839, aged 67 years, five months, and 18 days.
In 1824, tho the Legislature changed our Judicial system and organized a separate Council of Appeals, Appeals to consist of three Judges. All the Judges and Chancellors, ten or twelve in number, resigned at the time and from that number the Legislature elected Judge Abram North, Judge David Johnson and my father "Appeal Judges" and the remaining ones were elected Circuit Judges and Chancellors. See preface to First Wm.Court Chancery Reports for further statements. My aunt Milliscent died between the years 1810 and 1815 unmarried.
My aunt Eliza Milnor married William Cattel Ferguson, after whom I am named. She was early left a widow with two children Martha Q. Haly who married my uncle Richard Woodward Hutson and died a year or two after her marriage leaving one child, the present William Ferguson Hutson. My aunt's other daughter was Eliza, who married Daniel De Suassure Bacot in 1829 and died leaving six children to wit:
Richard W. who married Louisa Cutchbert and died in 185?.
Eliza who married Dr. Thomas Hutson and died in 18[ ] leaving [ ] children.
Milliscent who married my brother Richard W. Colcock and died in 184[ ], leaving four children: Charles, Daniel, Hutson and Henry.
Laura who married A. Frazier Gregorie and is still living. 1877-1902
Jane who died in 185[ ].
Daniel who married a Mike Taylor of Abbeville and died in 185[ ] leaving [ ] children.
My aunt Eliza above married was born April 17th 1775, died Nov. 18th 1842 aged 67 years and seven months, nearly the exact age of my father.
My Mother My mother was born November 23, 1774. As a have previously said my mother's name was Mary Woodward Hutson. She was born at Cedar Grove in Prince William's Parish on the 23rd of November 1774. Her parents were Thomas Hutson and Esther whose maiden name was Esther Maine. Her paternal grandfather was Rev. William Hutson (1) a sketch of whose life may be seen in Dr. Howe's "History of the Presbyterian Church in S. Carolina." As that book may not be accessible to the readers of this biography I will here repeat much of what is there said.
The Rev. William Hutson emigrated from England in the year 1740 and finally settled in Prince William's Parish and became the Pastor of the "Congregational" church at Stoney Creek. He was twice married, first to the widow "Chardon"[?] who was a ??? Woodward and whose mother was a Sta???? and next to the widow Mary Bryan, Oct. 11 1758, by whom he had no children. She died July 1760 of Small Pox. By the widow "Chardon" he had two sons, Thomas and Richard and four daughters to wit Ann, Esther,Elizabeth and Mary.
He was called from Stoney Creek Church to the "???" Church in Charleston. At that time he was residing at Cedar Grove which property he acquired by his marriage with the widow Bryan and which was the family residence of some branch of the Hutson family until burnt by U.S. troops in 1865.
He died whilst in charge of the ???? Church in the year 1861 and was buried in the church yard of that church where his grave may still be seen with an inscription in Latin written by his son Richard "the Chancellor" of whom I will speak hereafter. See Appendix for this inscription.
I have said that the Rev. William Hutson first married the widow Chardon. This lady must have been a woman of much talent and exceedingly impressionable feelings. During Whitfield's visit to this country in the year 17[ ] she became extremely exercised on the subject of her spiritual condition and after many bitter conflicts she became a subject of divine grace and a warm ardentand enthusiastic Christian. We have some memorials of her still in the family, one in print and the other in manuscript. The first is a collection of letters in a little volume entitled "Living Christianity." These letters were written by Mrs. Hutson and others to friends in England. The manuscript is a diary copied exclusively to a narration of her religious experiences. She mentioned in one place that her husband went to England on a visit in 175[ ].
I well remember when I was a little boy about eight or nine years of age my mother used to send me and my brothers Charles and Richard every Sunday upstairs to our chamber to read "Living Christianity" understanding very little of it . I thought it extremely dry reading. The first letter in the book was addressed to Mrs. Hugh Bryan and my brother Richard, who was about seven or eight years old, would lean back in his chair against the bed and commence in solemn tones the announcement "Letters from Mrs. Huge Bryan to Mrs. Berg."
I had a copy of the little volume in my library until a recent period but regret that I have lost it. My mother died in Charleston on the 25th day of November 1851 aged 77 years and 2 days.
Dr. Ramsay in his "History of S.C." says of Rev
William Hutson:
He was an eloquent preacher, an exemplary Christian and an
accomplished gentleman"
Mr. Simpson who wrote a book on South Carolina says of him:
" He has left few such behind him in this Province."
My mother's father, Thomas Hudson [was] born Jan. 9th 1750.
The Rev. William Hutson left, as I have said before, six children,
two sons Richard and Thomas and four daughters Anne, Mary, Elizabeth,
and Esther. Richard Hudson pursued the study of Law and became
one of the first three Chancellors elected by the Legislature
of South Carolina. Chancellor De Saussure in the 1st Volume of
his Equity Report page 107 says:
The first sitting of the Count of Chancery elected by the act
of the Legislature of the ?? day of March 1784 was held at Charleston
on the 14th day of June 1784 and was continued for several days
successively. There were present the three judges who had been
then recently elected by the Legislature: John Rutledge, Richard
Hutson, and John Mathews. Chancellor Hutson never married. He
was possessed of a handsome fortune most of which he lost during
the Revolutionary War. He had large quantities of Constitutional
money. In my youth I have seen much of this money in the possession
of my uncle William Maine Hutson at Cedar Grove. He was a member
of Congress in March 1778 before the adoption of the Constitution.
See Volume 12, "Writings of Washington" page 425. He
was also President of the City of Charleston in the year 1783.
See Appendix for some of his letters.
The daughters of the Rev. William Hutson above named married as follows:
Ann married Gen. John Barnwell
Mary married Arthur Persouneau
Eliza married Isaac Hayes "The Martyr"
Esther married William Haggard Wigg. The other son Thomas , my brother's father, married as I have previously stated Esther Maine, the daughter of James Maine who reside at "Jericho" in Prince William's Parish which place is still in the possession of the family of my mother's brother Richard Hutson, deceased 1877. Thomas Hutson above named, my grandfather died on May 12 1759 at the early age of 39. He left three sons and two daughters: William, Thomas, Richard, Mary my mother and Hetty who married Alexander Fraser Gregorie (2). He must have been, tho[sic] so young, a man of high character, intelligence and influence. He was intrusted with several important public duties at a time of great interest. He was Colonel of a Regiment of State troops appointed by Gov. Mathews to drive out a band of outlaws from their fast hold in Savannah River and was also appointed one of the Commissioners to run the boundary line between Georgia and South Carolina. The family lived at "Cedar Grove" and when a boy I have heard my grandmother (his widow) say that on one occasion the British approached their residence and suddenly that she had barely time to bundle up the children and put them in the chaise to get out of the way of the enemy. In the hurry of the moment tho[sic] youngest child Richard was forgotten and left upstairs for a while before they remembered him and brought him down.
My Maternal Uncles
My grandfather Thomas Hutson as I have said left three sons: William, Thomas and Richard.
William married Martha Hay of Heaverstram,
New York whilst she was on a visit to South Carolina. He was elected
Sheriff of Beaufort District in the year 1808 and subsequently
1812 he was elected "Ordinary" which last office he
held to the time of his death. He died in 1835 at Cedar Grove
in the 58th year of his age leaving his widow and eight children,
five daughters and three sons:
Hetty, Jane, Mary, Ann and Maria..
.Thomas, William and Isaac.
Jane married Dr. Louis De Saussure and is still living 1877.
Maria married William S. Townsend and died in 1840.
Thomas married first Martha Hay and next Eliza Bacot and died 1878, May 27.
William married Mary
Isaac married Sarah Palmer
The second son of my grandfather Thomas was sent to Princeton College and graduated there in the year 18[ ]. He returned home and studied Law in the office of Ford and De Saussure in Charleston. He was admitted to the Bar I believe and about that time he unfortunately became involved in a difficulty with a young man named Archibald Smith which resulted in a duel and the death of both parties at the early age of about 22 or 23 in the year Sept. 15, 1807.
We have the manuscript of an oration delivered by him on 4th July, 1807 in Beaufort. Consider. Shall I insert here the particulars of my uncle's death? and duel.
My grandfather's third son Richard graduated in 1809 at the South Carolina college in the class with James L. Petigru, William J. Grayson and others. He became a planter in Prince Williams Parish and married in June 2nd 1814 Martha O'Redy Ferguson (my first cousin), who died in 1816, leaving one child William Ferguson Hutson, now living 1877. He married again in (April 12th) 1832, Sarah McLeod and died in Orangeburg on the 8th of May 1866 aged 1877. He had by his last marriage four sons and two daughters: Woodward who died in 1857, July 3rd. Charles Jones Colcock, who married my daughter Theodora, McLeod and Marion, Hetty and Martha.
1. Richard Woodward ,born Aug. 1st 183?
2. Hetty Elizabeth,Feb. 1st 1833
3. Martha Ferguson,Nov. 29th 1834
4. McLeod,Oct. 20th 1839
5. Charles Jones Colcock,Feb. 11th 1842
6. Marion Martin,July 31th 1844
My Father and Mother
My parents were married at Cedar Grove on the day of [ ] 179[ ]. Soon after their marriage they went to my father's home Cambridge, Abbeville District and whilst residing there had two children, a daughter named Mary who died in infancy and a son named Thomas Hutson, my eldest brother.
They removed from Cambridge in the year 1799 and came to reside in Beaufort District. Their first home was "Bindon"[?] now known as the property of the Martin family where their third child John was born, on the 6th of March, 1799. They then removed to "Gardens Corner" where my father purchased a plantation and resided in the Winter and in Beaufort in the Summer. Their next children Charles, myself and my brother Richard were all born in Beaufort. In 1813 my father, having sold his "Gardens Corner" place, purchased a plantation in the upper part of Prince William's Parish from Robert Reid which he named "Experiment." To this place he removed his family in December 1813. As I have previously stated my father was elected to the Law bench in December 1811.
"Experiment" was situated in a remote corner of the District and our neighbors were poor uneducated people. There being no schools in the neighborhood my father engaged private tutors for us. The first was named John Gates Creagh (pronounced Crayer) and graduated at South Carolina College in 1813, taking the second honor and and George McDuffie the first. He came to us in January 1814. Our next tutor was Elijah Gilbert who came to us in 1816 immediately after Mr. Creagh left us. He also graduated at the South Carolina College in 1815 taking the first honor. He left us at the end of 1817. Both these gentlemen studied Law under my father whilst residing with him. Mr. Gilbert was a cousin of the same Louis Petigru, the distinguished jurist whose mother was a "Gilbert."
After 1817 we had no regular private tutor as the school began to disperse. My eldest brother Thomas was never a scholar of Mesrs. Creagh and Gilbert. He went to the South Carolina College in the year 1814, but after rising to the Senior class he left before graduating. My brother John left home in 1817 or 1818 and went to Charleston and entered the counting house of David Lamb and Co.. My brother Charles went to the South Carolina College in 1818 and graduated in December 1819, with a very brilliant class taking a third honor. Some of his classmates were My Mother and Father Continued G.C. ???, Thomas H.Taylor afterward Vicar of Grace Church, New York, Franklin H.Elmore , John Campbell, William R.Clowney. The last three became Members of Congress. My brother Thomas kept school for my brother Richard and myself during the year 1818 and in 1819 we went to Charleston and attended the school of Martin Luther Hurlburt. For more particular information of my brothers see subsequent chapters.
My father continued to reside at Experiment until 1824 and then removed to a place called "Good Hope" in the upper part of Prince Williams Parish and reside there the most of his time until December 1830 when he was elected President of the "Bank of the State of South Carolina." He then removed to Charleston and resided there until his death as I have before stated. He is buried in "St. Peters" church yard.
My mother survived him 12 years residing with my brother John in Charleston. She died on the 25th day of November 1851 aged 77 years and was buried beside my father. My Brothers.
My eldest brother Thomas was born, as I have said before, at Cambridge, Abbeville District on the 10th day of August 1797. He was sent when quite young to the school of the celebrated Dr. Waddell at Wellington, Abbeville District and after learning there he was sent to college as before stated. He studied Law in the office of the Hon. J.S. Richardson, subsequently one of our Law judges. After his admission to the bar he settled in Barnwell District but did not pursue his profession very long. On the [ ] day of [ ] 1819, he married Eliza Mary Hay and took up his residence in Prince Williams Parish where he lived all the rest of his life. He had 8 or 10 children by his first wife, several of whom died in infancy or childhood. Those who grew up were:
1. Charles Jones, Now living 1877, Died 27th Oct. 1891
2. William Hutson Died 183[]
3. Richard Hutson Now living 1877 Died Sept. 1901
4. Samuel Hay Now living 1877 Died July 1889
5. Thomas Hutson Died June 29th 1900
6. Hetty [?] Hutson Died July 25th 1893
My brother's first wife died 184[ ] and in 184[ ], he married Agnus Wilkie and by this marriage he had four children to wit:
1. Joseph Now living 1877
2. William
3. Dunwoody
4. Eliza Died 18?7
He died on [ ] day of [ ] 1851, and is buried at Stoney
Creek Church. My second brother John, born March 6, 1799,
also went to school to Dr. Waddell. He never went to college but
as I have said before he entered the counting house of David Lamb
and Co. and remained in Charleston until 182[ ] when he returned
to the country and on the 10th day of Jan. 1828, married Anna
McLeod and settled as a planter at "Inverness" near
Pocataligo. In 183[ ] he gave up planting and returned to Charleston
and entered into business as a factor and continued to live there
until the time of his death on the 24th day of June 1872, aged
73 years, except a short time during the War when he went as a
refugee to Limestone Springs, Spartenburg District. By his marriage
with wife McLeod he had four daughters:
1. Millicent Jones born at Bindon, 6th Nov., 1828 2.
Eliza Mary McPhersonville, 10th June, 1830 3. Martha
McLeod Inverness, 30th Jan., 1833 4. Mary Hutson Bindon,
14th Jan., 1835. Died at McPhersonville, 12th August, 1835
My forth brother Richard was born in Beaufort on the 6th day of June 1806. He went to West Point in 1822 and graduated on 1st July 1826. He was commissioned 2nd Lieut. 3rd Regt. Infantry 15th Feb. 1828, and 1st Lieut. In same Regt. July 1836. He remained in the army until 184? when he resigned. In 184[ ], he was elected by the Legislature Superintendent of Public Works and after the expiration of his term of office he studied Law with me and was admitted to the Bar 184[ ]. On the day of [ ] 184[ ], he married Millicent L.Bacot. On the [ ] day of [ ] 184[], he was elected "Superintendent of the Military Academy" in Charleston and held that office until 185?, when he resigned. In 185[ ], I being the Collector of the Port of Charleston, nominated him to the office of Weights in the Custom's House and he was appointed by Mr. Guthrie, the Secretary of the Treasury. He held that office until the time of his death which occurred on the [ ] day of [ ] 185[ ]. His wife died August 14, in the year 1851 and he never married again. He left the following children now alive (1877) and residing in New Orleans:
1. Charles Jones married Margaret Stuart 2. Daniel De Saussure Bacot Married 1st Augusta ???? 2nd Martha ???? 3. Richard Hutson Married Agnes Stockton My third brother Charles was born on the March day of [ ] 1802. After leaving college he studied Law in the office of Robert G. Haynes, but before his admission to the Bar he died at "Experiment" on the [ ] day of June 1822. He was coming up from Charleston in the month of June to spend the Summer with my father when the carriage broke down and in exerting himself to repair it he became very much heated and soon after was attacked with bilious fever of which he died after a short illness. I was then in college and on my return home for the Summer vacation and found him on his sickbed and he survived but a few days. This was the first sorrow of my life.
Myself As I have previously said, I was born in Beaufort on the 5th November 1804. I was sent to school when I must have been about 3 or 5 years old to an old lady named Mrs Knapp. I was so young that I was allowed to play about the room and I remember having a school mate named Rebbeca Robinson. I could not pronounce her name distinctly and I used to sit on the floor and pulling off my shoes I would call to her and say " Come Cubbecca let's clean shoes". From Mrs. Knapp I was sent to another old lady named Mrs. Woodhouse who had quite a large school. From Mrs. Woodhouse I went to the school of Martin Luther Hurlburt and commenced the Latin Grammars with him in a class with William H. Barnwell. Mr. Hurlburt had as an assistant James L. Petigru I remained at this school until Dec. 1813, when my father removed to "Experiment", where I went to school as I have previously said to Mr. Creagh and Mr. Gilbert in the years '14, '15, '16, '17.
I next went to Charleston to the school of my former Beaufort teacher Mr. Hurlburt. From his school I went in Jan. 1821 to the South Carolina College and entered the Sophomore Class. I graduated in 1823, in a small class of ten or twelve taking the first honor. In my class were among others, Theodore G. Hunt in after life a member of Congress from La., James Hudson, who became a distinguished teacher in Winsboro, George ??ish for many years Probate Judge for Charleston County and Franklin J Moses, State Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina.
After graduating I returned home and commenced the study of Law with my father in 1824, and entered the office of Col. William Martin, subsequently one of our Law judges, in 1825, and was admitted to the Bar in November of that year and settled in Coosawhatchie. My father purchased for me a small library from Mr. Charles Trasen and also a horse and sulky. He paid my board for two months with my landlord Mr. Aaron P. Smith and then cutting loose my moorings he told me he could do no more for me and I must commence the voyage of life without further assistance from him.
In the year 1826, Gen. La Fayette visited the U.S. and I went to Beaufort to meet him. He arrived at midnight having been detained at Edisto. This stay was very short as he was due in Savannah the next day. He was escorted by Gov. Manning and his aide and was accompanied by his son George Washington who was quite an ordinary looking man. The General was a large portly personage apparently heavy and dull but it was hard to form a just estimate of him as his stay was very brief and he was much fatigued. I shook hands with him with the rest of the crowd, a much cruel infliction.
I spent my Winter in Coosawhatchie and my Summer in Gillisonville until 1829. In December 1824 I went to Columbia and at that time my brother Thomas was elected Tax Collector of Prince Williams Parish by the Legislature. The law required the Collector to give a Bond with securities who were to be approved of by Commissioners appointed for that purpose by the Legislature. At this period the Commissioners were Gen. John A. Cuthbert, Col. James E. McPherson, Maj. John S. ???, and Capt. Abram Huguenin. My brother requested me to take his bond to three gentlemen for approval. Accordingly I came down from Good Hope and I saw Gen. Cuthbert and Col. McPherson both of whom resided in Pocataligo and then went on to Coosawhatchie and never having been to Capt. Huguenin's I procured a diagram of the road and went over to his residence. On arriving there I knocked at the door and a gentleman came out and after saluting me said " You have the advantage of me sir" Replied my name is Colcock. He said "A son of Judge Colcock I presume" and invited me to walk in. Soon after dinner was announced, and a young man, whom I had never seen before and who apparently had been sick, came in and joined us. This proved to be Julius Huguenin and he returned to his chamber after dinner. Not long after a carriage drove to the door and two ladies came into the parlor, having to pass through that room in order to enter their chambers. We rose from our seats when the Captain introduced them to me as Mrs. Huguenin his wife and Miss Sarah Huguenin his daughter. The bond being approved I left Capt. Huguenin's residence and went back to Cedar Grove. Subsequently, when I came to Coosawhatchie to enter Col. Martin's office I visited Capt. Huguenin's house by invitation and during the ensuing Summers of 1825 I came to Col. Martin's office in Gillisonville and remained with him until the fall. During that time I again visited the Huguenin family and in this way became permanently acquainted with them.
In the Spring of 1828, I paid my addresses to Sarah Huguenin and became engaged to her. On the 22nd, Jan. 1829 we were married at "Roseland", the Winter residence of her father, by the Rev. Thomas J. Young. She was born on the 4th of December 1808, and was therefore a little over 20 when we were married. We paid one visit after our marriage to my brother at "Good Hope" in May, and one visit to her aunt Mrs. Beck in March. In June the family removed to Gillisonville and in a few weeks my dear wife was taken sick with bilious fever and died on the 1st of July, a little more than five months after our marriage!!!
This was my second bitter lesson in the lessons of life!!
At the earnest invitation of Capt. and Mrs. Huguenin and continued
to reside with them and was treated with the affection of my own
parents. I remained with them until 1836 when I left them as I
will restate hereafter.
In 183? I was elected a member of the Legislature from St.
Luke's Parish and was elected continuously from that Parish until
1838 when I removed to Prince Williams as will be seen later.
I here introduce my second wife Emmeline L.Huguenin. She was born on the 20th of September 1819, and was only a little more than 9 years old when her sister Sarah died. She grew up under my eye and in 1837 I addressed her, having first asked her father's consent, which was very graciously given, but Mrs.Huguenin was opposed to our marriage. In the Summer of 1837, I went to the Virginia Springs with my father and brother. I left them there and went on North as far as Quebec in Canada. I returned home by way of Washington. Congress was in "extra" session and what was known at that time as the "Sub Treasury" was in full debate and advocated by Mr. Calhoun. I attended both houses, but remained only a few days. Mr. Van Buran was the President but I did not see him. On my return I visited the Huguenin Family at their Summer residence called "Woodland" to which place they removed in that year from Gillisonville which had been their Summer home for many years. I was kindly received by all the family but soon found that Mrs. Huguenin continued in the "opposition". In the Winter of 1838, Capt. Huguenin took a house in Charleston and Mrs. H with Emmeline and little Julia, a daughter of Julius' sent to spent the Winter there. Emmeline was constant to me but finding at last that her mother would not yield I proposed to her to run away with me and she consented provide I would immediately take her out of the city. On the evening of the 26th of March 1838 she went to the theater in company with her brother Cornelius and his wife. I met her there with my father's carriage having previously sent a hired carriage and horse to wait for us at my father's farm near the race courses. As soon as Cornelius and his wife got out of their carriage they ascended the steps of the theater which were very much crowded. I handed Emmeline out and hurried her quickly to my carriage and we were not seen by the others until they got to the box office at the door of the theater, as I afterward learned. We drove immediately to the house of Sarah E. Mitchell, an intimate friend of my parents, at the corner of Corning and Sealhouse Sts. . My father and the Rev. Jasper Adams, President of the Charleston College was waiting there for us. The ceremony was immediately performed. My wife had no hat and I dispatched my nephew Charles down King Street and he soon returned with an untrimmed plain straw bonnet. We then got into our carriage and proceeded to the farm where we took the hired carriage and horses and set out for Col. James Fergusons place on Cooper River called Dockon about 20 miles from Charleston. On our return we learned that Mrs.Huguenin and Cornelius came to my father's farm in search of us only a few moments after we left. Mrs.H sent a courier up to Roseland to inform Capt. H of our marriage. He came immediately down and took the rest of his household into the country and they were all gone when we came back from Col. Ferguson's and Emmeline's wardrobe had been sent to my father's house.
The day after we returned I was called on by Mrs. Thomas ??? as the friend of a young man, Keating Simmons who had been paying his addresses to Emmeline for some time. I knew of his intentions and was desirous of informing him of my engagement to her but I was surrounded by so many difficulties that I could not do so without imperiling my own interest. He addressed me a note by Mrs. ??? demanding an explanation of my conduct. I replied to him saying that while I was always ready to explain my conduct to those who had a right to demand an explanation of me, I did not admit his right to do so and therefore refused his demand. He wrote me a second note to which I replied that as I was satisfied it was his purpose to start a quarrel with me I declined any further correspondence with him. He then challenged me and a day was appointed for our meeting. Meanwhile, our friends becoming aware of what was going on interposed and through their mediation the challenge was withdrawn and I was invited to meet these gentlemen and state my case to them. I did so and they decided that Mr. Simmons had no right to challenge me and our quarrel was made of in a manner satisfactory to all parties. Among the gentlemen I remember Col. James Ferguson as one of my friends and Maj. Henry Rutledge of Tennessee as one of Mr. Simmons' friends. I recollect that Major Rutledge saying that Simmons had called on him for advice and that he had told him that it was very probable that the young people had good reason for keeping this engagement secret. Col. John S. Ashen acted as my friend during my correspondence with Simmons, but he signified his purpose not to act for me or the field for satisfactory reasons and engaged Capt. Richard Pinckney , U.S.Navy, as my second, but as stated above our meeting did not take place. I never met Mr.Simmons afterwards except once in after years, but we never spoke to each other again. He died several years ago.
We were married as I have said in March. As our Court was to sit in April I came up with my wife to my uncle Richard Hutson's residence "Jericho" and went from there to Coosawhatchie and attended to my business. I had before leaving Charleston by my father's advice, written to Emmeline's parents, a letter which I intended to be an opening for a reconciliation but it was returned to me without an answer. I met Capt. H and his sons Julius and Cornelius at Court, but nothing passed between us. After the adjournment out of court, I went with my wife and father and brother, who had come up from Charleston, to my plantation "Good Hope" which I had bought from my father in 1830 and near which my brother Thomas and his family resided. After spending a short time there , during which the great fire occurred in Charleston, I took my wife to that city and leaving her there went on to Columbia to attend an extra-session of the Legislature called by the Governor to rebuild Charleston. This was in May 1838. In June we came up to McPhersonville to spend the Summer with my brother Thomas. In the month of August, little Julia Huguenin, the daughter of Julius, became ill, and my wife went to "Woodland", her father's Summer residence, to see her. This was the first time Emmeline had met her father since the marriage, though she had met her mother several times at a friend's house. Her father was very much affected at meeting her, so much so that he fainted. The little girl died soon after, 26th August at Woodland. She was a most lovely and interesting child and extremely intelligent about ten years old. I loved her very much having lived many years in the house with her and she was much attached to me. Her mother was Theodora Gaillard and dies in Gillisonville in 1831. My daughter "Theodora" is named after her. After the death of little Julia I was invited by my wife's parents to visit them and I went with my wife to Woodland. Capt.Huguenin was not well. He was suffering with erysipelas on his hands carried by poison-oak and his hands were bandaged and he could not therefore shake hands with me. He soon retired to his chamber being in much pain. The next day he did not come out and did not want me to go in and see him. The following day I had to return to McPhersonville and left my wife with her parents not having seen her father again after my first arrival. I was not satisfied with my reception by Capt. H and felt that he was not yet prepared for such a reconciliation as I desired and I determined not to visit him again until I thought his heart was entirely open to receive me.
In the fall of 1838 my brother Thomas and his family returned from McPhersonville to their plantation and I went with my wife to "Inverness" a place near Pocataligo, which I subsequently bought from Col. James Cuthbert. We spent the Winter there and the ensuing Summer 1839 in McPhersonville by ourselves, my brother having gone to Orangeburg District where he and I had taken a contract on what was then known as the "Charleston and Cincinnati Rail Road". Mrs. Huguenin visited us during this Summer and Cornelius went several times to Woodland but I did not accompany her. In the Fall of 1839 we returned to "Inverness" and soon after Emmeline became very sick. Her mother visited her and her sickness continuing her father visited me, this Mrs. H to take her to Roseland. I accordingly did so in November and was cordially received by Capt. H.. Doctors Scresen and Strobhart were called in to attend Emmeline. After a while she improved and I left her to attend the Legislature. On my return I found her better and in January 1840, we went back to our home at "Inverness". She got quite well and I having to go to Charleston to attend the Court of Appeals, she went to her father's. Whilst I was away my wife was confined on the 3rd of February with our son Edgar Huguenin. I immediately came up from Charleston and found my wife very ill and and the baby not expected to live, but by the careful ??? nursing of his Grandmother and others he survived. After a month or two we returned with our boy to Inverness and the next Summer we spent in Grahamville. In 1841, we spent our Winter at Inverness and our Summers again at Grahamville. In December 1841, I was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives and was re-elected until 1847.
On the 20th of July 1841 my daughter Emmeline Sarah at Woodland was born.
In 1842, we spent the Winter again at Inverness and the Summer in McPhersonville with our two children, "Hue" and Emmeline, whom we always called "Sisy"(sic). My brother Richard spent the Summer with us. He studied Law with me and was admitted to the bar on December 1842, and I took him on to co-partnership with me in the practice of Law and he remained with me until he was elected Superintendent of the State Military Academy as mentioned before.
We spent the Winter of 1843 at Inverness and on the 3rd of April in that year my son William Ferguson was born at Roseland, the residence of his grandfather.
I have omitted to state that in December 1841 I was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives to which office I was continually elected until 1847 after which time I retired from the Legislature and went to Congress as will be hereafter more fully stated.
In this year 1843, Captain Huguenin purchased for us from Col.John Glover a Summer residence afterwards known as "Gopher Hill" where we subsequently spent our Summers and never returned to Prince Williams except in Winter.
In 1844, we spent our Winter at Inverness and our Summer as I have just said at "Gopher Hill".
On the 4th day of January 1845, my son Cornelius Julius was born at "Roseland". We spent the Winter of that year at Inverness and Summer at "Gopher Hill".
In April 1846, Capt. Huguenin died at Roseland on the 11th day of the month in the 68th year of his age. This estate was divided on January 1847, and the "Ocean Plantation" was allotted to my wife as her portion of the real estate. Her portion of all her father's property was valued at $60,000. In that year I sold "Inverness" to Cornelius Huguenin.
On the 13th day of February 1847, my daughter Mary Anna was born at "Gopher Hill" which became our permanent residence.
In October 1848, I was elected to Congress without opposition succeeding R. Barnwell Rhett. I took possession of the "Ocean Plantation" in January 1847 and planted there in that year and in 1848. On my election to Congress I determined to take my family to Washington and reside there. I therefore leased all my lands and Negroes to Cornelius Huguenin for the term of six years at $6000 per annum.
On the 20th day of April 1849, my daughter Theodora Octavia was born at "Gopher Hill" and in December of that year I went to Washington with all of my family. At that time members of Congress were elected one year before they took their seats.
It was my purpose as I have said to reside in Washington but the condition of our political affaires becoming so disturbed I determined to return home. This was the Session at which California was admitted and at which the seed was sown which germinated ten years afterward in our civil war.
I returned to South Carolina in October 1850, and was re-elected. I left my family at home and returned to Washington alone in December and remained until the 3rd of March ensuring this being the Short Session.
In May 1851, a voluntary state convention assembled in Charleston where the questions of "separate state action" and "co-operation" arose and divided our citizens. At this Convention these questions were discussed. I spoke and advocated separate action. My speech was published and a copy of it may be found in the Appendix, hereto. The other members of Congress present at this Convention, Judge Butler of Barnwell and Mr.Orr, opposed this measure and advocated co-operation. The Convention was largely in favor of separate state action, but the people when subsequently assembled in "Constitutional Convention" rejected this mode of resistance as premature.
On the 25th of August 1851, my son Henry Hay was born at "Gopher Hill". In December 1851, I returned to Washington leaving my family with my brother John for the Winter. We spent the Summer of 1852 at "Gopher Hill". I returned to Washington in December of that year and Mr. Pierce having been elected President of U.S. and the Democratic party coming into power I determined to apply for the office of Collector of the Port of Charleston as I desired to be with my family and could not carry them to Washington.
The election for members of Congress had been postponed from October 1852 to January 1853 , as a new apportionment of the Representatives had to be made under the new census. At his time I was again re-elected without opposition as I had been at my two previous elections in '48 and '50. Mr. William S.Grayson was at this time Collector of the Port and had been a member of Congress from my District. He was an original ??? but he had joined the Whig party and turned Henry L.Pinckney out of the office of Collector. Mr.Grayson supported Gen. Scott for President and wrote several articles in the Whig paper published in Charleston. I felt no hesitation under the circumstances in opposing him altho[sic] our personal relations had been for many years cordial and intimate. Accordingly, as soon as Mr.Pierce was inaugurated I put in my application for this office and was nominated by Mr.Pierce and confirmed by the Senate. No other applicant was in the field. In April I took possession of the office and Mr.Grayson gracefully retired.
On the 25th of May 1853, my son Franklin Pierce was born in Charleston, No. 93 Tradd Street in the Perrouneau House which I had rented. In the Fall of that year we removed to Mr. Daniel Reynard's house on the Battery and resided there until April 1854, when we removed to the "Ravenel" house on Short Street. My wife's mother Mrs. Anna Maria Huguenin came to live with us whilst we occupied the "Perrouneau" house and died in the [ ] day of January 1854, at the "Hayward" house. She left a will by which she gave the bulk of her property to my wife and children. Her will was drawn by Mr. Petigru and contained a clause reciting that as a "mark of esteem and affection for me" she gave me a legacy of $2000. In her last days she leaned almost entirely upon me and it was a great comfort to me to have it in my power to bestow upon her the attentions of a son. My wife and I accompanied her remains in the steamboat to Boyd's landing where we met her son's Julius and Cornelius. I left my wife with them and returned to Charleston to our children.
In the Summer of this year 1854, we removed to Sullivan's Island in consequence of the yellow fever, but were driven from there in September by the memorable gale of that month and came into the country to our residence at Woodland. I left my family there and returned to Sullivan's Island where I remained until the Winter when I brought my family back to the city. In 1855, we removed to the "Petigru" house at the corner of Bull and Rutledge Sts. In this house my son Marion Woodward was born on the 18th of March 1856. The Yellow Fever began again appearing in the city we removed to Sullivan's Island and spent the Summer there.
In 1857, we removed to the "Corbett" house at the corner of Bull and Lynch Sts. My brother Richard having previously died I took his son Daniel De Saussure to reside with us. His sons Charles and Hutson were taken by my brother John and his (John's) daughter Eliza, and his son Harry by my uncle and aunt, Richard and Sarah Hutson. Harry died on the [ ] day of [ ]. In 1858, the fever again broke out in the city and we removed to Sullivan's Island with all our children except"Hue" who was at Cedar Springs, Spartanburg District at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum and Emmeline who went to the North with her aunt Mrs. Adelaide Huguenin.
In August of that year my dear son "Hue" was attacked with typhoid fever at the Academy and died on the 20th day of that month aged 18 years 6 months and 17 days. August 20th 1858!!
He died just before the birth of my daughter Adelaide and being unable to leave my wife, my nephew, Richard H.Colcock, kindly went to Cedar Springs and brought his remains down to Charleston in company with his faithful friend and servant Laurence. I had sent him to Cedar Springs to be educated as a mute for altho his learning was perfect his speech was very defective. He is buried at Stoney Creek.
In the 3rd day of September 1858, my daughter Adelaide Huguenin was born on Sullivan's Island. The dreadful pestilence followed us to the Island and my daughter Mary Anna and my wife's niece Anna Huguenin were both attacked but recovered. A servant named "Aleck" belonging to Mrs. Huguenin was next taken and died in a few days and then came the awful tragedy of my life. My beloved wife was taken sick in the last week of October with the fever and died on the 2nd of Nov.
My wife had been for many years a member of the Episcopal Church and her death afforded a bright manifestation of the blessedness of that religion which she had long professed. She was perfectly aware from the first of the seriousness of her sickness and said to me "For your sake and the children's I wish that God would spare me, but I don't think he will as I feel that this will be my last illness". She asked us to send for a clergyman to see her and we sent for the Rev. Edward Walker. He came and after conversing with her he administered the sacraments to her. She joined in singing several hymns though her voice was very feeble. We asked her what message she had for her daughter Emmeline and she replied "Tell her to meet me in Heaven". Her infant (Adelaide) was lying at her feet on the bed and turning her eyes towards her she said, "Look at my darling, she has not yet been brought into the church". I asked her "Would you wish her baptized now?" She said "Yes" and Mr. Walker returned to the room and performed the rite. Almost her last words were "Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing". Mr Walker said he never witnessed a more triumphant death, and that he esteemed it a privilege to be present at the occasion.
I left my younger children and taking William and Cornelius with me I brought her remains by water to Boyd's landing where her brother Julius and his sons met us and we went on to Roseland. The next day we carried her to Stoney Creek church where the Rev. Edward Palmer performed her funeral services as he had done a little more than two months before for our dear son Huguenin.
I returned to Charleston and in a few days moved my family back to the city to the "Corbett" house. I communicated to my dear daughter Emmeline who was then in Philadelphia the sorrowful tidings of her beloved mother's death and soon after she returned home and took charge of her brothers and sisters. Both her brother and mother having died during her absence she was overwhelmed with affliction, but our merciful Father supported her in her trials and enabled her to perform her responsible duties faithfully and efficiently.
We continued to reside in the "Corbett" house in 1859, '60, and '61. In the Fall of '60, Emmeline became engaged to my cousin Charles J. C. Hutson. In September 1861, she was taken sick with typhoid fever and died on the 8th day of that month aged 20 years, 1 month, and 18 days.
September 8th, 1861!! I now could truly say Insatiate Arches Could not one suffice? Thrice flew thy dart And thrice my peace was slain.
For these years my peerless daughter had nobly shared with me the cares of my household. When her mother died she was a little more than seventeen years old and I was then left with 9 children between that age and two months! I was now left with eight children between the ages of 18 and 3 years. In December 1860, the state seceded. As the people of Charleston thought the Legislature was slow in calling a Convention for this purpose, they determined to send a Committee to Columbia to hasten their proceedings. Accordingly, Judge Magrath, Mr. Comer, and I were sent to Columbia as the committee but when we were arrived we found that the Legislatures had decided to make a call for a Convention and we had nothing left for us to do but to make speeches to a large and enthusiastic popular meeting.
The events which followed the Secession of South Carolina have gone into history and are known to all. I therefore confine myself to a narrative of my domestic affairs.
In the Spring of 1862, I removed my family from Charleston to Limestone Springs. My brother John and my nephew Richard Colcock removed their families there also at the same time. We occupied a large building which had been used as a hotel in former times and which afforded us very ample and comfortable accommodations for our families and servants. We numbered in all between 40 and 50. My brother and I returned to Charleston to attend our business there and occupied his house on Orange St. until we were shelled out in 1863. The Customs house being within range of the enemy's fire I removed my office to the upper part of the city and subsequently to Columbia as there was not much business doing. In 1864 my brother and I took up our residence at "Limestone". I came down occasionally to Columbia. The War ended in the Spring of 1865 and our boys all returned and joined us at "Limestone". Our families made a large contribution to the Confederate Army. The following are those who served.
1. William T. Colcock Jr.
2. Cornelius J.
3. Daniel D.
4. Col. Charles Jones
5. Capt. Richard H
6. Adjt Thomas H
7. John Jr.
8. Thomas
9. Charles Jones
In addition to the foregoing before the War ended my brother Thomas' sons by his second marriage, Joseph and William also entered the service making in all eleven Colcocks of whom only one was wounded, bravely my nephew Charles, son of Richard, who lost his left hand at the battle of Gettysburg.
In December 1865, I removed from Limestone Springs with my family to Charleston and occupied the "Doar" house at the corner of Bell and Pitt Sts. during the year 1866.
I removed all my Negroes in the year 1863 to a plantation in Charleston District, which I rented from Mr. De Graffenreid. Mr. Charles Brunson was my overseer and we made abundant crops of provisions in 63, 64, and 65 and and as much cotton as the law allowed us to plant which was only one acre to the hand. We received at Limestone supplies from this plantation and lived very comfortably during the whole of our sojourn at that place. Dr. William Curtis was the Principal of the Limestone Academy and my children went to school there.
The Doctor and his family proved excellent friends to me and I will always remember them with gratitude.
In December 1866, I removed my family from Charleston to the "Ocean Plantation", where I have resided until the present time 1877. I have never lived at one place continuously as long as I have done here, eleven years.
In the year 1866, my son William planted a crop here, with the assistance of Mr. John Martin, the husband of my niece Patty. The plantation was in ruins. Every building had been burned except one corn house and one or two Negro houses. Willie and Mr. Martin lived in the corn house until Summer, when they had completed a log dwelling for the family.
In January 1867, my cousin Charles J.C.Hutson came to live with me as law partner and assistant teacher to my children. In 1866, he married my daughter Theodora on the 21st day of May. In April 1869, my daughter Mary Anna married Dr.Joseph Dewers of Charleston and they went to reside in Grahamville where they are still living.
On December 8th 1869, my son William married Miss Henrietta Toomes of Charleston, and they resided here with us until December 1874, when they removed to "Elswood" on Cooper River where they are now living. Mr. Hutson lived with us after his marriage until 1870, when he removed to McPhersonville where he now resides. In 187[ ] my son Frank went to Charleston to the school known as the "Holy Communion Church Institute" founded by the Rev. Toomes Porter. In Jan. 197[ ] my son Marion joined his brother Frank in Charleston at Mr. Porter's school.
In 1872, my daughter Adelaide went to Charleston to Mrs.??? Pinckney's school and resided with the family of my daughter-in-law Hennie under the special charge of my excellent and esteemed friend Miss Patsie Toomes. She returned home on August 1876, and with my son Cornelius is now living with me. Constructing my whole family my son Henry is now a Conductor on the Port Royal R.R..
My son Frank is now a clerk in Charleston in the house of Wyllie, Teacher, and Leo.
My son Marion is engaged in Mercantile business near ??? in Prince William Parish.
I have thus brought my narration down to the present date November 1877. I will make Addenda in future pages of matter which may be interesting.
August 23 1886 After a lapse of nearly nine years I resume my autobiography.
Many interesting and important events have occurred during the intervening period...deaths, marriages, births, removals etc..
My daughter Theodora has had three children:
Sallie McLeod Born Feb.11th 1879
Theodora Colcock Born May 29 1882 and
Emmeline Lucia Born March 2nd 1885
My daughter Mary Anna gave birth to a still-born boy on __188_ and soon after lost her mind and was carried by her husband to a private sanitarium near Baltimore called "Mabley Hill" under the charge of Dr. __. She improved and was brought back to her home in Grahamville on the __of 1881. Her husband Dr. Joseph Deweers died of paralysis and nervous prostration on the 1st May, 1883 and in 1884 she relapsed and we sent her on the 6th Sept. of that year to the asylum in Columbia where now is much improved. Doctor Deweers was 37 years old at the time of his death and besides practicing medicine was engaged in cultivating a rice plantation called "Bellefield" near Grahamville. His children Emmeline, Aimee, and Hennie are residing with their Aunt Mrs. F.W.Eason in Fayetteville, N.C.. My son Marion was married on the __ day of April 1884 to Sallie Hutson, daughter of my first cousin Dr.F.W.Hutson deceased on the __day of__ 1884. They had a son and named him Marion.
In January, 1882 my son William removed from Coper River to Combahee and took charge of "Newport" a plantation belonging to Mr. Henry A. Middleton. He has built a house in McPhersonville and resides there in the Summer, and at "Newport" in the Winter.
In 1884 al my children, except Adelaide, having left me we took up house-keeping at "Ocean" and at the kind invitation of my son William and his wife. I took up my residence with them and Adelaide at the like invitation of her brother-in-law Mr. Hutson and her sister Theodora came to live with them in McPhersonville.
In 1885 that fated scourge diphtheria entered the family of my son-in-law, Mr. Hutson and carried off within eight hours of each other two of their dear children, Sallie aged six years and little Emmeline, eight months. The latter died on the night of the 12th __ 1885 and the former on the morning on the 13th 1885.
My Grandchildren
Children of my son William
Annie Toomes Born Oct. 6, 1871
William Ferguson Born July 16, 1873 Died Feb.18,1890
Children of my daughter Mary Anna
Emmeline Colcock Born March 10, 1870
Amelia Born Dec. 1873
Henrietta Born Nov. 1876
Children of my daughter Theodora
Richard Woodward Born Aug.14th, 1869
William Colcock Born Oct. 11th, 1871
Elizabeth McLeod Born Feb. 5th, 1873
Mary Anna Born Sept. 5th, 1875
James Gregorie Born Feb.19th, 1877
Sallie McLeod Born Feb.11th, 1879
Theodora Colcock Born May 29th, 1883
Emmeline Lucia Born March__, 1885
Louise D'Aubray Born August 10th, 1887
Elizabeth McLeod Died May 18th, 1890
Sarah McLeod Died Nov. 13th, 1885
Emmeline Lucia Died Nov. 12th, 1885
1. Rev. William Hutson was born in England Aug. 14th 1720
and died April 11th 1761 in Charleston of apoplexy.
2. He was a Colonel of a Regiment in Marion's Brigade.
3. Anna McLeod born 26th Feb.1805 and died 12th July 1835.