Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Pa** Eight THE CLINTON CHRONICLE I hurray, April 26. 195I I Revolutionary Heroine m \ (Continued from page one) sixth year, and the courage and en durance of South Carolina champ ions for independence were put to a severe test, due to the fact that Charleston had, May 12, 1780, been captured and the British were over running the state. Particularly was this true of this section of the coun try, where many Whigs had been arrested and imprisoned, and the whole country terrorized. The cause of the patriots seemed utterly help less and British detachments were sent out in all directions to plant the royal standard, overthrow the people and^ require them to seek pro tection. It was proclaimed that all who would oppose the king’s arms should have their property confis cated and be severely punished, while pardon was offered to the pen itent on condition of their immediate return to allegiance. There were, consequently, many Tories among the landowners of this sectiop. In fact, at the beginning of the war, a large portion of the state seemed to have regarded the Revolution with disfavor, and they were slow to break with the mother country. They had no active quarrel with England, as her government had been mild and beneflcient tc her ac tion upon this province. Colony of Planters South Carolina being a colony of planters whose products were much in demand >in England, neither the regulations nor restrictions proposed by England were likely to interfere wdth their trade. This was the feel ing of many, but there were many brilliant exceptions to this senti Open House Friday (Continued from page cne) attract the public’s attention, with ample parking space to the rear of the hotel property, as well as ample space on the side of the building and adjacent city sidewalks surround ing the property. The grdunds are to be beautified in the near fu ture. The leessees have purchased the linens, blankets, silverware, glass ware, kitchenware and china. The spreads w’hich will adorn each bed bear the words Mary Musgrove in script in green letters. The Charm pattern of Syracuse china is es pecially attractive. The lobby furniture, very modem in design, is covered with a new plastic material in green and grey wdth end table lamps and floor lamps. Congratulations to the lovely Hotel Mary Musgrove We wish you every suc cess as one of the city’s new and valuable as sets. G. A. Copeland & Son Hardware and Sporting Goods WELCOME To the Lovely New Hotel Mary Musgrove AND CONGRATULATIONS UPON YOUR FORMAL OPENING FRIDAY It is a pleasure for us to greet the management, to extend our sincere best wishes, and to congratulate all who had a part in mak ing this dream become a reality. T. E. Jones & Sons ment, heroes with hearts as courag eous, minds as vigorous and arms as strong as any who ever, in any pe riod, endured and worked out a na tion’s redemption. One unhappy re sult of this state of things was divi sion in families. Kindred was ar rayed against each other in deadly combat, brother against brother and ■ son against father. A prevailng spirit ! of treachery and distrust marked the [times. All went armed and many cowards took advantage of absence of law and order, wreaking veng eance upon the weak and defense less. It was a time w’hich bred men and w'omen of heroic mould: a time when such a spirit as that displayed by Mary Musgrove shone all the , brigher because of contrast with ; some of her owm neighbors and kindred. The Musgrove Family We were informed by Draper in j his “Kings Mountain and Its Heroes'’ 1 I that Edward Musgrove, father of! ; Mary, was a native of England and: one of the earliest settlers in the i ! upper part of South Carolina. He | i was w’ell educated, having been bred j to the law. He was a man of fine abilities, large hospitality and benev- 1 olence, a practical surveyor, and was' ! exceedingly popular and useful in all the region of which his noted mill on the Enoree was the center. At the ' time of the Revolutionary war he had passed the period of active life, i too old to take any active part in the bloody struggle. Each night ho pled with trembling lips for a ! speedy return of good will among [men. He lived to see his prayer an swered. dying in 1782, in his 76th year. He was married three times, ^ and the following children were mentioned by Draper in his book Beaks Musgrove, son of his first wife: Mary and Susan Musgrove,' J daughters of his second wife, a Miss Fincher: and Margaret Musgrove. eldest daughter of his third wife. Draper speaks as follows of Beaks Musgrove: •'Partaking of- the spirit' of the times and inspired by such British leaders as Cunningham and • Colonel Ferguson, he was induced ' to join the king’s standard.** The , historian further relates the rapture of Beaks Musgrove. in his home by Patty Carr, a former fearless Indian fighter, and one of the captains serv ing under Colonel Clarke of Geor gia He pictures Captain Carr secur ing possessions of Beaks Musgrove'I sword with which he is just about to attack the unarmed Beaks, when Mary imploringly threw herself be tween the two men and earnestly pled for her brother. Her prayers were so effective that she saved her brother's life and he agreed to join Carr’s company, serving the patriotic cause Mary exacted a promise from Carr that her brother’s life would be safe in his hands, when he was no longer under her protection. There is no evidence that Beaks ever again bore arms against bis coun try. and it is stated that he con tinued for some time with Carr, con stantly gaining upon that bold lead er’s confidence. Horrthoe Kob appeal was effective and execution stayed. During her stay in camp she fearlessly spoke in defense of But ler Mary is dearly beloved by John Ramsey, a brave and handsome young trooper in Sumter’s army, and they plan to be married when the war is over. She engages John’s services and they, together with the aid of her cousin, Christopher Shaw finally, after an exciting and danger ous engagement, effect Major But ler’s escape. Unfortunately, John Ramsey is mortally wounded in a skirmish with the enemy, only a few hours after the escape and Major Butler is recaptured while attending his friend’s funeral. Mary is pictured as being overwhelmed with grief over her lover’s death, but we still find her giving aid to the cause in every way possible. She becomes much attached to Mildred Lindsay, wife of Major Butler, and with her views the Battle of King’s Mountain and afterward witnesses the happy reunion of husband and wife. Battle of Musgrove's Mill Within the past few yean, several interesting articles have appeared in the columns of The State and the Greenville News, reciting interesting features of Musgrove’s Mill, calling attention to the important battle fought there Aug. 18, 1870, at which time the British loss was 63 killed, 90 wounded and 70 prisoners; while the patriots lost only four killed and eight or nine wounded. One of these, however, was the brave Captain In man, who fell in battle and whose grave has been located and marked on an old road in Spartanburg county. With Labors Ended All of these writers unite with ! Draper and Kennedy in praise of the beautiful character and charming personality of Mary Musgrove. She j is portrayed as industrious, intelli gent, courteous and unselfish; and these qualities, combined with beau ty of person and great moral and physical courage inspire our most ardent admiration. Ever ready to give her heart and strength to those around her, she proved herself a vertlable angel of mercy to her family and fellow patriots. She must have overtaxed her strength during the strenuous dsys of the wsr, for Draper says that she became a vic tim of tuberculosis, only one year after the close of the Revolution. At her request her sister, Susan, and three of her girl friends were pall bearers, and the same historian says that she was borne to her grave on silk handkerchiefs. The writer un derstands that it was the custom of the day to use the immense silk handkerchiefs or mufflers of the period on such occasions, passing them through the handles of the casket. Her little form was so emaciated that it could be borne to its last resting place by these young girls, and her grave has with in the past few decades been marked by relatives of the Musgrove family. She sleeps peafecully in the little family graveyard near the site of the old mill beside her revered father and beloved sister. X Furniture It is related at this time Mary was 23 and Susan 23 yean of age The romance oetween Mary and John Ramsey is set forth in ’Horse shoe Robinson.’* an historical novel written in 1835 by the brilliant John P Kennedy This book scrupulously preserves historical accuracy and ‘ descendants of the Musgrove family) and old reliable citizens of Laurens county of the present day, vouch for its accurate account of the deeds of j heroism and mercy performed by Mary. Draper says that both sisters “were akin to angels in their un wearied acts of mercy to the wound ed and suffering in these trying times. They were young women of, marked attractions, both of body and mind. Mary, especially, was a young woman of rare beauty of person, 1 possessing a bright intellect, and j much energy of character. She was' i renowned heroine of Kennedy's popular story of ‘Horshoe Robinson’j and in all the upper country of South j Carolina he couldn’t have chosen a more beautiful character in real j life with which to adorn the charm ing pages of his historical romance.” Margaret Musgrove married Landon Waters, whose son, Capt. Philemon Musgrove Waters, wrote an interest ing paper setting forth many of the' facts quoted by Draper, which is in-j eluded in Dr. Logan’s manuscript. I Her descendants are living in Lau rens county today. The Story “Kennedy’s book introduces Mary as the pretty, graceful, industrious and patriotic daughter of the miller, visiting in the home of her aunt.! While there, she overhears a plot to deliver Into the hands of the British two American patriots, Major Butler a\d Horseshoe Robinson. With fear and trembling she makes! a midnight attempt to warn them of| their danger. The tired troopers are too drugged with sleep clearly to heed her message and are captured. Robinson makes his escape, but Maj or Butler is held a ’prisoner and Mary devotes herself to his release. On one occasion she visits the camp of Colonel Innes where Butler is im prisoned and by her timely interven- ition effects a postponement of his execution. She makes her entrance with a number Of other young peo ple who have country vegetables and fruits to sell, but her attractive personality and beautiful basket of apples interest those high in author ity. She is invited to rest her basket on the center table, upon which was found, after she left a note from a British officer who was a prisoner to the patriots, imploring Colonel Innes to *>are Colonel Butler’s life, as his would be forfeited imme diately upon Butler’s execution. The v i Hotel Mary Musgrove %/e Re&t Wtiltei! PHOTOGRAPHS BY Nichols Studio 23 Years Your Photographer We Are Proud of the New Hotel Mary Musgrove And Applaud Your Formal Opening Friday It Is With Pleasure That We Extend Our Most Sincere Congratulation^! « On This Occasion. BEST WISHES TO ONE OF THE MOST- BEAUTIFUL, MOST MODERN AND BEST-EQUIPPED SMALL HOTELS IN THE SOUTH CLINTON and LYDIA COTTON MILLS t > t w t, •