Introduction by J. H.
Hudson
Source: A
History of Marlboro County: With Traditions and Sketches
of Numerous Families, 1897
The author of this volume of local history died before
its completion, under circumstances touching and significant. On
Saturday August ist, 1896, he attended the annual reunion of the
Confederate veterans of Marlboro at Tatum, where he delivered to the
assembly of veterans and citizens a feeling and eloquent address. On
the Sabbath following, he preached in the forenoon at McColl, and in
the afternoon at Tatum, with his usual fervency and zeal. Returning
home, he ate his supper, held family prayers, retired to his couch,
and fell calmly into that sleep which knows no waking.
For
several years he had devoted his leisure moments to writing the
history of Marlboro, but before finishing it for the press was
called to his home above. His son has prepared this volume for the
press, and now presents it to the people the author loved so dearly,
and to whose temporal and spiritual welfare he devoted a half
century of his laborious life.
In gathering the material for
this history, he omitted no source of information available, but
sought aid from all records and all classes of the community. It was
the aim of Capt. Thomas, in writing this history, to make it so full
in the matters of tradition and genealogy as to leave no room for
complaint, but in spite of his zeal, industrious inquiry and
research, he was unable to procure from some families, facts and
data, whilst some others were unable to give information sought,
having preserved no family records, and having no traditions stored
up in memory. For any omissions in the work in this regard, the
blame must rest where it properly belongs, and must not be cast upon
the author, whose work was a labor of love and whose sole aim was to
do full justice to the people.of Marlboro, their noble ancestry, and
beautiful region of country. He loved his native land with a
patriotic devotion, and loved the people of his native county as a
father loves his children. To the labors of Bishop Gregg, Captain
Thomas was largely indebted, and drew from the " History of the Old
Cheraws " much valuable material, pertaining to the history of
Marlboro, for which he gives full credit to that accomplished
writer. No section of South Carolina, distant from the sea-coast, is
richer in Revolutionary tradition and deeds of high renown, than the
region of the Old Cheraws on the upper Pee Dee, in the heart of
which is Marlboro. Much of her history is forever lost, and for such
as has with difficulty been rescued from oblivion, the residents owe
a debt of gratitude to Gregg and Thomas, worthy sons of a proud
ancestry and faithful laborers in the vineyard ot our
Saviour.
It is sad to know that much of the history of South
Carolina has been entirely lost or remains unwritten through the
indifference of her citizens. Efforts to perpetuate her proud record
were made by Moultrie, Ramsay, Drayton, Johnson, Carroll and Simms,
in none of whose histories was a full record made of the memorable
deeds of prowess done on her soil, and least of all, of the valorous
deeds of the men of the Pee Dee region, not because of indifference
or partiality of the writers, but solely from the scantiness of
information furnished. This induced Bishop Gregg to write the "
History of the Old Cheraws", after years of assiduous labor in
gathering material from every available source, and the same
patriotic motive induced the Rev. J. A. W. Thomas to write this
piece of local history of a people loyal to the State, valorous in
war, law abiding, industrious and thrifty in time of
peace. The people of Newberry owe a debt of
gratitude to O'Neal and Chapman for their local histories, and to
Gregg a like debt of gratitude is due from the people of upper Pee
Dee, whilst to our author the citizens of Marlboro should feel
deeply indebted for the history of the people who have ever been
true to themselves and their State in time of war, and who, in
peace, by quiet industry and exemplary thrift have made Marlboro the
garden spot of the State.
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