I have collected a great deal of information on my Mayson ancestors but due to time constraints I have only put forth a small sampling of that collection on this website. At the bottom of the page, I have provided a few links which should help anyone to "dig deeper" into our Mayson ancestry.
The name Mayson appears to be Scottish. The first of our Mayson line to arrive in America was probably James Mayson (1733-1799) who may have been from Glasgow, Scotland but there are no documents about his ancestry so where he was born and where he lived before he arrived in SC would be speculation. One of his South Carolina plantations was named "Glasgow" which I suspect is how other researchers have concluded that he was from Glasgow, Scotland; However, I did find a family living in the area at the same time with the surname Glasgow.
His birth date is based on the memorial marker that was supposedly placed on his original gravesite by his children. [1] Some claim he was in South Carolina in the 1750-1760 period and that he participated in the Indian wars but I have not seen any documents to prove this theory. The earliest record that I found for him was for 1763 and there are numerous SC documents with his name from the mid 1760s up to the 1790s. He appears to have been a soldier, planter, lawyer, Justice of the Peace and Judge while in SC. In the 1770s, James became quite the hero of the Revolutionary War effort in the state of South Carolina. His name can be found in almost all historical works that discuss the Revolutionary War in South Carolina.
(Author photo 2018)
For more photos of the Ninety Six National Historic Site, visit this page.
Local Leader, Judge, Lawyer & Justice of the Peace
The earliest record that I found for James is a land plat dated 1763 where he is listed as "Esquire". There are numerous records for him in Ninety Six District dating in the 1760s up to the 1790s where he is noted as a Judge and Justice of the Peace. Most of these records note land along the Saluda River (north and south sides) which is where both of his plantations were located. See the links at the bottom of this page to see some of these records.
There are quite a few of these early records that are interesting: One of these is the 1773 estate administration file of a William Purves. James Mayson and Robert Cunningham were the administrators of William Purves' estate. James is listed as an "Esquire" on the documents which denotes that he was acting as a lawyer or Justice of the Peace. The estate documents may have even been penned by James. William Purves may have been related (brother?) to another Scot, Lt. Colonel John Purves who was a Patriot soldier from the Ninety Six area who also happened to serve with the 3rd SC Regiment. Visit this page to see the document.
Another interesting relationship is found between James Mayson and Robert Cunningham. James and Robert later found themselves on opposite sides during the American Revolution and it was the Peach Hill Plantation that (General) Robert Cunningham lost due to his role as a Loyalist leader. It later became the property of James and it is specifically listed as the "Peach Hill Plantation" in James' Will. Visit this page to see a transcribed copy of his Will.
Another document shows him being one of the seven men appointed to oversee the construction of the public buildings in the town of Ninety Six. Other notable men on this list are (General) Andrew Williamson, Patrick Calhoun and John Lewis Gervais - all men who were influential in the early development of the state of South Carolina and key leaders during the Revolutionary War.
James Mayson was one of the men who formed the very first Grand Jury in 1772. Patrick Calhoun and Moses Kirkland were also on this jury. Note that Moses Kirkland switched sides early in the Revolutionary War and became a leader of the Loyalists in South Carolina. Patrick Calhoun and James Mayson remained Whigs (James may have sought protection at some point or was captured and paroled).
We also have a record dated 1775 where James Mayson and John Caldwell are referred to as: "Two of his Majestys Justices Assigned to keep the peace in Ninety Six District". Robert Gouedy was an early settler of Ninety Six and he was a trader with the Indians. He also fathered several children with one or more Indian women.
Index-Journal Feb 14, 1942
James was also a member of the 1st and 2nd SC Provincial Congress.
- 1st Congress, January 11-17, 1775 - Among the ten names of members from Ninety Six District, St. Mark's Parish, are James Mayson, Patrick Calhoun, John Purves, Andrew Williamson and John Savage. [2]
- 2nd Congress, November 1, 1775-March 26, 1776 - Among the ten names representing Ninety Six District are Col. James Mayson, Major Andrew Williamson, Capt. Patrick Calhoun, Col. John-Lewis Gervais. Note that John Lewis Gervais went on to become a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1782 and 1783. He was also a member of the SC Senate. [2]
Leader of the Regulators
The first military records that we have of James Mayson show his role as a leader of the South Carolina Regulators. The Regulators were a sort of "backcountry" vigilante group of settlers that banded together to police a certain area due to a lack of local law enforcement (Sheriffs, Deputies, etc.). They not only protected the area, they also administered punishment. There was an increase in crime following the end of the Cherokee Wars in the 1760s. These crimes were being committed by groups of bandits that roamed throughout the state. James Mayson is said to have been dragged from his bed by a group of these bandits. Remember that proper civilization only existed along the coast of South Carolina at that time; The middle and western parts of South Carolina were largely frontier "backcountry" lands made up of self-governing people free (for the most part) of British Colonial influence. The Regulators were thought by some to have been vigilantes but they were actually a recognized organization by many in the state government.
Major of the Rangers (Horsemen)
I have not found any records for his rank and activities before he was elected Major in June of 1775 by the SC Provincial Congress. Interestingly, the Provincial Congress also considered Robert Cunningham, Moses Kirkland and Ezekiel Polk for his position but Mayson won the nomination. Cunningham, Kirkland and Polk all later became Loyalists. From what I have read, Mayson was not the popular choice as 2nd in command and there was resentment among these men. It is Cunningham's "Peach Hill" plantation that Mayson later acquired.
Ninety Six, A Historical Narrative, Jerome Greene, National Park Service, 1978 (not copyrighted)Fort Charlotte
Major James Mayson and his Rangers from Fort Ninety Six were ordered to seize Fort Charlotte and on July 12, 1775 they did just that thereby committing the first act of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina. Major Mayson and a part of the 3rd SC Regiment were later stationed at Fort Charlotte. Note that Fort Charlotte was built in the 1760s to protect the settlements near Long Canes from Indian attacks. Interestingly, one of these settlements was the German Londonborough settlement which happens to be where my paternal Merck and Dorris ancestors are from - When the Revolutionary War broke out, the Mercks and Dorrises became Loyalists and had to flee their homes and land in the town of Ninety Six.
A few days after Mayson seized Fort Charlotte, he was arrested by local Loyalists (orchestrated by Moses Kirkland who had changed sides) and jailed in the Ninety Six town stockade. He was released the same day after the Loyalists took charge again but the damage was done: Sides had been chosen and the Revolutionary War in SC had begun. Mayson remained a Patriot while Williamson, Cunningham, Kirkland and (Ezekiel) Polk all became Loyalists at some point - Williamson, Cunningham and Kirkland were Loyalist leaders.
Ninety Six, A Historical Narrative, Jerome Greene, National Park Service, 1978 (not copyrighted)
Lt. Colonel of the 3rd REGIMENT of SC TROOPS (Continental Army)
James was a Lt. Colonel under Colonel William Thomson. There are pay vouchers for him for 1779 indicating his rank and pay. Note that the chaplain of the 3rd Regt. was Rev. Samuel Hart and James married his daughter Henrietta (becoming his third wife).
Records for James Mayson after 1779 are sparse. He was promoted to Brevet Colonel in 1783 for his service. Note that his commanding officer, William Thomson, was also promoted to Brevet General at the same time which is interesting because William Thomson was taken prisoner at the fall of Charleston in 1780. Thomson was later paroled until the end of the war and was forced to retire to his plantation. Was this the fate of James Mayson as well? We have few records for him after 1779 which makes me wonder if he too was imprisoned and forced to retire to his home at Glasgow or if he was simply paroled and returned to his home. If either case, he may have sworn an oath which prohibited him from taking up arms against the Crown. Or, he may have actually sought protection of the British (changed sides) which many did over the course of that war. I suspect that he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Charleston, released and paroled, and sent back home for the remainder of the war.[4]
Star Fort
Star Fort was erected in 1780-1781 near the colonial village of Ninety Six by British Loyalists for protection against the Patriot uprising. In mid 1781, Star Fort was the site of a bloody battle between Patriots and Loyalists at the end of the Revolutionary War (2nd Siege of Ninety Six). This may have been where his son Luke Mayson was killed. The Patriots were victorious and the village of Ninety Six and Star Fort were soon abandoned by Loyalists and their families and they fled to Charleston where many were loaded on ships and sailed to New York and Nova Scotia.
Today, Star Fort has been somewhat preserved and partially restored - it is a part of the Ninety Six National Historic Site run by the National Park Service.
Interestingly, one of the canons that is believed to have been located at Fort Star in Ninety Six during the American Revolution may have arrived on the ship that brought my paternal German Merck ancestors to America in the 1760s. >>CLICK HERE<<
Plantations
It is not known exactly how much land James owned in South Carolina. Some estimates are 1800 acres. The first land record that we have is for 200 acres in Craven County in 1769. In his Will, Colonel Mayson stated that he owned two plantations: Glasgow and Peach Hill. Based on reading the Will, I believe that he was living on the Peach Hill Plantation when he died; However, later records indicate that he was actually buried on the Glasgow Plantation. I think that both plantations, along with a mill and a distillery, were located fairly close together along the Saluda River E-NE of the old hamlet of Ninety Six. James Mayson's home (likely located at Glasgow) was used by the British Army's Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger and his wife or at least some of the time during the 1781 battle of Ninety Six. It is not known if there was a hamlet or village named Glasgow or if that was simply the name Mayson called his plantation or if the family with the last name of Glasgow owned the land prior to James.
There is also a 1784 land plat for a "James Mayson, Jr. (heir to his brother Luke)" for 125 acres of land in Ninety Six District. The land is bounded on two sides by James Mayson and on one side it was bounded by Wm. Young. Per Bobby Moss, Luke Mayson was killed at Ninety Six in 1781.
The Peach Hill plantation appears to be the same plantation that Loyalist Brigadier General Robert Cunningham owned prior to the American Revolution. Col. Mayson either bought the plantation or he took it as a "spoil of war". Gen. Cunningham was a key Loyalist leader during the American Revolution in South Carolina and he fled to the Bahamas at the end of the war. He later tried to regain ownership of Peach Hill plantation but was unsuccessful.
I believe the location of both of his plantations, his mill and his distillery were quite close together on and near the Saluda River. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact location due to the creation of Lake Greenwood in the late 1930s which flooded the lands that he owned, we do have some references which can narrow things down. First, I have located a few old maps which indicate "Mayson's Creek" and "Mayson's Mill" and I have compared them to modern day maps. Second, we know that Island Ford was a geographical landmark on the Saluda in the 1700s and today there is an "Island Ford Road" that likely is fairly close to where the original Island Ford was located. The original Island Ford Road likely ran directly from the present day Ninety Six Historic Site to the Saluda River and either crossed his lands or came very close to his lands. Third, we have a record from July 1939 that notes his grave was located "on the old Frazier place" before being reinterred to the Ninety Six National Historic site. Today, there is a road named Frazier that runs all the way to Lake Greenwood/Saluda River - it is part of an upscale lakefront community of homes, social club and a golf course that is aptly named "The Patriot". As late as 2004, the hole where the chimney of his house once stood had been located and might still remain visible if one knew where to look. >>Click here for more maps<<
According to a 1938 newspaper article, the plantations were on opposite sides of the Saluda River. The article also states "water will stand forty feet deep where Wilson's creek crosses the Island Ford road, and the site of Major Mayson's home "Glasgow" will be covered with a sheet of water too deep to show aught of the hulls and vales that formed a peaceful plantation of the patriot days of 1776". The problem with this exact location is that the flooding did not cover up the Wilson's creek at Island Ford road location; However, the flooding did cover up a portion of Mayson's creek at Island Ford road which is just to the NE (see Drayton map below). Note that today, most of Wilson's Creek is also called Ninety Six Creek - it is the tributary that lies just to the north of Highway 34.
According to a newspaper article from 1940 [3], the Glasgow plantation was "on the north side of Island Ford road and near the place where he was to have a ferry. His other place - "Peach Hill" was on hte (sic) Newberry side of the river." If this is accurate, his home on his "Glasgow" plantation land was located near the intersection of Island Ford Road, Mayson's Creek and the Saluda River - mostly submerged today but the Greenwood State Park and the Grand Harbor Community likely stand on land that was formerly his plantation.
Island Ford on the Saluda River
From what I have read, Col. Mayson's land and ferry were very close to the geographic landmark named "Island Ford". To my thinking, it was named this way because of a likely island that was located in the middle of the river which allowed for easier "fording" of the river, possibly not even requiring a ferry when the river was low. There are numerous historical references to the Island Ford road dating back to pre-Revolutionary War times. This may have even been where Col. Mayson's 2nd wife (Anne) died when she and her party were crossing the flooded Wilson's Creek.
I looked for a long period before I found a document that actually showed an island in the middle of the Saluda River. The document I found is a land plat. The plat shows an island and it also shows a road just to the north of the island. The plat refers to Fish Dam Road, Lower Island Ford and what appears to be "Maid Virginia Road". This plat was for James Mayson and surveyed by James Robert Mayson - whether this survey is for James Robert Mayson or for his father is not known. Is this the original "Island Ford" referred to in countless historical documents? With the notation "lower island ford" on the plat, does this infer that there was an upper island ford too?
James Robert Mayson, Deputy Surveyor
Based on my own research, I think that the original Island Ford road went directly through both of his plantations. Since his property encompassed both sides of the Saluda, he may have even owned the island or islands that were located in the middle of the river too.
Note that the original Island Ford road ran from the old town of Cambridge (where the Ninety Six National Historic Site is now located) to Island Ford on the Saluda. This route would have been a more or less straight line. Today, Island Ford Road runs to the south of its original line and there is even a Island Ford Road south of the dam (likely named many years later).
NEXT:
(Click on links to view more)
>>Revolutionary War Records - Pay Vouchers, Letters, etc.<<
>>Mayson Family Records, etc.<<
>>The Ninety Six National Historic Site<<
>>Descendants of James Mayson<<
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References
Brown, Richard Maxwell. The South Carolina Regulators. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1963.
Klein, Rachel N. Unification of a Slave State: The Rise of the Planter Class in the South Carolina Backcountry, 1760–1808. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1990
The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine
Links
https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_fort_charlotte.html
https://www.nps.gov/nisi/learn/historyculture/the-star-fort.htm
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=11265
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[1] His grave (and the grave of his 3rd wife) was moved in the late 1930s to its present location in the Ninety Six National Historic Park.
[2] The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. VII. Also note that it was John Savage's land where the 1st Siege of Ninety Six took place.
[3] The Index-Journal, Sept. 22, 1940, page 4, "Our Old Roads"
[4] While it is hard for us today to comprehend, there were certain customs and formalities that were followed in the 18th century. Etiquette was very important as was social class.
(This page was created on 10/8/2023)