Old Reformer Cannon

In 2017, during one of my many trips to city and county libraries, I found a blurb in an old newspaper article that discussed a very old cannon that stood in front of the Anderson County Courthouse (SC) for many years. The story seemed to be a local history article for Anderson's history and I did not give a lot of thought to it at the time so I did not save the article. A few years later I came across an internet article about the same cannon and I remembered the earlier newspaper article. I saved that internet article because it made reference to the cannon being located at historic Star Fort during the American Revolution (Ninety Six, SC). This year (2023) while I was sorting my notes for my ancestor, Colonel James Mayson, who was commander of Star Fort, I again read the article that I had saved. In addition to the article noting that the cannon was located at Star Fort during the American Revolution, it said that it arrived in America on a ship that contained German immigrants that were stranded in London in 1764. This greatly piqued my interest because I had just finished my research of my German ancestors that arrived in SC in 1764 and these German immigrants were "stranded" in London for months until the good people of London provided them with two ships, supplies and passage to America. Was this cannon aboard one of those two ships? I have read the entire document that carefully details the provisions that were provided and while I find no specific mention of a cannon, I do find that it noted that they were given small arms and ammunition and possibly other, larger arms:

"And moreover we beg leave to inform you , that His Majefty has been graciouſly pleaſed , to order His Maſter General of the Ordnance to deliver to us 150 ftands of Arms , and other Neceffaries appertaining thereto , for the uſe of the ſaid Germans."

We may never know if this cannon accompanied my German ancestors to America but it sure would make a fascinating story if true.

It is also rather fitting that the cannon made its way to the city of Anderson, South Carolina: The town and county are named for Col. Robert Anderson who was instrumental in the Revolutionary War effort in South Carolina.

The cannon has been in Anderson County for many, many years and has become a sort of historic landmark that was found in an old field and brought to downtown Anderson for display.

The cannon is now located at the Anderson Museum in downtown Anderson, SC where it is housed in what appears to be a custom made outdoor rotunda that serves as the front entrance of the museum. The preservation of the cannon and its location indicate the historic value of the cannon. A visitor to the museum must pass by the old cannon before entering the museum. Note that the museum, the library and the courthouse are all located within a few blocks of one another.