Revolutionary Services of the Liddell Family

of the Ninety-Six District and Abbeville County, South Carolina

John D. Sinks

District of Columbia Society, Sons of the American Revolution

14 April 2021

James Liddell lived in Delaware before moving to South Carolina, according to tradition.  One account of the family begins in Scotland and in America starts in New Jersey:

St. John Richardson Liddell (son of Moses, son of Andrew, son of James born c1712) endorsed a copy of Andrew’s Revolutionary record (Office of the Comptroller General, Columbia, S.C., May 9, 1857) with the statement that he had heard is father (Moses) say the family migrated to (New) Jersey “after the rebellion of 1745 under the pretender,” referring to the Stuart troubles of the ‘45” [sic.] in Scotland.  The family appears to have worked its way through Delaware, Maryland (William of Gwinnet was born in Annapolis) and to the Carolinas well before the Revolution.[1]

The traditions are plausible, but documentary evidence discovered to date only establishes that the family was in Maryland.  A General Return of Col. Thompson’s Regiment of Rangers shows that George Liddell (James’ son) enlisted in Capt. John Purves’ Company on 19 August 1775 at age 21 and born in Maryland.[2]  The obituary of Andrew Liddell, a son who died in 1833, states that Andrew was born in New Castle County, Maryland.[3]  There is no such Maryland County, but New Castle County Delaware was adjacent to Cecil and Kent Counties in Maryland during the 1750’s.

James Liddell had 200 acres of land surveyed on the waters of Penny’s Creek, a branch the northwest fork of the Long Cane, on 12 January 1773 (Colonial Plats 16, p. 346).  The land was identified as being in Granville County.  Penny Creek and Long Branch Creek are not far from the present-day town of Abbeville.  The land would have been in the Ninety-Six District.

When the Revolution broke out in 1775 the James Liddell’s sons quickly demonstrated their whig sympathies.  As noted above, George Liddell enlisted in Thompson’s Regiment of Rangers, which later became the 3^rd South Carolina Regiment, Continental Line.  Less than a month later, on 12 September 1775, three other sons, James, Moses, and Jared Liddell signed a document expressing strong support for “…our rights and privileges which we are entitled to, as being free born according to known law as of nature and nations…” and obligated themselves “…to furnish ourselves with good arms and accoutrements, and also to hold ourselves in readiness as a troop of horse, to march [on] 24-hours notice, under the command of our proper officers, commissioned by the Honorable Council of Safety…” upon thirty men signing.[4]  The men elected officers on 18 September 1775 and on 20 September Jared Liddell stated under oath that he was at the election and those electing the officers were the men who signed the obligation.[5]

James Liddell is listed on the grand and the petit jury lists for Long Canes and adjacent places in the Ninety-Six District for 1779.[6]  James also provided supplies to support the Revolution.[7]  He provided 175 lbs. of flour valued at £10.7.6 on 14 December 1779 for a detachment commanded by Lt. John Luckie under Gen. Andrew Pickens.  He provided 500 lbs. of beef valued at £21.5.0 on 1 December 1782 for public use by order of Gen. Pickens, received by Capt. John Norwood.  The total in currency was £31.12.6, but in sterling only £4.10.4.

After the Revolution James Liddell had 350 acres of land surveyed on 13 July 1784 in Abbeville County.  The tract was on Twenty-three Mile Creek, a branch of the Savannah River (Plat Bk. A, p. 85).  James made bequests totaling 500 acres in his will and mentioned an additional 200 acres which he had sold to Daniel Keith (his son-in-law) (Bk. 1, pp. 177-178).  James Liddell signed his will in Abbeville County on 6 July 1791 and it was proved on 8 November 1796.  James made specific provision for grandchildren through his deceased children, referred to sons-in-law and daughters-in-law as his children, and did not name his daughters whose husbands were living.  Taking this into account, he identified the following children in the will:

John Liddell

Jerat Liddell (decd.), husband of Ellenor and father of Ellenor.

George Liddell (decd.), father of James

Wife of Daniel Keith

Andrew Liddell

Moses Liddell

Wife of James Martin

Wife of Matthew Robison

One deceased son, James (Jr.), is omitted.  James (Sr.) left his wife Esther a life estate in the land bequeathed to John.  Wife Esther, sons John and Moses, and Hobart Anderson, Esq. were named executors.

James Liddell (Jr.) first served in Capt. David Hunter’s volunteer company of militia in 1775 (see above).  He apparently died without issue and is not mentioned in the will of James.  The obituary of Andrew Liddell says, “Two of his Brothers were killed—and another wounded.”  James Liddell was one of the brothers killed.  Account #4569, which includes claims of both James (Sr.) and James (Jr.), sets forth a claim for 204 days service as a private horseman under Capt. [Moses] Liddell in 1780 and 1781.  A certificate was issued to “James Liddle, Jun^r,” deceased, for £25.2.10 ¼ for militia service.  Mordecai Millar mentioned the deaths of James and Jared in his pension application (S16,972).  He said that after a tour of duty during which he was at the Battle of Eutaw Springs he enlisted under Capt. John Norwood for six months.  During this tour “…the Tories and the Indians killed and took prisoners [of] 22 of our men…”  He lists some, including Jared Liddle and says “James Liddle was killed on the ground….”

Jerad Liddell (as he himself signed his name) first served in Capt. David Hunter’s volunteer company of militia in 1775 (see above).  He was the other brother who was killed during the Revolution was.  Before his death Jared claimed loss of a mare, saddle, bridle, blanket, and wallet at the Battle of Kettle Creek on 14 February 1779 (Account #4570).  Moses Liddell and Reuben Livly attested to the loss and the claim was endorsed by Lt. Col. George Reed.[8]  The British controlled most of Georgia except for Wilkes County at the time of the battle.  The Tory commander Lt. Col. James Boyd raised of force that totaled about 700 men by the time he reached Kettle Creek, where his men grazed their horses and slaughtered cattle for food.  They were unaware of the proximity of South Carolina militia under Col. Andrew Pickens and Georgia militia under Col. John Dooly and Lt. Col. Elijah Clarke, totaling about 400 men.  Pickens, although outnumbered, decided to launch a surprise attack, with his own troops in the center and Dooly and Clarke on the wings.  Dooly and Clarke both became entangled in cane swamps and Pickens advance guard opened fire on Tory sentries, warning Boyd’s troops of the danger.  Boyd’s men fired on Pickens’ troops from behind a fence and fallen trees at a range of about 30 yards.  Three of Clarke’s men became separated from his force, came upon Boyd, and fired at him.  Boyd fell mortally wounded.  His Loyalists panicked and fled the field.  Pickens, Clarke, and Dooly united and reached the main body of Loyalists, who retreated in confusion.  Only about 270 of the 700 Tories reached the British forces whom they were to join.[9]  Jared was also credited with 123 days of service in Capt. Moses Liddell’s Company and for a gray horse valued at £55. 

Moses Liddell had 100 acres of land surveyed on 5 May 1775 on the northwest branch of the Long Branch called Penny’s Creek, a branch the northwest fork of the Long Cane, on 12 January 1773 (Colonial Plats 16, p. 346).  Adjacent was the land surveyed for his father, James Liddell. 

Moses was the wounded brother mentioned in Andrew Liddell’s obituary.  A number of pension applicants testified that they served under Moses Liddell, but his widow Elizabeth (Johnson) Liddell Haney gave a good overview of his services in her 1843 affidavit applying for a pension (W7,698), although she omits his initial service in Capt. David Hunter’s volunteer company in 1775 (see above).  She said that in 1776 he was in the expedition against the Cherokees under Col. Williamson and then Major Pickens.  On this expedition Moses was severely wounded in an ambush.  In 1778 he was in the Florida campaign, serving as a lieutenant under Capt. James McCall.  Moses was later promoted to captain and remained in service until the end of the war, during which time he was engaged in a number of skirmishes and battles.  During part of the time he was stationed at Alexander’s Mill in Abbeville County watching Tory movements and preventing Indian incursions.  His endorsement of Jared Liddell’s claim for the loss of a horse at the Battle of Kettle Creek in February 1779 is evidence that he was at the engagement. 

Samuel Hammond, who served as captain and field officer with Moses Liddell, provides further information.[10]  After the fall of Charleston on 12 May 1780 the militia under Gen. Andrew Williamson called for a meeting of field officers at his plantation in the Ninety-Six District.  He read the terms of the Charleston capitulation, proposed a retreat to North Carolina, and said he would be bound by whatever decision was made by the majority.  All but a few voted to accept the British terms. Williamson asked to consult Andrew Pickens.  After meeting with Pickens, Williamson addressed Pickens troops, asking those who wished to retreat to raise their hands and those who wished to accept the terms made by General Lincoln were to stand as they were.  Joseph Johnson wrote, “Two officers, Captain McCall and Captain McLidle [sic.], with three or four privates, held up their hands; all else stood as they were.”(p. 153)   Capt. Samuel Hammond and Adj. Bennet Crafton also decided not to capitulate.  McCall and Liddell reached North Carolina with a small detachment (p. 510).

Samuel Hammond provided an account of a skirmish on 29 November 1780 at Rutledge’s Ford on the Saluda River and subsequent events in which Moses’ Liddell’s Company was involved. Hammond wrote,

The Georgians [under Lt. Col. Elijah Clarke] were soon joined by the South-Carolinians, under McCall, S. Hammond and Liddle, and proceeded to attack a party of loyalists, forted near Colonel Hoils’ old establishment on the Saluda.  They marched all night and reached to the post at day-light, but the enemy had evacuated it a little before our arrival, and passed the Saluda, at Rutledge’s ford, a very rough and rocky pass.  Here a smart skirmish took place at long shot across the river, and several men were killed on both sides (p. 530).

Col. Twiggs with refugees under the same three South Carolina officers then recruited additional men and decided to proceed through the western part of the Ninety-Six District.

Our wish also, was to draw out the well-affected of that part of the country, who had been paroled by the enemy on the surrender of General Williamson.  Believing the British had violated their faith under this capitulation, having compelled the whigs to bear arms against their late companions in arms, instead of leaving them at home until exchanged as prisoners of war, this would be a favorable opportunity for them to join us (p. 531).

Maj. Hammond and his troops were detached to visit Gen. Williamson to see if he would rejoin the patriots.  Hammond wrote, “Captain Moses Liddle united with him on this mission.”(p. 531) Maj. McCall was detached on a similar mission to Col. Pickens.  Both Williamson and Pickens felt honor-bound to observe the conditions of their parole.  Pickens later decided the British violated the terms of his parole and rejoined the American cause; Williamson did not.

Moses’ widow Elizabeth (Johnson) Liddell Haney testified that Moses commanded a company in the Battle of Eutaw Springs with her brother, Andrew Johnson, serving as his lieutenant.  Andrew Johnson was mortally wounded in that battle.  Hezekiah Posey said in his pension application that Moses Liddell commanded 22 men to guard a train of wagons (S14,192).  Moses did not depart with the convoy on 7 December 1781 but expected to catch up.  On 8 December Tories under William Cunningham attacked the train.  Other sources report the Tory commander to have been Capt. John Crawford.  John Pickens, a brother of Andrew Pickens, was among those captured and killed after being turned over to the Indians.

The American Revolution in South Carolina identifies over two dozen men who served under Moses Liddell in additional battles and skirmishes that included Hammonds Store (29 December 1780), Cowpens (17 January 1781), and Siege of Ninety-Six (21 May – 19 June 1781).[11]  Further information about Moses Liddell’s Revolutionary activities can be gleaned from pension affidavits filed by a number of those men.

Moses Liddell submitted a claim for 75 days service as a lieutenant and 457 days as a captain in the militia in 1780 and 1781 (Account #4571).  He directed that the certificates for himself and as executor for James Liddell, decd. and Jaret Liddell, decd. be delivered to Felix Worley.  Worley been a captain in the 3^rd South Carolina Regiment with Moses’ brother, George.  The authorization to pay Moses gave his ranks as lieutenant, captain, and colonel, but Moses himself did not claim service as a field officer.  Moses was paid £474.12.0½ plus interest.

Moses married Elizabeth Johnson on 16 September 1784, according to her pension affidavit.  The ceremony was in Abbeville County and conducted by the Rev. John Harris, a Presbyterian Minister.  Sometime after the Revolution Moses Liddell moved to Pendleton County (or what became Pendleton County and later Anderson County).  He purchased two tracts of land totaling 453 acres from Francis Miller (Bk. A, 332-333 & 333-334).  The land was Devils Fork of the Great Generostee Creek.  This included land adjacent to Daniel Keith, his brother-in-law.  On 1 January 1792 he purchased 640 acres of land in Pendleton District also on Devils Fork of the Great Generostee Creek from James Martin of York County (Anderson Bk. B, p. 54).  Elizabeth said the Moses died on 2 August 1802.  Moses Liddell signed his will in the Pendleton District, South Carolina on 1 May 1802 and it was proved on 21 August 1806 (Bk. 1791-1834, pp. 15-17).[12]  He left his wife Elizabeth a life estate in his plantation so long as she remained a widow, after which the plantation was to be divided between sons Moses and James.  He also made bequests to his daughters Elizabeth, Esther, Isabella, and Joan.  The legatees of Moses sold 200 acres of land on the Devil’s Fork of the Big Generostee Creek on 18 September 1809 (Anderson Bk. P, p. 91).  This establishes that married names of three of the daughters: Jane Leslie, Elizabeth Barron, and Esther Davis.[13]  He added that he gave a horse, saddle, and bed to his niece Mary Liddell provided that she lived with his wife Elizabeth until reaching a mature age.  Moses’ wife Elizabeth, John Henderson, his brother Andrew, and brother-in-law Daniel Liddell were named executors.  After Moses’ death Elizabeth married Thomas Haney on 15 June 1814.  He died on 2 June 1821.  By the time she applied for a pension she had moved to Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Andrew Liddell was about 80 years old when he died, according to his obituary in the Pendleton Messenger on 24 April 1833.  His tombstone at the Andersonville Baptist Church gives is age as 77 years when he died on 7 April 1833 and says he was one of the early members of the Roberts Presbyterian Church. 

Andrew Liddell is listed on the grand and the petit jury lists for Long Canes and adjacent places in the Ninety-Six District for 1779.[14]  Andrew’s audited account, #4568, credits him with service from February 1779 to May 1780 in Capt. Miller’s Company.  The account includes a claim for the loss of a gelding branded AF with saddle and bridle at the Battle of Kettle Creek on 14 February 1779.[15]  Lt. John Norwood, and Archibald Gillison testified to the loss the following day and valued to horse and £900 currency.  Col. Andrew Pickens certified the loss on 11 December 1779.  Capt. Andrew Miller was one of the captains serving under Pickens in this battle and was captured after being wounded in the knee.[16]  Andrew Liddell testified on behalf of William Thompson (R10,560) that they were together under Col. McCall in the battle of Long Cane, an American defeat.  The Battle of Long Cane was fought in Abbeville County (now McCormick County) on 12 December 1780.  Col. James McCall commanded a detachment of Ninety-Six District militia for the patriots, but Col. Elijah Clark commanded the advance party of 100 Georgia and South Carlina militia.  Lt. Col. Isaac Allen commanding the British attacked with 200 New Jersey Volunteers, 200 Loyalists, and 50 dragoons.  Both Clark and McCall were wounded.  The British were victorious.  Andrew Liddell testified on behalf of John Morris (R7,407) that they served together under Capt. Baskins, but recalled no engagements during this tour of duty.  Andrew Liddell petitioned for a state annuity in 1823 and was granted $60 per year starting in 1826.

After the Revolution Andrew Liddell acquired land.  On 28 May 1784 he had 400 acres of land surveyed on Twenty-Six Mile Creek (Abbeville Plat Bk. A, p. 18).  He had an additional 240 acres on the south side of Twelve Mile River surveyed on 11 June 1784.  This land appears to have been upriver from the Abbeville section of the Ninety-Six District in Indian Territory and is now in Pickens County.

Andrew Liddell signed his will on 25 January 1820, long before he died (Bk. 1791-1834, pp 484-487).  It was proved in Anderson County on 6 May 1833.  He left his wife Jane “Jenny” Liddell one cow.  He explained that she “…lived with me about four Years and … then voluntarily left my house bed and boarding and hath not returned and more to me nor been in my house upwards of Ten Years….”  He left his plantation containing 110 acres on the waters of Twenty-Six Mile Creek to his eldest son, John.  He left his son Andrew J. Liddell, Esq. the plantation on which he lived, containing 100 acres.  He left his son George the plantation on which he lived containing 100 acres.  He left his son Moses one dollar, to be paid by son James L. Liddell.  He left his son Francis $30, of which $20 was to be paid by son James and $10 to be paid by son George.  He left son James S. the 100 acres of the plantation on which he, Andrew, lived.  He also made bequests to daughters Jane Mauldin, widow of Joab Mauldin, Elizabeth Miller, wife of John Miller, and Marry McGehee, wife of Willis McGee in addition to the property he had already given them.[17]  Andrew named his son James S. Liddell as the executor. 

George Liddell, as noted at the outset, was born in Maryland about 1754.  The records of many regiments that surrendered at Charleston and especially the South Carolina regiments are not in the National Archives and apparently are not extant.  Only five pay rolls for George Liddell’s Company are found in the National Archives, dated from July through November 1779.  There are even fewer for some other companies of the 3^rd South Carolina.  This makes it especially difficult to determine George Liddell’s specific activities.  

The regiment in which George Liddell enlisted was authorized as the South Carolina Regiment of Horse Rangers.  The unit was organized at Ninety-Six Court House under Lt. Col. William Thompson as Col. Thompson’s Regiment of Rangers.  The regiment became the 3^rd South Carolina Regiment.  Flud Mitchell (S16,970) stated in his pension application that Purvis’ company, in which George Liddell served early in the War, marched against Loyalists under Col. Thomas Fletchall at Ninety-Six.  The Tories dispersed.  The regiment played an important role in the defense of Charleston in June 1776.  The British ships were unable to silence the guns of Fort Sullivan.  The 3^rd South Carolina was stationed not at the fort, but at the northern end of Sullivan’s Island and prevented Gen. Henry Clinton from crossing to that end of the island.  Had Clinton succeeded, he could have attacked the unfinished fort from the rear.  George Liddell was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant on 1 January 1777[18] and 1^st Lieutenant later that year.  On 20 December 1778 he was promoted to Captain.[19]  In September and October 1779 the regiment unsuccessfully endeavored to retake Savannah.  The regiment was in the Siege of Charleston in 1780 was surrendered to the British on 12 October 1780.  The forces defending the city were too weak to prevent the British from surrounding the city.  Gen. Henry Clinton required the Americans to surrender with the colors cased because they had not mounted a strong enough defense to merit less humiliating terms.  A recent book on the siege reported,

British officers who observed the procession of Continentals asked American officers where the second division was and were astonished to find there was not one.  Impressed by the staunch American resistance with so few regulars, one British officer exclaimed to Moultrie that the garrison “had made a gallant defense.”[20]

George Liddell was among the many officers paroled. 

The terms of the parole were explained in a letter by Maj. William Crogham of the 4^th Virginia Regiment dated 18 May 1780 at Charleston to Michael Gratz:   

I am just now going to cross the river to Haddrell’s Point, where I am on parole within a space of six miles, our army being under the necessity of surrendering this town to the British forces the 12^th of this month.[21]

 George Liddell is listed on returns of officers at Hadrell’s Point.[22]  Unlike many of the South Carolina officers, he is not listed with a servant, slave, or soldier to attend him.  The British evacuated Charleston on 14 December 1782, leaving behind prisoners of war who had not been exchanged.  Even though the British had left, about two dozen Continental officers evidently continued to observe the conditions of their parole.  They petitioned the South Carolina Senate from Charleston on 15 February 1783, stating that they were prisoners on parole, had not received pay or subsistence since the beginning of 1780, and requested relief.[23]  George Liddell was one of these.  He was finally exchanged on 2 May 1783.[24]

After the Revolution George Liddell married.  His bride was Rachel Thomson, daughter of Mathew Thomson.  No record of the marriage has been found, but Rachel is named as a daughter in Matthew’s will, signed in Ninety-Six on 14 August 1776, long before the marriage.[25]  George also acquired land.  On 12 May 1784 a 300-acre tract of military bounty land was surveyed for him and on 22 May 1784 and additional 400 acres was surveyed.[26]  Both surveys were in the Ninety-Six District.

George Liddell dictated his nuncupative Abbeville will on 8 December 1789 (Bk 1, p. 32).  He was evidently too sick to sign it.  His wife Rachel received a life estate that included whichever of his plantations that she chose.  The plantation on which the family lived was bequeathed to son James.  Son George Washington Liddell was to have the plantation on the Seneca River.  He also made a bequest to the child with whom his wife was pregnant.  The unborn child did not live to adulthood.  A federal bounty land warrant was issued to James and George Washington Liddle on 22 April 1800, but not to a third child.  Capt. John Norwood and Moses Liddell were named executors.  Andrew Liddell was one of the witnesses.  The will was proved on 7 April 1790.

After George’s death Rachel married John Miller.  Miller made a bequest to [George] Washington Liddell in his Abbeville will, whom he identified as a stepson (Bk, 1, pp. 402-403).  Rachel is buried in the Upper Long Cane Cemetery just north of the Abbeville city limits, named “Miller” on her tombstone.  She was born on 19 July 1765 and died on 19 October 1836.

John Miller provided service supporting the Revolution.[27]  Along with Moses, James, and Jered Liddell he served in Capt. David Hunter’s volunteer company of militia in 1775, in which his brother Andrew was elected lieutenant (see above).  John is on grand and petit jury lists for Long Canes and adjacent places in the Ninety-Six District for 1779.[28]  George Miller, John’s son, testified for his cousin John Miller, son of Andrew Miller, to receive a pension (S1,702).[29]  John stated that his father’s house was taken for a station by the militia. that his cousin, John, was in service there, and that the station withstood a Tory attack, he believed in January [1782].  John Miller’s tombstone in the Upper Long Cane Cemetery just north of Abbeville, South Carolina says he was born in 1748 and died on 18 November 1811.                                                                                                                                   

John Liddell was the youngest son of James Liddell.  On 6 March 1843 John submitted an affidavit to support the pension application of Elizabeth Haney, widow of Moses Liddell whom John specifically identified as his brother (W7,698).  John was living in Abbeville District and said he was about 75, placing his birth about 1768.  John said, “that although he was too young to do any service in the Revolutionary War yet he was old enough to recollect many of its incidents….”  John is buried in the Upper Long Cane Cemetery just north of the city of Abbeville.  His tombstone says that he died on 6 May 1846, aged between 70 and 80 years.  No will has been found.

Daniel Keith, like James Liddell’s other sons-in-law, was identified as a son of James in James’ will.  The name of his wife was not mentioned.  Prior to moving to Tennessee Daniel Keith, Sr. sold Alexander Calhoun the tract of land on which he lived on Devils Fork of Generostee Creek on 11 February 1804 (Anderson Bk. H, pp. 430-431).  Elizabeth, wife of Daniel, consented.  Daniel Liddell, a grandson of Daniel Keith, said the Daniel Keith “was a citizen of Pennsylvania,” although there can be little doubt that Daniel and Elizabeth were living in South Carolina by the beginning of the Revolution.[30]  No Revolutionary service has been found for Daniel Keith.  Daniel died intestate, according to tradition in Franklin County, Tennessee.  No tombstone can be found for him at the Goshen Presbyterian Church where two of his children, James Keith and Elizabeth (Keith) Brazelton, are buried. 

Children of Daniel and Elizabeth are named in a lawsuit filed by daughter Ruth (Keith) Liddell, wife of William, to recover money from the estate of a sister, Martha Black.[31]  Ruth’s 1841 petition to sell land from the estate (Daniel Liddell, attorney) establishes the following children and for the daughters, their husbands, with approximate years of birth added from other sources:

  1. Ruth                       married William Liddell                       1761-1762 pension affidavit

  2. Martha                   married Robert Black

  3. Nancy decd           married John Scott Sr.             

  4. James                                                                     1770-1771 tombstone, Franklin Co., Tn

  5. Andrew                                                                  1775-1776 SC 1850 census

  6. Daniel decd

  7. Alexander decd                                                     1760-1770 1840 census

  8. Elizabeth decd       married Thomas Morrow

  9. Mary decd married Thomas McCalister

10. Esther                    married William Brazelton       1786-1787 tombstone, Franklin Co., Tn

Daniel is not named as the father, but only one other Keith family of Daniel’s generation is found in the area, the Cornelius Keith family.  Cornelius’ children are named in his will and do not match the names in Ruth Liddell’s testimony.[32]  1800 census of Abbeville County shows that many of the people on Ruth Liddell’s list were living in proximity to Daniel and to one another on the 1800 Pendleton census[33]

Daniel was in Jackson County, Alabama when he sold land in Franklin County, Tennessee on 5 March 1820 (Bk. F K, pp. 266-267).  Daniel Keith is listed adjacent to Alexander Keith on the 1820 Jackson County, Alabama census (p. 15).  Only Daniel himself was in the household.

Matthew Robison is a second man identified as a “son” in James Liddell’s will.  He appears in records as Robison, Roberson, Robertson, Robinson, and other variants.  Only one man of the name appears on Abbeville census records: 1790 (p. 481, torn name at the bottom of the last column indexed as Robinson at ancestry.com); 1800 (p. 33); and 1810 (p. 34).  In 1790 he is listed on the same page with Rachel Liddell, widow of George.  The census records show a large family.  In 1800 he and the eldest female were both 26 to 45 and in 1810 they were both over 45.  Unfortunately the name of Robison’s wife has not been determined, although some researchers believe it to have been “Esther.” 

Mathew Robinson was a Revolutionary pensioner (S11,309).  On 25 March 1835 he submitted an affidavit in Lawrence County, Alabama specifying his services.  He stated that he was 75 years old and he served as a private.  In 1777 he volunteered under Capt. James McCall and Major Andrew Pickens and served for two years.  He said he was involved in skirmishes with the Indians and Tories and “…a very severe contest on Kettle Creek in the State of Georgia.”[34]  He also was in the battle at Ninety-Six.  Shortly after returning home he served in a spy company commanded by Capt. Andrew Miller for two years.  During this tour he was also engaged in skirmishes with the Indians and Tories.  He recalled that Capt. Miller was killed at the Battle of Cowpens and Capt. Strain took command of the company.  He served under Capt. Strain for one year on the frontier.  In response to interrogatories, Robinson said he was born in Augusta County, Virginia and was raised in Abbeville District.  He said he lived in Abbeville until twelve years prior, when he moved to Lawrence County, Alabama, lived there six years before he moved to Marion County, Alabama.  When asked about regular officers who were with the troops with which he served, he said that he remembered Capt. George Liddell and Maj. Aaron Smith.  (Smith was in the 3^rd South Carolina Regiment, but held the rank of lieutenant.) 

After the Revolution Matthew Robinson submitted a claim for his military service after the fall of Charleston (Account 6529).  He was owed £11.5.8 ½ plus interest.  Two additional non-military claims are in the file, but not associated with a particular county.  One is for the loss of a wagon and team in public service valued at £55.19.2 ¹/₂.  The other for £8.16.0 ½ is for work as a smith and providing 26 bushels of corn in 1780.  Given Matthew’s extensive militia service in the latter part of the war, it is hard to see how he could have worked as a smith and provided corn.  As noted above, claims for different men of the same name can be found in a single file.

Matthew Robinson evidently was in error about the dates of his residences.  He is not found on the 1820 census of Abbeville or any of the adjacent counties.  He is found on the 1820 census of Franklin County, Tennessee.  Daniel and Elizabeth (Liddell) Keith had moved to Franklin County.  Although Daniel was in Jackson County, Alabama in 1820, he sold land in Franklin that year and had children still living in Franklin that year.  Matthew is listed in Marion County, Alabama in 1830, with the eldest male and female both 60 to 70 (p. 16).  He is also listed there in 1840, with the eldest male 80 to 90 and the eldest female 60 to 70.  Matthew last received a pension payment in March 1843 (Pension Payment Ledger G, p. 438).

James Martin and his wife remain a mystery.  He appears on both the Abbeville 1790 census (p. 453) and the 1800 Abbeville census (p. 34).  In 1800 two males in the household were over 45 and the only adult female was 26 to 45.

William Liddell was not a son of James Liddell but was associated with several of James’ children and married one of James’ granddaughters.  Even though he is not named in James’ will, several hundred people have identified him as a son of James in family trees posted on the internet.  In fact he was the son of a John Liddell who died in Maryland.  Judge Richard D. Winn of Gwinnett County, Georgia wrote a biographical sketch of Daniel Liddell, son of William, in 1873, quoting a lineage prepared in Daniel’s own hand:

I was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina, twelve miles west of the courthouse, February 19, 1786, and was the son of William Liddell, who was born in the city of Annapolis, Md., March 10, 1762.  His father was named John and his mother, Rachel.  My father was brought from Maryland by an uncle, named Moses, about 1767 to Abbeville.  He died in a few years.  His aunt died after the commencement of the Revolution.  They left no children….[35]

Not all Liddells in the Abbeville area were descendants of James and Esther, although William was related to the James Liddell family.[36]

William’s two pension affidavits (W3,835) and his Audited Account (#4572) document extensive military service in the Revolution.  He served about one month under Capt. William Baskins in 1776, three or more months under Capt. James McCall and Maj. Pickens Brigade in 1778 on the St. Augustine expedition (which reaches as far as the St. Mary’s River in Florida, two or more months under Capt. Andrew Miller and Gen. Andrew Williamson against the Cherokees in 1779, and in 1780 about two months under Capt. William Baskins and Col. Pickens to Georgia.  He was ordered to Cowhead where Pickens surrendered his troops to the British.  None the less, William Liddell then served five months or more under Capt. James McCall, who did not surrender to the British.  The company marched through Indian lands to North Carolina and served with Col. McDowell and Col. Elijah Clark scouting for Tories near the line between the Carolinas.  Part of this time was under Maj. [William] Davie reconnoitering the British near Camden after Gates’ Defeat, after which Davie took and burned a British fort on the waters of the Broad River and then had a severe skirmish with Tories at Lawson’s Fork of the Broad River.  In 1781 William Liddell served about one month in 1781 under Capt. Moses Liddell to march to Eutaw Springs.  William Liddell himself scouted against the Indians in this tour of duty.  In 1782 he served under Capt. Baskins and Gen. Pickens against the Cherokees.  Ruth Liddell received a widow’s pension after William’s death.  She testified maiden name was Keith and they wed on 3 February 1784.  This connects William with the James and Esther Keith family: she was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Liddell) Keith, son-in-law and daughter of James and Esther.  Ruth was 81 when she testified on 14 June 1843.  William died on 23 August 1836, according to Elizabeth.  The Ledger of Payments, 1818-72, to U.S. Pensioners Pension Payment Ledger, Vol. Q, shows she was last paid in March 1844 (p. 155).

Summary.

The James and Esther Liddell family of Ninety-Six provided strong support for the American Revolution.  James himself was well above prime military age but was on the lists for grand and petit jury service for 1779 and provided supplies in 1779 and 1782.  All of the sons except John, born about 1768, served in the military.  George Liddell enlisted in Thompson’s Regiment of Rangers in 1775, which became the 3^rd South Carolina Regiment, Continental Line.  He was a sergeant on the first extant roll bearing his name and was a captain when he was among the remaining officers captured at Charleston were finally exchanged in 1783.  James, Jared, and Moses Liddell committed to and served in a volunteer company in 1775.  John Miller, who married George Liddell’s widow after the Revolution, was also this company.  Moses Liddell was severely wounded in the Cherokee expedition in 1776.  He was one of the few officers under Andrew Pickens who refused to accept the British terms negotiated at the surrender of Charleston and retreated to North Carolina.  He served much of that latter part of the war as a captain.  Andrew Liddell also was on the lists for grand and petit jury service for 1779.  He served in the militia from February 1779 to May 1780.  One of James’s three sons-in-law, Matthew Robison, had extensive militia service.  Robison was in numerous skirmishes with the Indians and Tories.  He also was at the Battle of Kettle Creek with his brothers-in-law Jared, Andrew, and Moses.  William Liddell, who was not a descendent of James Liddell but married one of his granddaughters, also had extensive military service in the Revolution.