On this page: Adam EDGAR in the American Revolutionary War
Latest update: Tuesday, 19 August, 2014
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Short of a list of British sympathizers that includes Adam EDGAR's name, it will be hard to suggest, much less theorize, that
Adam EDGAR was a Loyalist during the American Revolutionary War. Although, evidence has yet to be discovered, which
documents Adam's active participation in the War, there is ample data and circumstantial evidence to indicate he was a
passive Revolutionary patriot at the least and most probably a strong supporter of American Independence.
On 04 July 1776, the thirteen British colonies of North America declared independence from Great Britain. The American
Revolutionary War ended with effective American victory in October 1781, followed by formal British abandonment of any
claims to the United States with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Wikipedia
SOUTH CAROLINA
During the American Revolution the Scots Irish in the back country in most states were noted as strong patriots… colonial
SOUTH CAROLINA banded together with the other colonies to oppose British taxation in the Stamp Act Crisis of 1765, and
played a major role in resisting Britain. It became independent in March 1776 and joined the United States of America. The
Revolution was bloody and hard fought in 1780-81, as the British invaded, captured the American army and finally was driven
out. In addition, SOUTH CAROLINA raised their own South Carolina Patriot Militia. However, "for the most part, South
Carolinians fought in South Carolina. South Carolina did provide State Troops for the Continental Army, but these South
Carolina Continentals again fought mostly on South Carolina soil... as a general rule, South Carolina did not send men to the
Northern Campaign to fight in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or other states - they simply had enough "fighting" going on at home
and could not afford to send men elsewhere." Carolina.com
"The population of the South Carolina "backcountry" and "upcountry" increased tremendously in the 1760s and early 1770s,
partly due to the finalization of the NC/SC Border Survey in 1772 along much of the northern portion (still not completed until
1815). Considerable land that many folks had considered to be in North Carolina became part of South Carolina, and the
majority of these new South Carolinians were strongly pro-American in their sentiments. As the Patriots began to
consider breaking ties with England, the leaders in South Carolina wanted very much to get rid of the Anglican Church and its
"parish" system that was so pervasive in everyday life as well as pervasive in the way the province performed its governmental
duties. However, it was quickly determined that the "low country" people could not be convinced since it was so ingrained in
how business was transacted. Conversely, the backcountry and the upcountry never embraced the Anglican Church
and the "parish system" was never implemented." Districts and Parishes During the Revolution; The American Revolution
"In contrast to the Tidewater, the back country was settled chiefly by Scots-Irish and North British migrants who had quickly
moved down from Pennsylvania and Virginia. The immigrants from Ulster, the Scottish lowlands and the north of England (the
border counties) comprised the largest group from the British Isles before the Revolution... Given the differences in
background, class, slaveholding, economics and culture, there was longstanding competition between the Low Country and
Upcountry that played out in politics." Back Country, SOUTH CAROLINA, Wikipedia
LAND TRANSACTION
Before 1778 Adam, Mary and their three (3) children were living in St. Marks Parish, Camden District of South Carolina
(04 February 1778 purchase of land)
• The CAMDEN DISTRICT had its own militia, The Camden District Regiment of Militia.
• One officer of the The Camden District Regiment of Militia was Captain Philip WALKER. Philip WALKER was the
Justice of the Peace who on 01 Sep 1778 certified Adam's purchase of his 150 acre "Plantation" Homestead in Feb.
1778. Was it the same Philip WALKER?
• Additionally, John NISBETT and William NISBETT were a "Known Privates / Fifers / Drummers / Etc." of the Camden
District Regiment of Militia. There are one William NISBET and two John NISBETs who were members of the RCRPC
and buried in the cemetery. Were these RCRPC members also patriots in the The Camden District Regiment of Militia?
On 04 Feb 1778 -- during the American Revolution -- Adam purchased 150 acre homestead in "Rocky Creek in Chester
County Camden District and State of South Carolina, what today is Chester County, SOUTH CAROLINA.
• Adam purchased his 150 acre homestead from Benjamin MITCHELL of "Craven County & in the province of South
Carolina and District of Ninety Six (96)" There was a Benjamin MITCHELL who served as a patriot from the Fairfield
District, part of Nineyt Six (96) District; "Private Mitchell, Benjamin, SC 3rd Regiment, 1775, From Fairfield District, Served
under Capt. Thomas Woodward, In Militia 1779 and 1783, unit(s) unknown." Was this the MITCHELL who sold his land to
Adam?
• As mentioned above, one officer of the The Camden District Regiment of Militia was Captain Philip WALKER. Philip
WALKER was the Justice of the Peace who presided over Adam's purchase of his 150 acre "Plantation" Homestead in
early 1778. Was it the same Philip WALKER?
• John SANSOM was a Conveyance Witnesses to Adam's land purchase in 1778. Just three years later SANSOM was
killed as a patriot militia.
• Michael BLAIN, the second Conveyance Witnesses to Adam's land purchase in 1778, was also "a Revolutionary War
soldier." Not only did BLAIN witness the land transaction document, but he also delivered the document to the Justice of
the Peace WALKER.
CHURCH
In moving to his new Rocky Creek home, Adam became a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Many of the
members of this congregation had been driven from Scotland and Ireland by the British. In 1778, when Adam and family joined
the church, the RP Congregation was lead by Rev. William MARTIN.
• "William Martin.. was vocal in his opposition to the High Church (Anglican) authorities who openly discriminated against
the Presbyterians. The oppressed Presbyterians were subjected to excessive rent demands and when payment could not
made, the tenants were evicted. During this period, many agents were active in Northern Ireland, representing that South
Carolina was offering a bounty to settlers. Many of the poor and oppressed Scots-Irish had migrated to South Carolina. It
was during this time that Rev. Martin “received a call to Rocky Creek”, a small settlement in South Carolina...
The traditional story is that there many incidences of violence resulting from the conflict caused by the high rents and
evictions. Following one such incident, Rev. Martin preached a sermon calling for his entire congregation to accompany
him to South Carolina. In 1772, a total of 4671 families responded to Rev. Martin's call to South Carolina and around
twelve hundred Covenanters and others, including Roman Catholics, left Ulster under the leadership of Rev. Martin.
A total of 5 ships took the emigrants to the New Country." Reverend William Martin at Boyd Roots
• "When the Revolutionary war broke out, Rev. Martin was a strong supporter of the patriots. In 1780 he preached
another of his fiery sermons, reminding the congregation of the hardships that their fathers had suffered, that they
had been forced out of Scotland and again out of Ireland, had come to America where they were free men and
where they had built their homes and church. Now the British were coming and would once again drive them from
their homes. He told them that there is a time to pray and a time to fight and the time to fight had come. Immediately
after the sermon, two companies were formed under command of Ben Land and Captain Barbour. The next day they
joined the American forces fighting the British. For his efforts, the British burned the church and took Rev. Martin
prisoner." Reverend William Martin at Boyd Roots
DATA POINTS
• Per-war and at the beginning of the fight for independence, Adam lived in a SOUTH CAROLINA district, which raised it's own
militia. In the middle of the war, Adam moved further upcountry to an area even more patriotic.
• During the War, Adam purchased land from patriot(?) Benjamin MITCHELL, the transaction was witnessed by two patriot
militia, John SANSOM and Michael BLAIN, and the Justice of the peace was patriot Captain Philip WALKER(?).
• Adam became a member of the RCRP Church, established by Presbyterians driven out of Great Britain, lead by a fierce
patriot Rev. William MARTIN. Two RCRP Church members have been found on the list of the Camden District Regiment of
Militia, John and William NISBET(?).
EXTRAPOLATION
Adam EDGAR has yet to be found in the lists of American Revolutionary soldiers or militia. Not surprising or unusual
considering the record keeping during the War or the current age of original records; it is safe to consider that many fought
and/or supported the Revolution, whose names were never officially documented. Perhaps Adam was not a soldier for the
Patriots, but applied his trade as a tailor to support the Revolution, with his non-military contribution unrecorded. [Adam
In 1778 Adam, bought land from patriots and moved among strongly patriotic people; he would have even been in the church
in 1780 when Rev. William MARTIN summoned his congregation to fight for independence, during the particularly bloody
fighting of 1780-81.