Edgefield, South Carolina: The Devil's Bargain Murder Trial of 1850

March 1849. Workers searching the woods between Edgefield and Abbeville County, South Carolina, stumbled across a shallow grave. Inside, the decomposing body of a man. The coroner arrived, examined the remains, recorded his findings in careful detail, the clinical precision that shows up in death records of the era. Cause of death, a leaden ball shot from a gun or pistol by the hands of some person or persons unknown.

TIMELINE
1740: South Carolina's Negro Act of 1740 prohibited enslaved people from giving sworn testimony in court, especially against white defendants.
1839: The courthouse still stands today, a handsome brick building completed in 1839, designed by Charles Beck, associate of South Carolina's famous architect, Robert Mills.
1847: When Matilda's father died in 1847, his estate was divided among his children, and South Carolina's coverture laws created quite the deadly incentive structure.
1849: By October 1849, the case had generated intense public interest.
1850: On February 10, 1850, roughly four months after his conviction, Martin Posey was executed by hanging in Edgefield.

WHY THIS MATTERS
The story of Edgefield is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know.

Episode 181 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters

If you liked this: Episode 99 (West Columbia, South Carolina)

Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-history

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy