ROBERT ANDERSON (Grave), Pickens County, SC a.k.a. > Version: 3.0 Effective: 28-Jun-2006 Text File: P257.TXT Image Folder: P257 ******************************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the recording contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the following USGenWeb coordinator with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn (visit above website) SCGenWeb "Golden Corner" Project Coordinator Anderson: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scandrsn/ Oconee: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Pickens: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scpicke2/ DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Mar-2005 GPS MAPPING .... : ____________ at ____________ in _______ HISTORY ........ : Noted IMAGES ......... : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Mar-2005 RECORDING ...... : Noted ******************************************************************************** CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ It's assumed that Robert Anderson's plantation was located in what is current day Oconee county. Latitude N x Longitude W CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ James Anderson was born in Augusta County, Virginia, on March 16, 1747, a son of John and Jean Anderson of Augusta County, Virginia. Both parents were of Scotch-Irish descent. James Anderson was one of four brothers who served as military officers during the War of Independence, and he fought with Virginia troops. The other brothers were: (1) Robert Anderson (5 Nov 1741 - 9 Jan 1813), who migrated from Virginia to South Carolina before the war and then served with distinction to the rank of colonel under Andrew Pickens (2) Andrew Anderson; and (3) William Anderson (1750-1817), who moved to Kentucky where he settled in Fayette County and died there May 22, 1817, in Jessamine County. (The widely circulated claim that this Captain William Anderson migrated to South Carolina after the War of Independence has been found to be false. By: Dr. Charles H. Busha o----------o ( Note: See Corps of Engineers Contract Z-2677-C - THEY are the ones who moved Robert Anderson's grave. ) The reason General Anderson was not buried here, it was said rains had flooded the Seneca River and they could not cross over. He was buried on a knoll three hundred yards from his house, which was on the west banks of the river. I visited his grave. The D.A.R.'s have erected a beautiful monument and stone wall enclosure. Just three hundred yards South is where once stood his large colonial home. Some of the old trees are still standing and are beautiful. Some maples, although they appear to be of a younger growth are also standing in the yard. A cottage has been built on the foundation. This is on the west bank of the Seneca River. It is not so beautiful as the one on which Gen. Andrew Pickens' Home stands, but it must have been very impressive, with its sixty foot front, colonial style home; with a maple grove leading to the river. His son, Robert Anderson the II lived with him after his first wife died and reared his large family of 10 children in this home. Robert Anderson the III was the only son of the third child. I will later give an account of their family life, written by Caroline Anderson's daughter Martha Pickens Halsey. This was given to me by Cornelia Anderson Cole, her niece. She lived with her Aunt Caroline, whose husband Rev. J. Leroy Halsey, at his death was professor in McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago. This sketch was also published in the Walhalla Courier at Walhalla, S.C. in 9/5/34. It was typical of life in the South in the days of slavery. On the East side of the Seneca River still stands the home of General Andrew Pickens, built soon after the Revolutionary War. Here he and his wife, Rebecca Calhoun, reared their fine and distinguished family. I found in an old scrapbook (which I will give later) a story of how they met and later of their romance. The house is built on a knoll, surrounded by large trees. It is a beautiful location. The large cedar tree still stands under which he was sitting reading his mail when he fell asleep; ending a life that was one of the most outstanding in American history. Someone of note said why were not Gen. Andrew Pickens and Gen. Robert Anderson given more honor and the praise they so justly deserved, in American History. Then answered: because the historians were for England and kept covered up all they could of their great service to their country. They came together from Virginia before the Revolutionary war and though not any kin, were life long inseparable friends. They both had a part in the treaty and settlement with the Cherokee Indians. This treaty was signed under an old oak tree near where their homes in after years were built. I saw the knoll where the old tree which had fallen today, had stood. The place is marked by the D.A.R. Each General received a large amount of land along the banks of the Seneca River, Near Pendleton, for their valiant service and peaceful settlement, which it is said was never broken. Anderson and Pickens Counties were named for them. We took pictures in 1948 of the location where the Ezekiel Pickens home stood. The house long ago had burned to the ground. It is a very beautiful site, over looking the Old Stone Church. I loved the very ground for it was here my mother spent so much of her childhood and on into young womanhood. It was said Ezekiel inherited the bulk of his father's property which was very large along the fertile valley of the Seneca River. He died a very young man in 1813, leaving the property to his wife, two sons and Mary Barksdale, his only daughter. (She was my Mother's mother) her part must have been considerable. I got this impression from several clippings from an old file: I quote one deed 10/9/1862 Estate of Ezekiel Pickens, conveyed to George Cherry 1182 acres, on east side of the Seneca River. This includes the old Andrew Pickens home. I was on this beautiful piece of property. The large fine old home is still intact and has been kept in good repair. I understood it has been sold to Clemson College. One of the teachers was living there and offered to show us through. I regret I did not do so, but we took pictures and found the outside grounds very beautiful and interesting. There was the Tommasee home and lands but I did not see that. It also had been sold. I also found that Elizabeth Barksdale Pickens inherited considerable wealth from her father and mother, George and Mary Barksdale, who were very wealthy. He was a large plantation owner near Charleston. I also found a record of this portion of his will "where he made provision that her three children would inherit considerable property from his estate." I also got the following from the records: Deed 1858: "Eliza ( Elizabeth) Pickens to her son Thomas J. Pickens under a deed of trust consideration, love and affection for my daughter Mary B. Anderson, wife of Robert Anderson, assigned and transferred to me all his undivided right and title in real and personal property of late Ezekiel Pickens and in the estate of George Barksdale, not included in marriage settlement with Mary Barksdale Pickens (Anderson)." I saw from the church records, Robert Anderson and wife Mary B. Anderson took out their membership in the Old Stone Church in 1858. I had known before they moved to Sumpter, Alabama about that time and he founded a Seminary for young women at Meridian, Miss. The above Eliza Pickens died in 1859 then my mother went to Meridian to help her father in the school. Her mother had said in later years that two fortunes had slipped through her hands. I suppose these were the two she referred to. I had never known what went with her wealth and just found the above record by accident. SKETCH OF GENERAL ROBERT ANDERSON WITH GENEALOGY OF ANCESTORS QUOTED FROM THE ANDERSON INTELLIGENCER, WEDNESDAY, MORNING, FEB. 25, 1914 John Anderson and his wife Jean came from Ireland to Philadelphia, Penn. and thence removed to Stanton, Va., about 1735. There is mention of John Anderson and wife Jean together with William Pickens and wife and Isaac Pickens in Bolton's Scotch-Irish Pioneers, page 279. To John Anderson and his wife Jean were born among other children two sons, Robert Anderson and James Anderson who was Presbyterian Minister and was the first pastor in New York City. Robert Anderson married Ann Thompson November 6, 1765, and shortly thereafter removed to South Carolina and settled to what was known afterwards as Pendleton District. He was an officer in the Revolutionary War and rose from Colonel to Brigadier General and is now known as General Robert Anderson. He especially distinguished himself for his brave and valiant service at the Battle of Eaton Springs and the Battle of Cowpens, fighting in the front line. Gen. McGrady, in his history of South Carolina, says: "The distinguishing feature of the Battle of Cowpens upon the American side, was undoubtedly the work of Pickens and his marksmen, who was mentioned here as Captain Anderson but later, after the revolutionary war was over, was made Brigadier General for his valiant service. Now we see General Anderson with General Pickens march against the Cherokee Indians on the northern frontier of what is now known as Oconee County. They were commissioned to make a treaty of Peace with them, which was signed under and oak tree on the East side of the Seneca River. After the war was over he settled on his Cherokee lands, on the Seneca River which were given him for his part in the war and peaceful settlement with the Cherokee Indians. A County was named after him, also the County Seat. It is said this treaty was never broken. He built an imposing home, having a frontage of sixty feet. Here he brought up his family. His wife had a love of the beautiful, for in is said there was a profusion of lovely roses and other flowers surrounding the house, which fronted on an eighty acre tract of beautiful maples, which led down to the Seneca River. There were thoroughbred horses in the stables, in care of old Cato, the loved coachman, and the home always abounded in gracious hospitality. General Anderson's Estate consisted of 2100 acres of which 460 acres were his bounty lands. General Anderson and his wife had five children: Elizabeth Anderson married Samuel Moverick. Mary Anderson married Captain Robert Maxwell. Jane Anderson married Mr. Shaw. Annie Anderson married Dr. Wm. Hunter. Robert Anderson II married Maria Thomas, daughter of General Thomas of England who fought against General Anderson in the Revolutionary War. After his wife died, he married twice again. He died in 1813 and his will was probated January 9 of the same year. This was an unusual document. In minute detail he provided for the welfare of his slaves, reciting his desire they should never be sold from the place. Then he closed with the words: "And now My Blessed Redeemer do I, with a lively faith, lay hold of they meritorious death and suffering, hoping to be washed clean by the precious blood from all my sins. In this hope I rest and wait my call." It was the intention to bury his body in the Cemetery at the Old Stone Church, but on account of the flood of the Seneca River at the time he was buried on his plantation. He left the bulk of his estate to his son, Robert Anderson II. I should mention here, General Anderson served in the House and Senate of South Carolina and later his son, Robert Anderson II was his successor, having died at Columbia while fulfilling his duties. This sketch would not be complete without giving the romance of General Anderson and Ann Thompson, copied from "The Anderson S.C. Daily Mail." "The Daily Mail" send the following interesting reminiscence concerning Robert Anderson, the Revolutionary War Hero: "Col W. S. Pickens says that General Anderson came from Old Cambridge, where General Andrew Pickens made the first treaty with the Cherokee Indians, to survey the lands, leaving his sweetheart Ann Thompson behind. He stayed two years, during this time locating his home on the West bank of the Seneca River. The deliveries of mail there was few and far between, and not a word passed between them. She supposed the Indians had slain him and engaged herself to be married to another man. When General Anderson completed his survey, he started home to claim his bride. When about twenty miles from home, he stayed all night with a man who told him of the coming marriage on the morrow. Early the next morning he saddled his horse and went to see about it. There was an avenue from the road up to the house. Ann, with her bridesmaids was upstairs. Looking out of the window she saw him riding up and exclaimed "by my soul there comes Robert Anderson and I love his little finger more than the other man's whole body." Grabbing a shawl, she ran down the stairs as swiftly as her feet could carry her, met her long absent lover half way down the avenue. A little talk followed and the General Anderson turned his horse, she mounted up behind him and the wedding was performed nearer the foot of the hills than it might have been has he stayed away a day longer. Mention has already been made of the large colonial home he built two hundred yards west of the Seneca River. Here, he and Ann Thompson reared their family and after her passing, Robert Anderson the II married Maria Thomas and they too lived in the old home rearing their family and taking care of the large estate left by his father. THE OLD MASTER - GENERAL ROBERT ANDERSON TAKEN FROM THE WILL OF GENERAL ROBERT ANDERSON Copied from item in the Daily Mail of Anderson, S.C. edition of Sunday, Dec. 1, 1901, copied by C.P. Cole, Feb. 5, 1931 from original clipping in possession of Mrs. T. Bissell Anderson of Charleston, S.C. THE OLD MASTER "And whereas there are several old and decrepit negroes which are of little or no value but which must be supported while they live, vic: Mandy, Solomon, Old Cato and young Cato, Old Dido and Old Nancy. It is my wish these old and infirm negroes be supported and made comfortable in the plantations while they live. Therefore, it is my will that Ben Swaney, Cyrus, John, Jim (vix. Nancy's Jim), Salem, Joe, Martin Cato and Jeff (except as may be hereinafter directed) all men grown but Joe, and he is nearly so, and Dinah, Swaney's wife, Mourning, Martin Cato's wife, Affy, Carrie, Nancy, Peggy, her sister, and Tabby, Affy's oldest child, all women and girls, with their children (only those who have been otherwise disposed of by this instrument) and the offspring of the females, shall all remain upon; the plantation under the supervision and direction of my son, Robert Anderson. It is my will generally that none of the negroes bequeathed as above should be sold unless they should turn out to be the thieves and unless they can not be restrained by good treatment, friendly caution, admonitions and a merciful use of the rod of correction." The above is an extract from the Will of Gen. Robert Anderson, and it reads like the typical old Southern master, the old school, Christian gentleman. The whole tenor of this paragraph is that of a kindly, humane patriarch, solicitous for the future comfort and welfare of those who are dependent on him in their helpless old age. They have been his faithful servants all their days and he does not forget them in the days of their decrepitude. Did you ever read a more humane provision in a will? "It is my wish these old and infirm negroes be supported and made comfortable on the plantation while they live." And the humanity of the old master is further exemplified in his direction that none if the negroes bequeathed should be sold unless they turned out to be thieves, and only then upon the condition that they do not respond to discipline, or as he puts it, "Merciful use of the rod of correction," showing his firm belief in the wisdom of the wisest man who ever wrote. What a picture this presents of the relation of master and servant in contrast to the horrible caricature presented in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Gen. Anderson must have been a remarkably strong and sturdy man with deep religious convictions, as these characteristics crop out in every line of his will written in his own handwriting. His religious faith was of the Calvinistic order getting in him strong convictions and a tenacious clinging to them with Scotch Irish Pertinacity. He was a type, and a splendid one of the old Southern master between whom and his servants there existed almost the affectionate relation of a family household, something very nearly resembling the patriarchal households of the olden days of Abraham. The South was full of men of this type and it is no wonder that in the days of the Revolution the British found in them foreman whose unconquerable spirit they could not subdue. Born to command they made invincible leaders and themselves constituted rallying points which served to keep alive the revolutionary fires. The memory of such men is a priceless legacy to any country. General Anderson shows his wonderful faith in God by the way he closed his will, his final words are: "And now my blessed redeemer do I with a lively faith lay hold of the meritorious death and suffering hoping to be washed clean by the precious blood from all my sins. In this I rest and wait my call." By: Mitch Fincher o----------o Corps of Engineers Contract Z-2677-C ANDERSON Anderson County SW of Pendleton A tract within itself acquired from S. C. Daughters of American Revolution by Civil Action 2650 filed 10/22/59 5 graves relocated to C244 Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Pickens County, SC ---------- Unknown (5) Anderson, Robert (Col), b. 5-nov-1741, d. 9-jan-1812/3, rose to the rank of general 6 graves relocated to A004 Andersonville Baptist Church, Anderson County, SC ---------- Unknown (5) Meek, James, d. 1819 TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife Anderson's buried at the C244 Old Stone Presbyterian Church cemetery: ANDERSON, Conyers S., b. 14-jan-1904, d. 2-nov-1970 ANDERSON, Jane Reese Harris, d. 1806 ANDERSON, J.E., b. 27-jul-1847, d. 17-may-1922 ANDERSON, Jessie Valeria, b. 2-apr-1893, d. 9-aug-1915 ANDERSON, Keziah Pickens ANDERSON, Maria, b. 25-jul-1785, d. 9-nov-1836 ANDERSON, Mary Earle, b. 4-nov-1855, d. 21-oct-1913 ANDERSON, Robert, b. 5-nov-1741, d. 25-dec-1812