Updated:

5/29/20

 

Welcome to my Durham Genealogy site

I have created this site to share information that I have compiled over

the years with family members, relatives and friends.

I would like to extend special thanks to Rootsweb.com for hosting this

site over many years, as well as family members and relatives who have

provided me with a great deal of information regarding the Durham family.

I want to give a special thanks to the following people who have provided

me with a great deal of information over the years and have filled in the gaps where I

was missing family links.

John Durham- My father who inspired me to do the research with family memoirs

he gave me years ago, may dad rest in peace.

 Chris Durham- Through mail and phone calls Chris provided me with so much

material I would have never known without her help.

Doris Ross Johnston- Who provided me many missing family links in Fairfield

county of relatives I never knew even existed.

Richard Durham- Unrelated Durham who helped me distinguish different

Durham families living in Fairfield county in the 1700's and 1800's.

William Durham- Of Charleston who through messages and phone calls

provided me with a great deal of family information.

 

Click the link below to visit the Durham family database

Click the link below to visit the historical family members page

 

Click the link below for compiled historical data on Capt. Thomas Woodward

Captain Thomas Woodward (The Regulator)

 

Click the link below for compiled historical data on

Capt. Charnel H. Durham

Captain Charnel Hightower Durham

Click the link below for Richard Durham's research on Achilles Durham

In Search of Achilles Durham

Click the link below for Jo Ann Cooper Killeen's

research on Captain Thomas Woodward

Captain Thomas Woodward research

The following memoirs I am posting were written by Miss Marion Durham and Lutie M. Durham.

I have verified as many of the historical facts as possible from these memoirs and they were

proven 100% accurate. The rest of the stories were probably passed down by family through

many generations.

 

Captain Charnel Hightower Durham
(1753- 1836)



Captain Charnel Durham, the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia, and of English ancestry. Prior to the breaking out of the
Revolutionary War, he married Miss Nancy Eckles, of Virginia, and immigrated to South Carolina, settling in Fairfield County, near the
source of Dutchman's Creek. Here he devoted himself to the cultivation of lands, and to the various duties that confront the settler in a new
country, until the cry to arms against British oppression and cruelty resounded throughout the Colonies. Whereupon, determining to sacrifice
any and everything in his country's struggle which was truly and emphatically said to have tried men's souls・ he was ever at his post,
battling for his country's rights with a patriotism that never faltered, and a devotion that knew no diminution. Many are the anecdotes that the
written qualities of this meager memoir has heard in his boyhood days,illustrative of his soldierly qualities and the readiness with which he
undertook any duty. On one occasion it became necessary for his commander to send a dispatch. The undertaking was a hazardous one, as
the bearer must pass through the British outposts. The commander therefore called for volunteers, when Capt. Durham came forward and
signified his willingness to undertake the mission. Mounted upon a fleet steed, with his dispatch securely concealed about his person he set out
under cover of night to execute his perilous errand. Fortunately, just as he approached the outposts, a heavy rain began to fall. When the
pickets withdrew to seek shelter he passed through their lines, delivering his dispatch in safety. His horse's tracks had not filled
when the pickets resumed their post. At another time he was taken prisoner by a body of British and Tories. His rifle was taken from him
by a Tory whom he knew. Capt. Durham told him to take good care of it, as it was his favorite gun. The Tory asked him if he ever expected to be
allowed to carry a gun again. "Yes" replied Capt. Durham, When you will not be allowed to carry even a riding switch.・They then hurried
him off to their camp. Mrs. Durham, learning of her husband's capture and whereabouts, mounted her horse and taking her year-old baby in her
arms, set out to visit him. The distance was ten miles. When she reached the camp, a ring was made around Capt. Durham. His wife was not allowed
to enter it, and brought in to him. Taking it upon his knee, he fondled and played with it a while, then rose up and carried it out to its
mother, in spite of their threats, telling her to go home and never to come to visit him again while he was a prisoner. Her horse was taken
from her, and she had to make the journey home afoot, carrying her child. Subsequently, Capt. Durham was carried to Charleston where, after
remaining a prisoner for thirteen months, he and others were placed aboard a vessel to be transported to Halifax. This vessel was lying at
anchor a few miles from Charleston, and it was intended to make sail on the following morning. Sometime during the night Capt. Durham heard
something striking against the side of the vessel, which, upon examination, he found a small boat. Quietly awaking two of his
fellow-prisoners, to whom he made known his discovery, they determined to affect their escape. Noiselessly and without being seen, they
clambered down the side of the vessel and into the little boat. Quickly seizing the oars, they gently plied them until they felt themselves
beyond the reach of alarm, then with strong arms made stronger by thehope of liberty they pulled for the shore. This they reached before dawn
and, upon landing, found themselves in a marsh. Here they held a consultation to determine upon their best course of further procedure.
Agreeing that the chances of ultimate escape would be best sub servedthereby, they decided to separate and that each one should make his way
back as best he could alone. What became of his comrades, the writer is unable to say he does not even know their names, though he thinks one of
them was a Mr. Heyward. After years it was learned that one of the names was Hightower and they made an agreement that they would name one of
their descendants for each other so they would know they got away safely. Years later they heard of Durham Hightower in Georgia. Capt.
Durham, not having any more children had his grandson named Charnel Hightower Durham.

Capt. Durham himself, however, after a toilsome journey of some weeks, concealing him by day and traveling by night, reached home and
rejoined his command, where he continued actively to serve his country until her independence was assured and peace proclaimed. Then returning
to his farm he there spent his remaining days amid the quietude of his rural home and the endearments of the domestic circle, dying only after
he had transcended man's allotted time of three score and ten years. His wife survived him two years. Their remains were interred within the
garden adjoining the family mansion.

I may not be out of place to add just here that after the close of the war Capt. Durham recovered his rifle, and went to kill the Tory who
had dispossessed him of it at the time of his capture. The Tory saw him coming, jumped into his bed and feigned sickness. Capt. Durham walked
into his bedroom, showed him his rifle, asked him if he knew it, and then told him the purpose of his visit was to kill him. The Tory begged
most piteously for his life. His little children, too, entreated Capt. Durham to spare their father, telling him that their mother had died the
day before. Capt. Durham possessed a heart too tender to be unmoved by the tears and prayers of innocent childhood and so spared their father,
though he had just cause of vengeance, for this Tory belonged to a band who, during the war, had robbed and otherwise maltreated his wife.

Of the family of Capt. Charnel Durham there were two sons, John and Robert Winfield, and one daughter, Lucretia. Robert Winfield married
Miss Molsey Ross, of Fairfield, and Lucretia married Mr. John Ford, also of Fairfield.

He was a captain in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted July 1, 1774 and served for three years under Thomas Woodward, Richard Winn and Frank
Boykin in Col William Thompson's South Carolina Rangers. After this, and while engaged in recruiting service, he was captured in the spring of
1780 by the Tories and imprisoned at Charleston, South Carolina. While waiting on a prison ship to sail for Nova Scotia he made his escape 13
months later. In 1781 he served for 3 months as Captain of the militia under Col William Bratton, and 3 months as Captain under Col John Pearson
(Military Records, Bureau of Pensions - V.L.M. - W.F. 9418).
Source: John Crow and Faye Woodward




John Durham

John Durham was the oldest of Capt. Charnel Durham's children. He was a gentleman of culture and intelligence, received a legal training
and began the practice of his profession in the town of Winnsboro. About the year 1806 he was married to Cynthia, one of the three daughters of
John and Esther Woodward of Fairfield. His wedded life was a brief one, his wife dying in a year from their marriage, leaving an infant son,
John Woodward Durham. Mr. Durham was absent in Charleston on business at the time of her death. The loss of his young bride, whom he loved with
all the warmth and devotion of a noble and affectionate nature, was to him a crushing blow indeed. A deep and settled gloom seized upon him,
and, though at the advice of friends, he tried, amid change of scenery and new faces, to shake it off, yet these brought no balm to his wounded
spirit. As a result his own health rapidly declined, and in twelve months from her departure he too, was sleeping beside her in the grave.
Their bodies rest in the Woodward family cemetery, under plain mounds of earth, without tombstones or inscriptions.

John Woodward Durham

John Woodward Durham, the only son and child of John and Cynthia Durham, of Fairfield, was born on the 2nd day of December, 1807. Having
been left an orphan in his infancy, Aunt Mary Lyles (Marion), daughter of John and Esther Woodward and wife of Maj. Thomas Lyles of Fairfield,
took charge of him. Under her careful supervision and training he remained for some years, and afterwards was under the guardianship of
his grandfather, Capt. Charnel Durham, until he arrived at manhood's estate. Having inherited a competent fortune, he now took its management
into his own hands, devoting himself to the life of a planter. On the 19th day of March, 1829, he was married to Miss Margaret Daniel Turner.
Her father was William Turner. He came from Fredericksburg, V.A. to Fairfield and settled near Rocky Creek. Her mother was Charlotte
Woodward. She was the daughter of Rev. William Woodward, whose wife was a Miss Nancy Barrett, a lady of Huguenot extraction and of much culture
and polish.

As few incidents, worthy of recital, are likely to occur in the quiet and un-obtrusive life that of a farmer chosen by the subject we
are sketching, we have none to record. Suffice it to say that John Woodward Durham was a good citizen, a man of strict honor and rectitude,
and that in these respects he was swayed by principle and not opinion. In all the relations of life, he exhibited those noble and unseen
qualities of heart and mind, which, if more generally emulated by mankind, would make this a better and happier world. A prominent feature
of his character was his fondness for his kindred, whether near or remote. He belonged to that old school of gentlemen, now almost extinct,
who have been noted for their genuine hospitality and true politeness. His death occurred on the 21st day of January, 1858, in the fifty-first
year of his age. He sleeps in the Woodward Cemetery. A tombstone, erected by his wife, who still survives, marks the spot. John Woodward,
Charlotte Ellen, Francis Marion, Mary Lois, Eliza Woodward and Margaret
Ella. Cynthia Elizabeth married Dr. Samuel W. Bookhart of Richland
County. William Strother married Miss Martha Marvin McNulty of
Georgetown, S.C.; John Woodward, Jr. (now deceased) married Miss Mary
Mobley of Chester County; Charlotte Ellen married Mr. G.A. Woodward, of
Talladega, Ala.; Francis Marion never married, but was killed in the
late war, near Spotsylvania court house, V.A. ; in the 21st year of his
age; Mary Lois married Mr. William Eugene McNulty of Georgetown, S.C.;
Eliza Woodward married Capt. J.L. Wardlaw of Edgefield County; Margaret
Ella married A.J. Lamar of Fairfield.

Copied from the News and Herald of Winnsboro, S.C. dated April 9, 1901.

 

 

*Captain Charnel Durham of Revolutionary Fame*
*His Myrtle Covered Mound near Ridgeway*


The subject of this subject of this sketch is interred in the old family burial ground below Winnsboro, near Ridgeway. The property is now
in the possession of a Mr. Bulow. At the time of disposing of their property the family reserved the right to their graveyard. It is in a
stone's throw of the Big spring・that is the head waters of Big Dutchman's Creek. The graves are enclosed by a stone wall. On the
outside of the wall a deep ditch is dug, rather circular form. The bottom and sides are well matted with myrtle, giving to it the beautiful
appearance of a huge green trough. A mantle of myrtle lies tenderly on the graves as though to adorn homes of the dead who sleep beneath. The
wall was built and the ditch dug sixty years ago. And not a stone is displaced and no gully or wash from the trench kept intact by the myrtle
which is like the ivy that creepeth over ruins of old, creeping where no life is seen. It is a beautiful spot semi-circled by a fringe of
original forest. It was, in olden time, a part of the garden where so many of the oldest inhabitants were accustomed to bury their dead. On
the hill rising above the burial ground is the site where the old Durham house stood.

On Capt. Durham's tomb the following epitaph:

In Memory of Capt. Charnel Durham, an officer and soldier of the
American Revolution. Born 2nd July 1754, died 13^th April 1836. Aged 81
years, 9 mo., 11 days.

The companion grave is that of his wife, Nancy Winfield Eckles.
Nearby are the graves of his son and his grandson, Robert Winfield and
Joel Ross.

A few miles distant the Woodward's and Durham's lie interred in the
Woodward burial ground just below Winnsboro. Seeming to stand as
sentinel is the famous Anvil rock easily seen to the right from the car
window as you go south after leaving Winnsboro.

The first of the Durham's to arrive in this country came in the ship Confidence arriving at Old Point or Jamestown in 1721. Some of them
settled in Folkstone County, Virginia. I do not know whether Capt. Durham's descendants claim descent from his source or not. Capt. Durham
and his wife were both Virginians. Mrs. Durham was a near relative of Gen. Winfield Scott. Capt. Durham served in the Third South Carolina
regiment commanded by Col. William Thompson. He enlisted July 24, 1776. Capt. Durham had three children. John Durham married Cynthia Woodward,
granddaughter of Thomas Woodward, known in history as the Regulator. Robert Winfield married a daughter of Judge Abner Ross. I heard a
descendant of Judge Ross claim for him the distinction of being the first judge to preside in Fairfield. Lucretia married John Ford, son of
Nathaniel Ford, who came from Carolina County, Virginia.

A legend quaint and curious is told of how John Ford won the everlasting regard of his father-in-law. For some reason Capt. Durham
and his wife refused to sanctify the marriage of their daughter and a coolness existed for years after she left her father's roof to be the
wife of the man of her choice. Time proved that Lucretia was a better judge on this occasion than her father.

Many years after the war of the revolution the patriots gave a barbecue. Into their midst and uninvited there came the young son of a
hated Tory. Capt. Durham, then an old man, challenged his rights to be present. The young Tory replied insulting language and it soon became
apparent that a desperate combat was about to take place. Just then John Ford, well matching the Tory in courage and strength, ran up. He
suddenly interposed himself between his father-in-law and the Tory, striking the latter full in the face. The fight between them is
represented as terrible. They dealt each other blow after blow. At last they grappled, each trying to hurl the other down the deep rocky
hillside on which they fought. At last John Ford, fearing his strength was ebbing as the two were locked in each other's arms, were swaying to
and fro, suddenly dug his teeth into the cheek of his adversary and tore from it a bleeding morsel of flesh. The agonized Tory dropped his
antagonist at least he tried to do so. John Ford conquered not only the Tory, but his father-in-law.

Capt. Durham once fought a Tory on the banks of a river, the Tory sprang into the water, Capt. Durham followed him. They stabbed at each
other with their knives, a trail of blood followed them. The Tory was never seen again, Capt. Durham walked the face of the globe for many
years afterward. Once his Commander, wishing to send a dispatch to another American officer, called for volunteers. Of the five who offered
themselves, Capt. Durham was chosen. He had to pass through British lines. The undertaking was perilous. Just before he reached the British
outposts a sudden heavy rain descending probably saved his life. The acting picket at the time was a British officer, seeing the rain coming
up he ran into a house nearby to get his coat. As he did so, Capt. Durham dashed by. When the officer returned the horse's tracks were not
filled and were plainly visible.

After the war at a dinner in Charleston the officer who had been
detained there for some cause, related this story and ended by saying,
Before leaving America I wish I could meet that man.・Capt. Durham
arose, I am the man・ he said. He and the officer took each other by
the hand as if no bloody strife had ever been between them.

Aug. 10, 1901
Ms. Marion Mobley Durham


Note: Updated: 10/18/04
After a number of years I decided to perform genealogy research in an
effort to verify as much of the family memoirs as possible. My
ultimate goal was not to disprove or approve any of the content of these
memoirs, it was merely an effort to verify as much of the historical
facts as possible. With the exception of some simple misspelling of
names the genealogical information appears to be correct for the most
part. Concerning the stories of Captain Charnel Durham it will probably
never be known whether these were historical facts or Durham family
tales told around a warm fire on a cold winter's night. The stories
concerning Captain Charnel Durham may have come from William Ederington
since it was a known fact that William Ederington's father
".....volunteered (Revolutionary Soldier) at the age of sixteen under
Captain Charnel Durham..."(Ederington's History of Fairfield, p.67)
These stories were most likely passed down to William Ederington from
his father.

1- Captain Charnel Durham came to Fairfield, S.C. from Virginia in
1721 with his wife Nancy Eckles (Genealogical Archives)
2- The location of Charnel Durham's Cemetery is 100% accurate and
still exists today. (Personally verified)
3- I have nearly completed family genealogical research on the
family members mentioned in the memoirs and I'm very pleased with the
accuracy of the information contained within these sketches,
although just a couple remain unproven. (10/18/04)
4- Thanks to Doris Ross Johnston for noting the error of the
Marriage of Robert Winfield Durham to Mary Ross should be Molsey Ross
according to the archived will of Abner Ross on her site.
5- Note that Marion Durham mentions a Hightower Durham of Georgia as
being the possible origin of the Hightower name. This wouldn't be
correct, since the mother of Captain Charnel Durham is Sarah
Hightower. Let's remember that information was usually passed in many times
in those days by word of mouth and the name Hightower was
probably confused in the translation.
6- Part of this memoir was obtained from _William Ederington's
History of Fairfield _which was published around 1901 in the Winnsboro News
and Herald. This collection of memoirs was eventually published
in book form around 1960.
7- I have recently purchased a soft back version of _William
Ederington's History of Fairfield _and discovered that it does not
contain the
news articles from April 9th nor August 10th, 1901 so I was
unable to compare the original articles to these memoirs.
8- The original memoir mentions a Nancy Barett. The actual spelling
of the last name is "Barrett".
9- The full name of a "G.A. Woodward" mentioned in this memoir is
"Gustavus Aldolphus Woodward" of Winnsboro, Fairfield, S.C.
Thanks to other family researchers and the 1880 United States
Census of Selma, Dallas, Alabama I have added this family to the
genealogy database. The memoir states that G.A. Woodward is
".....of Talladega, Alabama" which would be correct since census records
indicate that this family moved from Fairfield, S.C. to the
vicinity of Talladega, Alabama between 1836- 1847 and at the time this
memoir
was written they were residing near Talladega. (10/18/04)
10- The full name of an "A.J. Lamar" mentioned in this memoir is
"Abraham Jones Lamar". Thanks to the hard work of the Lamar family
researchers I have added this family to the database. (10/18/04)
11- The full name of Capt. J. L. Wardlaw is James Lewis Wardlaw who
married Eliza Woodward Durham Dec. 18th, 1873 Fairfield, S.C.
"Genealogy of the Wardlaw Family" by Judge Joseph G. Wardlaw,
page 93: (11/18/04)
12- I have spent many hours of research in an attempt to verify the
relationship between Nancy Winfield Eckles and General Winfield Scott,
unfortunately there seems to be very little genealogical
information on General Winfield Scott on the web. (10/18/04)

13- (02/06/07) I've come across a pension statement taken from
Captain Charnel Durham at age 79 after the Revolutionary War. The stories
within this statement seem to coincide with the family
memoirs. The recorder of the statement notes that Capt. Durham was sick
at this time
suffering from some unknown illness or age related disease.
The full statement was added to the Captain Charnel Durham history page.






*Major Willaim Strother Durham*


William Strother Durham was born May 16, 1835 in Fairfield County, state of South Carolina. He attended school at Shirley's Institute,
Fairfield Co., conducted by John R. Shirley, and from this institute entered South Carolina College in the fall of 1853, graduating June 1856
with an A.B. Degree. He was a member of the Euphradian Literary Society. He taught in the rural schools for two years, prior to the war. At the
beginning of the war he enlisted in the Fairfield Fencibles and several months later became a member of the Congaree Troop, which became part of
the Hampton Legion Cavalry. At the reorganization of the army in the second year of the war, this cavalry was increased to a regiment, known
as the Second South Carolina Cavalry, M.C. Butler, Colonel. The Company of which he was a member was known as Company H. He served in this
regiment till the close of the war.

After the war he began teaching again and continued in this profession for about twenty-two years, teaching in the Blythewood Female
College, Blythewood, S.C., West Point Male Academy and Sumter Graded Schools. His health failing, he retired in 1882 to his old home in
Fairfield County and began farming, where he lived till his death on the 22nd of Nov. 1909. (He is buried in the Cemetery of Sandy Level Babtist
Church, Blythewood, S.C.)

"I enlisted in Winnsboro in 1861 in the Fairfield Fencible, commanded by Capt. James H. Rion, afterwards Col. We were drilled here
for several weeks and then ordered to Charleston, arriving there the evening before the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Here we received arms,
then we were aroused at the firing of the first gun on Fort Sumter and double quicked down to the wharf where we were put aboard a steam boat
and conveyed to Battery Point on the Stono River. Here we remained for a number of weeks, drilling every day and doing sentinel and picket duty.
Our Company, with a number of other independent companies, was put together, forming the Sixth South Carolina Infantry, of which our
Captain became Colonel. Lieutenant John Bratton succeeded him as Captain. After staying at Battery Point for a number of weeks we were
ordered to Summerville; while here there arose some dissatisfaction toward Col. Rion and he resigned the colonelcy and I, with a number of
his friends, quit the regiment and enlisted in the Congaree Troop, formed in Columbia and commanded by Capt. Thomas Taylor. We were soon
ordered to Virginia where we were put into camp of instruction at Ashland. Here were drilled every day by officers who had received their
training at United States Military Academy, at West Point. After drilling here for a number of weeks in saber exercises and cavalry
tactics we were ordered on to join the army, where we became part of the Hampton Legion Cavalry and here our soldier's life began in earnest,
doing camp and out-post duty and scouting. This life grew more and more arduous and strenuous as time advanced. I was in the Battle of Seven
Pines Seven Days・Fight around Richmond, Brandy Station, Gettysburg and Stuart's Raid into Pennsylvania. (Father dictated of a few lines. He was
very modest in every respect and cared nothing for publicity. You will notice that he says that he was taught at West Point Male Academy {West
Point and Sumter Graded Schools. He was President of the Academy and Supt. of the Sumter Graded Schools."(Major William S. Durham)

The Durham's were all Baptists as far back as I know about it. In
Fairfield County we attended Poplar Springs Baptist Church [No longer
there]. Father was senior deacon and teacher of the Bible class
[Composed of men and women]. Usually, we had family prayers when we were
growing up and I remember that he often asked God to help us to live
that when we reached the end of our earthly journey we could say with
Paul, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith.・Timothy 4:7


Ms. Lutie McNulty Durham

 

Below is an excerpt from an article written By Bob Dennis
Observer Rock Hill Bureau

Ridgeway, S.C.- There is a faint music about the place, an old
refrain in the wind that blows across the fields up the rise around the
house, moving the vines growing on the pillars and the hay that lays in
clumps on the veranda by the front door. In the air there is a low
singing from the fields, a sound of creaking cavalry saddles and voices
of soldiers in blue. In the exhausted days of the War between the
States, Gen. William T. Sherman stayed there on his way north from
Columbia. His troops looted and burned, leaving a bitter legacy and
memories of Southern women scurrying among the Yankee tents on the lawn
to gather discarded ears of corn for the children.

William S. Durham, Descendant of C. Hightower Durham of England,
Virginia and the Revolutionary War, built the place in 1848. He grew
cotton, raised children, rode his fields and rocked on his veranda until
he went away to war.

When it was over, he came back. The Durham place slowly awoke. The
cotton again grew green in the summer and white in the fall. Durham
children studied their primers on the third floor, romped on the wide
heart-of-pine floors and slid down the solid cherry banister. Children
and grandchildren grew up and moved away. Some like Dr. William Durham,
today a 63-year-old dentist, moved to Columbia where they still live.
The place passed out of the hands of the Durham's into the Owens family
and then to Ernest Crawford of Winnsboro. Crawford raised cattle on the
place and after a day of business in Winnsboro, would drive out to the
old plantation, get on a horse and ride across the fields. Crawford died
in 1969. The place passed to his heirs. One of them is Mrs. Forest
Hughes of Winnsboro.

It's almost a chore now to keep the place up,・Mrs. Hughes said.
You can't find anyone to help. It's getting so we don't know what to
do. We may have to get rid of it.・

The old place, a lonely windswept storage house for hay heaped to
the tops of the first-floor windows, is vacant except for 76-year-old
Robert Davis, who lives in an old tenant house facing up the rise. Davis
hunts squirrels in the woods and dozes in a rocking chair by an open
window. He is a retired tenant farmer and a veteran of The World War
One Army.・He is also the Onliest somebody left on this great
plantation.・The front of his house has been decorated by his children
with a pop-art exhibition of beer calendars, political posters, a
fluorescent light tube, a Christmas bow, a pair of gloves, a whiskbroom
and a package of cellophane-wrapped spaghetti. The decorations hang in
casual un-artful balance, the deteriorating leavings of a new
civilization. And up the rise is the decaying grandeur of another
civilization a pillared mansion filled with hay and with the faint music
of a time and a life that have gone forever.