Cheraw’s Revolutionary War history remembered

From the Cheraw Chronicle, South Carolina: Cheraw’s Revolutionary War history remembered

More than 230 years after their death, British soldiers who perished in Cheraw during the American Revolutionary War will be remembered in a special service this November at Old St. David’s Cemetery.

What began as a conversation between Cheraw Mayor Scott Hunter and local physician Dr. Joe Newsom three years ago, evolved into extensive research for British natives and Cheraw residents Noel and Stephanie Briggs.

“In our conversation, Dr. Newsom mentioned that while Cheraw gave attention to the Civil War, our Revolutionary War history was also rich,” Hunter said. “That reminded me what I had always heard about the graves of the unknown British soldiers. With Noel’s and Stephanie’s British heritage, I knew they would be interested.”

Several books, with references to the graves of these soldiers, have been written, including “History of the Old Cheraws,” by Alexander Gregg, the rector of St. David’s Church from 1846 until 1859.

After Hunter approached the Briggs, requesting their assistance identifying the soldiers buried at Old St. David’s Church, Stephanie Briggs spent more than two years researching anything she could find regarding the British soldiers’ time in Cheraw.

The soldiers, from the Fraser Highlanders 71st Regiment of Foot, served in the army of King George III. Encamped in Cheraw during the summer of 1780, these men fought in more battles and skirmishes in both the Northern and Southern Campaigns than any other British regiment. Following the Fall of Charleston to the British in May 1780, Lord Charles Cornwallis ordered detachments from the Regiment to Cheraw. Arriving in Cheraw on June 9, 1780, the soldiers camped near the Great Pee Dee River, not far from Old St. David’s Church.

Searching the British Public Records Office in London as well as libraries and museums in the United States and the United Kingdom, the Briggs also made contacts with researchers in several other countries in their attempt to complete the task requested by Mayor Hunter. The Briggs confirmed that the original Commanding Officer of the Highlanders left the Regiment to return to England. He later died, after an illustrious career, and was buried in Westminster Abbey in London. However, the Briggs’ research indicated two officers and several men from the Regiment had indeed died from fever contracted in Cheraw during the summer of 1780. Unfortunately, neither the major who commanded them, nor the surgeon who treated the men, made any reference to the deaths of their soldiers, or their names, in their correspondence, probably due to the restrictions placed on them.

So while the names of the 71st Highlanders who died in Cheraw that summer of 1780 will forever remain a mystery, they will be commemorated at a special service to be held in the cemetery at Old St David’s Church on Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. At that time, a new headstone and markers at the graves will be dedicated, telling future generations more of the story about these soldiers of the Fraser Highlanders, who died with honor serving their King, far away from their Scottish homeland.

Also, during that weekend, there will be a “Round Table Workshop” held in the conference room of the Cheraw Police Department on Nov. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. At that time, researchers and historians from the organization, Southern Campaign of the American Revolution (SCAR), will meet to share information on the Revolutionary War in the southern states. This session will be free, and the public is welcome to attend, although space may become limited.