Biographical Sketch of Samuel Mayfield (1759-1837)

By Phil Norfleet

Introduction

Samuel Mayfield (1759-1837), a son of Robert (d. 1816) and Sarah Mayfield, was probably born in either Granville or Bute County, North Carolina on 23 May 1759.  About 1775, when he was in his early teens, Samuel and his parents removed to Ninety-Six District, South Carolina.  When the Revolution began, Samuel first served in the SC Whig Militia during the Cherokee War of 1776.  In 1779 he participated in the Battle of Kettle Creek; subsequently, in 1781, he served under General Nathaniel Greene during the siege of the British Star Fort at Ninety-Six.  Sometime during 1781, he relocated to Camden District.  In 1782, Samuel served as a quartermaster in Colonel Thomas Brandon's Militia Regiment and performed guard duty at Four Hole Bridge in Camden District.  Three of his brothers, John, Abraham and Edmond also served in the SC Whig forces during the War. One brother, Lieutenant John Mayfield, was killed by Tories in 1782; however, his other brothers survived the Revolution.

After the War, Samuel married Jane (Jean) Pinckney and became a planter, first in Fairfield County, then Union and finally in Pendleton County SC.  In 1825, Samuel and his son, Archibald Mayfield, removed to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, joining his brothers Edmond and Ezekiel (also known as Sugar) Mayfield.  Samuel Mayfield applied for a Revolutionary War pension in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama on 13 October 1832.  [See Pension File Number S16930]  His claim was allowed on 18 April 1833 with commencement of pension made retroactive to 04 March 1831.  For his service in the Revolution, Samuel received a pension of $26.66 per year, until his death in 1837.

Children of Samuel Mayfield and Jane Pinckney

The 1800 and 1810 Federal Census Reports for Samuel Mayfield indicate that he had at least two (2) sons and four (4) daughters. Unfortunately, I have information for only one son and one daughter. [The vital data concerning these two children has been obtained from the Mayfield - McDaniel Bible records as published in the book entitled "Some Georgia County Records - Miscellaneous Bible Records," Volume 8, pages 300-301.] These two known children of Samuel Mayfield and Jane Pinckney are:

1.  Archibald Mayfield was born 13 February 1794 in Fairfield County SC; he died 23 June 1835 in Alabama. Archibald married Tabitha Bennett about 1814 in Pendleton County SC; she was born 02 April 1798 in South Carolina and died 24 August 1842 in Alabama.

2.  Sarah Mayfield was born 30 June 1797; she died 19 May 1845. Sarah married Benjamin McDaniel in about 1822; he was born 16 December 1788.

Key events in the life of Samuel Mayfield

Based upon Samuel's sworn Revolutionary War Pension deposition, the official records of South Carolina, and knowledge of the historical events cited, several key events in the life of Samuel Mayfield may be reconstructed as follows:

23 May 1759 - Samuel is born in North Carolina, near the Virginia border.  He believes it was in the County of Halifax. [Phil Norfleet's Comment:  There are no known records of any Mayfields living in Halifax County during the 18th century; however, there are records of Mayfields living in the nearby Counties of Granville (formed 1746) and Bute (formed from Granville in 1764)]

In Ninety-Six Judicial District SC:

About 1775 - Samuel and his parents, Robert and Sarah Mayfield, remove to South Carolina and settle in an area of Ninety-Six District which later became Union County.

July 1776 - When in his 17th year, Samuel is drafted into the South Carolina Militia for a two-month tour against the Cherokees.  He served under the command of Captain Nathaniel Jeffries and Lieutenant John Thompson.  [Phil Norfleet's Comment:  This war with the Cherokees began in early July 1776 and essentially ended with the defeat of Chief Oconostata in October 1776]

January 1779 - Samuel is drafted for a three-month tour and is a member of the Whig forces sent to reconquer Savannah, Georgia from the British.  During this tour, Samuel serves under the command of Colonel Andrew Pickens and Captain Gilky. Although achieving some success at the Battle of Kettle Creek, the expedition fails to drive the British from Georgia.

May 1781 - Samuel is again drafted for a three-month tour and is part of the forces, under the command of General Nathaniel Greene, that lay siege to the British Star Fort at Ninety-Six.  Samuel is a member of the company led by Captain Montgomery, Lieutenant Montgomery and Ensign Hugh Taylor.  After a considerable amount of fierce fighting, the siege ultimately proves unsuccessful and Greene abandons the siege, departing the Fort on 20 June 1781.  Although the British successfully broke the siege of Ninety-Six, they no longer had sufficient troops to garrison the SC Back Country; accordingly, they demolished the Star Fort and withdrew from the area on 10 July 1781.

In Camden District SC:

About August 1781 - After completion of the above cited three-month tour, Samuel Mayfield removes to Camden District, settling in an area which later became Fairfield County.

1782 - Samuel is drafted for a two-month tour, in Colonel Thomas Brandon's regiment, to perform guard duty at Four Hole Bridge in Camden District.  An Audited Account, Claim Number 4861A, for 44 days service as a Quartermaster at Four Hole Bridge, still exists in the files of the SC State Archives in Columbia.

In Fairfield County, Camden District SC:

1785:  Camden Judicial District is divided into counties.  The area in which Samuel and his father, Robert Mayfield (d. 1816), resided becomes part of Fairfield County.

03 January 1787:  Samuel Mayfield receives a State of South Carolina Indented Certificate for five pounds, two shillings, one penny Sterling, plus seven shillings, one penny for one year's interest, payable on 03 January 1788, for militia duty " ... as Quarter Master Sergeant forty-two days in Col. Brandon's Regiment at Four Holes ... " during the Revolution. [See Accounts Audited of Claims Growing Out of the Revolution in SC, Indent File #4861A.]

1790:  Samuel appears in the 1790 Federal Census for Fairfield County SC.

20 February 1794: Mortgage between Samuel Mayfield and Moses Pagit for 200 pounds is executed. Security for mortgage is a 250-acre tract of land that Samuel now lives upon. Samuel signs by making his mark. [See Fairfield County SC Deed Book K, page 381.]

17 March 1794: Abraham Mayfield and Dorcas Mayfield, his wife, convey to Samuel Mayfield (both of Fairfield County SC), for 10 pounds, a 150-acre tract of land "on the waters of Rocky Creek." This land was originally granted to Abraham Mayfield on 21 January 1785. Both Abraham and Dorcas sign by making their mark. This Abraham Mayfield (d. 1826) is the brother of Samuel. The indenture is witnessed by Robert Mayfield and Thomas May and was recorded on 16 December 1795. [See Fairfield County SC Deed Book K, pages 83-84.]

16 August 1799: Samuel Mayfield conveys to Moses Pagit, for 40 pounds, a 120-acre tract of land on north side of Broad River on a branch called Rock Creek. Indenture is signed by Samuel Mayfield and Jean, his wife. Both sign by making their marks. Deed was recorded on 23 August 1799. [See Fairfield County SC Deed Book M, pages 128-129.]

In Union County, Ninety-Six District SC:

After the sale of his land in Fairfield County SC to Moses Pagit, Samuel Mayfield and his family seem to have relocated to Union County SC.

1800: The Union County SC Federal Census for 1800 lists a Samuel Mayfield in a household consisting of 1 white male age 26-45, 2 white males under age 10, 1 white female age 26-45, 2 white females age 10-16 and 2 white females under age 10.

In Pendleton County, Ninety Six District SC:

By 1810, Samuel and his brothers, Edmond and Ezekiel (Sugar) Mayfield seem to have removed to Pendleton County SC.

1810:  The 1810 Federal Census for Pendleton District SC lists Samuel Mayfield in a household containing: 1 WM 45 or older, 1 WM 26-45, 1 WM 10-16, 1 WF 45 or older, 1 WF 16-26, 1 WF 10-16, and 1 WF under age 10.

1820:  Samuel appears in the 1820 Federal Census for Pendleton County SC.

In Tuscaloosa County AL:

October 1825:  Samuel, and the family of his son, Archibald Mayfield, leave SC and settle in Tuscaloosa County, AL.

13 October 1832:  Samuel Mayfield submits a sworn declaration as part of an application for a Federal Government pension for his service during the Revolutionary War.  [See Revolutionary War Pension Application, File Number S16930.]

Link to Samuel Mayfield's Pension Application

1837:  Samuel reportedly died in either Tuscaloosa County AL or in the adjacent county of Bibb.  [See Louise Milam Julich, Rooster of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots in Alabama, published by the AL DAR]