Ninety-Six District, South Carolina
Ninety-Six is one of the original districts of South Carolina. It was
created in 1769 and existed until 1798 and comprised all the area of
the present day counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenville, Laurens,
Newberry, Pendleton, Spartanburg and Union. The county seat was
originally located in what is now Abbeville county and was called
Ninety-Six because it was 96 miles from anywhere else.
The early settlers were true pioneer stock. Many came from Europe
with literally nothing while others filtered down from Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and North Carolina. All faced the rugged backwoods country
and innumerable hostilities with Indians, the British and themselves
to build a home and make a better life for themselves and their
families.
Their loyalties were divided between England and the Patriot Cause
during the American Revolution. But whatever claimed their loyalty,
they were fierce in their devotion to it. By the time of the Civil
War they were not divided as a whole in which cause to support and
they served their state as admirably as had their grandfathers before
them. That their cause was not as just does not diminish their
love for home or their courage.
Nor should courage and strength be overlooked because it does not
occur on a battlefield. Some of the bravest acts of men and women
are those performed daily in the labor and pursuit of providing for
their families. The work of building a nation includes more than the
blood, sweat and victories of war. It also includes the blood, sweat
and toil of all her citizens; the building of homes and communities;
the raising of crops; and, the payment of taxes. All these things
build a nation and make it strong.
Yet, no nation on earth is stronger than its families and it is
families, such as those early ones in Ninety-Six, which have made
America strong, rich and blessed. We are the beneficiaries of their
work and sacrifices. To them we owe a great debt and to those who
follow we hold a great responsibility.
Our family has deep roots in Ninety-Six. We are descended from the
Cochroffs, Stills, Jollys, Smiths, Rottons, Rambos, Mocks, and
Wimbishes from whose labors, strength and courage we benefit. It
is my hope to further our knowledge of these families. Please,
browse through my pages and if you can correct or add data then I
would be grateful to hear from you.
Special thanks to Barbara Holmes, Shirley Evans,
Sheridan Randolph and others for their contributions.
LINKS TO OUR FAMILIES
Deeds
Census
Cochroff, Still
Church Records
Timelines
Wills and Probate Proceedings
Cochroft by Joan Berry
Cochroft of England and Virginia
Email corrections, additions, suggestions
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