General Francis MARION, the “Swamp Fox”^[1]

Abt 1732 - 1795  (63 years)

• Name	Francis MARION  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Prefix	General
  Suffix	the “Swamp Fox”
  Birth	Abt 1732	Goatfield plantation in St. John Berkeley Parish, Winyah, near Georgetown, South Carolina   [7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	His forebears came to America around 1690 when some 70 to 80 French Huguenot families came to South Carolina and settled in the wilds of our swamps. They were driven from their native France because of the persecution following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. He grew up and settled at Pond Bluff near Eutaw on the Santee. He was a skillful farmer growing, among other crops, indigo for which there was a ready foreign market. Indigo made a beautiful blue dye which was so popular. Promoting tourism in Clarendon County George, Carole Summers share area's Revolutionary War history This mural in Manning depicts the Chase to Ox Swamp. In November 1780, Francis Marion led the British on a 25-mile chase that ended at the Ox Swamp in Manning. At this point, according to many historians, the British gave up on trying to capture Marion. BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:00 am In a section of a mural in downtown Manning, Francis Marion kneels down, and the “Swamp Fox” is reflected back at him. BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM LEARN MORE Learn more about the Swamp Fox Murals Trail including where to find all the murals and Revolutionary War history: www.clarendonmurals.com BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com They aren't natives to Clarendon County, but George and Carole Summers have surely adopted the county as their home. Eat at a local restaurant, visit the library, drive around Manning, Summerton, Turbeville or Paxville, or even Google Clarendon County on the web, and you're bound to see the fruits of their labor. Combine George, a military history buff who is a retired colonel from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, and Carole, a retired educator, mix in their love for traveling, and you have a winning combination for tourism in Clarendon. "They should be called 'Mr. and Mrs. Clarendon County for Tourism,'" said Nancy Cave, archivist with Clarendon County Archives and History Center. "They were the only people realistically promoting tourism in the county for many years, up until recently." After retiring from Shaw, the Summerses moved to a lakeside home on Wyboo Plantation in Clarendon in 1994. Once they settled in Clarendon, they said they wanted to increase the county's profile as a tourist attraction off Interstate 95. "One thing that always comes up is: We have roughly 40,000 people roaring up and down I-95 every day. How do we get them off to spend a half day here or stay overnight in a hotel and eat a meal with you?" George Summers said. He said he wanted to attract people to Clarendon so they could eventually learn about Lake Marion, the fishing and the county's golf courses as potentially an end destination. Through their travelling of the West Coast for several years, the Summerses said they had discovered cities and towns that used mural programs as a tourist attraction. They said they thought it was a good idea, but they needed a theme for murals for Clarendon. A quick study of Clarendon's history, and they discovered American Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion fought in the county, which was then contained in the area known as St. Mark's Parish. Marion and his militia fought and won eight or nine significant battles in the county as part of the Southern Campaign of the war, George Summers said. Marion, the key Patriot leader in the eastern region of South Carolina, was coined with the name "Swamp Fox" by the British because he alluded their capture by traveling along swamp paths in the area. According to the Summerses and many historians, Marion is also known as one of the fathers of modern guerrilla warfare because he and his troops would rarely engage with enemies in head-on warfare. The "Marion Militia," as they were called, defeated many larger enemy groups with quick surprise attacks and also quick withdrawals from the field. Marion's victories are not as well chronicled as those of some other leaders in the war because other significant battles occurred in the same timeframe as his engagements - 1778 to 1781. The southern campaign of the war is often referred to as a "Forgotten History," many scholars say. As self-described "Francis Marion advocates," the Summerses set out to change that with the historical mural program. In 2000, their first mural was put in place. About 15 years ago, the retired couple formed a nonprofit organization called the Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society, and they started an annual symposium fundraiser to bring national attention to Marion, they said. About 10 speakers from across the U.S. - usually history buffs or college professors - present each year at the symposium, which is held at F.E. DuBose Center in Manning. Today, about 28 murals have been painted and are located on walls and structures in Manning, Summerton, Turbeville and Paxville. With a story board affixed next to all the murals, each tells a story about Marion, but not all depict battle sites, the couple said. Now, the couple also conducts historical tours of the murals and battle sites in the county. They get requests for tours about once a month and emails about every week, Carole Summers said. "It just keeps getting bigger and bigger," she said. A few years ago, they helped develop a Clarendon County Tour android app, which is free to download. The app contains all the history markers in the county, including the murals and battle sites. "It talks to you, too," George Summers said. The couple has also developed a website, www.clarendonmurals.com, which links to other smaller sites they've created, detailing the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina and Marion. Before the mural program, the Summerses' first creation to build interest and tourism in Clarendon was a monthly events calendar that can still be found in local restaurants, the library and numerous other places, they said. The calendar was started about 18 years ago, and they said they also got that idea from their own traveling. The wallet-size calendars are printed and emailed out every month, Carole Summers said. "We did that to build awareness that there's a lot going on here - both for the locals and visitors," George Summers said. "We are more than just a crossroads." The Summerses said they continue to travel and bring back home various ideas and "goodies" to help the community. Cave, of the county's archives and history center, boasts about the couple's work. "Basically, George and Carole see stuff other places and come back and bring it to Clarendon County, whether it's an app or a mural or something from out west," Cave said. "It doesn't matter what it is, if they think it can help Clarendon County." Along the way, the couple has taught many about Clarendon's history. Most think because the Civil War (1861 to 1865) had such a large impact on the South that - naturally - it must have been fought in the area. But it wasn't, according to historians. "Most people initially don't think of anything before the Civil War and about 1865," George Summers said. "We've converted a few Civil War fans to Revolutionary War fans." September, 1780: Francis Marion and his men defeat the British in the Skirmish at Black Mingo Creek POSTED IN: THIS MONTH IN SC HISTORY In 1780, the British shifted their strategy from fighting in the Northern colonies and focused on the South. They captured Charleston at the end of March and searched for established strongholds throughout the colony. Upon entering the Georgetown District, the Redcoats expected to find loyal subjects who would support their war effort. While they did find numerous Loyalists among the population, they also found many Patriots. Unhappy with the lack of loyalist support, the British began a campaign to punish local Patriots and others who refused to cooperate. In an effort to “strike terror into the inhabitants,” Colonel Banastre Tarleton travelled through the Black River region in August 1780 creating chaos amongst settlers. General Marion crossing Black Mingo from “The Life of Francis Marion” by William Gilmore Simms, 1858. While Tarleton’s actions of cruelty enraged locals, it was pale in comparison to the devastation inflicted by Major James Wemyss in the Georgetown District. Wemyss and his men burnt plantations and churches along their way to Black Mingo Creek. His aim was not only to intimidate Patriot supporters, but to gain control of the waterways and highways in the Black Mingo area. To aid in this effort, the British posted forty-six men at the Red House Tavern, an establishment near Shepherd’s Ferry on Black Mingo Creek. While the British mistakenly thought they had gained the upper hand, their acts of cruelty angered settlers and increased the ranks of the Patriot cause. In September, General Francis Marion returned to Georgetown District from an encampment in North Carolina. When he reached Lynch’s River, he was joined by Captain John James, Jr. and Captain Henry Mouzon. They brought with them the news that the British and Loyalists were camped at the Red House Tavern. Close to midnight on September 28, Marion and his men reached Black Mingo and crossed the bridge spanning the creek. Unfortunately, the noise caused by troops crossing the bridge awoke the Tory guard, who hastily readied for battle. Marion then divided his troops to flank the enemy and the fight ensued. Lasting only a half an hour, the battle was a clear victory for General Marion and his Patriot forces. The Patriots suffered two deaths and eight wounded while the British suffered three dead, one wounded, and thirteen captured. Map: Segment from An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina…by Henry Mouzon, 1775. After the encounter, the remaining British troops fled into the swamp and left behind a valuable cache of supplies that Marion quickly seized. Along with the supplies, it is said that General Marion also took possession of British Colonel John Coming Ball’s horse, renamed him “Ball,” and rode him throughout the rest of the war. The victory saw the forces under Marion gain complete control of the Black Mingo area and ended the British effort to establish strongholds in the Georgetown District. The victory at Black Mingo signaled a small but significant turning point for the Patriot cause in South Carolina.  [1, 8, 9]
  MILI	During the Cherokee War, he served as a volunteer soldier in a troop of provincial cavalry which was commanded by one of his brothers. In 1775, he was elected as representative from St. John’s Parish to the Provincial Congress of South Carolina in Charleston (South Carolina). From then on he took his stand against all tyrannical acts imposed by Great Britain upon the struggling colonies. He led backwoodsmen in a guerilla type of warfare. After the fall of Charleston the guerrilla tactics of Marion, Pickens and Sumter helped to make it possible for Gen. Greene in Camden (South Carolina) to drive the British from South Carolina to their defeat in Virginia. Known as the “Swamp Fox”he used his skillful maneuvers in an encounter at Tearcoat Swamp where he attacked a British encampment, throwing them into complete confusion. In another encounter on the Santee Road above Half-way Swamp near the High Hills, Marion demonstrated his military finesse in another Redcoat defeat. Among other victories in this vicinity, Marion and his loyal guerrillas are credited with the routing of Doyle near Willow Grove, which in now Lynchburg; the brilliant capture of Fort Watson on the Santee as well as those in other parts of the state. He has been described as a “latter-day Robin Hood.” His contribution toward the reality of independence won by the colonies in the American Revolution can never fully be told. the “Swamp Fox” of the marshes and lowlands On March 18, 2012, at the pull off on Highway 378 at Dunham Bluff Road in Marion County, South Carolina, “Marion’s Camp at Snow’s Island” marker was dedicated. This is was the marker says: During the American Revolution, Gen. Francis Marion (ca. 1732-1795) the most successful of the Patiot partisan leaders, made his camp and headquarters about 1.8mi. SSW on Snow’s Island. The island, named for settlers James and William Snow, is bounded by the Pee Dee River, Lynch’s River, and Clark’s Creek. Marion, called the “Swamp Fox”, led a S. C. militia brigade that camped on the island in the winter of 1780-81. In March 1781, with Marion and his men absent, Loyalists under Col. Welborn Doyle raided and destroyed the camp. Marion continued to frustrate British and Loyalist commanders until the end of the war. Sponsored by the Blue Savannah-Swamp Fox Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 2012, replacing a marker erected by the Snow’s Island Chapter, Children of the American Revolution, 1972.  [4, 6, 8]
  Occupation	Planter, General during Revolutionary War.  [7]
  _UID	8F9D02B7FF084A03A720C17AB668C8123387
  Death	27 Feb 1795	Pond Bluff, South Carolina   [10]
  Burial	Belle Isle plantation in St. Stephen Parish, South Carolina   [11]
  Person ID	I2561	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	7 Oct 2023

  
  

  Father	Gabriel MARION,   b. Abt 1690   d. 1747 (Age 57 years)
  Mother	Esther CORDES,   b. 1695   d. 1757 (Age 62 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1711  [10]
  _UID	A14D2A81EF3648F2800E01AA542C97004800
  _UID	A14D2A81EF3648F2800E01AA542C97004800
  Family ID	F912	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Esther (or Ester) VIDEAU,   b. 17 Sep 1737, Belle Isle Plantation Cemetery, Berkeley County, South Carolina d. 26 Jul 1815 (Age 77 years)
  Marriage	20 Apr 1786  [7, 12]
  _UID	DF3409FF03DD4E3F829787B6FB475AC23C73
  _UID	DF3409FF03DD4E3F829787B6FB475AC23C73
  Family ID	F1662	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Feb 2000

  
  

• Notes

  At Belle Isle plantation, St. Stephen’s Parish, Berkeley County, the former home of Gabriel Marion, an elder brother of General Francis Marion, there is a burial ground less than one hundred yards from the old residence that is now fast disintegrating. General and Mrs. Marion, who had no children, resided on this plantation for some time prior to General Marions’ death. They are both buried in this burial ground, and, of all of those to whom tombstones stand there, only one preceded General Marion to the grave. Belle Isle is situated on the east side of and about a mile from the old road paralleling the Santee River on its south side, and about halfway between Eutaw Springs and the town of St. Stephen’s. It is about eight miles north of the intersection of the above described road with the old road from Monck’s Corner and Biggin Church to Murray’s Ferry, where the great new Murray’s Ferry Bridge spans the Santee. After General Marion’s death his family erected a brick tomb, similar to that which is still over the grave of Mrs. Marion, and covered it with a recumbent marble slab which bore the following inscription: Sacred to the Memory of BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRANCIS MARION, Who departed this life on the 27th of February 1795, in the sixty-third year of his age, Deeply regretted by all his fellow-citizens. History will record his worth and rising generations embalm his memory as one of the most distinguished PATRIOTS AND HEROES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION which elevated his native Country to Honour and Independence and secured to her the blessings of Liberty and Peace. This tribute of veneration and gratitude is erected in commemoration of the noble and disinterested virtues of the citizen and the gallant exploits of the soldier who lived without fear and died without reproach. In February, 1889, The News and Courier, of Charleston, published a communication calling attention to the fact that a tree had fallen across the tomb of General Marion and broken the memorial slab. In 1892 the late Mr. William A. Courtenay, who was ever ready to promote interest in the history of South Carolina and to preserve the sources thereof, took the Condition of the tomb up with Governor Tillman, who presented the matter to the General Assembly in his annual message. Under the provisions of a Joint Resolution, an appropriation of six hundred dollars was mdke “for the repairing or replacing the tomb of General Marion, and suitably inscribing the same.” The governor was authorized to call for bids and place the contact for the work. A solid granite stone about seven feet long, four feet wide and six feet high was secured to replace the old stone. Bronze panels were let into the eastern and western faces thereof. On the east panel was a reproduction of the inscription on the broken stone. On the west panel beneath the seal of a South Carolina was: To preserve to posterity this burial place of an honored son THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Replaces the crumbling and broken Tomb nearly a century old with this enduring memeorial cut from her own granite hills. ESTO PER PETUA 1893. On the north end of the stone is cut 1732, the supposed year of General Marion’s birth, and on the south end 1795, the year of his death. (*Note- If Marion had been born at any time between January 1, and February 26, 1733, he would have been in the sixty-third year of his age on the latter date, so that it cannot be stated with certainlty that he was born in 1732. The City Gazette, or Daily Advertiser, of Charleston, for Tuesday, March 3, 1795, announded the death of General Marion “on Thursday last,” which would have made the date February 26th.) The new stone was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies, May 20, 1893. The following is the will, in part, from General Francis Marion and dated 16 Jul 1792. “I give the use of all my estate, both real and personal property, to my said wife, Mary Esther Marion, during her widowhood, after her widowhood or death, this part of my estate I give away the manner following, in case my nephew, Francis Marion Dwight, shall always take upon him the name of Francis Marion only and leave out entirely the name of Dwight by record or other ways, I then adopt him as my son by the name of Francis Marion, and do give and bequeath unto him, my adopted son, Francis Marion, all and singular both real and personal estate after my wife’s widowhood or death, when he comes to the age of 21 years.....” On page 224 under Palmer Family--John Gendron Palmer married Catherine Couturier Marion, daughter of Francis Marion Dwight and Harriet Kirk, his second wife. Promoting tourism in Clarendon County George, Carole Summers share area's Revolutionary War history This mural in Manning depicts the Chase to Ox Swamp. In November 1780, Francis Marion led the British on a 25-mile chase that ended at the Ox Swamp in Manning. At this point, according to many historians, the British gave up on trying to capture Marion. BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Thursday, March 15, 2018 6:00 am In a section of a mural in downtown Manning, Francis Marion kneels down, and the “Swamp Fox” is reflected back at him. BRUCE MILLS / THE SUMTER ITEM LEARN MORE Learn more about the Swamp Fox Murals Trail including where to find all the murals and Revolutionary War history: www.clarendonmurals.com BY BRUCE MILLS bruce@theitem.com They aren't natives to Clarendon County, but George and Carole Summers have surely adopted the county as their home. Eat at a local restaurant, visit the library, drive around Manning, Summerton, Turbeville or Paxville, or even Google Clarendon County on the web, and you're bound to see the fruits of their labor. Combine George, a military history buff who is a retired colonel from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, and Carole, a retired educator, mix in their love for traveling, and you have a winning combination for tourism in Clarendon. "They should be called 'Mr. and Mrs. Clarendon County for Tourism,'" said Nancy Cave, archivist with Clarendon County Archives and History Center. "They were the only people realistically promoting tourism in the county for many years, up until recently." After retiring from Shaw, the Summerses moved to a lakeside home on Wyboo Plantation in Clarendon in 1994. Once they settled in Clarendon, they said they wanted to increase the county's profile as a tourist attraction off Interstate 95. "One thing that always comes up is: We have roughly 40,000 people roaring up and down I-95 every day. How do we get them off to spend a half day here or stay overnight in a hotel and eat a meal with you?" George Summers said. He said he wanted to attract people to Clarendon so they could eventually learn about Lake Marion, the fishing and the county's golf courses as potentially an end destination. Through their travelling of the West Coast for several years, the Summerses said they had discovered cities and towns that used mural programs as a tourist attraction. They said they thought it was a good idea, but they needed a theme for murals for Clarendon. A quick study of Clarendon's history, and they discovered American Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion fought in the county, which was then contained in the area known as St. Mark's Parish. Marion and his militia fought and won eight or nine significant battles in the county as part of the Southern Campaign of the war, George Summers said. Marion, the key Patriot leader in the eastern region of South Carolina, was coined with the name "Swamp Fox" by the British because he alluded their capture by traveling along swamp paths in the area. According to the Summerses and many historians, Marion is also known as one of the fathers of modern guerrilla warfare because he and his troops would rarely engage with enemies in head-on warfare. The "Marion Militia," as they were called, defeated many larger enemy groups with quick surprise attacks and also quick withdrawals from the field. Marion's victories are not as well chronicled as those of some other leaders in the war because other significant battles occurred in the same timeframe as his engagements - 1778 to 1781. The southern campaign of the war is often referred to as a "Forgotten History," many scholars say. As self-described "Francis Marion advocates," the Summerses set out to change that with the historical mural program. In 2000, their first mural was put in place. About 15 years ago, the retired couple formed a nonprofit organization called the Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society, and they started an annual symposium fundraiser to bring national attention to Marion, they said. About 10 speakers from across the U.S. - usually history buffs or college professors - present each year at the symposium, which is held at F.E. DuBose Center in Manning. Today, about 28 murals have been painted and are located on walls and structures in Manning, Summerton, Turbeville and Paxville. With a story board affixed next to all the murals, each tells a story about Marion, but not all depict battle sites, the couple said. Now, the couple also conducts historical tours of the murals and battle sites in the county. They get requests for tours about once a month and emails about every week, Carole Summers said. "It just keeps getting bigger and bigger," she said. A few years ago, they helped develop a Clarendon County Tour android app, which is free to download. The app contains all the history markers in the county, including the murals and battle sites. "It talks to you, too," George Summers said. The couple has also developed a website, www.clarendonmurals.com, which links to other smaller sites they've created, detailing the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina and Marion. Before the mural program, the Summerses' first creation to build interest and tourism in Clarendon was a monthly events calendar that can still be found in local restaurants, the library and numerous other places, they said. The calendar was started about 18 years ago, and they said they also got that idea from their own traveling. The wallet-size calendars are printed and emailed out every month, Carole Summers said. "We did that to build awareness that there's a lot going on here - both for the locals and visitors," George Summers said. "We are more than just a crossroads." The Summerses said they continue to travel and bring back home various ideas and "goodies" to help the community. Cave, of the county's archives and history center, boasts about the couple's work. "Basically, George and Carole see stuff other places and come back and bring it to Clarendon County, whether it's an app or a mural or something from out west," Cave said. "It doesn't matter what it is, if they think it can help Clarendon County." Along the way, the couple has taught many about Clarendon's history. Most think because the Civil War (1861 to 1865) had such a large impact on the South that - naturally - it must have been fought in the area. But it wasn't, according to historians. "Most people initially don't think of anything before the Civil War and about 1865," George Summers said. "We've converted a few Civil War fans to Revolutionary War fans." September, 1780: Francis Marion and his men defeat the British in the Skirmish at Black Mingo Creek POSTED IN: THIS MONTH IN SC HISTORY In 1780, the British shifted their strategy from fighting in the Northern colonies and focused on the South. They captured Charleston at the end of March and searched for established strongholds throughout the colony. Upon entering the Georgetown District, the Redcoats expected to find loyal subjects who would support their war effort. While they did find numerous Loyalists among the population, they also found many Patriots. Unhappy with the lack of loyalist support, the British began a campaign to punish local Patriots and others who refused to cooperate. In an effort to “strike terror into the inhabitants,” Colonel Banastre Tarleton travelled through the Black River region in August 1780 creating chaos amongst settlers. General Marion crossing Black Mingo from “The Life of Francis Marion” by William Gilmore Simms, 1858. While Tarleton’s actions of cruelty enraged locals, it was pale in comparison to the devastation inflicted by Major James Wemyss in the Georgetown District. Wemyss and his men burnt plantations and churches along their way to Black Mingo Creek. His aim was not only to intimidate Patriot supporters, but to gain control of the waterways and highways in the Black Mingo area. To aid in this effort, the British posted forty-six men at the Red House Tavern, an establishment near Shepherd’s Ferry on Black Mingo Creek. While the British mistakenly thought they had gained the upper hand, their acts of cruelty angered settlers and increased the ranks of the Patriot cause. In September, General Francis Marion returned to Georgetown District from an encampment in North Carolina. When he reached Lynch’s River, he was joined by Captain John James, Jr. and Captain Henry Mouzon. They brought with them the news that the British and Loyalists were camped at the Red House Tavern. Close to midnight on September 28, Marion and his men reached Black Mingo and crossed the bridge spanning the creek. Unfortunately, the noise caused by troops crossing the bridge awoke the Tory guard, who hastily readied for battle. Marion then divided his troops to flank the enemy and the fight ensued. Lasting only a half an hour, the battle was a clear victory for General Marion and his Patriot forces. The Patriots suffered two deaths and eight wounded while the British suffered three dead, one wounded, and thirteen captured. Map: Segment from An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina…by Henry Mouzon, 1775. After the encounter, the remaining British troops fled into the swamp and left behind a valuable cache of supplies that Marion quickly seized. Along with the supplies, it is said that General Marion also took possession of British Colonel John Coming Ball’s horse, renamed him “Ball,” and rode him throughout the rest of the war. The victory saw the forces under Marion gain complete control of the Black Mingo area and ended the British effort to establish strongholds in the Georgetown District. The victory at Black Mingo signaled a small but significant turning point for the Patriot cause in South Carolina. [1, 9, 10, 13]

  
  

• Sources

  [S25808] Promoting tourism in Clarendon. [S4663] This year’s symposium highlights vital battles. [S4664] Pee Dee residents want trail to honor Swamp Fox. [S6901] Beth Ann Klosky, (Sandlapper Press, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina), page 13. [S9731] Huguenot families, estates subject at Genealogical Society. [S18413] “Marion’s Camp at Snow’s Island” Marker Dedication. [S47] Page 477. [S3571] Francis Marion was a colorful, daring hero. [S31276] This Month in S.C. History - September 1780: Francis Marion and his men defeat the British in the Skirmish at Black Mingo Creek. [S39] . [S47] Page 479. [S64] simons gedcom - received by e-mail. [S112] .