Page:The Stephenson Family (1906).pdf/24



Anyone who understands the meaning of Presbyterianism would know where to find such a man. He joined Captain Barber's company. Whenever there was a fight to be made with the British and Tories, he was ready. He and Ben Rowan, a daring and gallant soldier, would, by permission of their officers, take a squad of resolute men and raid into the Whig-deserted country on Rocky Creek, in Chester County, South Carolina, and inquire of the widows and wives of Whig soldiers for the names of any Tories who had been depredating among them. When they had learned the names of such Tories, they would say, "We will send them up to a higher court for trial," meaning they would hang them. Many soldiers on both sides were hung in Chester and York counties. I saw during the past summer, a few miles south of Richburg, the spot where a brave young man, Joseph Stroud, son of William Stroud, was hung for fighting for liberty. The British pinned a card to his clothing warning the country that if anyone took down the corpse the same would suffer a like penalty. At night a young lady of the neighborhood took with her a negro man and took down young Stroud's body and decently buried it. Honor to the memory of that brave, noble young lady. I felt like I was on sacred ground when contemplating the situation. The Strouds, descendants of this young