Benjamin Eddins (b1735)
Painting by Archibald M. Willard |
Revolutionary War Soldier and Planter
Notes:
• Soldier in Revolutionary War: Private, South Carolina - Patriot Database
• Son of Theophilus and Elizabeth Eddins, of Virginia, who later moved to Edgefield, the family being originally from England. - Alabama Biography
• Married Judith Norris about 1758 in Lunburg, VA and the couple settled near Cambridge or "Old Ninety-Six," South Carolina. - Ancestry.com
• "By industry, prudence and economy, Mr. Eddins accumulated a handsome property and was living in great comfort and independence, when the war of the Revolution commenced. The ease and comfort of a home, however, with all of the luxuries of wealth, were as nothing to him when compared with the cause in which he found his country struggling.
After the glorious repulse of Sir Peter Parker and Henry Clinton in their attack upon Fort Moultrie, in 1776, the citizens of South Carolina were suffered to live in peace until the fall of Charleston in 1780. Immediately after this unfortunate event, the whole South fell under the military Government of Great Britain. The inhabitants, in almost every part of the country had to seek protection from such a source. They preferred dying with the liberties of their country, rather than to survive only to witness her degradation and subjection. Among these gallant spirits, whose names deserve being held in everlasting remembrance, was Benjamin Eddins. He attached himself to a small band of patriots, who stood out in defiance of the Royal Government, in old Ninety-Six district. Whilst bravely fighting under the standard of liberty, borne by his patriot band he was captured, and sent a prisoner of war to the British station at Ninety-Six, then under the command of Col. Cruger.
Shortly after the capture of and imprisonment of Mr. Eddins a scouting party of the Tories went to his home, and after appropriating everything movable which they could find, they demanded of Mrs. Eddins her hidden treasures of money, and other articles of value. Making a virtue of necessity she yielded everything of the kind which she possessed. But the plunderers were not satisfied and insisted that all had not been given up, and thereupon proceeded to abuse her shamefully and mistreat Mrs. Eddins.
An officer was guilty of the dastardly brutality of inflicting upon her a wound with his sword which she carried to her grave. They then set fire to the dwelling house and outhouses, and in a few minutes, the whole were wrapped in flames.
The news of the destruction of the property, and the mistreatment of the family, was carried to Mr. Eddins, whilst immured in the prison vaults. He received the information with the philosophy and calm resignation of a Christian and a patriot. The fruits of his labor and industry, during a well spent life, were gone; but they had been sacrificed by his unflinching devotion to his country, and this was consolation enough for a spirit like his.
After remaining some time in prison, unnoticed and perhaps unthought-of, by those in whose custody he was, it was his good fortune to receive a visit from Col. Cruger, the Commander of the station. The object of this visit was to employ Eddins as a pilot for the foraging parties of the British arms. He had a great while been living in that part of the country, and was better acquainted with its locality than almost any other person. Hence, his services would have been a matter of considerable importance to the British army. In order to secure him in such service, Col. Cruger offered him his liberty and liberal wages. They were instantly rejected with scorn and indignation. A commission in the British army was then tendered him, with a promise of indemnity for the property which he had lost. These tempting offers were likewise spurned. Threats were now resorted to, and in reply to these, Eddins said, I am, sir, your prisoner, and consequently completely in your power. You may, if you see proper, inflict any cruelty your imagination can invent. If it suits your love of torture, you may hitch a horse to each of my limbs and tear my body into four pieces: Or you can,' unfolding his naked bosom to the Colonel, 'cut out my heart and drain it of its last drop of blood; but, sir, my services belong to my country, vend you never can command them.' The boldness and the patriotic devotion of this high and noble expression?an expression worthy of the most illustrious hero that ever lived? touched the heart of the British officer, who was an accomplished gentleman, and a generous soldier and feeling alive to all of the noble impulses of our nature. 'You infatuated rebel,' replied the Colonel, 'You possess too bold a spirit and too honest a heart to linger out your days in prison. You are at liberty to go where you please, and dispose of your services as you may see proper.'
Mr. Eddins was immediately released, and soon after joined the American army under General Pickens, where he continued to serve till the end of the war. He lived to a good old age, and died in Alabama, not many years since. He witnessed his country enjoying that liberty and independence, for which he had fought so manfully in his younger days." - Revolutionary Incidents
• Moved to Madison County, AL prior to 1816, with his son Joseph Balus Eddins. - Alabama Biography
• Father of:
1. Blakeley Eddins,
2. Frances Eddins, 1759-
3. Anna Eddins, 1759 -
4. William Eddins, 1763 - 1837
5. James Eddins, 1764 - 1846
6. John Eddins, 1764
7. Rebecca (Rebekah) Eddins, 1767 -
8. Washington Eddins, 1767 -
9. James Eddins, 1772 - 1814
10. Theophilus Eddins 1774 -
11. Fanny (Anny) Eddins,1775 - 1850
12. Joseph Balus Eddins 1777-1838 - Alabama Biography and Ancestry.com
• Baptist. - Alabama Biography
• Benjamin was the brother of Joel Eddins. Joe and his wife Judith had eight children and they were early settlers near Ardmore, Alabama. Their log cabin (built around 1810) was moved from its original site and reconstructed on the property of Burritt Museum. - Huntsville Historical Review
• Huguenot ancestry - Texas
Related Links:
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Alabama Biography
• Huntsville Historical Review
• Patriot Database
• Rev. William Eddins, Sr.
| Born: | May 2, 1735, Culpepper County, VA |
| Died: | December 26, 1818, Huntsville, AL |
| Buried: | McCargo-Crutcher, Limestone Co., AL |
| Father of: | Rev. William Eddins, Sr. |
Notes:
• Soldier in Revolutionary War: Private, South Carolina - Patriot Database
• Son of Theophilus and Elizabeth Eddins, of Virginia, who later moved to Edgefield, the family being originally from England. - Alabama Biography
• Married Judith Norris about 1758 in Lunburg, VA and the couple settled near Cambridge or "Old Ninety-Six," South Carolina. - Ancestry.com
• "By industry, prudence and economy, Mr. Eddins accumulated a handsome property and was living in great comfort and independence, when the war of the Revolution commenced. The ease and comfort of a home, however, with all of the luxuries of wealth, were as nothing to him when compared with the cause in which he found his country struggling.
After the glorious repulse of Sir Peter Parker and Henry Clinton in their attack upon Fort Moultrie, in 1776, the citizens of South Carolina were suffered to live in peace until the fall of Charleston in 1780. Immediately after this unfortunate event, the whole South fell under the military Government of Great Britain. The inhabitants, in almost every part of the country had to seek protection from such a source. They preferred dying with the liberties of their country, rather than to survive only to witness her degradation and subjection. Among these gallant spirits, whose names deserve being held in everlasting remembrance, was Benjamin Eddins. He attached himself to a small band of patriots, who stood out in defiance of the Royal Government, in old Ninety-Six district. Whilst bravely fighting under the standard of liberty, borne by his patriot band he was captured, and sent a prisoner of war to the British station at Ninety-Six, then under the command of Col. Cruger.
Shortly after the capture of and imprisonment of Mr. Eddins a scouting party of the Tories went to his home, and after appropriating everything movable which they could find, they demanded of Mrs. Eddins her hidden treasures of money, and other articles of value. Making a virtue of necessity she yielded everything of the kind which she possessed. But the plunderers were not satisfied and insisted that all had not been given up, and thereupon proceeded to abuse her shamefully and mistreat Mrs. Eddins.
An officer was guilty of the dastardly brutality of inflicting upon her a wound with his sword which she carried to her grave. They then set fire to the dwelling house and outhouses, and in a few minutes, the whole were wrapped in flames.
The news of the destruction of the property, and the mistreatment of the family, was carried to Mr. Eddins, whilst immured in the prison vaults. He received the information with the philosophy and calm resignation of a Christian and a patriot. The fruits of his labor and industry, during a well spent life, were gone; but they had been sacrificed by his unflinching devotion to his country, and this was consolation enough for a spirit like his.
After remaining some time in prison, unnoticed and perhaps unthought-of, by those in whose custody he was, it was his good fortune to receive a visit from Col. Cruger, the Commander of the station. The object of this visit was to employ Eddins as a pilot for the foraging parties of the British arms. He had a great while been living in that part of the country, and was better acquainted with its locality than almost any other person. Hence, his services would have been a matter of considerable importance to the British army. In order to secure him in such service, Col. Cruger offered him his liberty and liberal wages. They were instantly rejected with scorn and indignation. A commission in the British army was then tendered him, with a promise of indemnity for the property which he had lost. These tempting offers were likewise spurned. Threats were now resorted to, and in reply to these, Eddins said, I am, sir, your prisoner, and consequently completely in your power. You may, if you see proper, inflict any cruelty your imagination can invent. If it suits your love of torture, you may hitch a horse to each of my limbs and tear my body into four pieces: Or you can,' unfolding his naked bosom to the Colonel, 'cut out my heart and drain it of its last drop of blood; but, sir, my services belong to my country, vend you never can command them.' The boldness and the patriotic devotion of this high and noble expression?an expression worthy of the most illustrious hero that ever lived? touched the heart of the British officer, who was an accomplished gentleman, and a generous soldier and feeling alive to all of the noble impulses of our nature. 'You infatuated rebel,' replied the Colonel, 'You possess too bold a spirit and too honest a heart to linger out your days in prison. You are at liberty to go where you please, and dispose of your services as you may see proper.'
Mr. Eddins was immediately released, and soon after joined the American army under General Pickens, where he continued to serve till the end of the war. He lived to a good old age, and died in Alabama, not many years since. He witnessed his country enjoying that liberty and independence, for which he had fought so manfully in his younger days." - Revolutionary Incidents
• Moved to Madison County, AL prior to 1816, with his son Joseph Balus Eddins. - Alabama Biography
• Father of:
1. Blakeley Eddins,
2. Frances Eddins, 1759-
3. Anna Eddins, 1759 -
4. William Eddins, 1763 - 1837
5. James Eddins, 1764 - 1846
6. John Eddins, 1764
7. Rebecca (Rebekah) Eddins, 1767 -
8. Washington Eddins, 1767 -
9. James Eddins, 1772 - 1814
10. Theophilus Eddins 1774 -
11. Fanny (Anny) Eddins,1775 - 1850
12. Joseph Balus Eddins 1777-1838 - Alabama Biography and Ancestry.com
• Baptist. - Alabama Biography
• Benjamin was the brother of Joel Eddins. Joe and his wife Judith had eight children and they were early settlers near Ardmore, Alabama. Their log cabin (built around 1810) was moved from its original site and reconstructed on the property of Burritt Museum. - Huntsville Historical Review
• Huguenot ancestry - Texas
Related Links:
• Alabama Biography - History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Volume 3 by Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, © 1921, p. 528
• Ancestry.com - Genealogical information and stories collected and presented by RaptureDove1 (behind Ancestry.com membership fee wall) (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/11089718/person/34005480.)
• Ancestry.com 2 - This is a second page from Ancestry.com with different information. It is not as complete but it might prove to be useful. It is presented by simplfen and is behind Ancestry.com's fee wall. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6731094/person/1066712808.)
• Huntsville Historical Review - From out of the Ashes - The Joel Eddins House, by Reeves, J.P., from Volume 32, #2, Summer - Fall 2007, page 71.
• Patriot Database - Tennessee Valley Chapter Alabama Society of Sons of the American Revolution - List of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Patriots Buried in Madison County, Alabama.
• Revolutionary Incidents - "Revolutionary Incidents, No. 14," by Benjamin F. Perry in The Greenville Mountaineer, Greenville, S. C., Saturday, May 16, 1835. (Given by a revolutionary soldier, who was in prison with Benjamin Eddins.)
• Roots Web - Information on Benjamin's wife's name, sometimes listed as Judith and sometimes listed as Elizabeth. The information was collected and presented by Judith F. Russell on March 27, 2006
• Texas - Daughters of the Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album, by Herbert C. Banks, © 2001, p. 35.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Alabama Biography
• Huntsville Historical Review
• Patriot Database
• Rev. William Eddins, Sr.