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14 Wharfside StreetCharleston, SC 29401
Museum open 10am to 5pm (last entry 4:00 PM) Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday.
14 Wharfside Street — Charleston, SC 29401
Dec 31, 2018
Cuffy Haywood or Heyward was enslaved by Middleton Stewart. He was born and raised in Beaufort County, SC. Born about 1824, Cuffy (also rendered Cuffie) first married Binckey/Binky who died at Stuart Point, SC on or about 7 July 1871. Together they had a son, Cuffy Haywood.
On 8 Oct 1871 he married Abbie Crawley, who was born near Beaufort, SC. Abbie stated that she was enslaved by Tom Cuspart or Cuspard [possible Cuthbert]. Abbie’s father was Sam Hill, her mother was Effie Blossom. Abbie’s father Sam Hill died when Abbie was a baby. When Abbie chose her surname, she chose her mother’s surname of Blossom. Abbie’s mother Effie was deceased by the time of Abbie’s testimony in 1902.
She kept the name, Abbie Blossom, until she married Sharper Crawley (also rendered Crowley) in slave times. Abbie and Sharper were married in August 1855 by Edward Walker at Cotton Grove Plantation in Beaufort County, SC. He was a soldier and died while in the service on 29 December 1864 of rheumatism and dysentery. She and Sharper had two children: Grace, born 4 January 1860, and Nannie, born 2 March 1862. Grace died 9 April 1872 and Nannie died 14 May 1863.
Abbie had one brother, Sam Hill, who testified on her behalf and was still living at the time of Abbie’s statement in 1902.
Abbie had first married Sharper Crawley in August 1855. He died on 30 December 1868. Her second marriage was to Paris Wright. They were married at Horse Pond Church during the year Gen. Grant was elected president. Paris Wright died on 24 February 1871.
Cuffy Haywood died of typhoid fever near Seabrook, SC on 12 January 1884. After Cuffy’s death, Abbie lived with her stepson Cuffy Haywood or Heyward.
Cuffy Haywood enlisted as a private in Company D, 2nd SC Colored Volunteer Infantry (later the 34th United States Colored Troops) on 24 March 1863. He was about 39 years old when he enlisted. He was found to be physically unfit for duty as a soldier and was discharged on 2 Dec 1863.
Abbie was granted a pension of $8 per month under the Act of June 27, 1890 and she was issued certificate #465.512. Her pension payments commenced April 20, 1891.
Summary of statement of Abbie Haywood, 8 April 1891: Abbie was the widow of Cuffy Haywood. He was a member of Company C, 34th Regiment USCT Volunteers. Her name before she married Cuffy was Abbie Crawley. Also appearing were Samuel H. Hill and Richard Bright.
Summary of statement of Abbie Heyward, 16 March 1894; She could neither read nor write so she did not know the correct spelling of her husband’s last name. She said the sound by which he was mostly called was “Heyward.” She was married prior to being married to Cuffy. Her first husband was Sharper Crawley. She saw Cuffy Heyward when he came home from the U.S. service and lived on adjoining places to him. She never knew him to enter any service after returning home in 1863.
Summary of Certificate of Disability for Discharge, 25 November 1863: Cuffy Haywood was a private under Capt. Thomas N. Thompson in Company D, 2nd Regiment SC Volunteers. He was enlisted by Captain J.S. Bryant at Beaufort, SC on 24 March 1863 to serve for three years. He was about 39 years of age, 5-feet 5-inches tall with black complexion, eyes, and hair. He was a laborer. He was unfit for duty 60 days because of pains in his body. He had never done any duty.
Summary of statement of Abbie Heyward, 26 June 1891: She did not have proof of the date of death of Cuffy Heyward.
Summary of statement of Sam H. Hill, 2 December 1895: He was well acquainted with Abbie and Cuffy Heyward. He knew Abbie was not divorced from Cuffy. He knew Cuffy had never served in the military or naval service of the U.S. prior to 24 March 1863. Sam knew Abbie’s first husband, Sharper Crawley, and knew he died on 30 December 1865 at Perryclair Point, Port Royal Island, SC. After he died, Sam went to his house and saw his remains before the burial.
Summary of statement of Abbie Heyward, 18 December 1865: She was the widow of Cuffie Heyward. She owned 10 acres of land valued at $125. The said property was situated on Port Royal Island. The land was planted by her and she did not derive any other income from it. She was wholly dependent on her own labor for her support.
Summary of statement of Abbie Heyward, 16 March 1894: She was married to Paris Wright about three years before he died. This marriage was during the first year Gen. Grant was elected president of the U.S. Paris Wright died on 24 February 1871. She then married Cuffie Heyward and lived with him until his death on 12 January 1884. Cuffie was previously married to Binckey and she died at Stuart Point, SC on or about 7 July 1871. Abbie was present on the dates cited and was, at the time of her statement, a resident of Stuarts Point where most of the incidents happened.
Summary of Certificate of Marriage, 8 October 1871: Mr. Cuffy Haywood of Beaufort County, SC and Mrs. Abby Wright of Beaufort County, SC were married on 8 October 1871 by Arthur Waddell. Witnesses were Sanco Bryan and John Hamilton.
Summary of statement of Richard Bright, 8 April 1891: He was well acquainted with Sharper Crawley, the first husband of Abbie Haywood. He knew Sharper was a private in the army. He was a sound man when he enlisted but was much impaired when he was discharged. He suffered from pleurisy and rheumatism in his whole body which continued until he died. Richard saw Sharper two or three times each week until Sharper died.
Summary of statement of Sam H. Hill, 21 May 1898: He knew Cuffy Haywood prior to the war. He also knew Abbie Haywood’s first husband, Sharper Crawley. Sharper died on 30 December 1865. He saw Sharper’s dead body. Abbie did not marry again until she married Paris Wright who died in February 1871. Abbie went to Seabrook in March 1871 and said that Paris had died in Beaufort the month before. In October 1871, she married Cuffy Haywood. He was at the marriage and knew they lived as man and wife until January 1885 when Cuffy died. He also knew Binky Haywood, Cuffy’s first wife. She died in February 1871. Abbie did not remarry after Cuffy’s death.
Summary of statement of J.C. Wright, 27 May 1898: He knew Abbie a few months before she married Paris Wright, his brother, in 1868. She was Sharper Crawley’s widow when J.C. met her. She lived with Paris until February 1871 when he died. He went to his brother’s funeral. Abbie remained Paris’ widow until the following October when she married Cuffy Haywood. J.C. did not know Cuffy’s first wife.
Summary of statement of Bram Days, 21 May 1898: He knew Abbie Haywood before she married his brother, Sharper Crawley. Sharper was her first husband. He knew they married about the time the war ended. He also knew her next husband, Paris Wright. He was in town the day Paris died and went to the funeral. He knew Binky, Cuffy’s first wife, died the same month as Paris. Cuffy married Abbie a few month later. He was present at the marriage. He knew Abbie had not remarried after Cuffy’s death. He knew she had a ten acre place on which she tried to make a living but she was lame and sick.
Summary of statement of Abbie Haywood, 21 May 1898: She was the widow of Cuffy Haywood. She knew he was in Col. Montgomery’s regiment and he only served once. He died of chills and fever near Seabrook, SC on 12 January 1884. Her first husband was Sharper Crawley who she married during slavery. He died during the war. She next married Paris Wright and lived with him for three years until he died in February 1871. She then married Cuffy Haywood on 8 October 1871. She had not remarried after Cuffy died. Cuffy had a wife before he married her. She was his slave wife and lived with Cuffy until the July after Paris Wright died. That is when she died. Abbie had no children by Cuffy. She owned ten acres of land worth about $10 or $12 per acre. She had a horse and cow but they died.
Summary of statement of Lymus Pinckney, 21 May 1898: He knew Abbie Haywood all of his life. He knew her first husband, Sharper Crawley, and knew he died in December 1865. He helped bury Sharper and waited on him when he was sick. Lymus also knew Paris Wright, Abbie’s second husband. He knew Paris died before Abbie married Cuffy Haywood. He was at Cuffy’s funeral some 14 years after Cuffy had married Abbie. He knew Cuffy’s first wife, Binky, and knew she had died several months before he married Abbie. He knew Abbie had no income except what she made on her little place by her own work. He knew she was crippled and sick.
Summary of statement of Dick Bright, 21 May 1898: He knew Abbie Haywood before she married Cuffy Haywood. He would see her sometimes when she went to his neighborhood. After she married Cuffy, he knew her well because he and Cuffy were raised together. He did not know Paris Wright but knew he had died before Cuffy married Abbie. He knew Cuffy’s first wife, Binky. He was raised with her. He knew she had died and after she died, Cuffy married Abbie. He made Binky’s coffin. He was present at the marriage of Cuffy and Abbie. He made Cuffy’s coffin but did not remember the date Cuffy died. He lived a short distance from Abbie and knew she had not remarried after Cuffy’s death. He knew she had ten acres of land off which she tried to make a living. He knew she was lame and sick.
Summary of statement of Abbie Haywood, 8 August 1902: She stated she was married and had two children when the war started. She did not know how old she was at the time of her statement. She was the widow of Cuffy Haywood. She was in very poor health. She was born in Beaufort County, SC. She was enslaved by Tom Cuspart and remained his slave until freedom. She knew he died long ago.
Her father was Sam Hill. Her mother was Effie Hill. They belonged to her slaveholder and were both dead. She had one brother, Sam H. Hill. Their father died when Abbie was young. Her aunt told her to take the name Blossom after her mother. She kept the name, Abbie Blossom, until she married Sharper Crawley in slave times. She had four children by him, two in slavery and two in freedom. He was a soldier and died soon after the war.
She then married Paris Wright who died and was buried in Beaufort. Then she married Cuffy, who she knew before the war. His first wife was Binky who died before Abbie’s husband, Paris Wright. She was married to Cuffy in the Baptist church by Rev. Arthur Waddell. He gave them a certificate of marriage. They were never separated or divorced. She had not married after Cuffy’s death. She lived with her step-son, Cuffy Haywood, since her husband died. Her step-son had a weak mind and could not work much.
Cuffy was enslaved by Middleton Stewart and was born and raised in Beaufort County, SC. He served in Company D of Col. Montgomery’s regiment. He was near 5-feet 8-1/2 inches, black, and had no marks or scars. He was a great deal older than she was, maybe by ten years. They never had any children together. She owned ten acres of land worth about $5 an acre, a small house and about $50 worth of personal property. Cuffy died 12 January 1884 of typhoid fever. Dr. Guffin, of Beaufort, SC, attended him in his last sickness. Jackie Wright, Bram Dales, Sam H. Hill, and Lymus Pinckney were her original witnesses.
Summary of statement of Primus Green, Jr. and Samuel Cusbert, 17 April 1886: They knew Abbie and Cuffy until Cuffy’s death. They had been neighbors for years and years.
Summary of statements of Samuel L. White and William Cuthbert, 26 June 1891: They were well acquainted with Abbie Heyward and her deceased husband. They knew Abbie and Cuffy lived as man and wife and were recognized as such until Cuffy died 4 January 1884.
Summary of statement of Samuel L. White and William Cuthbert, 26 June 1891: They knew Abbie Heyward had not remarried after Cuffy Heyward’s death. They knew she owned five acres of land valued at $25.
Summary of statement of Abbie Crowley, 15 July 1890: She was the widow of Sharper Crowley who enlisted at Beaufort, SC on 1 September 1863 in Company H, 21st US Colored Infantry. He died while in the service. She was married to him under the name of Abbie Hill in 1855 at Port Royal, SC by Edward Walker. Sharper died 29 December 1864. Also appearing were Sampson Porcher and Abel Simmons.
Summary of statement of Abbie Crowley, 4 March 1886: She lived in Coosaw, Beaufort County, SC. She was the widow of Sharper Crowley who was a private in Company H, 21st Regiment SC Infantry, commanded by Capt. Reed. Her maiden name was Abbie Hill. She was married to Sharper in August 1855 by Edward Walker at Cotton Grove Plantation in Beaufort County, SC. Sharper died while in the service on 29 December 1864 of rheumatism and dysentery. She and Sharper had two children: Grace, born 4 January 1860, and Nannie, born 2 March 1862. Grace died 9 April 1872 and Nannie died 14 May 1863.
Summary of statement of Lymas Pinckney, 2 December 1895: He knew both Abbie and Cuffy Heyward. He knew they were never divorced from each other and that they lived as man and wife from the date of their marriage until his death. He knew Cuffy did not serve in the military or naval service prior to 24 March 1863. He knew Sharper Crawley, Abbie’s first husband, died at Perryclair Point, SC on 30 Demember 1865. Lymas managed the burial of Crawley.
Summary of statement of Samuel L. Hill, 26 June 1891; He knew Cuffie and Abbie Heyward and was an eyewitness to their marriage. It was performed by Rev. A. Waddell, pastor of the First A.B. Curch in Beaufort, SC on 8 October 1871. They lived as man and wife until Cuffy’s death on 4 January 1884. He was present at the death and attended the funeral. He saw the burial.
Summary of statement of Sampson Howard, 16 March 1894: He knew Abbie and Cuffy Heyward, her deceased husband, during his lifetime. He knew Cuffy had been married to Binckey and they lived as man and wife until Binckey died at Stuart Point, SC on or about July 1871.
Summary of statement of Dick Bright, 16 March 1894: He knew Abbie Heyward was married to Paris Wright at Horse Pond Church, SC the same year Gen. Grant was elected president of the U.S. He knew Paris died about 24 February 1871 and not 1874 as he had previously stated. He knew Abbie married Cuffy Heyward about 8 October 1871 and that Cuffy had been previously married to Binckey, who died at Stuart Point, SC about 7 July 1871. He knew these facts because he had been a neighbor of them.
Summary of statement of H.C. Pollitzer, 18 December 1896: He was the Auditor of Beaufort County and knew that she owned ten acres and one building, valued at $75, and personal property valued at $125.
Summary of statement of Rev. Arthur Waddell, 26 June 1891: He stated that he was the pastor of the First African Baptist Church of Beaufort, SC and married Cuffy Heyward and Abbie Wright on 8 October 1871.
Summary of statements of Dick Bright, and Jack C. Wright, 10 November 1891: They knew Abbie Heyward was married to Sharper Crawley who died on Port Royal Island about 25 years before their statement. She then married Paris Wright on 8 October 1871 and he died on 25 February 1864 in Beaufort, SC. They attended the funeral and knew no children under the age of 16 were left.
Summary of statement of J.C. Wright, 5 April 1894: He wanted to correct errors from a previous statement. He reported Abbie Heyward had married Paris Wright about 1868. Paris died on 24 February 1871 and not 1874. She married Cuffy Heyward about 8 October 1871.
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