Announcements

10 Year Anniverary & New Releases Winners: Carrie Fancett Pagels' Butterfly Cottage - Melanie B, Dogwood Plantation - Patty H R, Janet Grunst's winner is Connie S., Denise Weimer's Winner is Kay M., Naomi Musch's winner is Chappy Debbie, Angela Couch - Kathleen Maher, Pegg Thomas Beverly D. M. & Gracie Y., Christy Distler - Kailey B., Shannon McNear - Marilyn R.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Rosanna Farrow, a South Carolina Revolutionary War Heroine

Rosanna Farrow was proud of the fact that she had five sons old enough to fight for liberty. The eldest, not yet 21, was put in command of a cavalry company and led the youngest, a mere lad.

Thus the mother, whose life had been passed in scenes of peace and prosperity, with no greater anxiety than to follow the fortunes of her young husband, was left with her daughters alone and unprotected and surrounded with Tory neighbors.

They were brought into many cruel straits in order that the family might have food. Often they were obliged to hide it in hollow trees and among the rocky coves of the Enoree, and were even forced sometimes to shelter themselves among the woods and swamps when their own home seemed in danger. They slept with pistols or weapons of some kind under their pillows, for they never knew at what secret watch of the night they might be summoned to their doors by the enemy.

One night, a messenger came to tell her that three of her sons had been captured and were in a jail in Ninety-Six, the British post. The commander, Colonel Cruger, who was prepared to hang the boys, offered to trade them one rebel for two British soldiers.

After instructing her daughters to stay indoors and to keep the doors and windows closed, she grabbed a rifle and ran to the stable where she caught and saddled a colt, the only horse left on the place, it had never been ridden, sprung into the saddle, and bound herself to it with a girth. As she rode away, she shouted cheerfully to her daughters, "It is not the most comfortable way of riding."

She made her way towards Fair Forest camp in the present region of Spartanburg. This region was inhabited by only a few hunters and some scattered families and Indians. Her path was a lonely wilderness, broken only by hills and streams.

Arriving at Colonel Williams' camp, he granted her six British prisoners and a guard. Not stopping for rest, she rode on and on, miles and miles through barren wilderness and gloomy forest. Before daybreak of the second night of her wild ride, she caught sight of the English standard waving above the scarlet uniforms of the British, and with her apron as a flag of truce, she dashed up to the camp commander, Colonel Cruger, and informed him of her mission.

Colonel Cruger replied, "Well, you are just in time, for I had given orders for those rebellious youngsters of yours to be hanged at sunrise, but I guess you can take the rebels."

"My sons!" she cried, then turning with eyes flashing with indignation, she retorted, "I have given you two for one, Colonel Cruger, but understand that I consider it the best trade I ever made, for rest assured, hereafter the 'Farrow boys' will whip you four to one."

As she dashed off followed by her sons, a soldier remarked, "That's a pretty good speech for so dainty a lady, but she is as warm for the cause as the men."

So long as she lived, Mrs. Farrow was admired and loved, and it is said that even years after, the eyes of the British soldiers flashed with pleasuare when they talked of this South Carolina daughter.


One of her boys, Samuel, lived to represent Pinckney District in
Congress, and a portrait of him now hangs in Washington showing the sabre scar on his face made at the Battle of Musgrove's Hill.

Samuel Farrow lies buried in the family burying ground near Enoree Station in Spartanburg County. Where the noble mother lies is not known, but history will always cherish the memory of one whose warm heart and love of country prompted her to so daring a deed of heroism.

(From - An Essay, by Miss Ruth Petty, Converse College, Class of 1897)

Footnotes: Samuel Farrow served in the US Congress and the SC House and was Lt. Governor of SC from 1810-1812. Subsequent research indicates that Mrs. Farrow's burial place was found along with other family members in a pasture near the Enoree River in South Carolina.

Article by Susan F. Craft

13 comments:

  1. This lady's name obviously caught my attention. =) A very inspiring story, Susan! I love hearing about the heroism of the everyday folk during the Revolution. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susan Craft said...

    Roseanna --It's become a mission of mine to highlight those heroic women who are not in our history books, but should be. I'm facsinated by their stories!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for sharing this, Susan. Fascinating lady! Having graduated from graduate school in South Carolina and having lived there quite a while I love reading these stories of Southern patriots, especially the women!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! What a mom and what a patriot this woman was! Thanks for sharing this story--such a good reminder that timidity has no place when the cause is righteous.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Susan Craft said...

    Cathy, I like how you phrased that "timidity has no place when the cause is righteous."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Carrie I loved this story! There are a few of us women that would have ride into some pretty bad situations to save our children. I know I can't think straight sometimes when it comes to my kids.

    Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is such a rich post, Susan. Thanks so much for telling us about Rosanna and her family. Love the pics, especially the log cabin! And the soldier's reply warms my heart as that is the essence of colonial thought and speech. Bless you for this. Her actions/fortitude, and those like her, helped win the war.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Susan Craft said ...

    Laura, thank you. I love reading about the women of the Revolution. So far, I've run across stories of about 10 South Carolina women. Hope I can share them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Susan I really enjoyed reading this article! I too love a good true story of heroic women. My family is involved with numerous South Carolina Real Estate properties and it will be fun and informative to share this story with them. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for posting Rosanna's story. Rosanna Farrow was my 5th Great-Grandmother. Discovering her story has inspired me to become a stronger woman, wife, mother, and grandmother, and to write! Tracy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She was mine as well. Would love to get in touch. My name is Fran

      Delete
  11. Thank you for this story, is it published? She is my GGGGG GrandMother and I would be interested in a copy to share at our FARROW reunion. Is there an old photograph? John Farrow

    ReplyDelete
  12. She is my great grandmother many generations out. I would love more information about this wonderful hero!!!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting, please check back for our replies!