Sam West wrote: Could someone out there tell me about the "Truce Land" between the Pee Dee and the North Carolina State Line that was agreed upon by Treaty by Marion and Gainey in 1782? I was recently in Raleigh and ran across and old document complaining about the Tories coming out of the Truce Land into Bladen [now Robeson] Co NC and committing war like acts towards the Whig citizens. Evidently, the Patriots could chase them to the state line, and then apparently had to stop. By estimation in 1782 there were about one hundred Tory families that moved across the state line into the Truce Lands. Could anyone tell me who were these families, and more about this Treaty and Truce Lands? >From Jo: I have no direct information about specific "truce lands" to which you refer. However, some years ago I compiled the following in relation to my research on the Barfield family of Little Pee Dee during the Revolutionary War. You may find some clue herein, especially in the Articles of Treaty between Francis Marion and Micajah Ganey/Gainey. Please keep the Marion List informed, Sam, if you learn anything more about this business. Jo Church Dickerson ================ The following is copied verbatim from RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Volume I published circa 1808. page 269: "...Soon after these laws were passed, reports were circulated that the British intended soon to withdraw from Charlestown. "The apprehension of this gave a serious alarm to those of the inhabitants who adhered to their interest. There was no part of South Carolina without the British lines which was not formally in the peace of the State, excepting a settlement on Little Peedee. Major Ganey, at the head of some loyalists residing near that river, had refused to do militia duty under General Marion, the Brigadier of the district. They defended themselves in the swamps, and from thence frequently sallied to the distress of the whig inhabitants of the adjacent country. On the 28th of April, 1781, a party of them commanded by Captain Jones, surrounded and set fire to the house of Col. Kolb, a respectable American militia officer. He, after receiving assurances of being treated as a prisoner of war, surrendered. Nevertheless he was put to instant death in the presence of his wife and children. When the British had lost ground in 1781, General Marion made a treaty of neutrality with them. In the summer of 1782 this was formerly [sic] renewed. Though the British interest was entirely ruined, and their departure from Charlestown soon expected, such was the generosity of the government, that it gave them a full pardon for all treasons committed against the State, the secularity of their property, and the protection of the laws, on the condition of their delivering up their plunder, abjuring the King of Great Britain, and demeaning themselves as peaceable citizens of the State. An alternative was offered to those who disapproved of these articles, to go within the British lines, and to carry off or sell their property. These lenient measures brought over the disaffected people of the settlement. Several of them not long after fought bravely under General Marion, and the whole conducted themselves peaceably. Regularity, order and government took the place of reciprocal depredations and hostilities." I recently visited the SC Archives in Columbia, and, as promised tried to locate any surviving list of those who signed the Articles of Treaty with Micajah Ganey at Burch's Ferry in 1782 (or the earlier agreement in 1781) but had no luck. Archives personnel were familiar with the event, but had no knowledge of any list or any papers whatsoever regarding the event. I have, however, found a printed copy of the actual Articles that were agreed to between Marion and Ganey, and reference to the fact that Ganey and many of his men served with Marion in the waning months of the war; served with distinction. No mention of Barfields given, however. In "Memoirs of the American Revolution, so Far as It Related to the States of North And South Carolina, and Georgia" published 1802 by General William Moultrie, I found a printed version of the 2nd Articles of Agreement between Marion and Ganey. Bear in mind that the site of the signing - Burch's Mills on Great Pee Dee, was about 25 miles from the Little Pee Dee River Tories, across the Great Pee Dee, and only a few miles north of the Charles Barfield who had lands and resided on what is now called Barfield's Old Mill Creek, which flows into the west side of Great Pee Dee just east of the present town of Pamplico, in present day Florence County, SC. >From Moultrie's Memoirs of the American Revolution, page 419: ARTICLES OF TREATY between General Marion, in behalf of the State of South Carolina, and Major Ganey, and the inhabitants under his command, which were included in the Treaty made the 17 June 1781; [sic. Date of 1st treaty - date of the following treaty is 8 Jun 1782. -jcd] ARTICLE I: Major Ganey and the men under his command to lay down their arms, as enemies to the state, and are not to resume them again until ordered to do so, in support of the interest of the United States, and of this state in particular. II: We will deliver up all negroes, horses, cattle, and other property that have been taken from this or any other state. III: We will demean ourselves as peaceable citizens of this state, and submit ourselves to be governed by its laws, in the same manner as the rest of the citizens thereof. IV: We do engage to apprehend and deliver up all persons within our district, who shall refuse to accede to these terms, and contumaciously persist in rebellion against this state. V: We will deliver up as soon as possible, every man who belongs to any regular line in the American service, and every inhabitant of North Carolina, of this, or any other state, who have joined us since the seventeenth of June, 1781, when the former treaty was made, or oblige them to go out of the district, and whenever they return, to take and deliver them into safe custody in any gaol within the state. VI: Every man is to sign an instrument of writing professing his allegiance to the United States of America, and the state of South Carolina in particular; and to abjure his Britannic majesty, his heirs, successors and adherents, and promise to oppose all the enemies of the United States, and the state of South Carolina in particular. VII: All arms, ammunition, and other warlike stores, the property of the British, to be delivered up. VIII: The above seven articles being agreed on, they shall have a full pardon for treasons committed by them against the state, and enjoy their property, and be protected by the laws thereof. IX: Such men who do not choose to accede to these articles, shall have leave to go within the British lines, and to march by the twenty-fifth instant, and be safely conducted with such of their wives and children as may be able to travel, and carry or sell their property, except cattle, sheep and hogs, which they may dispose of, but not carry with them. Such women and children who cannot be removed, may remain until the first day of September next. The officers to keep their pistols and side-arms; all other arms to be disposed of, and not carried with them. Each field-officer and captain to retain one horse, not exceeding twelve in the whole, and no other person to take with him any more horses that may be fit for dragoon service within the British line. We have agreed to the before-mentioned nine articles, and have signed the same at Birch's-mill, on Peedee, this eighth day of June 1782. Francis Marion, Brigadier General, State of South Carolina Major Micajah Ganey, Major Loyalists, Peedee. =================================================== Following the first treaty 91781), followers of Ganey did not adhere to the articles. I have seen a copy or transcription of a letter from Ganey to Marion, in which Ganey states that local Whigs were not adhering to the original (1781) agreement, and that's why his (Ganey's) men weren't. See Gregg's History of the Old Cheraws for letters regarding more on this subject. After the second treaty (1782) Ganey went to Charlestown where he resigned his British Militia commission in person, which he insisted on doing before he would take up arms with the Americans, which he subsequently did with some of his men. I have found reference to him fighting valiantly at the Battle of Watboo, of which battle I have found no further reference. No mention whatsoever in all of this about Captain Jesse or any other Barfield. Is this when Jesse "took refuge in a British camp" where he is said by Gregg to have died of smallpox? Ganey, after the war, sold out his holdings in Pee Dee area, and moved to Robeson (1790 census) and later to Richmond County, NC. There is a 1786 tax list for Prince George Winyaw Parish showing Joshua Barefield paying taxes on Est. of Jesse Barefield. It is difficult not to speculate that might have been the estate of Captain Jesse Barfield, having died in the war, his estate probated after the war in Georgetown, and and those records lost. Jo Church Dickerson - 1996