Brigadier General James Screven

A Patriot of the American Revolution for GEORGIA with the rank of BRIGADIER GENERAL. DAR Ancestor #: A100736

http://www.quarterman.org/who/colscreven.html

James Screven rose to the rank of Brig. General in the Revolutionary War where he was killed during battle in 1778. He was descended from William Screven, the founder of the Southern Baptists. James was killed during battle at Midway, GA, not far from the Midway Church to which he was a member. Screven County, Georgia is named in his honor.

His roots

According to Georgia Genealogy Trails bio, "GENERAL JAMES SCREVEN was the second son of James and Mary Screven, of James Island, South Carolina. His grandfather was Samuel Screven, who married a daughter of James Witter, all of whom were of James Island. His great-grandfather was the Rev. William Screven, who from having his settlement in South Carolina named "Somerton," is inferred to have been the "William Screven of Somerton," who according to Ivimey's History of the English Baptists "was one of twenty persons, ministers and laymen, in behalf of the whole," who signed in 1656, " A Confession of Faith of Several Churches in the County of Somerset, and the counties near adjacent." It is a fact, however, that Mr. Screven owned two adjoining tracts of land in South Carolina at the head waters of the western branch of the Cooper River, the locality being called Wampee and near Pineopolis. One tract he purchased on June 23rd, 1699, and the other was granted to him January 11, 1700, which are respectively known, in 1907, as "Somerton" and "Somerset."

For 1760, a record in the U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 for James Screven at James Island, SC, shows James on a Petit Jury List.

"General Screven married Mary Odingsells, a daughter of Charles Odingsells, of Edisto Island, South Carolina. According to the records, Mrs. Screven was a member, in 1771, of the Midway Church in Liberty County, Georgia. General Screven moved into the province of Georgia prior to September the 11th, 1769, for a South Carolina record of that date is, that James Screven, "formerly of James Island, now of Georgia, and Mary, his wife," conveyed to William Royal a tract of land in the southwest part of that island.

Death in battle at Midway Church

"It is not known when Colonel Screven was commissioned a Brigadier-General. It probably occurred soon after his resignation of the Colonel's commission, May 25th, 1778. Histories give an account in the experience as General Screven, upon the approach of Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost and his troops of one hundred regulars and three hundred refugees and Indians under McGirth from East Florida towards Midway Church. Colonel Prevost after entering the Georgia settlements on November 19th, 1778, encountered the first resistance, Friday, November 20th, by Colonel John Baker and some mounted militia at the point where the Savannah and Darien road crosses the Bulltown swamp in Liberty County. The Americans retreated, Colonel Baker, Captain Cooper and William Goulding being wounded.

The next resistance, Saturday, November 21st, was at North Newport Bridge, afterwards called Riceborough Bridge. Meanwhile, Colonel John White had concentrated one hundred Continentals and militia with artillery, "at Midway meeting house," and "thrown up a alight breastwork across the road at the head of the causeway over which the enemy must advance On the morning of November 22nd, Colonel White was joined by General Screven with twenty militia men. It was resolved to abandon their position and occupy a new one a mile and a half south of the meeting house where the road was skirted by a thick wood in which it was thought an ambuscade might be advantageously laid. McGirth being well acquainted with the country and knowing the ground held by Colonel White, suggested to Prevost the expediency of placing a party in ambush at the very point selected by the Americans for a similar purpose."

The Death of Gen. James Screven occurred on the morning of November 22, 1778, Gen. James Screven fell mortally wounded within a mile and a half of Midway Church. At the head of twenty militia men he had just come to the support of Col. John White, who was expecting battle from a British group coming from East Florida. The British officer was in command of 100 regulars and was re-enforced by the Tory leader McGirth, whose force consisted of 300 Indians and refugees. Both sides, by a singular coincidence, agreed upon the same skirt of woods for the purposes of an ambuscade. They also arrived upon the ground almost simultaneously, and, in the firing, General Screven was struck. According to Colonel Jones he was killed after falling into the hands of the enemy, who were thus guilty of an act repugnant to civilized warfare.

The same account is substantially given by David Ramsay. In the latter's History of the Revolution in South Carolina" appears this statement: "General Screven received a wound from a musket ball, in consequence of which he fell from his horse. After he fell, several of the British came up and, upbraiding him for the manner in which Captain Moore of Browne's Rangers had been killed, discharged their pieces at him."

James was honored after the war by having a Georgia county, Screven, named for him.

Birth: 1744 - James Island, SC Death: 1778 - Near Midway, Georgia Parents: James Screven, Mary Hyrne Screven (born Smith) Siblings: Thomas Screven, John Screven, Martha Screven, Barbara Screven, Elizabeth Screven Wife: Mary Esther Screven (born Odingsell)