#10: A colonial game night, how "The Swamp Fox" got his name, and an African American patriot recognized 230 years late

For South Carolina history lovers far and wide! Enjoy weekly SC history and upcoming SC historical events

Dear reader,

Welcome to Newsletter #11 of The South Carolina History Newsletter! I’m so happy you’re here.

I’d like to welcome “dclinch38” “haflingergirl” and “Michael C.” “rokkinchic” and “omitchell” to our community!

I hope you enjoy today’s newsletter, and as always, please feel free to reply to this email with your ideas and suggestions on South Carolina history you’d like to learn more about. I’m only a click away. Additionally, please join us & keep the conversation going by becoming a member of our SC History Newsletter Facebook Community here! I can’t wait to meet you.

And now, let’s learn some South Carolina history!

Yours truly,

Kate

(Writing from Greenville, SC)

3 ➳ Upcoming SC History Events

To celebrate Black History Month, each newsletter in February highlights one Black History focused event. The Black History events will be listed first below.

While I have curated the following 3 events below to feature in today, please click here to visit my SC History Events Calendar that organizes all the events I have featured in the newsletter to date, as well as others I have discovered. Please let me know if you’d like to add an event to the list! Reply to this email or send me a note at schistorynewsletter@gmail.com.

I.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH HIGHLIGHT: Sunday, February 25th, 2:00 - 5:00 pm | Book Talk: “The Garretts of Columbia: A Black South Carolina Family from Slavery to the Dawn of Integration” | The Columbia Museum of Art | 1515 Main Street, Columbia, SC | Register for FREE Tickets

“Join us at the Columbia Museum of Art as journalist Beryl Dakers and author David Nicholson discuss his newly published book, The Garretts of Columbia: A Black South Carolina Family from Slavery to the Dawn of Integration. A reception will follow the program with books available for purchase and signing by David Nicholson. This event is sponsored by the Center for Civil Rights History & Research at the University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina Press, the University South Caroliniana Society, the South Carolina State Museum, and the National Park Service.”

Sunday, February 25th, 2:00 - 5:00 pm

II.

Saturday, February 24th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm | Colonial Game Night at Living History Park | Living History Park | North Augusta, SC | Register for FREE tickets

“Step into the 18th century for a night of historical games! Join us for a variety of card, dice, and board games. Some of the games we will play: card games: Ranter Go Round, Grab Cork; dice games: Hazzard, Chuck A Luck; board games: Shut the Box, Teetotum, Nine Men’s Morris. Fun for all ages, but those under 18 need an adult. Join us in the Red Barn from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The event is free, but donations are appreciated. RSVP is required. Fill out the form linked above and secure your spot for a blend of history and fun! If you have questions, please email lynn@colonialtimes.us”

Sounds like fun!

III.

Saturday, March 2nd from 10:00 am - 9:00 pm | “Francis Marion Living History Day” | Winyah Auditorium | Georgetown, SC | Tickets: FREE

“Francis Marion Living History Day - Order of Events:

10:00am - 4:30pm

Francis Marion Living History Day! Revolutionary War Reenactments at Francis Marion Park and Rainey Park in Georgetown.

5:00pm - 6:00pm

Learn about the proposed Francis Marion Interpretive Center at Georgetown County Museum, 120 Broad Street in Georgetown.

7:00 pm 

"Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox), History or Hollywood" presentation by Scott Kaufman, Professor of History at Francis Marion University at Winyah Auditorium in Georgetown.

Sponsored by Georgetown 250th, Georgetown County Museum, Winyah Auditorium, and the Georgetown County Library.”

2 ➳ SC History Fun Facts

Our fun facts today are inspired by the Francis Marion Living History Day on March 2nd highlighted above…

I.

Why was South Carolina Revolutionary War Hero Francis Marion called “The Swamp Fox”?

Francis Marion was born in 1732 to Gabriel and Charlotte Marion in Berkeley County, SC. A few days ago, I wrote a newsletter that focused on the history of Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France and settling in “Charles Town” and the surrounding area. Guess what?! Francis Marion’s father was a Huguenot and had fled France in 1700. It’s exciting to see how the threads of history connect!

While he would become known as a great war hero, he had humble beginnings. Francis Marion was born prematurely and was described as “not larger than a New England lobster, and might easily enough have been put into a quart pot.” Thereafter, Marion never grew to be more than 5 ft tall, his legs were abnormally shaped (which led him to have chronic pain), and he was pigeon-toed.