• Individual Record
  

Robert Cheyne Clowney

Robert Cheyne Clowney, born June 11, 1838 in County Down, Ireland. He came to America when just an infant, with his parents John and (2nd. Wife) Anna Boyd Clowney. They settled about three miles southwest of Salem Presbyterian Church, on the old Ashford Ferry road near Strothers, S.C. in Fairfield County. Here he was reared and attended the old field schoolmasters and Mt. Zion College, Winnsboro, S.C.

When a young man, he went to Florida and was successfully engaged in the lumber industry. While there, war was declared. He immediately returned to his home and volunteered for service with the Little River Guards, in the 6th. Regiment under Col. William Bratton - (incidentally; he, and four brothers, namely: John Jr., Moses, Sgt. William James, and Capt. Samuel Boyd Clowney, all served as volunteers, in this struggle - all returned except John Jr., who was killed and his body never found).

After witnessing the fall of Fort Sumter their regiment moved on to Va., July 15, 1861, was placed under Gen. Longstreets command and fought in the 2nd. Battle of Manassas. Here Capt. Michael Brice was mortally wounded, and the company reorganized; whereby Lt. Robert Cheyne Clowney was promoted to Captain, on the battlefield. He continued serving under Gen. Longstreet's command in Va. and Md., also the memorable campaign in the mountains of east Tenn. during the years 1863-64. His horse was shot from under him; however, he received no serious injuries during his entire service. He, with the remainder of his company, were with Lee at the surrender at Appomatox Court House, on April 9, 1865.

In the fall of 1865, he married Miss Margaret Brice, daughter of Samuel and Dorcas Price Brice. They moved to the New Hope section of Fairfield, County, where he became a large land owner, successful planter and stock raiser.

He helped organize and build Mispah Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder until his death. He also gave liberally to the building and support of Bethlehem Methodist Church in his neighborhood.

His lovely home, which he bought from his father-in-law-, Samuel Brice who moved to Alabama, burned a few years after Capt. Clowney's death.

Capt. Robert Cheyne Clowney was a Mason. There was a chapter of The United Daughters of the Confederacy, named in his honor. He always took an active part in the religious, educational and economic life of his community and county. He represented Fairfield County in the Legislature for one term: 1878-1880 during the trying times of reconstruction.

Capt. Clowney died March 12, 1885 of pneumonia, and was buried beside his wife, (who had preceded him only two and a half years in death) at New Hope Associate Reform Presbyterian Church yard. Thus ended the short and promising career of a beloved husband, kind and generous father, and neighbor - a true friend to all mankind - leaving a large family, the eldest being only nineteen years of age.

NOTE: (cmb) Typeface and appearance are same as for Samuel Thomas Clowney eulogy which is accompanied by original written in Meynel Clowney Cato's hand; therefore, this more detailed document may be the original from which other versions - with different birth dates - were interpreted.