The South Carolina Gazette's
Accounts
John George Smithpeter
&
The Weberite MurderTrial
Charlestown, SC
1760-1761
Compiled by Brenda Helen Keck Reed
South Carolina Gazette
8 March 1760: Charles Town
[Page 4, Public Notice)
"By Order of His Excellency the Governor
Whereas some of his majesty's troops are soon expected in Charles-Town, from New-York, for the defence of his province; and as sundry waggons and other carriages may be wanted, for transporting tents, baggage,and provisions, for the said troops, to all or any of the following stages or places, viz. from Monck's-corner to Eutaw, from thence to Beaver-creek, and from thence to the Congarees and to such other places as the service may require. THEREFORE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, to all persons residing in and near Monck's-corner, the Eutaw-spring, Beaver-creek, Wateree, Amelia and Orangeburg townships, and places adjacent to the said several stages, who are possessed of waggons and other carriages, and willing to contract for the above-mentioned service, at any one or all the stages aforesaid that they do deliver their proposals immediately, in writing, to Simon Theus at Monck's-crner, to James McKelvey at the Eutaw, to Michael-Christopoher Row at Orangeburg; to Henry Gallman and John-George Smithpeter at the Congarees, and to Samuel Wyly, Esq. and Joseph Kersaw at the Waterees, signifying the number of waggons they can furnish, and the terms and conditions they are willing to accept of for the said service. WILLIAM PINCKNEY, Com. Gen."
South Carolina Gazette,
25 April 1761: Charles Town
[Page 2, Column 2]
"On the 5th ult [5 Apr 1761] some unhappy wretches, who in a fit of religious delusion and enthusiasm, had in a most barbarous manner murdered one Michael Hans [Hentz], and Capt. John George SmithPeder [Schmidtpeter, Smithpeter] , on the 23d and 24th of February lait [23 & 24 Feb 1761], at Congarees, were brought down from thence and committed to jail: Their delusion was so great that they acknowledged the murders, and for some days attempted to justify themselves: But at March Sessions they were too well convinced of their error, when seven of them were indicted and tried, and four convicted, viz. Jacob Wieber, John Geiger, Jacob Bourghart, and Hannah Wieber; who all received sentence of death on the 31st ult. [31 Mar 1761]. And on the 17th instant [17 Apr 1761] Jacob Wieber was hanged pursuant to his sentence, behaving in a very becoming manner, and dying a true penitent: The other three are reprieved 'till May [May 1761]."
South Carolina Gazette,
16 May 1761, Charles Town
[Page 3, Column 1]
"At a court of Common Please held this week, before the honourable, William Simpson, Esq; chief justice, -- John Gieger, Jacob Bourghart, and Hannah Wieber [Weber], (who with Jacob Wieber [Weber] executed on the 17th ult [17 April 1761] were convicted of murder at March Sessions, and received sentence of death, the 31st of same month [31 March 1761] were admitted to bail, to appear upon recognizance from sessions to sessions, till his majesty's pleasure touching the sentence passed upon them shall be known."
Researchers may find The South Carolina Gazette, 1761, on microfilm at the South Caroliniana Library in Columbia, South Carolina or the Doe Library, University of California, Berkekey, California.
