South Carolina – Statement of Losses

Introduction to the Statement of Losses

Statement of Losses is a partial collection of claims filed by Lowcountry planters in 1861 and 1862. In these claims, the planters testified to losses they sustained during the initial years of the war, regardless of whether the Union or Confederate Army was responsible. Planters were invited to testify by the State of South Carolina. It was assumed at the time that the war would end quickly, that it would end in the South's favor, and that all property would be subsequently restored.

On February 8, 1862, a local newspaper (probably the Charleston Mercury) printed the following notice:

By JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE
General Assembly of South Carolina, the Governor was
authorized to appoint a COMMISSION, consisting of
Five, to ascertain the value of property on the Sea-
board, which has fallen into the hands of the enemy,
lost or destroyed, either by the enemy, our own sold-
iers from a military necessity, or by the parties them-
selves to prevent capture.
    Under the above, the Governor saw fit to appoint the
following Commissioners :
        WILLIAM WHALEY, Esq.
        Hon. EDMUND RHETT.
        HON. NATHANIEL HEYWARD.
        PAUL HAMILTON WARING, Esq.
        Col. E. M. SEABROOK.
    The above Commission will assemble at the Office [of]
the Chairman, 48 Broad-street, Charleston, S. C., at [–]
o'clock, M., on the first day of March next.
                        WILLIAM WHALEY, Chairman
    N. B.–Statement of Losses may be presented at
Broad-street, or either of the Commissioners, as
be most conveniet [ sic ] to parties.
    February 8                           c                 sw7

The ledger books with the original claims are located in Columbia at the South Carolina Archives. Many claims have disappeared over time. An index with the name of each planter who presented a statement can be found at the South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston.

As Charles Spencer notes in his book Edisto: A History, ....

About this Transcription – Credits & Sourcing

With the occasional exception of indentations, these transcriptions are exact. Abbreviations, spelling, and punctuation have been preserved. Column structure remains in tact, as well as line breaks and line spacing. These transcriptions were made from photocopies of the original documents. They were generously given to us by Nancy Peeples of James Island. Sara Tyler, also of James Island, served as editor.

If you would like to use these transcriptions on your website, please credit Nancy and Sara and provide a link to this page. Though the documents themselves are public property, these transcriptions cannot be published in printed form without permission from South-Carolina-Plantations.com.