The Laurens County Museum was honored to be the recipients of a beautiful figurine representing Steven Cumbo, a free mixed race Patriot who lived in Edgefield County and fought in numerous battles in the American Revolution. Mike Stelzel, a distant former family member and a member of the Artist Preservation Group, created this figurine.
The history of the Cumbo family is fascinating. Emmanuel Cambaw was a captive on a Portuguese slaving ship which was “pirated” by a British ship on the high seas. The slave ship was taken to the Virginia colony in 1644, and Emmanuel Cambaw was made an indentured servant by the Virginia assembly. He served as an indentured servant from 1644-1665, when he was freed from indentured servitude and granted 50 acres of land in James City, Virginia on April 18, 1667.
The Cumbo family intermarried with both whites and Native Americans throughout the colonial period. Eventually, Stephen Cumbo and his family migrated south and settled in the Ninety Six District in present day Edgefield County. He joined the Ninety Six militia, serving under future General Andrew Williamson.
The military records of Steven Cumbo presented here are found in a Pension Application he submitted in 1827 and from the Cumbo Family website. Information for this commentary is also derived from the Pension Application of Col. Samuel Hammond. Conversations with Cumbo family members provided further insight.
Steven Cumbo’s earliest record of service appears at the 2nd Siege of Savannah in October of 1779. He was at the Siege of Charleston in May of 1780. After Charleston fell he fled to North Carolina and joined with Patriot forces there. He soon signed up for a 10 month enlistment with Capt. Samuel Hammond’s “Regiment of Regular State Dragoons”. He “Enlisted in that Regiment, in which he served to the Expiration of that term, & was honorably Discharged – and was immediately engaged to Serve for three years or During the War in a New Regiment of Horse”’ again under Col. Samuel Hammond.
In his Pension Application Steven Cumbo states that he fought with Andrew Williamson at Savannah and Charleston. In 1827 Col. Hammond certified Steven Cumbo’s application and additionally stated that Steven Cumbo fought at Eutaw Springs (Sept. 8, 1781).
However, since Steven Cumbo fought with Sammuel Hammond for a 10 month period from June of 1780 til March of 1781 and then reenlisted for a three year period under Samuel Hammond, he obviously fought in dozens of battles. 24 year old Samuel Hammond was one of the most active battlefield leaders in the Revolutionary War. Samuel Hammond fought under Andrew Williamson in several battles/skirmishes along the Savannah River in the spring of 1779 and at the Battle of Stono Ferry in June of 1779. As mentioned, Hammond and Cumbo fought under Williamson at Savannah and also Charleston.
After a brief stint while meeting with exiled SC Gov. John Rutledge in Hillsboro, NC, Samuel Hammond and Steven Cumbo returned home to fight in the Backcountry of South Carolina. Capt. Hammond fought at Hanging Rock on Aug. 6, against Patrick Ferguson in the 2nd Battle of Cedar Spring in present day Spartanburg County and fought in the significant Patriot victory at Musgrove Mill on Aug. 19, 1780. Samuel Hammond was promoted to major after that battle.
After Musgrove Mill, Maj. Samuel Hammond’s regiment fought at Charlotte, Kings Mountain, Blackstocks, Rutledge Ford, Long Canes, Hammond’s Old Store, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, the Race to the Dan, 2nd Siege of Augusta, Ninety Six and Eutaw Springs.
Since Steven Cumbo was in active service with Samuel Hammond during this time, it is apparent that Steven Cumbo also participated in these battles. The full extent of his service is not known. Bobby Gilmer Moss, who has written the most definitive accounts of the Patriots at Kings Mountain and Cowpens, does not include Steven Cumbo’s presence in these battles. However, Professor Moss does state that his records may not be complete.
After the Battle of Eutaw Springs the British were forced into Charleston to live as refugees for the next 14 months. However, there was still unrest in the Backcountry, particularly in regards to the Cherokees. On Nov. 1, 1781 (two weeks after Yorktown) a mixed group of Scopholites (Europeans dressed as Cherokees) and Cherokees under the command of “Bloody Bill” Bates attacked Ft. Gowen near the SC/NC border, and killed 40 women and children in a most gruesome manner. Ironically, the 10 men defending the fort were rescued, but only after seeing their families massacred.
Gen. Andrew Pickens was sent to curb these Cherokee attacks, and Steven Cumbo was with this command. The Cherokees fled to the hills, but two weeks later on Nov. 17 another “Bloody Bill” entered the scene. “Bloody Bill” Cunningham had begun his Bloody Scout, leaving from Charleston and circling the state with 300 bloodthirsty renegades. Andrew Pickens then began chasing after Cunningham, and eventually chased him back into Charleston, but only after 79 men had been brutally murdered.
Whatever battles Steven Cumbo may or may not have participated in, it is obvious that he signed up for the duration and was an experienced and valuable member of Patriot fighting forces. Steven Cumbo is the epitome of a South Carolina militiaman, always at the ready to do his duty.
Stephen Cumbo’s Pension Application is poignant. It is not known what his birth or death dates are. In any case, in 1827 his application stated “Your petitioner received several Slight Wounds in these Services, but not such as were, while Young, injurious as to induce him to apply for a pension as Others more Severely afflicted were reduced to do: but now that he is Old & Otherwise infirm & helpless with all Very poor, he is Constrained to Ask for Some pecuniary aid for his Support.”
In addition, Steven Cumbo lists his earthly possessions: “one hundred acres of pineland, the title of which is doubtful, one ox two years old, two Potts, one Dutch oven, half a dozen Earthen plates, one dish & One Bold (bowl?), Two beds with furniture, all quite indifferent, 3 small axes, one small shovel plow, Deponent further swears that he has eight persons in his family besides himself, 5 of them unable to support themselves”.
For his services as a valuable militiaman and Dragoon in the Revolutionary War, Stephen Cumbo was granted a pension of “$60 per annum”.
Durant Ashmore
durantashmore@aol.com
2/13/26
More Revolutionary War in Laurens County:
Site Guide
Timeline
Little River Regiment Honor Roll