From the files of Legacy Keeper Donna Thompson.
SOLOMON LANGSTON
BORN: 1732. One source says he was born in Chowan County, NC; another says Nansemond County, VA.
DIED: 1825, Laurens County, South Carolina.
MARRIED: Sarah Bennett (b. 1735; d. 1810) of Greenville, SC (or Nansemond County, VA) in 1753. Sarah was the daughter of Richard and Ann Bennett.
PARENTS: John Langston was the father of Solomon Langston.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Solomon Langston and his brother James were two of the earliest of their family to emigrate to South Carolina. They came prior to the Revolutionary War, before Solomon‘s son, Solomon, Jr. was born in 1761. Solomon Langston was middle-aged, living in Laurens County, SC during the Revolutionary War, and served in the war for a short time actively. He ranked as Lieutenant and served in the Spartan Regiment of South Carolina under Captain Wofford. Subsequently, he did commissary service. He was an ardent Whig and did everything he could to help the cause of American freedom. He owned many slaves and many, many acres of land. He was a religious man, a Baptist.
He is buried in the Langston Cemetery located at the foot of the hill behind Langston Church. This church is located about nine miles from Laurens, SC and is one of the oldest churches in Laurens County. It was established long before the Revolution, and during the war it almost disbanded. The land for this church and the cemetery behind it was donated by the Langston family. It was still standing and being used in 1961.
Children of Solomon and Sarah Bennett Langston
(All were at home during the Revolutionary War.)
1.Mary Langston (b. ca. 1756) m. Jesse Holder.
2.James Langston (b. ca. 1757). James was active in the cause of liberty, volunteering early in the Revolutionary struggle. He was closely watched by Tory neighbors and finally lost his life in an encounter. It was said to have been the Farrows House in which they hemmed him in. For more information on James’s activities, see the account of Dicey Langston’s heroism.
3.Solomon Langston, Jr. (b. ca. 1761 in South Carolina) m. Elizabeth Camp on 1 June 1781. He was a planter. Some sources say his first wife was Hannah Crowe and they had a son, Lemuel J. Langston. (Some sources also list Solomon, Jr.’s birthdate as 1775, but our records show it to be 1761, which makes his marriage to Elizabeth Camp in 1781 more feasible).
4.Laodicea “Dicey” Langston, 1766-1837, m. Thomas Springfield. Dicey is our ancestor. See the section on her for more information.
5.Henry Langston (b. 23 June 1769; d. 9 October 1844) m. Sarah Murphy (b. 20 November 1776 in Ireland; d. 16 May 1834) on 23 January 1789. Sarah’s family was Scottish but had settled in Northern Ireland due to religious beliefs. They emigrated to America when Sarah was seven years old. Henry and Sarah are buried in Langston Cemetery, Laurens, SC.
6.Selah/Celah Langston m. Samuel Stiles/Styles.
7.Martha or Margaret “Patty” Langston (b. ca. 1772) m. Nathan Jones.
8.Sarah Langston (b. ca. 1773) m. _________ Miller. They had seven children.
8.Amy Langston (b. ca. 1774) m. Ephraim Christopher. They had seven children by 1810.
9.Bennett Langston (b. 14 June 1777; d. 22 July 1850 in Union County, Indiana) m. Mary Brown (b. 10 January 1782) in 1796. They had eleven children.
Will of Solomon Langston
In the name of God, Amen. I, Solomon Langston of the State of South Carolina and District of Laurens, being weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory, but calling to mind that it is appointed by the almighty Creator for all mortal men once to die. Therefore am willing that what it hath pleased God to bestow on me as to temperal goods. I give in the following manner, and my Soul I recommend into my Saviour’s hands who redeemed it by his precious Blood and my body I recommend to the ground to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named–
Item – I give and bequeath to my Son Henry Langston one Negro man named Adam to him and his Heirs forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my Son Solomon Langston all the remainder of that tract of Land which I have not deeded out in Greenville District, also I give and bequeath to him one negroe boy named Spencer to him and his heirs forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my son Bennett Langston the Tract of Land and plantation I now live on containing 204 acres, also a Bounty tract purchased from William Cooper Junr. containing 75 acres to him and his heirs forever except my wife Sarah’s dower, which I desire her to enjoy during her natural life.
Item – I give and bequeath to my Daughter Amy Christopher one bed and furniture to her and her heirs etc.
Item – I give and bequeath to my daughter Laodicea Springfield two Dollars.
Item – I give and bequeath to Patty Jones 66 acres of Land located to myself in a 200 acre tract, the residue has been transferred to Mary Holder to her Etc.
Item – I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Miller 84 acres of Land whereon the meeting House now stands, also one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my Daughter Selah Stiles one cow and calf to her and her Heirs etc.
Item – I leave the use of three negroes (viz) Ede, Jane and Leah to my well beloved wife Sarah Langston together with all the residue of my stock, household furniture and working utensils and all the rest of my estate where and when during her natural life, and at her death my will is that Ede be Set free or emancipated, and all the residue of the whole to be equally Divided among my children (Viz) Henry Langston, Solomon Langston, Bennett Langston, Amy Christopher, Patty Jones, Sarah Miller, and Selah Stiles to them and their Heirs forever.
And lastly I do nominate and appoint my Sons Henry Langston and Solomon Langston to be executors to this my last will and testament disannulling and revoking all other former Wills by me made heretofore and do hereby constitute and ordain this to be my last Will and no other. And do hereby Set my hand and affix my Seal this 25th day of Feby. 1810.
John Hitch Solomon Langston (SEAL)
John Styles
Basil Wheat X his mark
Recorded in Will Book E, page 513, Bdl. 43, pkg. 12.
Proven August 15, 1825.
Recorded date not available.
