Robert Henry Campbell (1752 - 1820)

Born 1752 in Ederline, Argyllshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Justina Henrietta Maria (Kelly) Taylor — married [date unknown] in Jamaica, British West Indies

Husband of Lucia (Blair) Campbell — married 26 Feb 1788 in South Carolina

Descendants

Died 1820 at about age 68 in Darlington District, SC, USA

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Biography

Robert was born in 1752. Robert Campbell ... Son of Rev Hugh Campbell of Craignish and his wife Susanna. He passed away in 1820.

Father was minister of Craignish at time of his birth, but the parish's baptismal records pre-1755 have not survived. DoB is from father's entry in Fasti.

Soon after the Revolutionary War was ended, Robert Campbell came to the Pee Dee and settled near Hunt's Bluff in Marlboro. He had been a British officer, had large wealth, married Miss Blair and soon became a money-making, prosperous planter. He was careful in the education and culture of his children, Robert B., James, John and Maria. The daughter, Maria, married David G. Coit and was the mother of Major J.C. Coit of Cheraw, and others. Her second husband was Major James McQueen. It is said that when the War of 1812 came on between Great Britain and the United States, the elder Capt. Campbell earnestly urged his first born, Robt. B., to accept a commission in the British army, which he offered to procure for him. But the son indignantly refused what to him appeared a traitorous temptation. Young Campbell was gifted, of courteous courtly manners, splendid form and features, and soon rose into prominence. He married into the Lee family, of Virginia, and was elected a member of Congress. Subsequently he sold his splendid plantation (what is now Drake's Mill and Lowden plantation), and went to Alabama, and filled a mission to Havana, and afterwards to England.

Col. John Campbell, after his literary course, studied law, it is thought at Litchfield, Conn., was admitted to the bar in 1822, but seems not to have practiced long, if at all. He married Mrs Jane Thomas, the widow of W.L. Thomas. She was Miss McQueen before marriage, a most amiable, excellent woman, who died at a great age only a few years ago. Col. Campbell was first elected to the Twenty-first Congress which met in 1829. In 1837 he appeared again as a member of the Twenty-fifth and was three times elected after this. He died universally lamented soon after his last election. He was a man of great polish, graceful manner, amiable spirit, refined, modest and yet fearless; one of the most fascinating, fluent speakers of his day, capable of charming all circles in society, the favorite alike of all classes of his people. The Messrs. Campbell of Blenheim and James P. of Bennettsville are descended from the first Robert, but not by the first marriage.

Excerpt from "Sketches of Old Marlboro" by Duncan Donald McColl, 1916

Immediately after the Revolutionary War, Captain Robert Campbell, who had been an officer in the British Army, settled on the banks of the Pee Dee River, near Hunt's Bluff. He acquired, in various ways, large territories of land, and, at the time of his death, which probably took place some time in the year 1820, he was a large land owner and possessed considerable wealth in other forms. Although Captain Campbell was probably always known as Robert Campbell, it seems that his full name was Robert Henry Campbell. He was the son of the Rev. Hugh Campbell, of Rothesay, Bute, Scotland.

. . .

It is said that General Andrew Jackson, who was a prisoner, wrote Captain Campbell a letter expressing the appreciation of the prisoners for the kind and humane manner in which they were treated by him. It seems that the British officer who preceded Captain Campbell in this duty had been very harsh and cruel in his conduct to the unfortunate American soldiers who had suffered the misfortune of becoming captives. In contrast to the expressions contained in this letter written by General Jackson, it will be remembered that tradition relates that he once suffered a cruel punishment for indignantly and scornfully refusing to clean the boots of his British captor.

Very scant mention is made of Captain Campbell in Gregg's history. One of the incidents related of him by Gregg is connected with a slave named Cuffy, who belonged to General Henry W. Harrington of the American forces. While the British were encamped at Cheraw, a detachment bound on a plundering expedition, went to the home of General Harrington, in Richmond County, in his absence. They seized all of the property they could find, including a number of negro slaves. Among these was the body servant of General Harrington, named Cuffy. He was highly valued by his master on account of his useful and valuables qualities. General Harrington made many efforts to recapture him, but with no success. The British post at Cheraw, when success began to smile on the American arms, was broken up and transferred to Camden. Cuffy was supposed to have been carried with the British on their return to Camden. "He subsequently passed into the hands of Captain Campbell, a British officer. After the close of the war. General Harrington brought a suit in the Cheraw's District for his recovery. The damages found were very great, and only to be discharged by the delivery of the negro. Rather than to pay the amount. Captain Campbell sent to Jamaica for Cuffy, where he had been transported, and delivered him to his master."

However uncertain we may be as to the details of the military service rendered by Captain Campbell and as to the causes which brought about his settlement on the Pee Dee, we know that, after the close of the war, he established himself very near Hunt's Bluff, There is a tradition to the effect that he received a grant from the king of large landed estates in Canada and exchanged them for lands which he held on the Pee Dee River. He married Lucia Blair, the daughter of Robert Blair.

. . .

The traditions and existing visible reminders of Captain Campbell, in the community where he lived, show that he lived upon a lavish and magnificent scale, considering the times and the primitive nature of the country. He seemed to have brought with him, and maintained, the standards and the characteristic sports of the English country gentleman. The club house, the marks and signs of which still remain, was a place of amusement and sport established in the vicinity of his home for the purpose of entertaining himself and his friends. Only a few years ago a plainly marked race course was visible at this spot, and imagination can easily depict the stirring scenes that the old club house probably witnessed when rival race horses met there for exciting contests. The inventory of Captain Campbell's estate shows that he owned and enjoyed many of the instrumentalities of luxury and refinement which were very rare in that day.

Silver plate, beautiful old mahogany furniture, a respectable number of books and a magnificent cellar, were mentioned, as well as seventy-five slaves, farming animals and tools. It is not unlikely that along with his other business activities. Captain Campbell was engaged in the mercantile business and in boating upon the Pee Dee River, which, in that day, was the only avenue of commerce and of communication with the outside world. There is to be found on file in the office of the Clerk of Court for Marlboro County the fragmentary record of an old lawsuit between Captain Campbell and John Keith, Esq., respecting a disputed shipment of eighteen hundred bushels of com, for which Mr. Keith claimed to have paid Captain Campbell twice. Georgetown was the chief depot of supplies and the mart of trade to which were sent the agricultural products of the Pee Dee section. Captain Campbell was probably more favorably situated for the handling of a considerable part of this trade than any other man in his section of the county, and it is, therefore, natural to find that his proximity to the great channel of commerce brought him closely into contact with the refinement, luxuries and elegance of city life.

Captain Campbell, by his marriage to Lucia Blair, had three sons and two daughters. The sons were Robert Blair Campbell, James Campbell and John Campbell. The daughters were Mariah Campbell and Lucia Campbell. It seems, according to the statements contained in Robert Campbell's will, which is recorded in the office of the Probate Judge, that at the time of his death, he was married to a second wife, Henrietta Campbell, and that Annie Campbell and Robert H. Campbell were the children of this marriage. James Campbell and Lucia Campbell both died unmarried. The Campbell family, now living in Marlboro County, is probably descended from Robert Campbell through his second marriage with Henrietta Campbell. This sketch, however, is intended, primarily, to deal only with the issue of the first marriage and, more especially, with the careers of Robert B. Campbell and John Campbell. The last will of Captain Robert Campbell, as well as the inventory of his estate, show that when he died he was a very wealthy man, according to the standards of that day. The great bulk of his property was left to his children by his first marriage, although he provided very handsomely for his surviving wife, Henrietta Campbell, and her children.

Historical Notes on Origins os Family

Judge Mitchell King, one of the Flat Rock founders, was born in Craill, Scotland in 1793 with the last name of “Kingo”, which he shortened to “King” sometime after immigrating to Charleston in 1805. In 1811 Mitchell King married Susannah Campbell, the daughter of McMillan Campbell, and following her death he married her younger sister Margaret Campbell in 1830. These sisters were the daughters of McMillan & Henrietta Campbell, who had earlier immigrated to Charleston from Scotland. McMillan Campbell was the brother of Agnes Morland Campbell’s grandfather, Capt. Robert Henry Campbell. Both brothers, McMillan and Robert, had originally emigrated from Scotland to South Carolina, McMillan to engage in the import-export business, and the Captain as an officer in the British army. The Campbell brothers were the sons of Rev. Hugh Campbell of Rothsay in the Isle of Butte, and his wife Susannah Campbell, who was the daughter of Angus McIver Campbell of Asknish in Scotland.

Judge Mitchell King, one of the Flat Rock founders, was born in Craill, Scotland in 1793 with the last name of “Kingo”, which he shortened to “King” sometime after immigrating to Charleston in 1805. In 1811 Mitchell King married Susannah Campbell, the daughter of McMillan Campbell, and following her death he married her younger sister Margaret Campbell in 1830. These sisters were the daughters of McMillan & Henrietta Campbell, who had earlier immigrated to Charleston from Scotland. McMillan Campbell was the brother of Agnes Morland Campbell’s grandfather, Capt. Robert Henry Campbell. Both brothers, McMillan and Robert, had originally emigrated from Scotland to South Carolina, McMillan to engage in the import-export business, and the Captain as an officer in the British army. The Campbell brothers were the sons of Rev. Hugh Campbell of Rothsay in the Isle of Butte, and his wife Susannah Campbell, who was the daughter of Angus McIver Campbell of Asknish in Scotland.

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Sources

• Thomas' "History of Marlboro County"
• "Sketches of Old Marlboro" by Duncan Donald McColl, 1916
• https://psabc.org/asknish-a-small-cottage-with-a-big-history/
• 1790 United States Federal Census
• 1800 United States Federal Census
• The Coit family; or the descendants of John Coit, : who appears among the settlers of Salem, Massachusetts, pg 189
• North Carolina, U.S., Historical Records Survey, Cemetery Inscription Card Index, 1700-2018
• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s
• South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965
• South Carolina Marriages, 1688-1799
• South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980