Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Gavin Witherspoon

My Great, Great, Great, Great Grandpa was Gavin Witherspoon who was born in 1747 in Williamsburg District South Carolina and fought in the revolutionary war. This is a 'tradition' that was handed down through the family about him, "Corporal Gavin was a very large man, weighing it was said, over 250 pounds. One day, while off duty, he came upon 5 British soldiers, who had stacked their weapons and were some distance away eating, he crept noiselessly to their guns, secured them and ordered the 5 to surrender, which they did; and when he marched them into his camp, the captain was very much surprised to see one man bring in 5 prisoners, so he say, "Why Corporal! How did you manage to capture 5 men at one time? Gavin replied, "I surrounded them." The Captain said, "Well sir, if there is anyone in my company who could surround 5 men, you are the one." I don't have a photo of him, but here is the house his father James Witherspoon built in 1749 which is still standing today. Mary and I visited a few years ago. Today it is part of the historical museum.

 

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