City Directories and History: Constructed in about 1840 as the Erasmus Nance home. Mr. Nance was the nephew of one of the village’s earliest settlers, Mr. Frederick Nance. Click here to see added information on this home and the Historic District.
Maj. Frederick Nance was, I presume, the first settler at and within the limits of the village of Newberry. He was a native of Amelia County, Virginia; he was born the 13th day of August, 1770, and died the 10th of February, 1840. He lived in the house now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Dorothy B. Pratt. He married Elizabeth Rutherford, the daughter of Col. Robert Rutherford. Maj. Nance was the deputy of Wm. Malone, the first County Clerk of Newberry, from May term ’91, till February, ’94, when he ceased to be the deputy and Wm. Satterwhite was appointed in his place. At May term, ’94, Wm. Malone resigned, and Maj. Nance was appointed County Clerk in his place. When the County Courts were abolished in January, 1800, and the Circuit District Courts established in ’98 and ’99, went into operation, he was recommended and appointed by the Governor, Clerk of Newberry, and continued in office until 1807, when he resigned, and Y. J. Harrington, Esq., our present excellent Clerk, succeeded him.f The writer had not that sort of knowledge in 1807, which would enable him to speak with accuracy of the discharge of the duties of Clerk by Maj. Nance; but judging from his records, and then reputation, it is due to him to say that no one could have better discharged the duties. Indeed, few men had the influence which he had while in that office; he was pretty much the legal adviser of all the citizens.£ The process of arraignment of a criminal is a very imposing one, when properly carried out. The fine person of Maj. Nance, and his fall knowledge of, add correct arraignment of a prisoner, made, in the spring of 1807, a deep impression on the writer, who, as a country boy, looked upon and listened to that ceremony when James Toland was pat to the Bar. How he acquired the title of major ought perhaps to be stated: he was the lieutenant of the company of cavalry raised by Craig and himself. When Craig became the major, he rose to be captain. Prior to his promotion, Henderson and Williams, lieutenants in other companies, junior to him, became captains. On Craig’s abdication of the command of the squadron, by leaving the country, Col. Creswell, who commanded the regiment, held under the law providing for promotion by seniority, that as Frederick Nance was the oldest lieutenant in the squadron, although the junior captain, he was entitled to the command of the squadron. He accordingly commissioned him major, and as such he commanded, at one regimental or squadron muster. Captains Henderson and Williams protested against Colonel Creswell’s decision, and a Court of Inquiry reversed it. The consequence was that Frederick Nance and John Henderson both resigned, and James Williams became the major. After Major Nance’s resignation of the clerkship, he was a candidate for Congress to fill up General Casey’s unexpired term; he was defeated by Capt. Joe Calhoun; but he received an almost unanimous vote in Newberry. He was elected Lieutenant-Governor, December, 1808, and qualified with the Governor, John Drayton. In 1812, he was elected Senator in the State Legislature from Newberry, and served two terms. In 1816 he was appointed the Elector of President for the Congressional District, consisting of Newberry, Fairfield and Laurens, and voted for James Monroe, President, and Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice-President. Having served for two years, as a Representative, while Major Nance was Senator, enables me to say that Newberry never has had a more faithful and useful servant than he was. The deafness, which was creeping on him, induced him to decline a re-election in 1820, and he ever after lived a private man. He was twice married: his first wife I have already named. The death of this excellent lady took place in 1829; her many virtues endeared her not only to her own family, but also to her many friends. None, however, felt her loss like her husband. In 1881, he married Mrs. Theresa Buff, who survived him. By his first marriage, he had eleven children, nine of whom, Bobert B., Dorothy B., Drayton, Amelia, Frederick, Sarah, Frances, Alfred and Laura, lived to be men and women; by his last marriage, he had one daughter, Martha, now Mrs. Calmes.
Major Nance was a useful man. He was a good neighbor, a firm friend, a devoted husband and father. Having known him from my childhood to his death, it is right and proper that I should say he well deserves to be remembered, when Newberry presents her most respectable and worthy citizens.
(Information from: The Annals of Newberry Co., SC – O’Neall and Chapman, Aull and Houseal Publishers – 1892)
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