Near Blacksburg in York County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Major William Chronicle
— Oct. 7, 1780 —
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 5, 2010
1. Major William Chronicle Marker
Major William Chronicle
Oct. 7, 1780
Erected 1930 by Major William Chronicle Chapter D.A.R.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1780.
Location. 35° 8.632′ N, 81° 22.723′ W. Marker is near Blacksburg, South Carolina, in York County. Marker can be reached from Park Road, on the right when traveling east. Located along a 1.5 mile walking trail around the Kings Mountain Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2625 Park Road, Blacksburg SC 29702, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Local Boys & Spies (a few steps from this marker); Sacred to the Memory Monument (a few steps from this marker); Col. Frederick Hambright (within shouting distance of this marker); Major Ferguson Falls (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Col. Ferguson Fell (about 400 feet away); Major Winston's (about 400 feet away); Colonel Patrick Ferguson Memorial (about 400 feet away); Lieutenant Colonel James Hawthorn (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blacksburg.
Also see . . .
this page online
1. Kings Mountain National Military Park (U.S. National Park Service). Thomas Jefferson called it "The turn of the tide of success." (Submitted on April 2, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Kings Mountain National Military Park, Historic Resource Study, National Park Service. (Submitted on September 10, 2019.)
Additional commentary.
1. Major William Chronicle
Major William Chronicle, the soldier and martyr to the cause of liberty at Kings Mountain, was born in the south eastern part of Lincoln county (now Gaston) about 1755. His mother was first married to a Mr. McKee in Pennsylvania, who afterwards removed to North Carolina and settled in Mecklenburg county. By this marriage she had one son, James McKee, a soldier of the revolution, and ancestor of the several families of that name in the neighborhood of Armstrong's Ford, on the South Fork of the Catawba. After McKee's death, his widow married Mr. Chronicle, by whom she had an only son, William, who afterward performed a magnanimous part in defence of his country-s rights. The site of the old family mansion is still pointed out by the oldest inhabitants with feelings of lingering veneration. "There," they will tell you, "is the spot where old Mr. Chronicle lived and his brave
Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, March 29, 2009
2. Major William Chronicle Marker
Major Chronicle's first service was performed as Captain of a company at Purysburg in South Carolina. Early in the fall of 1780, a regiment was raised in Lincoln county, over which Col. William Graham was appointed Colonel; Frederick Hambrite, Lieut. Colonel, and William Chronicle, Major. It is well known that Col. Graham, on account of severe sickness in his family, was not present at the battle of King's Mountain. The immediate command of the regiment, assisted by Col. Dickson of the county, was then gallantly assumed by these officers, and nobly did they sustain themselves by word and example, in that ever-memorable conflict. Major Chronicle was brave, perhaps to a fault, energetic in his movements, self possessed in danger, and deeply imbued with the spirit of liberty. His last words of encouragement in-leading a spirited charge against the enemy, were "Come on my
Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, March 29, 2009
3. Major William Chronicle Marker
This patriotic appeal was not given in vain. It nerved evey man for the contest. Onward his brave boys steadily moved forward, Major Chronicle in the advance, and approached within gun-shot of the British forces. Just at this time, a few sharp shooters of the enemy discharged their pieces, and retreated. The brave Chronicle fell mortally wounded, receiving a fatal ball in the breast. Almost at the same time, Capt. John Mattocks and Lieutenants William Rabb and John Boyd, also fell. Major Chronicle was only about twenty-five years old at the time of his death. The late Capt. Samuel Caldwell and his brother William, were both in this battle. William Caldwell brought home Major Chronicle's horse; his sword and spurs passed into the hands of his half brother, James McKee, and the venerated memorials are still in possession of one of his sons, who moved many years ago to Tennessee. (Source: Sketches of Western North Carolina, Historical and Biographical by C.L. Hunter (1877), pgs 289-291.)
— Submitted September 11, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, March 29, 2009
4. Major William Chronicle Marker
Photographed By Brian Scott, May 14, 2010
5. Major William Chronicle Marker
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, April 4, 2014
6. Major William Chronicle Marker
Markers location in relation to nearby marker and battlefield trail.
Photographed By Brian Scott, May 14, 2010
7. Major William Chronicle Marker
Photographed By Brian Scott, May 14, 2010
8. Major William Chronicle Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,250 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on August 22, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on August 6, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 1, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. 5. submitted on September 11, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 6. submitted on September 13, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 7, 8. submitted on September 11, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
