The Murder of Benjamin Ross and The Escape of Little Bill
This story isn't about any of my director ancestors, but takes place where the Rochester Family has lived for over 250 years.
In 1888, Benjamin Ross was living in Glassy Mountain, South Carolina known as the Dark Corner.
He was a prominent citizen who was a government distiller and liquor dealer. In other words, a moonshiner.
One day Benjamin Ross testified at a moonshine hearing in Greenville, South Carolina. After his testimony, he was at home laying by the fire when their dogs began to bark. His little daughter went to the door but didn't see anybody.
Suddenly, the family heard shots coming through the glass window. Benjamin was hit both in the chest and stomach. He stood up and said,
"Lord, Harriett. I am shot. Lord have mercy on me."
Then he fell into his wife's arms, took a few breaths, and died.
Thomas Rochester (whom I am most likely distantly related to) thought he knew who did it. Just the week before, William Howard had told him that he was going to shoot Benjamin Ross. So he pretended like he already knew that William Howard had done it, and was able to get William to confess.
There are two William Howards in town and they are first cousins--William M. Howard and William L. Howard. William M. is known as "Big Bill" and William L. is known as "Little Bill" because he was shorter. If you get confused just pretend "L" stands for "little."
Thomas accused Little Bill of the murder. Little Bill accused Big Bill of the murder, claiming that he was standing close by and saw Big Bill do it. The courts believed Little Bill to be guilty and Big Bill to be innocent.
In July 1890, Little Bill was sentenced to be hanged and sent to jail to wait.
In July 1890, Little Bill was sentenced to be hanged and sent to jail to wait.
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| He didn't have one of these. |
Every weekend, his wife walked 27 miles with their baby to visit him. The jailor couldn't turn her away because she had walked so far. She was described in the New York Times as having staring blue eyes with her mouth half open. She looked like didn't have an idea in the world except to get dinner and have children. Apparently she had at least one other idea.
In October 1890, Mrs. Howard asked to leave the jail like she did every Monday morning. As the jailor watched her go, he noticed she walked sort of funny, but didn't think much of it. She was walking a 54-mile round trip every weekend to see her husband, of course she would walk funny. That afternoon, when the jailor went to check on Little Bill, guess what he found?
Little Bill's wife in jail, lying underneath a blanket!
Little Bill had walked out of the Greenville County Jail, dressed like his wife.
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| Guess he didn't need one of these after all. |
Four months later, Little Bill was found staying at his mother-in-law's. He was later acquitted because the chief witness mysteriously died.
In December of 1890, Big Bill was murdered by Benjamin Ross' stepson George Center (who was also Big Bill's first cousin). George claimed self-defense and was found not guilty.
Little Bill lived to be 68 years old and had 12 children.
I am The Great Grandson of Lil Bill Howard.This Story was never talked about as I was growing up.My GrandMother Annie Maude Howard Turner,Talked of her Father fromtime to time and Her Sister Lula Howard Black would Tell of The Times they had growing up William Lil Bill Howard Was no murderer and That is the reason for His Clever escape.My Great Grandmother Sis Howard was From what I heard growing up was a wonderfull kind Caring Woman She Knew That Her husband had commited no Crime other than Knowing About The killing of Ben Ross.She was not about to let Him Hang for something he had not done.I consider my Great Grandmother a HERO.If Any family decendants would like to Contact me I am at 864-384-9401..i can be reached at any time I would love to hear from anyone Who may know a Little bit more About My Ancesters.Doug Turner &th generation Glassy mountain Howard.
ReplyDeleteI am a direct descendant also my name is Anthony Howard and I live in Greer South Carolina. I'm on Facebook as Tony Howard and have a business page of Tony Howard's Auto Service. Like you I have some facts but not all I have a genealogy that goes back to around 1700.
DeleteMy name is Hannah and my grandmother was a Howard by birth. Her parents are George Howard and Estelle Duncan, I have heard her talk over the years many times of the howard's of glassy mountain and what it was like growing up on the mountain and the many tales of her family of moonshiners. I don't have alot of information other than the stories she told me as a kid and a teenager. I would love to know more as she told her I always looked like the howard side of her family. I miss my grandma alot!
DeleteMy name is Hannah and my grandmother was a Howard as she passed several years ago. Her parents were George Howard and Estelle Duncan, I remember her taking us to glassy mountain when we were younger and showing us where she use to live and where her grandparents use to make moonshine at. I remember her telling me stories of the dark corner and now rough it was. I would love to find out more information about my family's history as she always told me I looked like the howard side. I'm on face as Hannah Nissan and would love to talk to anyone who is a descendant or related.
ReplyDeleteYou can email me at hannahnissan301@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI'm related to the Howards through my father and the Rosses through my mother. They were all living in that area at this time.
ReplyDelete