Campbell

The Campbell surname has origins in Scotland as one of the famous Scottish Clans, but with many different genetic families associated with the Campbell Clan spreading out to England and the colonies over the centuries. Cailean Mór Caimbeul (Campbell) is one of the earliest attested members of Clan Campbell and lived in the 1200s.1 He was supposedly a cousin of Robert the Bruce and took part in the wars between Bruce and John Balliol that lead to Edward I of England stepping in to assume lordship over Scotland, removing Balliol. These events eventually led to the Scottish War of Independence when Robert the Bruce claimed the throne in 1306. Supposedly Cailean Mór’s grandfather was named Dugald and was given the nickname “Cam Beul”, meaning “Curved Mouth” in the Gaelic, since he apparently had the habit of talking out of one side of his mouth.2

Our Campbells probably came to South Carolina from Scotland as part of the Scotch-Irish migrations of the mid-1700s.

Duncan Campbell

Duncan Campbell is the earliest of our Campbells attested in South Carolina. On 25 Apr 1779, he sold 100 acres of land on the South Tyger River to Reuben Barrett.3 Both men were of Greenville County, just west of where this land was located. Duncan was granted 100 acres on the branches of South Tyger River in 17854 and in 1786, 182 acres on both sides of Greens Creek along South Pacolet River in 96 District.5 In 1788, “Dunkin” and Mary Campbell of Greenville County sold land on Enoree River in Craven County to James Gamble Sr.6 Dunkin also sold some of the land granted that had been granted to him in 1786 to Joseph Maxwell of Greenville County, but Mary is not listed on this deed.7

Entry from John Lynch estate sale

In 1786, Mary Campbell bought a cow and a calf at the estate sale of John Lynch in Abbeville, so they were already active in that area by then.8 Duncan is listed on the 1790 census in Abbeville County.9

Two Abbeville District Equity cases provide the names of Duncan Campbell’s family. In an 1829 case, Wm Anderson et al vs Wm Campbell et al, William Anderson stated that “Duncan Campbell late of the district and state aforesaid deceased being seized and poss’d…of certain real estate consisting of two tracts of land both situated on the waters of Penny’s creek…departed this life intestate leaving Mary Campbell his widow and the following children, William Campbell, Isabella Campbell (who has intermarried with Obadiah Cann), John Campbell who has departed this life intestate and leaving a widow Elizabeth without any estate & having no legal representative) Jesse Campbell Polly Campbell (who has intermarried with Howel L Smith) Sally Campbell (who has intermarried with Thomas Graves) Enos Campbell and Elenor Campbell his only heirs.”10 The case concerns land which the heirs had sold to the son Enos and which had then been sold by the sheriff per a judgment against Enos concerning some debts. William Anderson had bought the land but some of the Campbell heirs were refusing to give it up. The case contains a copy of an 1822 deed from Mary Campbell to “my son Enos Campbell” and another from the other heirs to Enos dated 1810. There was a memorandum that stated that they believed Thomas Graves & Sally, Howel L. Smith & Jesse Campbell lived outside of South Carolina. The second case, Wm Anderson vs. Wm Campbell & others, from 1830, also involves this land and mentions Mary, the widow of Duncan Campbell and states that there were eight children, one of whom had died.11 Enos is the only child named in that case.

Enos Campbell

Enos Campbell was born about 1793 in South Carolina according to census records. He was living in Pendleton District in 1820,12 then appears in Abbeville County in 183013 and 184014 before moving to Walker County, Georgia.15,16 He appears last on the census there in 187017 and it would appear that he died that year as R. N. Dickerson was appointed administrator of the estate of Enos Campbell in Walker County on 5th of December that year.18

Although definite proof is lacking, Enos was apparently married twice, first to Jane Evatt and then to Elizabeth whose maiden name is unknown, but appears with him 1850 and afterwards. Enos is strongly associated with the Evatt family as he was living nearby them in part of Pendleton District (later Pickens and Anderson Counties). Additionally, deeds associate them in Pendleton District.19,20 Enos’s first wife was apparently Jane Evatt. She was the daughter of Hundley Evatt of Pickens District. Hundley left a will dated 1849 which mentions “my grandson and granddaughter Hundley E Campbell Abbey Rilla Evatt” along with his children and other grandchildren.21 Abbey was the wife of Riley Evatt and apparently a Campbell before marriage. There is a signed statement among the probate records mentioning division of land and “the Heirs of Jane Campbell formerly Jane Evatt Deceased.”22 This is the only document to date found mentioning her name. While there is no positive proof that Enos was her husband, this is strongly indicated by the fact that her son Hundley E. Campbell named one of his children Enos Campbell.

While Hundley remained in South Carolina, Enos moved to Walker County, Georgia where he and his second wife Elizabeth had a large family.

Hundley Evatt Campbell

Hundley, whose name was sometimes spelled Hunley, was born 28 Sep 1810. He is found living next to his father-in-law Hundley Evatt in Pickens County in 1840.23 By 1850, he had moved south to Anderson County.24 His first wife was Mary K. Gaines, daughter of James Gaines, with whom he had nine children.25 She died in 1849, after which he married Frances Arnold. Together, they had one child.

Some of the children of Hundley Campbell are discernable through census records. Additionally, after his first wife Mary died, the Pickens Court of the Ordinary appointed Hundley E. Campbell the the guardian of the following: James A. Campbell, Wm T. M. Campbell, Enos Thompson Campbell, Frances R Campbell, Nancy G. Campbell, Margaret M. Campbell, Mary Campbell, and Jincey E. Campbell.26 These would all be his and Mary’s children. A more detailed and extensive list of Hundley’s family is provided by the probate records of his grandfather Hundley Evatt.27 It mentions that Hundley E Campbell had died in 1859 intestate while his widow died 1862 intestate. The heirs of Hundley E. Campbell are listed as 1. Sarah Boggs and husband T. Addison Boggs of Georgia, 2. Matilda McCurry & W. McCurry of Anderson District, 3. William M. T. Campbell and 4. James A Campbell of Abbeville District, 5. representatives of Fanny Clark, a deceased daughter (her husband John W. Clark and minor child William H. Clark who reside in Anderson district), 6. E. Thompson Campbell who resides in Ohio, 7. Nancy Brown widow who resides in Anderson District, 8. Mary Dyer and husband Noel Dyer of Hart County, Georgia, 9. Arabella C. Campbell and 10. John M. Campbell of Pickens District, and John T. Sloan of Richland, the administrator of Hundley E. Campbell. This provides the entire list of the ten children.

Hundley Campbell died 28 Oct 1859. He was a Freemason and was buried with Masonic honors in the Ballentine Cemetery in Pickens County.28

Several obituaries were published in different newspapers which give a glimpse of his wider reputation and involvement in the community.

Keowee Courier, 5 Nov 1859
The Charleston Mercury, 4 Nov 1859

William Thomas McPherson Campbell

W. T. M. Campbell was born 16 Sep 1831. By 1860, he was living in the Diamond Hill area of Abbeville County, the same area locally known as The Nation, between Antreville and Lowndesville.29 William and many of his descendants to this day lived in this area and were associated with Bells Chapel, also known as Bells United Methodist Church. William married Nancy Amanda McCurry on 22 Dec 1853. Their dates along with their ten children are listed in a family Bible made available by a user on Ancestry.com. The Bible originally belonged to W. T. M. Campbell and was passed down the family of his son Hillary Atticus Campbell.

Marriage entry from Family Bible shared by Ancestry user “LarryBell50”
Birth entries from Family Bible shared by Ancestry user “LarryBell50”
Death entries from Family Bible shared by Ancestry user “LarryBell50”

Although the Bible only lists initials, the names of the ten children were:

  • Hundley Evatt Campbell
  • John Lester Campbell
  • James Alexander Campbell
  • William Nelson Campbell
  • Thomas Augustus Campbell
  • Henry Wiley Campbell
  • Leona Campbell
  • Mary Elizabeth Campbell
  • Hillary Atticus Campbell
  • Lewis Calvin Campbell

The 1860 census lists W. T. M. as a harness maker. The occupation given in 1870 is difficult to read, but mentions something about a shop.30 The 1880 census states he was a farmer and shoemaker.31 Most of the Campbells who lived in this area were farmers.

W. T. M. and Amanda died within a month of each other in early 1909 and were both buried at Bells Chapel.

James Alexander Campbell

James, sometimes called Jimmy, was born 26 Aug 1859. He grew up and lived his whole life in the Lowndesville area. The census consistently states that he was a farmer.32,33,34,35

James’s wife was Tobitha Melvina Crawford whom he married sometime around 1880. Their first child was born in 1881. They had a large family of fourteen children. Descendants of this family continue to hold a yearly reunion at Bells Chapel known as the Campbell Fourteen reunion.

James passed away on 3 Dec 1931.36 His wife survived him by about eight years. They were both buried in the Bells Chapel Cemetery.

Original clipping in family possession

In addition to the headstone for James and Tobitha, the family had a slab placed in the cemetery which lists their children.

Ernest Fulton Campbell

Ernest was born in Lowndesville 10 Jan 1887. He also was a farmer and lived his whole life in the Nation community. He met and married Cleo Wansley, whose family was from Elberton, Georgia. They were the parents of ten children.

Grandpa Campbell was known to roll his own cigarettes out of newspapers. He would travel to town in a horse and wagon.

He passed away on 1 Mar 1971, his wife outliving him by almost fourteen years.

Original clipping in family possession

Rose Etta Campbell

Momma Wilson was born 21 Mar 1911 in Lowndesville and grew up on the family farm there. She did not particularly enjoy picking cotton and the other regular farm activities. When she was older and was living in town she decided she didn’t want to move back to the country. She went to nursing school at the Abbeville hospital and worked there at the same time. Students would live there and be trained by the doctors. When she married Homer Wilson in 1933, nursing students were not allowed to stay in school, so they had to keep it a secret for a time.

She lived her whole life in Abbeville County and enjoyed her family and meeting several of her great-grandchildren before passing away in 2004.

  1. Highland Titles. (2015, 2023). Clan Campbell: Feuds, Tartan, History & Castle ↩︎
  2. Clan Campbell Society. Clan Campbell History ↩︎
  3. Greenville County, South Carolina Deed Book B, p77, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS79-13D3-F) ↩︎
  4. South Carolina Land Grants Class 2, No. 3, 1784, p450, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C348-G9KS-8) ↩︎
  5. South Carolina Land Grants Class 2, No. 13, 1786, p72, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLV-LSWM-J) ↩︎
  6. Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book B, p463, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-GS6Y-F) ↩︎
  7. Greenville County, South Carolina Deed Book A, p343, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS79-13DL-V) ↩︎
  8. Abbeville County, South Carolina Probate Box 55, Pkg 1314, John Lynch, 1786, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-F89Q-9T) ↩︎
  9. “United States, Census, 1790”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-K8R : Thu Jul 11 05:43:35 UTC 2024), Entry for Duncan Campble, 1790. ↩︎
  10. Abbeville County, South Carolina Equity Court Records Box 58, Pkg 3127, Wm Anderson et al vs Wm Campbell et al, 1829, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34V-99J9-F) ↩︎
  11. Abbeville County, South Carolina Equity Court Records Box 48, Pkg 2675, Wm Anderson vs Wm Campbell et al, 1830, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34J-5924-S) ↩︎
  12. “United States, Census, 1820”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG6-7VT : Sun Jul 14 07:49:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Enos Campbell, 1820. ↩︎
  13. “United States, Census, 1830”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5S-HK6 : Fri Jan 17 09:44:02 UTC 2025), Entry for Enes Campbell, 1830. ↩︎
  14. “United States, Census, 1840”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHY1-94S : Wed Mar 06 20:38:28 UTC 2024), Entry for E Campbell, 1840. ↩︎
  15. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYF-RRT : Sun Jan 19 22:44:46 UTC 2025), Entry for Enos Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell, 1850. ↩︎
  16. “United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZM2-MF1 : Mon Jul 08 04:54:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Enos Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell, 1860. ↩︎
  17. “United States, Census, 1870”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCQ9-C3V : Sun Jan 12 05:32:42 UTC 2025), Entry for Enos Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell, 1870. ↩︎
  18. Walker County, Georgia Administrator’s Bonds 1869-1892, p65, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93T-F7QX) ↩︎
  19. Anderson County, South Carolina Deed Book P, p216, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR8-8SHZ-K) ↩︎
  20. Anderson County, South Carolina Deed Book Q, p74, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-99J2-N) ↩︎
  21. Pickens County, South Carolina Probate Box 37, No. 419, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9P1-K5RQ) ↩︎
  22. Pickens County, South Carolina Probate Box 37, No. 419, Statement by J. N. Arnold, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9P1-KR21) ↩︎
  23. “United States, Census, 1840”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRY-XY3 : Mon Apr 29 17:58:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Hundley E Camell, 1840. ↩︎
  24. “United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-26V : Sun Oct 12 18:13:41 UTC 2025), Entry for Hundley Campbell and Frances Campbell, 1850.
    ↩︎
  25. Obituary of Mary K. Campbell, Pendleton Messenger, 2 Feb 1849 ↩︎
  26. Pickens County, South Carolina Guardianship Bonds Vol. 1, pp. 141-148, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9P1-KBDK) ↩︎
  27. Pickens County, South Carolina Equity Court Roll No. 27, Rial B. Evatt et al vs. F. N. Garrin et al. FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34F-D32S-V) ↩︎
  28. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62732908/hunley_evatt-campbell: accessed February 3, 2026), memorial page for Hunley Evatt Campbell (28 Sep 1810–28 Oct 1859), Find a Grave Memorial ID 62732908, citing Ballentine Cemetery, Pickens County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by ray waldrop (contributor 47228967). ↩︎
  29. “United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZTW-3TC : Mon Jul 08 22:54:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm T M Cambell and Amanda Campbell, 1860. ↩︎
  30. “United States, Census, 1870”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8T9-71M : Thu Oct 16 15:19:37 UTC 2025), Entry for W T Campbell and Amand Campbell, 1870. ↩︎
  31. “United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M69P-DYR : Tue Jan 21 16:27:20 UTC 2025), Entry for Wm. T. M. Campbell and Amanda Campbell, 1880. ↩︎
  32. “United States, Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3RS-8QM : Wed May 21 00:09:26 UTC 2025), Entry for J* Campbell and Tabitha Campbell, 1900. ↩︎
  33. “United States, Census, 1910”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5DT-CV1 : Wed Aug 13 16:54:56 UTC 2025), Entry for James A Campbell and Tobithus Campbell, 1910. ↩︎
  34. “United States, Census, 1920”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6ZH-RLF : Sat Oct 11 01:05:49 UTC 2025), Entry for James A Campbell and Annie T Campbell, 1920. ↩︎
  35. “United States, Census, 1930”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPHD-4PH : Fri Mar 08 21:50:25 UTC 2024), Entry for Jim A Campbell and Tobitha Campbell, 1930. ↩︎
  36. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22893296/james_alexander-campbell: accessed February 5, 2026), memorial page for James Alexander Campbell (26 Aug 1859–3 Dec 1931), Find a Grave Memorial ID 22893296, citing Bells Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Jonathan Reeves (contributor 46928429). ↩︎