BURREL HEMPHILL was a slave of Robert Hemphill, who owned twenty two hundred acres near Hopewell, ARP Church in Chester County, South Carolina. When the county was invaded in 1865 the Hemphill family fled leaving Burrel in charge of the plantation.
It is reported that Burrel buried the family silver in the woods, but was caught by Union soldiers upon his return. According to his grandson, who witnessed the incident, Hemphill refused to tell the Union soldiers where to find the loot. The angry Federal soldiers then dragged Burrel to a spot near the church where they hanged him and shot up his body for target practice.
A granite marker honors Burrel Hemphill: “In Memory of Burrel Hemphill killed by Union Soldiers February 1865. Although a Slave He Gave His Life Rather Than Betray A Trust. He was a member of Hopwell.” Location; 1341 Hopewell Church Road (12 miles south of Chester). Contact Chester County Historical Society: ccmuseum@truvista.net
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