I am looking for someone who can do a random act of genealogical kindness in SC - possibly Charleston or at least provide suggestions. My ancestor, Matthew Galloway (Gallaway etc) had some type of bond, supposedly a military or jail bond ca 1780 and I would like to find a copy, or at least more information.

Years ago, a distant relative either saw the bond or saw a transcribed copy of the bond and she transcribed it and passed it down. So this may be a transcription of a transcription.

The bond was supposedly in "Chather, SC." There is and never was such a county. I think it should have been Chatham Co, NC, but they can't do research requests because of budget cuts. They suggested it might be Chester Co, SC.
But, unless it was left off by the transcriber (now deceased), it doesn't even designate a county, so it could be a city, though we think it is likely a county.

Matthew supposedly was in the Revolutionary War (we can find no evidence of that), and captured at Camden (possibly Charleston) and "bought his way to freedom," hence the thinking it was a jail / military bond. But another family legend says he was unable to secure the funds necessary and he lost all his land as a result.

Here is the transcribed bond:

A Bible containing a bail bond with the prisoner’s name signed in his own blood is owned by Mrs. Fred Pitchford near Mountain Home, Arkansas.

This Bible belong to Matthew Galloway, Revolutionary War soldier who was captured by the king’s army. The oath of bond payment,
written in faded brown ink on one old yellowed leaf can still be read as follows:

“County of Chather, South Carolina. (*sic; probably Chatham Co, NC).

Am held and firmly bound with oath.

Mr. Galloway herein orders the sum of 50 pounds sterling current money before the 20 November to pay for value received on or
before Jan. 4, 1781.”

Followed his name signed in blood.

Also signatures of Wm. Campbell
Thomas Galloway
Harvin Heborts
______ Joslin (**Amaziah?**)
John Burnes


Handed down in the family is the information Mathew was unable to raise this sum of money and lost his land.

As to the signers (not sure if witnesses, bondsmen, witnesses & a clerk etc), I believe I have identified them, though not their relationship to Matthew.I haven't ID'd the Harvin Heborts and think his name was badly butchered. In 1790, all these men (excluding Matthew) are either in New Hanover Co, NC (where Matthew supposedly lived as a youngster in 1764) or Chatham Co, NC. So the line of thinking for Chatham makes sense.

On the other hand, if Matthew WAS at Charleston & captured there, that too would make sense. Also, his father, 2 brothers, and 2 nephews were "river pilots" or seamen, and years earlier (1733) his father married in Charleston and one of his river pilot nephews did as well (St. Phillips Parish). I suspect their trade took them to the port of Charleston often. So that connection also makes sense. Mathew also has some other distant connections to seamen - one of his nephews married a girl whose father was also a seaman & the signer Amaziah Joslin (Jocelyn) also was a seaman. He was actually a privateer during the war. I have wondered if Matthew might have followed the family business, but I had no evidence of this.

So, I'd love if someone can look at the SC Archives for this 1780/1781 bond, or, barring that, either advise as to what county this may actually be located and/or give advice on what kind of bond this likely is and in what type of court it might be found. We think the Bible is in the hands of a descendant (who has dementia and cannot find it), but if a copy can be had at the archives or the actual Bible IS located there, I'd love copies or information on that as well.

I'd be happy to pay for copies, postage and a SMALL search fee if you advise of the fee in advance.