William Dewitt (1738 – July 18, 1813) was a South Carolina planter, lawyer, and politician who was a Captain in the American Revolutionary War.
During colonial times matters were brought to public notice by the Grand Juries, both for Legislative action, and district regulation and control.
William Dewitt was a member of the Grand Jury in the Cheraw region of South Carolina beginning 1772.
By April 15, 1775, William Dewitt and the members of the Grand Jury in the Cheraw region were unhappy with the British Crown, and rebellion was about to ensue.
[9] On March 26, 1776, due to the ongoing conflict and civil unrest William Dewitt was nominated Justice of the Peace.
On December 13, 1777, Saint David's (Society) Academy was founded to promote education in the Cheraw area.
[12] The war began to consume South Carolina, battles were everywhere and Captain William Dewitt took part in many of them.
John DeWitt was cut on the head with a sword by an officer, inflicting a scar that he carried to his grave.
Subsequently, Captain DeWitt's house on cedar creek was burned by Tories along with all his personal belongings.
On March 3, 1781, Captain William Dewitt Donated 480 pounds of pork to feed the guards at Kolbs Ferry.
[15] September 1781, General Francis Marion, also known as the Swamp Fox was Captain Dewitt's superior officer.
By September 17, 1781, Governor John Rutledge wrote to General Marion, informing him that Colonel Lemuel Benton's regiment was part of his brigade.
On August 13, 1785, Saint Davids society (Academy) the prominent institution of education and philanthropy continued to flourish.
A constitutional convention was held in Philadelphia but many states did not want to give up their rights as independent government bodies.
Here are the names of South Carolina state Congressman and Senators that took out loans to purchase land and slaves to remain in office after the 1790 constitutional requirement.
The following 12 lawmakers all took out loans to stay in office: Samuel Little, James Kennedy, Joseph Brown, Philemon Waters, Henry Pendleton, Richard Hampton, John Mayrant, William Clay Snipes, Roger P. Saunders, John Budd, Benjamin Hicks, and William Dewitt.
The statesmen that fought for independence and ratified the Constitution of the United States now could not afford to stay in office.
Senator William Dewitt continued to participate in local government abiding by the standards set of the time.
He passed laws and helped develop South Carolina building bridges, highways and roads.
In 1804, notable Professor of Languages and Yale graduate Enoch Hanford taught at the institution and married William Dewitt's Daughter Margaret.
His Great Grand Children included Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court Henry McIver and Ion Hanford Perdicaris.