Bill 4620

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    4620
Primary Sponsor:                Farr
Type of Legislation:            CR
Subject:                        Farr, Colonel William
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19940210
Computer Document Number:       BBM/10856JM.94
Introduced Date:                19940127
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19940210
Last History Type:              Received from Senate
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Farr
Type of Legislation:            Concurrent
                                Resolution

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

4620  House   19940210      Received from Senate
4620  Senate  19940210      Introduced, adopted, returned
                            with concurrence
4620  House   19940209      Adopted, sent to Senate
4620  House   19940203      Committee Report: Favorable     24
4620  House   19940127      Introduced, referred to              24
                            Committee

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 3, 1994

H. 4620

S. Printed 2/3/94--H.

Read the first time January 27, 1994.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4620), commemorating on March 2, 1994, the two hundredth anniversary of the death of Colonel William Farr, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

DEWITT WILLIAMS, for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

COMMEMORATING ON MARCH 2, 1994, THE TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF COLONEL WILLIAM FARR, OUTSTANDING SOUTH CAROLINIAN, SOLDIER, AND MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO NAME THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 72 BRIDGE OVER THE BROAD RIVER AT THE UNION COUNTY AND CHESTER COUNTY LINE ADJACENT TO COLONEL FARR'S BELOVED PLANTATION AT FISH DAM FORD THE "COLONEL WILLIAM FARR MEMORIAL BRIDGE" AND TO ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS; AND TO GRANT THE PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO COLONEL FARR'S DESCENDANTS, DR. TOMMY F. FARR AND JOHN E. FARR, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994, FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING THIS RESOLUTION READ FROM THE PODIUM AND HAVING THE ORIGINAL OF THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED TO THEM.

Whereas, William Farr was born in Onslow County, North Carolina, on March 16, 1748; and

Whereas, he was the son of Richard Farr, Sr., and Hannah Farr; and

Whereas, William Farr at a young age moved westward to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and then southward to Union County, South Carolina, where he settled at Fish Dam Ford along the west banks of the Broad River; and

Whereas, during his lifetime, he was a skilled planter and merchant; and

Whereas, he was one of the early leaders in the struggle for American independence and a virulent hater of Tories; and

Whereas, he earned his title by fighting with great courage in the American Revolution in battles beginning with the famous "Snow Campaign" and also at Cowpens, Musgrove's Mills, Stono, Hanging Rock, Rocky Mount, and Blackstock on the Tiger River; and

Whereas, strong traditional evidence indicates that Colonel Farr was in the Battle of Kings Mountain; and

Whereas, he volunteered as captain in the State Militia of South Carolina in 1776 under Colonel John Thomas's Spartan Regiment and served in this capacity until the old Spartan Regiment was divided in 1777; and

Whereas, in 1777, Colonel Farr served as Captain of Foot and Captain of Horse in the second Spartan Regiment under the command of Colonel Thomas Brandon, where he was soon promoted to adjutant and then major in 1780; and

Whereas, Colonel Farr soon was appointed to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1781 and served under General Pickens with great bravery for his Country until the end of the Revolutionary War; and

Whereas, the Battle at Cowpens began only after Colonel Farr gave permission to fire the first shot upon a British advancing line and a British officer fell from his horse; and

Whereas, some persons have referred to Colonel Farr as "the Forgotten Hero"; however, he was a true patriot and a brave soldier who loved his country and will always be remembered; and

Whereas, in 1785, he began serving as the first sheriff of Union County, South Carolina; and

Whereas, he continued to serve his County and his State by serving as the first member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Union County, commencing in 1791 and continuing until his death; and

Whereas, serving in the Ninth General Assembly and the Tenth General Assembly, Colonel Farr served under Speaker Jacob Read's leadership and with Governor Charles Pinckney and Governor William Moultrie; and

Whereas, he fought vigorously for the judiciary, for farmers, and for the basic needs of his fellow Upcountrymen of South Carolina; and

Whereas, he was selected as a commissioner to choose a place to build a new courthouse in the newly created Pinckney district which resulted in the new county seat and town named Pinckneyville; and

Whereas, his legislative record reflects his support for high ethics, open government, and a strong military; and

Whereas, his will affirms that he was a Christian and a Godfearing man; and

Whereas, he was the devoted father of eleven children: Richard, William Black, James, and Hannah Green, who were born to his first wife Eleanor Black Jeter Farr; other children were John Pulaski, Titus Green, Thomas John Smith, Eleanor Thomas, Ann Kincheloe, Elizabeth Frances, and Robert Goodloe Harper, who were born to Colonel Farr's second wife, Elizabeth Taliavo Stribling Farr; and

Whereas, Colonel William Farr departed this life on March 2, 1794; and

Whereas, it seems entirely fitting and proper to commemorate the gifts and contributions of Colonel Farr on the two hundredth anniversary of his death and to recognize and honor his lasting mark in South Carolina history as a true patriot and distinguished legislator. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, commemorates on March 2, 1994, the two hundredth anniversary of the death of Colonel William Farr, outstanding South Carolinian, soldier, and member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Be it further resolved that the Department of Transportation name the South Carolina Highway 72 bridge over the Broad River at the Union County and Chester County line adjacent to Colonel Farr's beloved plantation at Fish Dam Ford in close proximity to his gravesite the "Colonel William Farr Memorial Bridge" and that the department erect appropriate markers.

Be it further resolved that Colonel Farr's descendants, Mr. John E. Farr and Dr. Tommy F. Farr, be granted the privilege of the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 2, 1994, at a time to be determined by the Speaker, for the purpose of hearing this resolution read from the podium and having the original of the resolution presented to them on behalf of all of the descendants of Colonel William Farr.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the South Carolina State Museum, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the Union County Museum, the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D.C., and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.