William Leak Pegues
b. 17 March 1902, d. 28 July 1976
- Father: Francis Preston Brooks Pegues b. 20 February 1856, d. 15 April 1924
- Mother: Jennie May Pegues b. 1 May 1861, d. 1 August 1925
- William Leak Pegues was born on 17 March 1902 in Marlboro County, South Carolina.
- Francis Preston Brooks Pegues and Jennie May Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included William Leak Pegues, Mary Louise Pegues, Marlborough Kenneth Pegues and Jennie May Pegues.
- Olin Marcellus Pegues and Mary Louise Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Smithville Township, Marlboro County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included William Leak Pegues, Mary Louise Pegues, Hilliard Evans Pegues, James Wright Pegues, Joseph Calhoun Irby, Preston Brooks Pegues, Marlborough Kenneth Pegues, Victor Rene Pegues and Jennie May Pegues.
- Hugh Waddell May and Nancy Pegues appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, at 637 Holly Road. Other members of the household included William Leak Pegues, Jennie Pegues May and Catherine Newcomb May. Also in the household were daughters Jennie (age 11) and Cathrine (5).
- He was employed as a chemist, according to the 1930 census.
- He married Martha Ashby Hoole, daughter of Axalla A. Hoole and Martha S. Ashby, on 6 July 1937 in Florence, Florence County, South Carolina, at St. John's Episcopal Church.
- The following appeared on 11 July 1937 in The Florence Morning News: Of cordial interest in both North and South Carolina and beautiful in its simplicity, the wedding of Miss Martha Ashby Hoole and William Leak Peagues was solemnized at St. John's Episcopal church Tuesday morning at half past ten o'clock, with only the members of the two families and close friends present.
. . .
Miss Julia P. Brunson was maid of honor to the bride. . . . Little Miss Julia Lucas, a niece of the bride, was her junior bridesmaid. . . .
Usher-groomsmen were Thomas R. Leak, of Rockingham, N. C., a cousin of the bridegroom, and A. J. Hoole, Jr., brother of the bride. . .
The bride entered with her father, A. J. Hoole, Sr., who gave her in marriage. . . .
At the altar she met the bridegroom and his best man, Victor R. Pegues, of Cheraw, his brother. . . The beautiful and impressive marriage service was read by the Rev. Wilmer S. Poynor, pastor of the church.
Following the church ceremony, an informal reception was held at the home of the bride's parents. Later the young couple left by automobile for a wedding trip.
Mrs. Pegues received her education at the University of South Carolina, the University of Kentucky and at Winthrop college. For the past four years she has been engaged in social work in this state, and in rural rehabililitation as home supervisor in Horry and Marion counties.
Mr. Pegues attended Duke University and Johns Hopkins University. For seven years he has held a position as chemist with the Carbide and Carbon Chemical Corporation in Charleston, W. Va., and he and his bride will make their home in that city after the honeymoon. He is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brooks Pegues of Cheraw. The marriage of these two unites two South Carolina families of direct Huguenot lineage.
Quite a large number of out of town guests came to Florence for the nuptial event. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Hugh May, Misses Catherine and Jennie Pegues May and William Posson, of Charleston, W. Va., Mrs. Paul Hammond of Welch, W. Va., Mrs. Nancy Pegues Leak, her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Pegues, Nicholas Dockery, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Everett, of Rockingham, N. C., Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Currin, Jr., of Rocky Mount, N. C., Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Ragan, Ellerbe, N. C., Mrs. Olin Pegues, Randolph Pegues, Miss Emily Pegues, Mrs. Wilds Pegues, Mr. and Mrs. Sarius Pegues, Miss Naomi Pegues, Preston Pegues and Marlborough Pegues, brothers of the bridegroom of Cheraw, Mrs. Priestly Coker, Mrs. Frank Ford and Marlborough Pegtues, a cousin; of Charleston, S. C., Rev. John Brunson and daughter, Miss Sophia Brunson, Sumter, Mr. and Mrs. McBride Dabbs and Misses Elizabeth and Sophie Dabbs, Mayesville, Miss Maude Dabbs, Hartsville, Miss Ruth Comber, Greenwood, Mrs. Dora Joyner, Darlington, Mrs. Henry Stokes, Spartanburg, Mrs. Chester Smith, Williston, Miss Elizabeth Hamer, McColl, and Mrs. Constance Gregg, Myrtle Beach. - William Leak Pegues and Martha Ashby Hoole appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Loudon District, Kanawha County, West Virginia. In 1935, Leak was in Charleston, West Virginia, and Martha was living in Conway, Horry County, South Carolina.
- He was a chemist employed by a chemical manufacturer, according to the 1940 census.
- The following appeared on 6 August 1970 in The La Marque Times:
Pegues Place Reflects 200 Years of History
by Elouise Wilson
South Carolina is celebrating its 300th birthday this year, with 12 months of planned festivities and historical observations throughout the state, county by county.
Marlboro County was second in the state to celebrate the Tricentennial with "two birthdays" of its own during the week of April 12-19, Bennet[t]sville, the county seat, is 150 years old, and Pegues' Place, the county's oldest existing house if 200 years old.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Leak Pegues of La Marque, and members of the Pegues family who live in Marlboro County and nearby locations, as well as distant cousins from many states (all descendants of the first Claudius Pegues) attended this 200th birthday celebration of their ancestral homeplace.
Mrs. Pegues, speaking in her soft southern accent, laughingly said it was like stepping back into time. The hostesses who welcomed you at the home were dressed in the fashion of the era, as were the men. A group of young men dressed as the English Red Coats marched in front of the house.
It was interesting to hear about the life of the first Claudius Pegues. His life and the events of the time read almost as a movie script.
Pegues stated that occupants in the home have always been Pegueses. The present owners, since 1958, have been Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fitzsimmons Hammond, Mrs. Hammond being the former Jennie May Pegues.
The first Claudius Pegues emigrated to the new world at the age of 16 and settled in Charles Town in 1736. His family, who were French (See PEGUES, P.8) Huguenots, had fled France after the Revocatiion of the Edi[c]t of Nantes and had made their home in London where Claudius was born in 1719.
Pegues became a very prosperous merchant in Charles Town, but moved with his family inland to a sparsely settled area of colonial Craven County known as Che[raws]. Pegues Place is located about a mile east of the Pee Dee River, below the North Carolina border, on land grants issued to him by King George II and III. These grants are framed and are displayed in a prominent place in the present home. Today fifth and sixth generation descendants own some 5,000 acres from the original 20,000 acre grant.
In describing the home, Mrs. Pegues stated that it is typical of the architecture peculiar to the South. It is a development of the "early dog trot" plan.
The original plan consisted of two stories, each with two large rooms opening from a central hallway, or dog trot, with a first story porch or verandah, across the front, supported with four stately columns. Large brick chimneys are of a Flemish Bond construction.
Across the rear of the house were lean-tos of several rooms and a detached kitchen.
The original compound, she continued, was composed of a number of outbuildings, many of which remain today. These consist of a split-log smokehouse, laundry, greenhouse, commisary, a power generating house and many barns and workhouses. Today the house contains 18 rooms, and the original front doors are in use on the two front entrances.
It is interesting to note that quite a bit of 18th century Low-Country and English furnishings are still in use in the home. Other peices of memorabilia are in the homes of other descendants.
In La Marque, Mr. and Mrs. Pegues have two lovely pieces of furniture from this home. One is a small table, of walnut, put together with pegs and hand made nails. Pegues surmised that it could have been built on the plantation, as so much of the furniture was. In those days artisians [sic] were hired to build furniture on the premises using native woods.
The other table, which the Pegueses use in their charming living room, is the rounded end of a banquet table, also of walnut. Much narrower than the tables of today, this particular type of banquet table could be extended, with additional leaves, to 15 feet in length.
Claudius Pegues, a man of culture and ability, entertained often. His civic spirit led him to help found St. Davids Episcopal Church in Cheraw. As a patriot in the sometimes less than law abiding region, he was a Regulator, and later one of the county's first judges.
Also, his interest in the cause for our country's independence led to his appointments as the parish member of the 1766 assembly and as a deputy to the Provincial Congress in 1775.
His elder son and namesake distinguished himself as a captain in the South Carolinaa Militia and fought against the British at such places as Eutaw Springs.
In 1785, the two Claudius Pegueses were among the six justices named to establish Marlboro County from the Cheraws District.
Many historical personages were entertained at the Pegues' Place. A few included Generals Green[e] and Lee and the Marquis de LaFayette.
During the war between the states, fourth generation Pegueses were living on the plantation. General William T. Sherman's Union Forces, after burning Columbia, came north from Cheraw and encamped in the field in front of the homeplace, It is recorded that the house was set afire by enlisted men but that officers billeted there were able to put the fire out.
A Union cannonball, resting under the branches of a giant magnolia, provides a reminder of those dismal days.
Listening to Mr. and Mrs. Pegues tell of their family history and heritage, it is so hard to believe that anyone studying our country's history could find it "dull." - William Leak Pegues died on 28 July 1976 at age 74 in Marlboro County, South Carolina.
- His wife Martha Ashby Hoole became a widow at his death.
- He was interred at New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery, Wallace, Marlboro County, South Carolina.
- The following appeared on 5 August 1976 in The La Marque Times: Funeral services for W. Leak Pegues, of Bennettsville, S.C., former longtime resident of La Marque, were held Friday at St. David's Church in Cheraw, S. C.
Mr. Pegues had been a resident of La Marque for 47 years prior to moving to South Carolina three years ago.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Martha Pegues of Bennettsville and a sister, Mrs. Paul Hammond of Bennettsville.
- Last Edited: 24 Apr 2015