Editing Langdon Cheves (section)

==Early life==
Langdon Cheves was born on September 17, 1776, at Bulltown Fort, on the [[Rocky River (South Carolina)|Rocky River]] in South Carolina. His father, Alexander, was a native of [[Buchan]], [[Aberdeenshire]], [[Scotland]].{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=6–8}} His mother, Mary Langdon, was from [[Virginia]] and had migrated to the South Carolina [[backcountry]] with her father, a farmer and doctor.{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=6–8}} Their neighbors included [[Andrew Pickens (congressman)|Andrew Pickens]] and [[John C. Calhoun|the Calhoun family]].{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=7–8}}

Cheves was born in Bulltown Fort amidst an ongoing war between the [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scots-Irish]] settlers and the [[Cherokee]], which settlers attributed to British instigation at the onset of the [[American Revolution]]. Cheves's pregnant mother was sheltered at the fort for her protection. Shortly after his birth, his maternal aunt left the fort for supplies and was killed and scalped by enemy forces.{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=10–11}}

His mother died on November 20, 1779. Cheves later described standing at his mother's grave as his earliest childhood memory. He was shortly thereafter placed in the care of his paternal aunt and uncle, Thomas and Margaret (née Agnew) Cheves.{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=10–11}} Cheves's father Alexander enlisted in the [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] cause under [[John Hamilton (Loyalist)|Major John Hamilton]], but his brother Thomas was a [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]] who fought under Andrew Pickens at the [[Battle of Kettle Creek]]. After the Loyalist cause became dire in 1782, Alexander Cheves transferred his property to Langdon, likely in fear of confiscation.{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=13–16}} He entered exile, first in [[Nova Scotia]] and then in [[London]]. He was not received favorably by British courts and was not remunerated for his service and decided to return to America.{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=13–16}}

Langdon was raised by his aunt and uncle on their family farm with four younger cousins. When they reached an appropriate age, the children began studies under Andrew Weed, a community leader and ruling elder in the local [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian Church]]. The studies centered on the [[Westminster Shorter Catechism|Westminster Catechism]].{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=13–16}}

In 1785, Alexander Cheves returned from exile with his second wife, Susannah Craig, established a business in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], and retrieved his son Langdon from his brother.{{sfn|Huff|1977|p=16}} Langdon continued his formal education from 1786 to 1788 with a Scottish schoolmaster who eliminated his backcountry drawl through corporal punishment. Around 1790, his father [[Slavery in the United States|purchased a house slave]] named Phoebe.{{sfn|Huff|1977|pp=20–21}}