The following is taken from the preface to the Ordinances printed in 1886.
We find the first mention of Winnsboro in the Acts of General Assembly, is on 8th March, 1785, in IV Stats., 652, in an “An Act for establishing Fairs and Markets in the Town of Winnsborough.”
This Act recites:
“Whereas, John Winn, Richard Winn and John Vanderhorst, did, by their humble petition to the honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of this State, set forth that, at the special instance and request of a number of the inhabitants of the district situate between Board and Catawba rivers, they had laid out a town by the name of Winnsborough in the said district, on land their property, and had forever given and granted to the public of this State the streets in the said town, and also several lots of land for a church and market place, agreeable to a plan to the said petition annexed; and in order to encourage the trade and commerce of that country, the said John Winn, Richard Winn and John Vanderhorst, prayed that a market place might be by law established in the said town, and public fairs kept and held there at least twice every year, for exposing to sales horses, cattle, grain, hemp, flax, tobacco, indigo and all sorts of produce and merchandise, and that such market and fairs be invested with such liberties and privileges as to the same commonly belong or appertain.”
This Act then provides for:
1. Public markets to be kept in the town;
2. Two fairs to be kept annually, in May and October;
3. Inhabitants to appoint directors of the fairs and a clerk of the market;
4. Directors to hold court of piepowder during the fairs; and
5. No person can be arrested at these fairs, except for treason.
On March 27, 1787 (V Stats., 11), an Act was passed “for enlarging the Town of Winnsborough.” The boundaries of the town by this plan were a street not named three squares north of College Street, Walnut Street on East, Moultrie Street on south, and Garden Street on west.
By authority of an Act passed December 19, 1916 (VIII Stats., 280), the boundaries of the town were reduced on October 30, 1825, to Fairfield Street as the northern boundary, and the northeast portion of the town lying north of College Street and east of Congress Street was excluded as being private property. On December 20, 1832, the town as such was duly incorporated as “Winnsborough.” (VI Stats., 458.)
But Winnsboro was a village of note before the Revolution.
In Tarleton’s Campaigns (London Ed., 1787,) we find the town frequently mentioned as Wynnesborough. Also in a map by William Faden, “Geographer to the King,” compiled in 1787 from maps of the British Engineer officers, we find the same name given. Wynnes is the prefix of six other towns in the United States, and all are pronounced Winns.
The general opinion is that the place was named after some member of the Winn family, of which Richard, John and Minor Winn were well known at the time of the Revolution.
Tarleton says that Lord Cornwallis after learning of the defeat of Ferguson at King’s Mountain selected Wynnesborough as a place for his encampment in October, 1780, it presenting the most advantages, especially for abundant supplies from the surrounding country. He remained here until January, 1781.
When here Lord Cornwallis’ marquee was near the oak in front of Mount Zion College. After inquiry, General Sherman in February, 1865, placed his marquee upon the same spot.
During the Revolution a large military hospital was situated upon the premises now occupied by Mr. George H. McMaster and was used by both armies in turn. The British dead were buried in his front yard, and the Americans in rear extending to where the tombs of Captain James Mitchell and of Lt. Col........and the Tumulus over his horse now are.
Mills in his Statistics says that in 1826 Winnsborough is one of the most pleasant and flourishing villages in the State; and that there are few if any healthier places in the State.
The present name of Winnsboro appears for the first time in an Act (XIII Stats., 512), amending the Charter, December 19, 1866. This charter is now in force, but expires on December 19 of this year, 1886.
This town is traversed by the C.C. & A.R.R., two telegraph lines, has Bank, Court House, Jail, Town Hall and Market. It also has a well organized Fire Department (the best in the state in proportion to the population) and the streets are well lighted. It has eight churches in its limits. Also the Mount Zion Collegiate Institute, chartered in 1785 as a college with power to confer degrees, under the patronage of the Mount Zion Society, incorporated in 1777.
The official Post name of the place is Winnsborough. There is a town in Louisiana and another in Texas of the same name and both are named after this, our town.
The present population is about 1,900, and there is a large population in the suburbs.
(1995 Code, Historical Sketch)