USA > North Carolina > The history of North Carolina from the earliest period, Volume I > Part 15
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In the month of January, the Rev. Mr. Blair, a minis- ter of the church of England, was sent by lord Wey. mouth as an itinerant missionary, to reside in the north- ern part of the province of Carolina : his lordship allow- ed him a salary of one hundred pounds a year, and he is the first settled minister of whom an account has been preserved. He entered on the duties of his mission with great diligence ; but the people were settled on so distant plantations along the rivers, that he was obliged to be continually travelling from place to place, which could not possibly be done without a guide, on account of the badness of the roads, the difficulty of finding the way, and the vast wilderness between the plantations, many of which were at the distance of forty miles from each other : the whole population not exceeding, at this time, five thousand souls, and the inhabited part of the country was about one hundred miles square. He was very useful in reviving a sense of religion among the
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people, and during his stay an act of assembly was passed for building three churches. He found the labor of continual travelling, during the extreme heat of the summer, and the alternate and rapid vicissitudes of cold and heat during the remainder of the year, beyond his strength of body : he attempted to fix his residence in one of the middle precincts, and offered to officiate to those who would come to him, but the people were dis- satisfied with this, and complained that he acted contrary to the wishes of lord Weymouth, who intended his charity for the whole colony. At length, he found it so difficult to give satisfaction, and to endure the hardships of his situation, that he returned to England, quite sunk with poverty and sickness.
This year, a society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, was formed in England, and received the king's charter.
On the 16th of November, king James died. Louis XIV. gave to his son (since called the pretender) the title and honors of king of England. This was a tacit engagement to support this prince, in violation of one of the articles of the treaty of Riswick. King William became exasperated at it, and considered the conduct of Louis as a provocation to war. It must, however, be admitted, that the English monarch had not waited for this event to declare himself against France. In the be- ginning of the year, negotiations had been commenced between him, the emperor, and the States General, and had been concluded and signed a very few days before the death of James.
A rupture having taken place between England and Spain, governor Moore, of the southern part of Caro- lina, proposed to the legislature to undertake an expedi-
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tion against the Spanish settlement at St. Augustine. The proposition was acceded to, and about nine thou- sand dollars were voted for the expense attending it : six hundred militia were raised, and an equal number of Indians engaged, and vessels impressed. The forces were collected at Port Royal, which was the place of general rendezvous, and in the month of September, the governor embarked with part of the forces, with a view to block up the harbor, and colonel Robert Daniel, a landgrave of the province, proceeded by land with the rest, to make a descent on the town. The colonel ar- rived, entered and plundered the town, before the vessels made their appearance, and the Spaniards seasonably re- tired to the castle, with their money and other valuable effects. Governor Moore, on his arrival, found it im- possible to dislodge the enemy, for want of artillery, and despatched the colonel to Jamaica to fetch some : in the mean while, two Spanish men of war appearing, the governor raised the siege, and made a hasty retreat to Charleston.
About thirty thousand dollars were due to the troops, and the nine thousand voted by the legislature were ex- pended. To meet the exigencies of the time, an act of assembly was passed, for the emission of paper money. In order to sink the bills, a tax was laid on liquors, skins and furs, which it was believed would enable the pro- vince to take up all the paper then put in circulation, in three years. This was the first instance of a paper cur- rency in Carolina, and the second in the English Ame- rican provinces. Two years after, a similar emission took place in the island of Barbadoes.
The proprietors of East Jersey and West Jersey, finding it difficult to govern their provinces, to the satis-
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faction of the settler's, or their own interest, resigned the government of them to the crown : they were erected into one royal province, which was called New Jersey, and lord Cornbury was appointed the first governor of it.
On the 11th of March, king William died, and was succeeded by queen Anne.
On the demise of the king, the European possessions on the northern continent of America, were extended on the sea shore over almost all the country they covered at the declaration of independence. With the single ex- ception of the province of Georgia, all the provinces that joined in this instrument, were now occupied. The reader has seen, that besides the pursuits of agriculture, navigation and commerce, a part of the settlers began to seek their livelihood by manufactures, and that their suc- cess had attracted the attention of the mother country, who, alarmed at the rapid advances of the colonists in this respect, had sought to check their enterprising spirit by parliamentary restrictions : and he must have viewed with interest and pleasure, the carly development of that spirit of liberty and independence, which he will observe in the short space of three fourths of a century, bursting into a flame.
The population of the English provinces amounted, according to an enumeration made about two years be- fore the present period, to two hundred and sixty-two thousand souls, nearly one half of whom were in that part of the continent known under the name of New England.
The French establishment of New France, in Canada and Acadia did not contain twenty thousand souls : they carried on a very extensive trade with the western Indians, from whom they obtained vast quantities of fur.
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The settlement of Louisiana, was as yet confined to a fort on the bay of Biloxi, and a few scattered plantations near it.
The Spaniards had began to occupy Florida, by other improvements than the erection of a few forts along the coast, to which they had confined themselves for a cen- tury, after their first occupation of the country; the settlements at St. Augustine and Pensacola, which at this day constitute almost the only portions of Florida as yet improved, were formed. Under the guns of the castle of St. Augustine, a small town had reared itself, a circumstance which evinces that some little attention was paid to agriculture in the neighboring waste.
The colony of Bermuda was in a flourishing con- dition.
In the West Indies, the French had a population, in three several islands, of three thousand whites and forty- five thousand blacks. There are no documents, from which the number of people in the English West India islands, can be ascertained.
The Spaniards possessed the islands of Cuba, Porto Rico, and one half of that of Hispaniola.
After these nations, no other had settlements in the West India islands.
Chalmers-History of South Carolina-Marshall.
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One of the first acts of queen Anne's reign was a declaration of war against France and Spain: it took place on the 11th of May, 1702. The preamble of this instrument begins by a reference to the usurpations and encroachments of Louis XIV., who is stated to have taken and kept possession of a great part of the Spanish dominions, exercising an absolute power in that monarchy, having seized Milan and the Spanish Netherlands by his arms, and made himself' master of Cadiz, of the entrance of the Mediterranean, and of part of the Spanish East Indies, by his fleets. It charges the French monarch with the design of invading the liberties of Europe, and to obstruct the freedom of the naviga- tion and commerce of the world. It recites the late treaty of alliance with the empire, the States Gene- ral and other powers, in which it is stipulated, that if the injuries complained of are not redressed within a certain time, now elapsed, the parties concerned shall assist each other, with their whole strength; and concluding with the real, the last. though not the least cause of the war, that the French king, instead of giving the satisfaction which he owed, had not only proceeded to fresh violences, but had added a great affront and indignity to the queen
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and her kingdom, by declaring the pretender king of Great Britain.
The Apalachian Indians, excited by the Spaniards at St. Augustine, making frequent incursions on the Western settlements of Carolina, governor Moore marched into the heart of their settlements, and laid waste their towns between the rivers Savannah and Alabama. and killed or captured several hundreds of the enemy.
Lord Granville was now the palatine of Carolina: though the form of constitution framed by Locke had for several years been set aside, the office of palatine and the dignities of landgrave and cacique were preserved as long as the proprietary government continued. The palatinc, being a zealous member of the church of England, exerted all his influence to establish on a legal footing the worship of that church in the province. According. ly, he instructed Sir Nathanici Johnson, who suc- ceeded governor Moore, to promote the passage of a law for this purpose. Another reason powerfully operated on the mind of Sir Nathaniel: the queen had opposed his appointment to the government of Carolina, on a suspicion of his entertaining senti- ments unfavorable to the revolution, and had given at last her assent on condition of his qualifying vim- self for the office in the manner required by the laws of England, and his giving security, to the satisfaction of the lords commissioners of trade and plantations. for his faithful observance of the laws of trade and navigation, and his obedience to such instructions as she might from time to time give him. He was directed to appoint a deputy governor N. CARO. 28
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for the northern part of the province : in disposing of land, he was instructed to require twenty pounds sterling for every thousand acres, and to make it & condition to be inserted in the grant, that the pre mises should revert to the lords proprietors, if not settled within four years; but. the most important object recommended to the attention of the new governor, was the establishment of the church of England in the province. Both parts of it were in a deplorable state as to religion; such of the inha- bitants as were born, or had grown up to manhood, in Carolina, were almost utter strangers to any public worship of the Deity. Among the first emi- grants, some sense of religion had been for a while preserved, but the next generation, reared in a wilderness in which divine service was hardly ever performed, and where private devotions cannot be supposed to have been much attended to, were rather remarkable for loose, licentious principles, and the fundamental principles of the Christian re- ligion were often treated with the ridicule and contempt of professed infidelity. The population of the colony was composed of individuals of dif- ferent nations, and consequently of various sects: Scotch Presbyterians, Dutch Lutherans, French Calvinists, Irish Catholics, English Churchmen, Quakers and Dissenters; emigrants from Bermuda and the West Indies, which, from their late settle- ments, could not be places remarkable for the education of young people, in Christianity and morality.
Governor Johnston, assisted by the principal officers of the southern part of the province, exerted
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his influence with so much success, as to procure the election of a sufficient number of persons, disposed to forward his views.
Notwithstanding the great opposition which the bill received, it passed into a law. The southern part of Carolina was divided into ten parishes, and provision was made for the support of ministers, the erection of churches and glebes; and an act was passed. requiring members of assembly to con- form to the religious worship in the province, ac- cording to the church of England, and to receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, according to the rites and usages of that church.
The inhabitants of the county of Colleton, which was chiefly settled by dissenters, sent John Ashe, an influential character among them, and the grandsire of Samuel Ashe, who was governor in North Carolina in 1999, to lay their grievances before the lords proprietors. The governor succeeded in prevent- ing this gentleman obtaining a passage in any of the ships in Charleston : he was compelled to travel by land to Virginia, where he embarked. On his way, he stopped in the county of Albemarle, where he was received with great respect and cordiality, and the people. feeling the same interest as his consti- tuents in the object of his mission, prevailed on Edmund Porter to accompany him, in order to aid by the representations of the people of the northern part of the province. the object which the people of Carolina bad much at heart.
The palatine received the emissaries of their lordships' vassals in America with considerable cold- ness. Unable to effect the object of his mission,
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by his representation to the lords proprietors, John Ashe, finding the public sentiment in his favor, determined on raising it into action, by a candid representation of the grievances of his constituents ; but death prevented the intended appeal. His papers fell into the bands of those who bad an inte- rest to suppress the expression of his sentiments-
Bent upon carrying the palatine's views into exe- cution, governor Johnson overcame every obstacle in his way. A corporation, composed of twenty individuals, was instituted, with power to exercise high ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Authority was given it, to deprive ministers of their livings, and the acts of the legislature, of which John Ashe had gone to procure the repeal, were executed with great zeal and rigor. The dissenters were exas- perated : a migration to Pennsylvania was spoken of. but it was at last determined to send Joseph Boon to England, with a petition to the house of lords. On the introduction of this petition, the house, on the motion of lord Granville, the palatine of Carolina heard counsel, at its bar, in behalf of the lords proprietors, and after some debate, came to a resolution, that the laws complained of were founded on falsity in matter of fact, repugnant to the laws of England, contrary to the charter of the lords proprietors. an encouragement to atheism and irre- ligion, destructive to trade, and tended to the ruin and depopulation of the province. The lords next addressed the queen, beseeching her to use the anost effectual means to deliver the province of Carolina from the "arbitrary oppression under which it lay, and to order the proprietors of it to
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be prosecuted according to law." The subject was referred to the lords commissioners of trade and plantations, who reported, that the facts stated in the petition were true; that the powers granted by - the charter, had been abused; that the grantees had incurred a forfeiture of it, and recommended that process might be ordered to issue accordingly against their lordships. The queen's law servants were thereupon directed to procure a writ of quo warranto, and to report what might more effectually be done. in order that the queen might take the government of Carolina into her own hands. The matter was, however, abandoned, and no step was taken to annul the charter, or relieve the people.
The French in Canada began new hostilities on the frontier: in the month of July, a body of five hundred French and Indians, in various parties, attacked all the settlements from Casco to Wells, and killed and took one hundred and thirty people, burning and destroying all before them.
Hostilities immediately began in the West Indies. Rear admiral Benlow took a Spanish man of war, carrying the governor of Carthagena. In the sum- mer, he destroyed a number of French vessels in the West Indies, and sent captain Leake to New- foundland, where he took or destroyed eleven French merchantmen.
In the month of March following. he attacked Guadeloupe. where he burnt several plantations, and drove the inhabitants from Basseterre; from whence he retired with a considerably booty.
On the 28th of February, 1701, Hertel de Neu- ville, at the head of a body of three hundred French
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and Indians, surpriscd and burnt the town of Deer- field, in Connecticut, slew above forty persons, and made one hundred prisoners.
In the summer, colonel Benchurch sailed from Boston, with five hundred and fifty soldiers, des- troyed the towns of Morris and Chebucto. and did considerable damage to the French and Indians in Penobscot and Passamaquoddy.
On the 13th of April, president Walker died. During his administration, we are informed by the stone that covers his remains, the province enjoyed perfect order and tranquility. On hearing of his death, Sir Nathaniel Johnson, whose commission extended now over the whole province. sent Robert Daniel, the officer who had seconded governor Moore in the late attack of St. Augustine, to suc- cced president Walker as deputy governor of the northern part of Carolina.
This gentleman had it in charge, to procure the establishment of the church of England by legal authority. The bill received great opposition, but the address of the governor secured its passage. The act provided, among other things, for a fine on any person holding a place of trust, who should neglect to qualify himself. by taking the oath required by law. This part of the province was now divided into parishes, and provision was made for the building of churches, laying out glebes, and providing for the maintenance of a clergy. The people, not quite so obsequious. as the members of the legislature had been, to the pleasure of governor Daniel, manifested an immediate intention to pre- vent the execution of the laws: the Quakers, who
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composed a considerable part of the population of the precincts of Pasquotank and Perquimans, evinced a disposition to sacrifice the pacific princi- ples of their sect, to the preservation of their rights. A union was formed with the dissenters in the southern part of the province, in order to convey to England their just complaints against such arbitrary and oppressive measures. Their petition was intro- duced, and strongly supported, in the house of lords, and the peers came to a resolution, that the acts of the legislature of Carolina, requiring conformity to the church of England, were "founded on falsity, in matter of fact, repugnant to the laws of England, contrary to the charter of the proprietors, an encouragement to atheism and irreligion, detrimental to trade, and tended to the depopulation and ruin of the province." Queen Anne declared them null and void.
The American colonies suffering greatly from the different value of coin, in the provinces, queen Anne, to create a uniformity, in this respect, this year issued a proclamation for settling and ascertaining the current rates of foreign coin, in her majesty's plantations of North America.
Parliament, this year, relaxed a little the restrictions of the navigation act, (15 Ch. II. c. 7,) which forbade the importation of any European manufactures to the plantations, except from England, and the Irish linens were permitted to be shipped from Ireland to the plan- tations, in vessels navigated according to law. 34 Anne, c. 8.
The importation of naval stores from the plantations to England was, at the same time, encouraged by a
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bounty on tar, pitch, rosin, turpentine, hemp, masts, yards, and bow-sprits. 3 & 4 Anne, c. 10.
This year was printed the first American newspaper : it was entitled "The Boston News-Letter."
The Bishop of London sent Gideon Johnson, as his commissary for the province of Carolina. He was directed to make Charleston his place of residence.
Governor Daniel made a treaty of peace, at a general meeting of the chiefs of the different tribes of Indians, bordering on the settlement of the whites. By an ar. ticle of it, inserted at the desire of the Indians, white traders were forbidden from supplying the Indians with rum. This stipulation was not, however, afterwards insisted upon : the young Indians threatened to kill the plenipotentiaries, who had proposed it, and they were allowed to have rum, when they went to the house of an Englishman to buy it.
The following year, the town of Bath, on Tar river, was established, by an act of the legislature, and the county of Albemarle was divided ; the southern part be- ing erected into a county. called Bath, composed of three precincts, Wickham and Pamplico, on Roancake and Tar rivers, and Archdale, on Neuse.
Sir Nathaniel Johnston having appointed Thomas Cary deputy governor of the northern part of this pro- vince, the lords proprietors disapproved of his choice, and required that their deputies should from among themselves elect a president and commander in chief. William Glover was, accordingly, chosen. Cary yielded to this measure at first ; but a few weeks after, support- ed by the influence of the Quakers, and surrounded by a rabble of profligate persons, possessed himself of the
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records of the province, and resumed the reins of government.
Monsieur de Subercase, governor of Acadia, sent an expedition, to chase the English from Newfoundland. He was so far successful, that the trade of the island, was almost ruined.
In the following year, the city of Charleston was in- vaded. Monsieur Le Fevre, commanding a French frigate, having with him four armed sloops, and eight hundred soldiers, appeared off the coast. Governor Johnson, who had intelligence of his approach, had taken every measure necessary to resist the enemy. The alarmı was immediately given, and the militia put under arms. The enemy hovered all night upon the coast, and anchored next morning near James Island. He employed the day in sounding the south bar, and this delay gave the governor time to call to his aid a consi- derable part of the militia from the country, and a num- ber of Indians. The next day, the enemy passed over the bar, and cast anchor near Sullivan's island. Governor Johnson placed some great guns on board of a number of ships that were in the harbor, and gave the command of this little flotilla to William Rhett, a man of ability and spirit. The French commander now sent a flag to demand a surrender of the town, but was resolutely answered, it would be defended to the last extremity. "The enemy now landed, and burnt several houses on James island and Bearsly creek. Another party went to Wando creek, to kill hogs and cattle. The govern- or now sent captain Cantry, with an hundred men, to watch the motions of these men. He crossed the river in the night, coming up with the enemy at break of day, and finding them in a state of imagined security, N. CARO. 29
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surrounded and surprised them with a sharp fire, which completely routed them. A considerable number were killed, wounded, or drowned, and the rest were made prisoners.
Rhett, improving this momentary success, advanced with six ships upon the enemy, who precipitately weighed anchor, and sailed over the bar.
A few days after, the governor was informed that a ship of war was at Serra bay, and had landed a number of men. On this, he ordered captain Fenwick to cross the river, with his company, and march against them; while Rhett should sail round, and attack the enemy. Captain Fenwick came up with, and charged, the enemy, who, after a few vollics, retired to the ship. Rhett came soon after to his assistance, and the French ship struck, without firing a shot and the gallant officer returned to Charleston, with his prize and ninety pri- soners. Of eight hundred men, the French lost three hundred, in killed and captured : among the latter was Monsieur D'Arboussol, the commander of the land forces, with several of the sea officers. The loss of the Americans was trifling.
In the following year, lord Granville, the palatine, died, and was succeeded by the earl of Craven.
Since the assumption of government by president Carey, an end had been put to the administration of justice, and an entire anarchy prevailed. The most respectable part of the community adhered to president Glover, and with a view to an attempt to put an end to the disordered state of the colony, it was determined to submit to the decision of the general assembly, whe- ther president Carey, or president Glover, should exercise the supreme power.
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