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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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A SKETCH ·
OF THE
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
TO THE CLOSE OF THE
PROPRIETARY GOVERNMENT
BY THE REVOLUTION OF 1719.
W. J. Tivers
WITH
AN APPENDIX
CONTAINING MANY VALUABLE RECORDS HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED.
CHARLESTON : MCCARTER & CO. 1856.
1912837
.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, by
MCCARTER & CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of South Carolina.
PREFACE.
THE writer of the present volume having been requested to prepare a History of South Carolina for the use of schools, entered upon the task, thinking it one of little diffi- culty. But he soon found that with respect to all the early period of our history, recourse must be had to original investigations. The materials collected in this research seemed too valuable to be lost; and it has been determined to issue the greater part of them as an Appendix, and to limit the extent of the volume (without an intention of proceeding farther) to the close of the Revolution of 1719, by which the colonial government was changed from the lords proprietors to the king.
The first six chapters and a portion of the seventh having been already composed simply with the view of preparing a text-book, nothing more is claimed for this volume than the fact that it. casts some light upon the obscure and neglected period of which it treats.
The Grand Council from its various functions was, for a long time, the most important body in the government; yet we have their Records or Journals for about two years only of the fifty embraced in this History. On which ac- count considerable space has been given in the Appendix
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V.
4
PREFACE.
to materials relating to the earliest years of the English colonization.
The author has a summary of most of the papers in the State Paper Office of London, explaining the Letters, Instruc- tions, &c., mentioned in the "List," and extending to 1776; but withholds it chiefly because, at his suggestion, the South Carolina Historical Society, lately established, is now re- ceiving a more complete Index of a part of these papers ; which it is hoped they will be induced soon to publish, together with other most important records of later periods of our history. For a full elucidation of these periods in particular, a general interest has been awakened by recent events. But such an elucidation of any period, it should be remembered, depends upon the accumulation of authentic materials ; and we should all esteem it a privilege to con- tribute, in however small a degree, to the accomplishment of so desirable a result as the complete and truthful history . of our State.
WM. JAS. RIVERS.
CHARLESTON, JULY, 1856.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Discoveries in the Fifteenth Century-Voyages to North America -Visits to the Coast of South Carolina-Vasquez de Ayllon -His First and Second Voyage-Verrazzano-Ribault-Charles Fort-Condition of the Garrison-Charles Fort abandoned by the French-Their subsequent establishment in Florida ... ...... 11
CHAPTER II.
The Indians who inhabited South Carolina-Their Numbers and Situation-Remnants of Tribes-Migrations-Towns-Govern- ment-Religion-Domestic condition-Intercourse and Alliances -Trade with the Whites-Traders-Indian Warfare.
33
CHAPTER III.
English Settlements in North America-Charles II. grants the region south of Virginia to eight noblemen, in 1663-Origin of the name of Carolina-The Proprietors and the Services they had rendered to the King-Opposition to their Claims set aside-Their first Efforts to form a Colony-Settlements in Al- bemarle and Clarendon counties-Liberal Concessions to Settlers -Forms of Government permitted-Policy of the Proprietors -The second Charter, and extension of the Carolina grant- Synopsis of the Charter of 1665-The Religious Intolerance at that time in England, and the Religious Freedom bestowed by the Charter-Differences of the Charters of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Carolina.
60
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6
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
The Proprietors dissatisfied with the results of their Colonial Po- dicy-Treaty between England and Spain-A more perfect form of Government designed for the whole Province-The Funda- mental Constitutions-The Founding of a New Colony to be governed by these Constitutions-The Settlement directed to be made at Port Royal-Wm. Sayle appointed first Governor-Jos. West commander of the fleet-Instructions to Sayle, West, and other Officers-Arrival at Port Royal-Leave Port Royal and settle on Ashley River-Old Charles Town-Death of Sayle .... 80
CHAPTER V.
Joseph West administers by choice of the Council-a Parliament formed-Powers of the Grand Council-Condition of the Govern ment-Arrival of Settlers and Towns laid off for them-Tempo- rary Laws and Instructions of 1671-Instructions to Captain Halsted-Remarks on the Conduct of the Proprietors-War with the Kussoes-Acts passed by Parliament-Sir John Yea- mans claims the office of Governor -- Denied by the Council- Appointed Governor by Proprietors-His Administration -- In- troduction of Negro Slaves-The Proprietors dissatisfied with Yeamans-Popular Disturbances-Incursion of the Spaniards- West appointed Governor-Prosperous Condition of the Colony -Popularity of Gov. West-Alteration of the Fundamental Constitutions of 1669-A second Set sent out-Rejected by Parliament-Temporary and Agrarian Laws of 1672-Political Parties begin in the Colony-Accession of Settlers-Planta- tion of Long Island under Governor Percival-Proprietors take the Indian Trade into their own hands-Cession of Land by the Indians-War with the Westoes-Removal of Charles Town to Oyster Point-Condition of the Colony-Policy of the Pro- prietors-West superseded as Governor
CHAPTER VI.
Establishment of Counties and separation of Polls-Opposition to the Plans of the Proprietors-A Governor from abroad ap-
97
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CONTENTS.
pointed-Sir Richard Kyrle dies-Quarry acts as Governor- Abuses his Position -Joseph West again Governor-Political state of the Colony-Obstinacy of Proprietors-West's services to the Colony -- Morton again Governor-Fundamental Constitu- tions ordered to be subscribed by members of Assembly-Refusal and ejectment of majority of the Members-Lord Cardross and his settlement at Port Royal-Expedition against St. Augustine -Stopped by arrival of Colleton as Governor-Disappointment of the people-Pirates-The extent of indulgence shown them of the Colonists-Opposition to the Navigation Acts-Proprie- tors in danger of losing their Charter-Disposition of the people for a Royal Government-Increased opposition to the Proprie- tors-Governor Colleton-Disagreements with the people-Pro- claims martial law-Arrival of Seth Sothell-Favored by the people-His action against Colleton and his party-Proprietors recall Sothell-Colonel Philip Ludwell appointed Governor- Grievances of the people unredressed-Private Instructions to Ludwell-Opposition of Assembly to plans of Proprietors-Dis- pute on Indemnity Act-Committees on grievances and framing a plan of Government-Proprietors become conciliatory-Their concessions-Fundamental Constitutions laid aside-Condition of the colonists unaltered 134
CHAPTER. VII.
The Rules of Government according to the Charter-Ludwell courts popularity-Landgrave Smith appointed in his place- Power of originating laws yielded to the Commons House of Assembly-Difficulties which discouraged the new Governor-He resigns, and proposes that a Proprietor should be sent over-In- troduction of Rice-The Huguenots of Carolina-John Arch- dale arrives-IIis Instructions and Administration-Settlement of Popular Grievances-His Indian policy-Leaves Joseph Blake governor-The last Fundamental Constitutions-The As- sembly desire greater Privileges-The Proprietors and People at the close of the Century.
167
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8
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
Nicholas Trott-His Influence in the Colony-Death of Blake- A Faction places Moore in his place-Abuses at Election -- Secret Expedition against St. Augustine-Queen Anne's War- Failure of the Expedition-Its Results-Defection of the Assem- bly-Riot in Charles Town-Sir Nathaniel Johnson, Governor- Granville, Palatine-The Faction predominate-The Establish- ment of the Church of England becomes their chief object -- Increased Abuses at Election-Complaints of the People-Mili- tary Condition of the Province-Moore's Expedition against the Apalatchee Indians-French and Spanish Invasion of Carolina -Repulsed-Designs of the New Party-Dissenters and Epis- copalians-Trickery in summoning the Assembly-Act passed excluding Dissenters-Protests of the Minority-Establishment of Church of England-Boon sent to England by the People -- Rejected by the Proprietors-Petitions the House of Lords- Their Address to the Queen-Proceedings against the Charter- Colonial Acts declared null and void-Events in the Colony under the Disqualifying Act-A New Assembly in favor of the Dominant Party-The Governor's Violence
191
CHAPTER IX.
The Disqualifying and Church Acts repealed in the Colony -- The Church Act of 1706-Benefits derived from it-Schools and Education-The General Condition of the Province-Population -Militia-Commerce-Shipping-Manufactures-Indians-Re- ligious Sects-Prices of Labor-Public Expenses-Paper Cur- rency-Agriculture-Change in Political Parties-Trott and Rhett-Their unpopularity-Altercations of Governor and As- sembly-Death of Granville-Col. Tynte appointed Governor -- The Assembly vindicate Johnson against the charges of Boon- Instructions to Gov. Tynte-He dies-Gibbes and Broughton contend for the Office-Charles Craven appointed -- Exports of the Province-Popularity of Craven -- The Tuscarora War- Policy of keeping in England a permanent Agent for the Colony -The People desirous of a change of Government from the Pro-
9
CONTENTS.
prietors to the King-Debts of the Colony-Emission of more Bills of Credit-Merchants of London complain-The Proprie- tors give Trott a veto power in Carolina-Excitement and Com- plaints of the People-Agents sent to England-The Yamassee War-Craven returns to England-Col. Robert Daniel Deputy Governor.
229
CHAPTER X.
Feeble and impoverished Condition of the Colony-Proceedings of the Agents in England-The Proprietors unwilling to assist the Colonists-Memorials to the House of Commons-Proceedings between the King's Council, Board of Trade, and Proprietors, concerning a Surrender of the Charter-Proprietors refuse- Assistance granted by the King-The Proprietors conciliatory to the People-Measures adopted by the Carolinians for their Defense against the Indians-Goden's Memorial against the Pro- prietors-The Colonial Assembly address the King to be taken under his immediate Protection-Continued Indian Troubles, and increase of Public Debt in Carolina-Robert Johnson Go- vernor-Unwise Instructions of the Proprietors-Attempt to force the People to greater Submission-Complaints of the Creditors in London-Disagreement of the Governor and As- sembly-Expeditions of Johnson and Rhett against the Pirates -The Election of Representatives by Parishes, the Acts raising Duties on British Manufactures, &c., repealed by the Proprie- tors-Right of Repeal denied by the Assembly-Dissolved- The Influence of Trott and Rhett with the Proprietors-Com- plaints against Trott by the People, Assembly, and Council, not heeded by the Proprietors-How the Affairs of the Proprietors . were managed-Yonge goes as Agent of the Council to England -Proprietors' Answer to Johnson-Deputies who joined in Complaint against Trott removed-A Council of Twelve ap- pointed-Johnson determines to be guided by Trott-Commo- tions among the People-Elect their last Assembly under the Proprietary System-Associations formed for Revolution-The Province threatened by the Spaniards-Muster of the Militia
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10
CONTENTS.
ordered-They all join the Association-Alexander Skene- Johnson informed by Letter of the Intention of the People, and requested to be their Governor under the King-Declines, but has no Power to restrain the People-Private Meetings in the Country-Assembly meets-Refuse to acknowledge the new Council-Resolutions-Take the Title of a Convention-John- son's Address-Refuses to be their Governor-He dissolves them-Their Proclamation
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A SKETCH
OF THE
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER I.
Discoveries in the Fifteenth Century-Voyages to North America- Visits to the Coast of South Carolina-Vasquez de Ayllon-His First and Second Voyage-Verrazzano-Ribault-Charles Fort -- . Condition of the Garrison-Charles Fort abandoned by the French -Their subsequent establishment in Florida.
IN the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese ventured to explore the western coast of Africa, and succeeded in reaching its southern ex- tremity [1468], which they named Good Hope, in anticipation of the riches to be gained from a pas- sage to India by sea. Before this fortunate termina- tion of their efforts, Pope Nicholas had granted to their king and his heirs [1454] the sovereignty over all the countries which they had already dis- covered, and had forbidden the subjects of any other nation to visit those regions, without the permission of Portugal. It was believed at that period that the
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AELARTE
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EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Pope had the right of thus giving to whom he pleased immense portions of the earth; and for this reason his decree was respected for many years by the other European powers.
· The design of Columbus was to find a different passage to India, by sailing westwardly across the Atlantic. His wonderful discovery of the New World [1492] in behalf of Spain, was soon followed by the doubling of the Cape of Good Hope [1497] by the Portuguese; and the reports of the marvelous wealth of the islands of the West, as well as of the East, were confirmed by the abundant riches which rewarded these enterprises. Another papal decree lavishly bestowed upon Ferdinand and Isabella [1493] the islands and continents in the regions dis- covered by Columbus, and threatened the penalty of excommunication against all who should interfere with their rights .*
But boundless portions of the world still remained to be explored, and the Pope's authority lost its effi- cacy : both because he had made, from what really did not belong to him, a donation of indefinite ex- tent, and because such a gift became an injurious restriction on the commerce and enterprise of other nations. With justice also it began to be denied that any nation had the right to exclude all others
. * For this singular bull of Alexander, with that of Nicholas in favor of Portugal, vide Vattel, b. i., ch. 18, ref. Leibnitz Cod. Jur. Gent. Diplom .; also, Cod. Diplom. Colombo. The right to make this gift was declared to be " Auctoritate omnipotentis Dei nobis in beato Petro concessa ac vicariatus Jesu Christi qua fungimur in terris." The con- flicting claims of Spain and Portugal, arising from these papal decrees, were afterward settled by plenipotentiaries from each nation.
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 13
from vast and undefined regions which it could not itself people nor cultivate, and which it claimed merely from priority of discovery, without having taken such possession of the land as implied a per- manent occupancy. Of course the rights of the original possessors of the land were not taken into serious consideration by the rival states of Europe ; and those who had the power to acquire territory by the conquest of the Indians in America, or the tribes of Asia and Africa, easily found a justification or excuse for doing so in the general opinion, that heathenism should give place to Christianity, and a barbarous mode of life to the extension and develop- ment of civilization.
In the mean time, expeditions from England had attempted to sail to India and China by a north-west passage through America; for it was the prevalent belief of navigators that such a passage existed. An effort to accomplish the same object was also made by the English by sailing in a north-eastern direction into the White Sea. In the first series of these ad- ventures, conducted by John and Sebastian Cabot, England gained the honor of discovering [1497] the main land of the American continent, fourteen months before it was reached by Columbus in his third voyage.
During the sixteenth century, numerous voyages were made to North America from England, France, and Spain; some under the patronage of the mo- narchs, with the view of extending their respective dominions ; and others by adventurers or companies of merchants, who were ambitious of securing to
2
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EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
themselves a share of the rich commerce that had been opened to the world. From these voyages arose the conflicting claims of these kingdoms to various portions of North America; whilst South America fell to the possession of Spain and Portugal; and Holland, with her great maritime power, was bearing off from the Portuguese the honors of discovery and conquest in the East Indies.
But from the disappointment of the English, French, and Spaniards in their efforts to find a pas- sage to India and in their hopes of sudden wealth from their expeditions to North America, and from the absorbing affairs of Europe, which was contin- ually distracted by wars and religious dissensions, more than a hundred years were allowed to pass before the English effected a permanent settlement in Virginia [1607], and the French in Canada [1608]. About forty years before "these events the Spaniards had laid the foundation of St. Augustine [Sept. 1565]; their occupancy having been hastened by the efforts of the French Protestants to establish them- selves at Port Royal, in what is now the State of South Carolina, and which was claimed by Spain as a part of the region she had discovered and had named "Florida."
From this brief glance at the interesting course of events that rendered famous many bold and skillful navigators, we will now turn our attention to the visits which were made to the coast of South Caro- lina, and the occurrences which took place chiefly within our present borders.
The Europeans who first arrived on the coast of
15
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
South Carolina were those who formed the expedi- tion from Hispaniola, in 1520. In this adventure Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon was interested as a partner; and although he did not accompany it, his subsequent activity in seeking his personal advantage from its results, has caused his name to be particularly asso- ciated with it. Two vessels were fitted out by him- self and six others, for the purpose of seeking in the islands of Lucayos, north of Cuba, a supply of In- dians to work as slaves in the gold mines of Hispa- niola. Either they were disappointed in their object, or (as others said) were driven beyond these islands by a tempest which lasted two days; and more by chance than through the design of discovery, they reached the coast of North America about the latitude of thirty-two degrees. They entered a bay, a cape of which they named St. Helena, and a river in its vicinity they called the Jordan. On one side of this bay was a portion of country called by the natives Duharhe, or Gualdape, and on the oppo- site side, Chicora.
As the vessels approached, the Indians came down to the coast in crowds, wondering at their strange appearance, but fled again to the covert of the forest as soon as the Spaniards began to disembark. Some young men from the crew were sent in pursuit, and succeeded in overtaking a man and a woman, whom they brought to the vessels ; and having given them food and drink, and clothed them in Spanish costume, they allowed them to return to the forest. The In- dians being thus assured of the friendliness of their strange visitors, sent them a present of provisions,
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EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
and welcomed them with great hospitality. After some stay on this coast, and a partial examination of the adjacent country, the Spaniards invited the trust- ing natives on board to an entertainment; and watching till the decks were most crowded, they suddenly drew up the anchors and unfurled the sails, carrying off to a wretched fate the guests whom they had just received with so much appearance of friendship.
One of the vessels foundered at sea, and all on board perished. Many of the captives in the remaining vessel were so filled with grief, that they refused to take food, and died before the end of the voyage. Of those who survived and were carried into bondage, some also languished and sank under their sufferings ; and the rest became so feeble that they were dis- tributed among the people to be employed as domes- tic servants or in the lighter task of husbandry. The Senate of Hispaniola (of which Vasquez was a member) were indignant at the cruel kidnapping of these Indians, and desired to send the survivors back to their native country .*
* This account of Vasquez's first voyage depends upon his relation of it to Martyr, and the less objectionable testimony of his content- poraries, Galvano and Gomara. The captive whom Vasquez took to Spain seemed to acquiesce in any story his master made, such as that the Indians of Duharhe were white-that there was a great king named Chiquola or Chichora, by which name Vasquez was pleased also to call the country ; and which Bancroft, Stevens, and two of our own writers, have inadvertently stated to have been the Indian name of the whole State. The captive also related that there once was a race of men in his country who had tails a span long and of a bony hardness, and who had to dig a hole in the ground to put these appendages in, when they wished to sit down.
The reiterated statement in our authors, that the "Jordan" is the
.
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EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
But Vasquez having gone to Spain on business con- nected with the public affairs of Hispaniola, carried with him one of the captives, and made such use of the interest excited by this native of the New World, and by the marvelous stories which he himself fabri- cated, that he obtained from the Emperor Charles V. (after whom the Indian was christened Charles of Chicora) a commission to conquer and govern the country which had been discovered.
For this purpose he returned to Hispaniola, where he armed three vessels, and elated with hopes of fame and fortune, set sail from the city of St. Domingo in the year 1525. The true events of this expedition are not clearly known. It appears that he reached in safety the place which had been before visited, that one of his vessels was stranded in the river Jordan, and a large number of his men whom he sent on shore perished, through their own careless- ness, by the hands of the natives. We are told that Vasquez thereupon returned to Hispaniola, and died of grief on account of the failure of his plans. But this is not probable, both from his own character, and from the fact that he still had ample means for pro- secuting his designs. Perhaps another report is true, which states that he died after arriving on the coast of America ; that dissensions and slaughter occurred among the principal men of his company for the chief command ; and that in the wanderings and mis-
Combahee, I am not not prepared to adopt, after a close examination of the accounts of early voyages, old maps and charts, and a compari- son of Indian names that have been handed down to us. If, however, we believe that Cutisi-chiqui was the old name of Silver Bluff, the Jor- dan could not have been far from the Savannah river.
2 ** B
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EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
fortunes which ensued, many of the soldiers died of starvation ; and out of six hundred who had reached the coast only fifty-seven lived to return .*
The failure of this expedition, and the equally disastrous fate of Narvaez and of De Soto and their numerous companions, seem to have disheartened the Spaniards. At least, they were now convinced that quarries of gems and countless mines of gold and silver were not to be found in this part of North America ; and their abandonment of the country for forty years left it open to exploration and occupancy by adventurers from other European states.
In January, 1524, Giovanni Verrazzano engaged in a voyage of discovery in behalf of Francis I. of France. He reached the continent in 34º N. Lat., and sailed about "fifty leagues" southward along our coast, searching for a harbor, but turned again toward the north, and landed probably in the neigh- borhood of Cape Fear River. It was then the spring of the year, and the clearness of the sky, the mild- ness of the climate, the refreshing verdure of the land, and the friendliness of the natives, inspired him and his followers with great admiration. He con- tinued to sail northwardly along the continent, some- times landing to examine the country and obtain a knowledge of its inhabitants, until he reached 50° of N. Lat., when his provisions began to fail, and he returned to France early in the month of July.
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