USA > South Carolina > A chapter in the early history of South Carolina > Part 8
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86
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
British Ships ; ax likewise, that none of the French Subjects be allowed to trade from their said settlements to Carolina.
ot Prepath of his Mighbors.
70. You are from time to time to give an account as before directed, what strength your bordering Neigh- To give acct. bors have (be they Indians or others) by sea and land, and of the condition of their Plantat, and what correspondence you do keep with them.
71. And, whereas, there is great reason to believe that the Indians on the Frontiers of Carolina, who have of
ione to the In- late years fallen off from the British Interest there. diis
have been, in some measure, provoked thereunto by the injustice or ill usage which they have received from H. M. Subjects in your Govern" and it being highly necessary for the welfare of Carolina. that a good understanding should be maintained with the said Indian Nations, as well for the pro-
To imin their moting of Trade as for the security of the Fron- tiers of your Govern" you are hereby particularly enjoined to use all possible ways and means for regaining the affections of the said Indians and to preserve a good corres- poudence with such of them as remain faithful to H. M. interest. but especially with the Cherrikee Indians, inhabiting the moon- tains on the North West Shie of the said Province of South Carolina, and you are likewise hereby directed to recommend in the strongest terms to the Indian Traders, to be just and reasonable in their dealings with the Native Indians, and like-
infin trade wise to propose to the Assembly, if you and His to be krulate i. May Council shall judge it necessary to pass one or more Laws for the better regulation of the sd Indian Trade, and for the iscouragement and protection of such Indians as shall adhere to His Majs, interest.
72. You shall take especial care that God Almighty be de- voutly aud duly served throughout your Govern', Church. the Book of Common Prayer, as by law established. read each Sunday and Holiday, and the blessed Sacraments ad- ministered, according to the rites of the Church of England.
73. You shall take care that the Churches already there, be well and orderly kept, and that more be built, as the Province shall, by God's blessing, be improved, and that be- Parsons. sides a competent maintenance to be assigned to the Minister of each Orthodox Church, a convenient House be
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
built at the common charge for each Minister and a competiit proportion of Glebe assigned him.
74. And you are to take care that the Parishes be ao boundel
Parishes and settled as you shall and most convenient for boun led. accomplishing this good work.
75. You are not to prefer any Minister to any Ecclesiastica! Benefice in that Province without a certificate from tim Right Reverend Father, in God, the Lord Bishop
Bishops 50 Certi y Parsons of London, or some other Bishop, of his boiry character. conformable to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England and of a good life and conversation, and if any person preferred already to a Benefice shall appear to you to give scandal, either by his doctrine or manners, you are to use the proper and usual means for the re. moval of him and to supply the vacancy in such manner as His May bas directed.
76. You are to give orders forthwith (if the same be not al. ready done) that every Orthodox Minister within
Orthodox your Govern' be one of the Vestry in his respec- Vestry Men. tive Parish, and that no Vestry be held without him, except in case of sickness, or that after notice of a Vestry summoned he omit to come.
77. You are to enquire whether there be any Minister within your Govern' who preaches and administers the Ministers of- Relating with- out licence. Sacrament in any Orthodox Church or Chappe! without being due Orders, and to give an account thereof to the Lord Bishop of London.
78. And to ye end the ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Lord Bishop of London may take place in that Province
Bishop of London's Juris- so far as conveniently may be, If. M. thinks dit thri dict'n. you give all countenance and encouragement this" exercise of the same, excepting only the collating to Benefic .. granting licenses for Marriages and Probates of' Wills, which H. M. has reserved to you and to the Comand-in-Chief of the -4. 1 Province for the time being, as far as by law he may.
79. And II. M. does further direct that no Schoolmaster in benceforward permitted to come from this King schoolmasters to be licensed. dom, and to keep school in that Province, without the license of the said Lord Bishop of London, but when '' persons so qualifyed as above shall be wanted for the promit
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
of learning and good education, you may yourself license such other persons as you shall think quality " for such employments. and that no other person now there or that shall come from other parts, shall be admitted to keep school in Carolina without your license first obtained.
80. Ain you are to take especial care, that a Table of Mar. Talle of Mar- riages, establish 4 by the Cannons of the Church of riages. England, be hung up in every Orthodox Church and duly observed ; and you are to endeavor to get a Law passed in the Assembly of that Province (if not already done) for the strict observation of the said Table.
$1. You are to take care that Drunkenness and Debauchery,
Drankenness Swearing and Blasphemy be discountenanced and to ho discount- punished ; and for the further discountenance of tenance i.
vice and encouragem' of virtue and good living. (that by such example, the Infidels may be invited and desire to embrace the Christian Religion,) you are not to admit any per- son to public trusts, and employments in the Province under your Govern' whose ill fame and conversation may occasion scandal. 82. You are to suppress the engrossing of Commodities as tending to the prejudice of that freedome which not to be en- commerce and trade ought to have, and to settle Comme Juries such Orders and Regulations therein, with yo advice of the Council as may be most acceptable to the generality of the Inbabits
83. You are to give all due encouragement and invitation to Merchauts and others who shall bring trade unto the said Prov-
To encourage ince, or any way contribute to the advantage Merchants.
thereof, and in particular to the Royal African Company.
84. And as H. M. is willing to recommend unto the s Compa- ny that the said Province may have a constant and be ding made sufficient supply of merchantable Negroes at mode -. Payment to for Negroes. rate rates, in Mony or Commodities, so you are to take especial care that payment be duly made and within a competent time according to their agreement.
85. And, whereas, the s' Company have frequently great sums of mony owing to them in the Plantations in America, they have been much hindered in the recovery of their just debts there, and discouraged in their Trade by their too frequent adjournment of Courts, and it
..
To holl fre- gent Courseof Justice,
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
being absolutely necessary that all obstructions in the course of Justice be effectually removed, You are to take care that Court- of Justice be duly and frequently held in the said Province of Carolina under your Govern', so that all H. MI. subjects in the said Province, and particularly the Royal African Company and others trading to Africa, may enjoy the Benefit thereof, and not to receive any undue hindrance in the recovery of their just debis.
$6. And you are further expressly commanded and required To send ac- to give unto IT. M. and to the Comis" for Tradeand counts of Ve- Piante an acco' every half year of what number of
groes imported. Negroes the said Province is supplyed with, that is what number by the African Compy, and what by separate Traders, and at what rates sold.
87. You are likewise, from time to time, to give unto H. M. and to the Comiss for Trade and Plant' as afore- To give dcera. said an account of the wants and defects of the Province. said Province, what are the chief products thereof. what new improvements are made therein by ths industry of the Inhabitants or Planters, and what further improvements you conceive may be made or advantages gained by Trade, and which way II. M. may contribute thereunto.
88. You are not to grant Commissions of Marque or Reprisal. Commissions against any Prince or State or their Subjects in of Marque. amity with HI. M .. to any person whatsoever, with- out H. M. special command.
SO. Whereas great inconveniences do happen by Merchant Ships and other Vessels in the Plantats wearing the Colors born by H. M. Ships of War, under pretence of Commis"
What days to
be used. granted to them by the Gory of the said Plautat: and that by trading under those Colors not only amongst LI. 11. subjects, but also those of other Princes and States, and com! ing divers Irregularities, they do very much dishonor II. M. service, for prevention whereof you are to oblige the Command. ers of all ships to which you shall grant Comis" to wear m other Jack than according to the sample here described that it to say, such as is worn by H. M. Ships of War, with the di- the. tion of a White Escutcheon in the middle thereof; and that the mark of distinet" may extend itself to one-half of the depth of the Jack and one-third of the fly thereof.
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
90. And. whereas, there has been great Irregularities in the manner of grunting Comis in the Plantations to Privateers. private Ships of War, You are to govern yourself according to the Comis" and Instructions granted in this King- dom. Copies whereof will be herewith delivered you.
91. In case of any distress of any other of II. ML. Plant" von To assist bis shall, upon application of the respective Gov" thereof
Neighbors. to you, assist them with what aid the condition and safety of the Province under your Govern' can spare.
92. Yon are to endeavor to get a Law passed, (if not already done.) for the restraining of any Inhuman severity, To prevent which by ill Masters or Overseers may be used severi:les towards their Christian servants or their slaves, and that provision be made therein, that the wilful killing of In- dians and negroes may be punished with death, and that a fit penalty be imposed for the maiming of them; And you are
and Corrert also, with the assistance of the Council and Assem- Negroes, bly, to find out the best means to facilitate and encourage the conversion of Negroes and Indians to the Chris- tian Religion.
93. You are to endeavor to get an Act passed, (if not already
Bankruptsin done.) whereby the Creditors of persons becoming England. Bankrapts in this Kingdom, and having Estates in Carolina, may be relieved and satisfied for the debts owing to them.
94. If II. M. shall judge it necessary for His service to ap- point a Lieut .- Gov of Nº Carolina, You are hereby
Govern'r of
Narto Caro- required to give him an authentic copy of your lina. Instructions, whereby he will conduct himself in the Gorern' of that Province, and he will be directed by his Comisa to obey such orders as he shall from time to time receive trom you for H. M. service.
95. If anything shall happen that may be of advantage and security to H. M. said Province, which is not berein or by your Comis provided for, H. M. does hereby allow unto you, with the advice and consent Council.
In cases not
before pervi-
ded for to acs br advice of
of the Council, to take order for the present therein. giving to H. M., by one of His Principal Secretaries of State. and to His afores' Comis for Trade and Plants speedy notte. thereof, that you may receive II. M. ratification, if he shall
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
approve of the same : Provided always, that you do not by color of any power or authority hereby given you, commence " declare War without H. M. knowledge and particular commands therein, except it be against Indians, upon emergencies wherain the consent of H. M. Council shall be had, and speedy notice given thereof unto II. M. as aforesaid.
96. And you are, upon all occasions, to send unto H. M, and Send Arn't to his Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, a of his proceed-
ings Con -ePre- particular account of all your proceedings, and of tary of starp, the condition of affairs within your Government.
APPENDIX .- No. XII.
(INDORSED.)
Proprieties B. Letter from Col. Johnson, Govr of Carolina, to the T .. Vol. Vì Board, dated 12 January, 1719-'20.
-tar- Paper Recd April 20, 1720. Read 3 May, 1720. office.
CHARLES TOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA, Jany 12th, 1713. My Lords :
As to the Queries you would be informed off, from the best Inquiries I can make, and my own experience, I answer tes follows:
Of the present state of the Province of Carolina.
let Querie. Answer. As to this Querie I must referr yor Lordrsto the Let- ters and Papers I and the Council have sent the Lords Propy of the steps and proceedings of the people, in order to throw of the Propriet" Governm' and put themselves under the emediato Goverm' of his Majesty.
What number of inhabitants there is, how that 2d Querie. number is increased or decreased of late years. ahl what is the number of the Militia, what Forts or places of de- fence are there in the Province, and in what condition are these Forts.
'Tis computed by the Muster Rolls and other ofser-
Answer. vations, that at present we may have about 1. fighting men, from 16 to 60 years of age, every body in the
92
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Province within that are being inlisted. and obliged to bear arms and by the common computacion of 4 persons in each Family. The whole of the whites are 6,100 ; 'tis bleived that since the Indian Warr, which broke out in April, 1715, we are increased about 100 Inhabitants, we having lost about 400 in the Warr, and have had the accession of about 500 from Eng- land, Ireland and other places; since y? Indian Warr the Province has been obliged to maintain the following Garrisons upon y* Out Skirts of the Province, to awe the Indians and pre- vent their comeing within us, and to inspect y better what their designs are, and to secure our people and goods whilst we trade with them (Viz') at the Congares lying about 130 miles north from Charles Towne, a Capt and 20 men ; about 40 miles from thence westward, and about 140 miles from Charles Town, the Savana Garrison, a Capt" and 20 men ; upon Port Royal Island to watch the Inland water passage from St. Augustine, and to prevent our white people and slaves from deserting and going thither, two scout boats of 10 men each, who have small Forts to retreat to and secure themselves; In Johnson's Fort, upon James Island, about a league from Charles Town, which comands the ships comeing up ye Bay to Charles Towne, a Capt", Lieuten' and 12 men ; all these men are på by the Pub- lick. The Forts are not strong, except Johnson's Fort, which is a regular tryangle with draw-bridges, a dry ditch and a plat- form below of about 12 guns of 12 pound ball, and abot 10 from 6 to 9 pounders in the upper works. The rest of the forts are sufficient to withstand Indians, who know nothing of beseiging or will fight against wall. Charles Towne was formerly in my father's Governmn' was enelosed with a regular fortification, but in the year 1713, by a violent Hurricane, were all thrown down and ruined, and the Indian Warr which broke out two years afterwards involved us in soe deep a debt that we have not been able since to rebuild them, but at prosent are putting ourselves into such a posture of defence as our present circum- stances will allow off ..
What is the strength of the severall Nations of ed Querie. Indians in the neighborhood of Carolina, and are their inclinations for us or for the French or Spaniards.
An- wer.
By the within Account of the number of Indians subject to y & Goverum of South Carolina in ye year
93
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
1715, Yo' Lordes will finde upwards of eight and twenty thousand souls, of which there was nine thousand men which traded for above £10,000 sterling yearly in cloth, guns, powder, bullets and iron ware, and made returns in Buck Skins, Doe Skins, Furs and other Peltry, and there was one way or other near 200 English Indian Traders imployed as Factors by y. Merchants of Carolina amongst them ; but in ye said Year 1715 most of them rose in rebellion and murdered ye said. Tra- ders and severall of the Planters and their Famileys, that lay most exposed to them. But before the end of y" said Year we recoverd the Cherokees and the northward Indians, after seve- rall slaughters and blood sheddings, which has lessened their numbers and utterly esterpating some little Tribes, as the Con- garees, Santees, Seawees, Pedees, Waxaws, and some Cors-aboy-, so that by Warr, Pestilence, and Civill Warr amongst them- selves, the Charokces may be computed reduced to ab: 10,000 souls, and the Northern Indians to 2,500 souls. At the same time the fate of our Southern and Western Indians was quite turned to our disadvantage, for as soon as ye Albamas had mur- dered our Facter, the French emediately tooke possession of our place and built a fort by the name of Thoulose at the Albamous, thereby encroaching upon us and takeing the trade of the Chicke- saws, Albamas and a great part of the Tallaboosees Abikaws, which will make nere 6 or 7,000 souls. The Spaniards built a fort at Apalatchee and has taken the Apalatchees and the most desperate Creek Indians from us, and the Yamasees removed to St. Augustine, from whence they still continue their depreda- dations. As for the Creeks they are situated now in the mid- war between us, the French and the Spaniard, and deals with those that gives them most affecting a newtrallity, yet makeing their advantages of the differences happening between the Enro- pean Nations, so we may safely conclude that we have not above half of the Trade and number of Indians subject to this Gov- ernin' as we had 1715.
An Exact Account of ge Number and Strength of all the Indian Nations that were subject to the Government of South Carolina, and solely traded with them in y beginning of a year 1215, taken out of ya Journals of Capta. Nacin, John Wright, Esq., Priec Hughes, Esq., and compared and corrected by the Journalts and Observations made by John Barnrell while he was employed by the Government, amongst them.
Distance from Chas. Town.
No. of Villay. S.
Alen. Women.
--
50 anties No. West ....
1. The Yammeres.
T'en
413
315
2. The Apalachicolas.
611
71
1:1
140 miles West ..
3. The Apalatchees
150 miles West by N
1. The Havanos. ...
Three
67
116
20!
5. The Buchees.
130
270
...
100
180 miles W. N W ..
6. The Ochusces or Creeks.
l'en . ..
781
884
1211
2106
250 miles W. by N .. ..
7. The AbkaW.
Fifteen
502
578
327
1778
390 miles W. S. W ...
8. The Tabibooses.
Thirteen
710
511
186
2348
9. The Albamins
Four .
214
276
161
119
770
180 mils 3. W. by W .....
-
-1
8116
1816
1698
9992
9992
The Cherokees, viz:
150 miles N. W.
10. The Upper Settlement.
Nineteen.
900
980
400
180
sho'ld be
300 miles N W.
11. The Middle settlement.
'Thirty
2500
2000
320 miles N. W.
12. The Lower Settlement.
Meyen.
600
620
400
180
610 miles W
18. The Chicksaws.
700
1200
1900
200 miles N. N. W
14. The Catapaws.
Seven
870
900
15. The Sataws ...
One
1.101
370
510
170 miles N.
15. The Waecowaspres
Four
210
100
610
100 miles N. E.
17. The Cape Fears
Five ..
I've
1 ;;
1
60
126
120 milca N ..
19. The Congerees.
One .
1
80 miles N. E.
20 The Weneaws.
36
701
106
60 miles N. E. ..
21. The Scawees ..
One
men, wo.
&chil.
57
Mixed with the English Settlement .. ...
22. Wwans ....
One
50
160|wo. &chil.
2440
205!
5519
2. Curaboys
200 wo. Mobil.
.26721
& N. B. - There are two errors in the adding up in the original, via, the Cherokees should be the not 115. The total should be 26721, not 28041.
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
..
200 miles N.
130
206
70 miles A ..
18. The; Bamices ..
Orig. 11530%
11210
..
Girls. Total No. of Souls.
1215
211
1:0 miles 5). West.
1470
8052
140 miles West ....
-
05
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
4th Querie. What is the Conditon of the Spanish Settlement at St. Augustine. What advantage might it be to the Governin' of Carolina to have this place taken from the Spaniards an- vexed, aori by what means this might be most easily accom- plished.
Answer- St. Augustine is ve only Town the Spaniards are pos- sest of in Florida, and is scituated in the latitude of 20 degrees and fifty-five minutes North, and about one hundred and fifty miles from Port Royal in So. Carolina. It is a Garrison cou- taining three hundred soldiers under pay, and about one hus- dred Familys of Inhabitants, that make near one hundred more men besides women and children, whose chief support depends on yeexpence and pay of the Soldiers. Out of this number they made a Troope of about 40 Horse, and in and about the place, in 4 or 5 villages, they have 3 or 4 hundred Indian men, most of was are Yamassees that lately committed yo barbarous massacre on his Majus subjects of Carolina, and still continue (even during ye Peace with Spain by connivances of ye Span- iards) their depredations and murders upon the English. Be- sides there Indians they have in subjection a great number of barbarous Indians along the coast of Florida, who every now and then inhumanly massacre all the Cast away or Ship wract English that often are cast amongst them comeing thro' the Gulf of Florida. The Spaniards of St. Augustine drive a trade with the Indians of Florida for ambergrise and wracked goods, and with y'other Indians for peltry. The place being only & Garrison there is but small Trade there, what they formerly sent to the Havana was hides, Tallow and the rows of fish, es- pecially Mullets, salted. The Country produces, Pitch and Tarr, which by ye help of the Negroes plundered by the Indians from Carolina, and bought by y Spaniards, they begin to make a trade on to our great detrement.
In the open Field there is orringe Trees, and in St. Angus- tine Lemmiun Trees, Citron Trees, Lime Trees, besides Peaches. Figgs, Pomgranates and some Olive Trees-they are not suf- fered to propogate the Olive Trees.
The Country is capable of a great many improvements, but y+ place boing as I said, a Garrison and y soldiers very raw, lazy fellows, being Banditti banished from New Spain for crimes committed there, no great matter can be expected from them.
00
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Town is unfortified, containing about 200 Houses, and has a Corvent of Franciscan Fryers, with two more Churches, some built with timber some with stone.
It is guarded by a small Fort with four Bastions built with stone erd regularly fortified. The Curtains has no room for Canon, but there are fifty pieces mounted on the Bastions; the Ditch is dry, but they can let the sea in at high water; the walls are about 28 or 30 foot high, for which reason the Artillery can do ro execution when people are entrenched within 59 or 60 paces of the Fort, for they can't bring their Gang to bear. The outer square of the Fort from the point of the Bastion to Bastion, does not exceed 500 feet, and the Inward open place not built upon to be less then 100 feet square, for which reason a bomb would make great execution, when besides Indians there can be little less then 1,000 souls confined in a siege in that com- pass. Their Magazine and storehouse are built along the Cur- tains, and aro bomb proof. The stone of the Castle lookes like free stone, but I judge much better for fortification. It will not splenter, but give way to cannon ball as tho' would stick a knife into a cheese. The ground round it is proper for In- trenchmentsor makeing approches, ht being light without stones. The reason the Spaniards give for maintaining this place are y' they keep it as a Barrier to prevent the English from en- croaching any farther into Florida, and to keep possession of that country for his Catholick Majesty; 2015. They say that the Roman Church is at one-half of the expence in order to protect their missionarys that aro sent to convert the Indians, and lastly that they might relieve from thence such Spaniards as shall be either cast away or in distress comeing thro' the Gulf. There is but a very shallow barr going into St. Augustine and most and end the Sea breaks quite a cross it, there being scarce 5 feet water at low water, and the tyde rises not above 6 feet more except on a Spring, with an Easterly winde, when there may be about 12 feet, so they are forced to load and unload any Ves- sell of burthen without the Barr in the oppen sea. There are good Pylotes in Charles Towney' can cary in Sloopes. At St. Johns, about 12 leagues to the North of St. Augustine, is a good harbour, where is 17 feet water, but ye channell is narrow.
The Spaniards at St. Augustine haveing encouraged the Io- dians under their Governm' to come and murder and plunder
97
EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
his Maje Subjects in Carolina and themselves harbouring Reb- bolls, Felions. Debtors, Servants and Negro Slaves, putting this Governm' under a necessity of keeping a Force and some thou- sand pounds yearly charge to guard ye Frontiers, even in time of peace, there is an absolute necessity for us to expell them out of St. Augustine, we should soon reap ya benefit of it by enlary- ing ye Trale of y" Collony by so many hands now idell and maintained by the rest, that could follow their work, and a Dumber more would flock into us who are deter'd by the dread this seulking Warr brings with it and oven our own Indians wou'd be less insolent and more obedient to us who we are forced to court least they should revolt. . Four or five hundred men to joyne w> forces Carolina could make with a bomb ketch some battering cannon and other warlike stores in proportion would easily efeet ye conquest of this place and would be under- taken with alacrity by the People of this Province.
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