USA > South Carolina > A sketch of the history of South Carolina to the close of the proprietary government by the revolution of 1719. With an appendix containing many valuable records hitherto unpublished > Part 18
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* Report, &c., 2 Carr. Coll. 354.
t Hewit, 192.
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friend of John Fraser, a Scotch Highlander, who lived and traded among the Yamassees. Sanute had been to St. Augustine, and on his return he brought some sweet herbs to his friend's house, and bruising them in a basin of water, requested the privilege of washing therewith the face of Mrs. Fraser, as a testimony of his sincere friendship; and placing then his hands upon his breast, assured her that all in his heart she should for the future know. About nine days before hostilities began, he appeared again in her presence, and told her a terrible slaughter of all the English was determined upon, and would take place as soon as the bloody stick, the emblem of war, should be re- turned by the Creeks, who with themselves, the Cherokees, and many other nations, were uniting with the Spaniards, who had assured them that though peace now existed, yet soon war would be declared by Spain against the English. Sanute then urged her and her husband to fly with their child in all haste to Charles Town, and offered them the use of his own canoe. Placing his hand upon his heart he declared he had told them all he knew ; if still they would not go, he promised to save them from torture by claiming the last office of a friend, in taking their lives with his own hands. Fraser doubted; but his wife being terrified, he hastened with her and most of his effects to Charles Town, unfortunately without communicating to others the intelligence he had re- ceived.
Intimations of approaching danger were spreading through the province. Gov. Craven dispatched Capt.
الأيت أكد على
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Nairn* and Mr. John Cochran, gentlemen well-ac- quainted with the Indians, to know the cause of their discontent .; They visited the chief warriors at Po- cotaligo, and offered speedy satisfaction for any inju- ries of which they might complain .¿ The Indians feigned a friendly disposition, and that night pre- pared a good supper for their visitors. But at break of day, the massacre was begun. [April 15, 1716.] The round-house or council-room was beset. Capt. Nairn, John Wright, and Thomas Ruffly murdered ; Mr. Cochran, his wife and four children, were at first kept prisoners and afterward slain; Seaman Bur- roughs, a strong and active man, rushed through the midst of the assailants and escaped, wounded through the cheek. Swimming the river, and running several
* Capt. Nairn, when a member of the Assembly, in 1708, was arrested by Gov. Johnson for treason, on a charge of plotting to put the Prince of Wales on the throne in place of Queen Anne. He was charged with preparing a map of the Indian territory, and transmitting it pri- vately to England, &c. I believe the action was dropped, explanation of his conduct being given. Subsequently, Landgrave Thomas Smith was arrested for treason by order of the house. The proceedings are on the Journals, but it does not appear that a trial ensued.
The last entry in the MS. Ind. Book, preceding the war, is dated 12th April, 1715. Mr. Samuel Warren informed the Board, that the Palachocola Indians (on Savannah river.) told him the Creeks were dissatisfied with the traders among them, particularly John Jones. Hav- ing complained without redress, they were determined at the next affront from the traders to " down with them, and so go on with it." Mr. Wm. Bray having gone to St. Augustine after some of his slaves, a Yamassee came to his wife, saying he had a great matter to tell her; that the Creeks had a design to destroy the traders, and then fall on the settlement ; it was very near, but his love for her and her two sisters induced him to warn them, and when he should next appear before them they must immediately escape to their town. Mr. Warren was dis- patched to invite the disaffected Indians to a conference, &c.
# Account, &c., from letter of Craven ; 2 Carr. Coll., 570.
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miles, he gave the alarm to the planters in the neigh- borhood of Port Royal. In the mean time, the houses of all the traders and other whites in Pocotaligo were assaulted, and more than ninety persons there and on adjacent plantations fell victims to the fury of the savages.
The Indians divided themselves into two parties, one attacked Port Royal, the other St. Batholomew's .* Fortunately, a merchant ship happened to be in Port Royal River, on board of which Rev. Mr. Guy, with most of the inhabitants of St. Helens, about 300 in number, took refuge, by the timely warning of Mr. Burroughs. While only a few families were here massacred, in St. Bartholomew's about 100 Christians fell into the hands of the Indians, who came down as far as Stono, burning churches and houses in their way. The Rev. Mr. Osborn, and as many as had time to flee, escaped to Charles Town. Mr. Bray, his wife and children, and several others, finding friends among the Indians were spared ; but while at- tempting to escape, were all put to death.
Governor Craven, in the meanwhile, had collected a troop of horse, and accompanied by a party of vo- lunteers, set out for Pocotaligo for the more satisfac- tory settlement of disputes and disorders, for the in- quiry into which he had sent forward Captain Nairn. Hearing on the way of the conspiracy and massacre, he gathered as many men as he could in Colleton, and at the head of 240 marched directly against the enemy, after dispatching a courier to Col. Mackay,
* Humphrey's Account, &c. ; 2 Carr. Coll., 548.
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with orders to raise immediately what forces he could, and to proceed by water to meet him at the Yamas- see town. The governor halted for the night near the Combahee River, within sixteen miles of the ene- my's town, and was attacked early next morning by about 500 of the Yamassees. Notwithstanding the surprise, he soon put his men in order, and after an engagement of three quarters of an hour routed the enemy, with the loss of only one sentinel killed and a few men wounded; while of the Indians, besides the wounded, some of their chief leaders were slain. Being without guides for crossing the river, and ob- serving the great number of the enemy, he returned to Charles Town.
Col. Mackay, in pursuit of his orders, on his part surprised the Indians, and drove them from their town, in which they had stored up vast quantities of provisions and plunder. While in possession of the town he learned that the enemy, 200 in number, had posted themselves in another fort, and he sent 140 men to attack it. At this time "a young stripling, named Palmer," who had been out on a scout with 16 men, came to Mackay's assistance, and at once scaled the walls and attacked the Indians within their trenches, but was forced to retreat; yet a sec- ond time he effected an entrance with his men, and completely drove the enemy from the fort, who fled but to be shot down by Col. Mackay's forces."
While the activity of the Carolinians checked the incursion on this quarter, a body of about 400 In-
* Account from Craven's letter, &c.
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dians, from the northward, came down toward Goose Creek. A party of them entered Mr. John Herne's plantation, near the Santee, and after being hospi- . tably entertained with provisions, treacherously.mur- dered him, and began their depredations. Upon news of this Capt. Thos. Barker, collecting ninety horse- men, advanced to meet them. Trusting to an Indian guide, he was led into an ambuscade in a difficult thicket of trees and bushes, where the enemy lay concealed on the ground. The Carolinians had ad- vanced into the midst of them before they were aware of any danger. The Indians springing from their lair, and pouring in a volley, instantly killed Capt. Barker and several of his men, the rest in dis- order struggled into a retreat. So great was now the panic, that while the enemy were hastening down to Goose Creek, almost the whole parish were fleeing toward Charles Town. There was however one plantation, where seventy white men, with forty ne- groes, had thrown up a breast-work, and resolved to defend themselves at all hazards. The Indians, though assaulting them in vain, discouraged them by their numbers, and they rashly listened to proposals for peace, and unwarily permitted their fort to be sur- prised. Only a very few escaped the horrid butch- cry. But while the savages triumphantly marched onward they were met by Capt. Chicken, [June 13th] and the Goose Creek militia, who, after a long and obstinate engagement, defeated and drove back the Indians, and thus secured the province in this direc- tion.
Plantations and settlements were deserted beyond
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twenty miles of Charles Town. Those who daily sought safety by flight brought more and more alarm- ing rumors to the capital. No hopes were now enter- tained of assistance from the Catawbas, the Cherokees and the Congarees-all were connected with the for- inidable conspiracy from St. Augustine round to Cape Fear. Many began to anticipate the total destruc- tion of the colony," for while the enemy could number from 8 to 10,000 warriors, there were on the Caro- lina muster roll but 1200 men fit to bear arms. Yet Craven, relying upon the defenses of Charles Town, determined to send the forces into the wilder- ness to meet the enemy upon their own battle ground. He summoned the Assembly, [May 6th] : " Expedi- tion is the life of action," he said; " bring the women and children into our town, and all provisions from all the exposed plantations ; try to secure some of the In- dians to our interests; garrisons and military stores must be provided ; Virginia and New England must be solicited for arms and aid.""} During Craven's previous absence he had appointed Col. Daniel, deputy gover- nor, by whom martial law had been. proclaimed ; forces, arms, and the necessary stores provided by impressment, and an embargo laid on vessels in port ; all which acts were now confirmed by law, and ample powers were in addition granted for the strenuous pro- secution of hostilities by the governor and council. In this time of danger the lives and fortunes of the Caroli- nians were unhesitatingly offered on the altar of pa- triotism. Francis Holmes was selected as the agent
* A Narrative, &c. ; 2 Carr. Coll., 145.
t MS. Journals.
# 2 Stat., 623.
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to New England to purchase arms, and Capt. Meade placed his vessel at the public service. Lt .- general James Moore, Cols. John Barnwell and Alexander Mackay, were chosen to head the forces. The mem- bers of the Assembly then adjourned till August, as they were required, without delay, to resume their military duties. .
The Yamassees, though joined by the Apalachees, were forced from their country and beyond the Sa- vannah River. They took up their residence in Florida, and being encouraged by the Spaniards con- tinued to infest Carolina in small parties, and to wreak their malice on such unfortunate persons as they could capture. But the province was now de- fended by a cordon of garrisons, and rangers were ever on the alert for a skirmish. Through the agency of Arthur Middleton an agreement was made with Gov. Spotwood, of Virginia, for furnishing sol- diers at ££4 a month, and the same pay was now given to Carolinians. The services of Indians (of whom several small tribes remained friendly,) [Aug. 1715,] were remunerated with a match-coat and £3. for every scalp, while the masters of faithful negroes engaged in the war received £2 per month for them. To 600 Carolinians and 100 Virginians, were joined 400 negroes and 100 Indians.# When a new Assem-
As in all countries, the regular payment for services in war began when permanent forces became necessary. Hewit, and his follower Ramsey, ascribe to Governor Craven the leading of the troops, the con- quest and expulsion of the enemy beyond the Savannah, and a triumphant return to Charles Town. The materials before me (per- haps deficient,) do not authorize me to follow their statement, nor to describe any particular engagement of the new forces that were raised.
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bly convened, [Feb. 1716] hostilities had almost en- tirely ceased, and the chief object of solicitude was the securing, if possible, a permanent peace with all the surrounding Indian nations. The Yamassees had acted prematurely ; and although 400 Christians had been destroyed, together with an immense amount of property, and the traders had sustained a loss of £10,000 in debts-yet the invincibility of the Carolinians against the combined power of the Indians had been so forcibly proved that never again was a united plot contrived, or an attempt made, to penetrate in hostile bands to the vicinity of the capital. In 1713, Sir Anthony Craven had died in England, and the proprietors had written to Governor Craven their permission for leaving the province, and their wish that Robert Johnson, son of Sir Nathaniel, should succeed him. Craven would not abandon the province as long as it was menaced with danger. His personal courage, upright character, and devotion to the best interests of the government, had won for him the esteem and warm attachment of the Caroli- nians. Their expressions to each other on parting are full of the evidences of their mutual friendship and respect. IIe left Col. Robert Daniel, deputy governor, on 25th April, 1716.
Sce the former author for atrocities, by small scalping parties of the Yamassces, on Hooper, Quinton, Simmons, Parmenter; and Dr. Rose, who fell into their hands. In subsequent years it was not permitted to any Indians to come even on friendly visits to Charles Town, unless they brought assurances of being sent by their nation. Yet as forests abounded for their concealment, "flying parties," as they were called, sometimes appeared in the settlements, as in 1751, at Monk's Corner, and in Christ Church parish .- " Carolina Gazette."
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CHAPTER X.
Feeble and impoverished Condition of the Colony-Proceedings of the Agents in England-The Proprietors unwilling to assist the Colo- nists-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 Proprietors-The Colonial Assembly address the King to be taken under his immediate Protection-Con- tinued Indian Troubles, and increase of Public Debt in Carolina- Robert Johnson Governor-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 Proprietors-Right of Repeal denied by the Assembly-Dissolved-The Influence of Trott and Rhett with the Proprietors-Complaints 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-Depu- ties who joined in Complaint against Trott removed-A Council of Twelve appointed-Johnson determines to be guided by Trott-Com- motions among the People-Elect their last Assembly under the Pro -. prietary System-Associations formed for Revolution-The Province threatened by the Spaniards -- Muster of the Militia ordered -- They all join the Association-Alexander Skene-Johnson informed by Let- ter of the Intention of the People, and requested to be their Gover- nor 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-Johnson's Address-Refuses to be their Governor-IIe dissolves them-Their Proclamation.
Ax impulse was given to the efforts of the agents in England, by the unexpected conspiracy of the In- dians. Memorials were presented by the merchants 23*
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to the Board of Trade, praying that an exportation to Virginia of guns for Indian traffic might be stopped. Private letters gave accounts of the war, and the de- plorable condition of the province. At Boston six hundred arms were purchased, " but Dudley and the people would not do us any service." Spotwood, however, was zealous, and aid was sent from Vir- ginia and North Carolina. Still, the expenses for defense were too great for the colony to bear. The proprietors must furnish assistance now, with gene- rous hands, if they hoped to retain their charter.
The agents, after application to them for immedi- ate help, without a satisfactory response, petitioned the House of Commons, from whom an address was sent to the king. The subject was referred to the Lords Commissioners of Trade. In the spirit of the times, they expressed the opinion that Carolina was a proprietary government ; if the crown must protect it, it should be surrendered to the crown. Lord Car- teret, who was elected palatine on the death of the Duke of Beaufort, (and who before had nobly offered, on his part, to give up the government, rather than leave the Carolinians in want of adequate relief and protection,) wrote to the board : "We, the proprietors of Carolina, having met on this melancholy occasion, to our great grief find that we are utterly unable, of ourselves, to afford our colony suitable assistance in this conjuncture; and unless his majesty will graci- ously please to interpose, we can foresee nothing but the utter destruction of his majesty's faithful subjects in those parts." The commissioners and king's coun- cil proposed certain queries concerning their opera-
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tions for defending the province [July 14th, 1715], and "whether such of the lords proprietors as are not minors are willing, for themselves, to surrender the government to the king?" They replied the next day, that they would repay to the king any expense he should incur for the province; but "If the lords who are not minors should surrender for themselves, that would give the king no better title than he has already,-for the titles of the minors would still sub- sist ; and that in case the money, advanced as afore- said by his majesty, shall not, in a reasonable time, be repaid, we humbly conceive his majesty will have an equitable right to take the government into his · immediate protection. That the proprietors have continually supported and defended the government when attacked by the French or any other enemy ; that neither his majesty nor any of his predecessors have ever been at any charge for the supporting or defending the province of Carolina, from the first grant thereof to the proprietors, which is above 50 years ; and the proprietors hope, when the war is over, his majesty will never have any further trouble for any charges and expenses whatsoever."
The report of the board to Secretary Stanhope con- tains the history of the relative position of the par- ties in this transaction : + " In obedience to his majesty's command, signified to us by your letter of the 7th inst., and in consequence of the discourse we lately had with the lords of the cabinet relating to the
* Signed by Carteret, Palatine; Mr. Ashley, J. Colleton, and J. Dan- son ; MS. Journals of Commons, No. 5, p. 79.
t Dated Whitehall July 19, 1715.
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invasion and hostilities committed by the Indians on South Carolina, we have considered the letters from Mr. Craven, Col. Spotwood and others, and have several times conferred with the lords proprietors, as well as the principal planters of and merchants trad- ing to that province, from all which we are fully con- vinced the dangers of it are such as require a speedy and effectual relief: the inhabitants being driven from their plantations, and in a manner look and depend on the only safe place they have, which is Charles Town ; those capable of bearing arms not being above fifteen hundred men, and as we are in- formed have now nothing but the sea open to them. Finding that the proprietors are not able, or at least . not inclined at their own charge to send either necessary succors in this exigency, or to support that province under the like for the future, we proposed to them to surrender that government to the crown as the surest way to protect his majesty's subjects there, and to secure their own properties. To which as we could not engage them, we humbly submit how far it would be proper for his majesty to take the preservation of so valuable a province upon him at this juncture; and the rather because the Bahama Islands have been lost to the public by the neglect of these proprietors. The situation of Carolina makes it a frontier, as well against the French and Spaniards as against numerous nations of Indians; which last, at the instigation of the former, seem to have entered into a general confederacy against all other domin- ions on the continent, who have scarce strength enough to defend themselves in case they be attacked.
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The produce of this country are naval stores, viz. : pitch and tar in great abundance, also masts, rice of the best kind, and some quantities of skins, which by the trade thereof, and the duties on the importation here, are very beneficial to this kingdom, and occa- sions an augmentation of his majesty's revenue. If the government of this province, and particularly the Indian trade, were under a good regulation, there is no doubt it might be better secured and considera- bly improved. But the ill-usages of the Indians by the traders, of which we had several instances, and their trusting them for too great quantities of arms and ammunition at exorbitant prices, whereby the Indians are become very much indebted to them, despairing of being able fairly to discharge the same, we apprehend may have given the occasion of this universal revolt.
" We now take leave to lay before you what is the. proprietors' and planters' desire, viz. : four hundred barrels of powder, fifteen hundred muskets with bayonets, forty cohorn mortars with hand grenades, six small fieldpieces, or harquebusses, and five hun- dred men. Toward the transportation of which the proprietors say there is only one ship of one hundred tons ready, and toward the payment they have some rice lately arrived, which they hope to sell for up- ward of £400 sterling. This they are willing to engage for the payment in part of the above men- tioned particulars ; but do absolutely refuse either to mortgage their charter, or to surrender their govern- ment to his majesty unless his majesty be pleased to purchase the same.
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"They say the Assembly of Carolina have sent effects to the value of £2500 (that country money) to New York and New England for providing arms and ammunition. And the proprietors have given directions to their treasurer in Carolina to disburse what money he may have in his hands for the same purposes. But by such information as we are able to get, there will not be sufficient quantities to be had in either of those provinces. In our discourse with the proprietors, a difficulty occurring to us in relation to the command, in case his majesty be pleased to send any soldiers thither, they declared they expected their governor should have the com- mand of them; and as to their subsistence, we find they must be victualled at least for twelve months ; the country being so destroyed by the Indians that the inhabitants cannot under that time repair and . cultivate their plantations, and reap the benefit of their crops."*
* Signed R. Molesworth, Jo. Cockburn, J. Chetwyne, Char. Cooke, and P. Docminique, and addressed to the Right Honorable Mr. Secre- tary Stauhope. As soon as this report became known in Carolina, it was ordered by the Assembly (MS. Journals) " that Wm. Rhett, Esq., the lords proprietors' receiver-general, be sent for by the messenger to attend this house immediately, and that upon his appearing therein, he be asked the following questions by Mr. Speaker: Who appearing accordingly, Mr. Speaker (according to order) required his answers to the following queries, viz. : Whether he had received any order from the lords proprietors for the paying in the money of theirs he has in his hands, unto the government for the use and defense of this province ? How much money he has of the lords proprietors in his hands ? Whether, if he has received the said order from the lords proprietors, he is ready to pay the said money into the hands of the government for the aforesaid use ? To which queries the lords proprietors' receiver answered, that he had received no such order from the lords proprietors' relating to the payment of the money in his hands to the government
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