USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > The Jews of South Carolina; a survey of the records at present existing in Charleston > Part 13
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THE DAGGETT PRINTING CO., CHARLESTON, S. C.
DOCUMENTS
Relative to a proposed settlement of Jews in South Carolina in 1748.
... BY ...
Dr. BARNETT A, ELZAS, Rabbi of K. K. Beth Elohim.
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[Reprinted from the Charleston News and Courier, Feb. 1003-3
DOCUMENTS Relative to a proposed settlement of Jews in South Carolina in 1748.
Before resuming my narrative of the story of the Jews of Charleston, there are certain preliminary considerations to be made.
The communal history of the Jews of Charleston dates from 1130, though, as we have seen, Jews lived here for over fifty years before this. They were certainly here in sufficient numbers to have met for regular worship twenty years before, though they were neither numerous nor wealthy enough to organize a congrega- tion with a special place of worship and with a quota of paid officials.
How did the Jews come here? Did they come to Charleston as a colony, as did the Jews of Savannah? When did they come? Here facts and local traditions are in conflict.
Local tradition tells that some time be- tween 1732 and 1739, Moses Cohen the first Haham or Chief Rabbi, came to Charles- ton bringing with him from London a set- tlement of Jews, who afterwards formed the first congregation K. K. Beth Elohim. This tradition can no longer be accepted.
The State Paper Office in London has preserved an immense number of docu- ments relating to South Carolina. Thirty- six large volumes of these MSS documents have been copied and are available in Columbia. I was much gratified recently in my research to find amongst these pa- pers the entire data relative to a pro- posed settlement of Jews in South Caro- lina in 1749. These papers sertle the ques- tion absolutely, Before giving them in de- tail, however. I must again quote Picciot- ti's "Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History"-
an indispensable work for the historian of the Jews of South Carolina. This is what Picciotto has to say on the subject:
"The questions of labor, of the poor, and of emigration," he writes, (pp 152-3.) "ap- pear to have vexed the minds of the chiefs of the Sephardi community during kist century, just as they bewilder at present other important bullies. Notwithstand- ing the presence of many persons in af- Quent circumstances among the Jews, the poor unfortunately have always been in greater numbers than the totality of the Hebrew population warranted. A hun- dred years ago the Jews possessed no mid- dle class. There were perhaps 150 to 200 families that might be considered rich. about two-thirds of which belonged to the Spanish and Portuguese congregation. Then we should find at most as many families engaged in small retail trade, and Anally we should see a floating mass, at least five times as numerous as the other two classes together, consisting of huck- sters. hawkers, journeymen and others either verging on pauperism or steeped hopelessly in its abyss.
To endeavor to diminish the strain of pauperism by emigration the Sephardi Congregation in 1734 appointed a commit- tee to apply for grants of land in Georgia. which the British Government was freely distributing to intending emigrants under certain conditions. This committee re- mained standing for some years, but we do not gather that it led to any practical results. Three years afterwards the com- mittee reported that some lands in Caro- lina had been offered to them, and that they were negotiating on the subject. In 1745 this committee was still in existence, and obtained an extension of powers and an allowance to cover expenditure, After this time we hear no more of it, and it is fair to assume that had it achieved any-
thing worth recording it would have been recorded."
Picciotro is correct in his surmise. There had been a proposition to gettis Jews in South Carolina, but the negotia- tions came to nothing. Here are the doc- uments in full and they are now published for the Srst time:
From the B. P. R. O. JOURNALS B. T. Vol. 56.
Public Records of South Carolina, Vol. 23, 1748-1749.
6TH APRIL 1748.
Read the following order of the Lords of the Commee. of Council vizt.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 26th March 1748 referring to this Board the humble petition of John Hamilton, Esqr, praying for a Grant of 200,000 Acres of land in the Province of South Carolina and directing them to report their opinion thereupon.
19TH, APRIL 1718.
The Board pursuant to the Minutes of the 6th instant, took into their Consider- ation three orders of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Af- · fairs, referring them to the humble peti- tion of John Hamilton Esqr. for a Grant of 200,000 Acres of Land in South Carolina.
After some time spent therein, the Sec- retary was directed to write to Mr Ham- ilton to attend the Board on Wednesday the 2" instant, upon the subject of the said petition
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ATH, APRIL 1.43.
Mr Hamilton attending as desired, theis Loriships had some discourse with him concerning his petition for a Grant of 200//0) Acres of Land in South Carolina, referred to them by an order of the Lords of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of the ith Instant, and he acquainted their Lordships, that he had entered into Engagements with Mr Soly- mon da Costa and orher eminent Jews re- siding here, as also with other Persons for the Transportation of People and pro- viding them Necessaries to carry on his intended Settlement. and tha: a consider- able sum of Money had been advanced for that purpose; Whereupon their Lord- ships desired that he would bring such Persons as he had engaged with upon this Occasion, that the Board might receive ali necessary Satisfaction in this Atfair and likewise that he would lay before them such conditions as he had entered into with them, and Friday the 29th, was ap- pointed for his further attendance.
29TH APRIL 1748. (MEMORANDUM.)
Mr Hamilton attended this day as de- sired by the Minutes of the 27th Instant upon the subject of his Petition for a Grant of 200,000 Acres of Land in South Carolina but there not being a sufficient Number of Commissioners present to con- stitute a Board the Consideration of this AMair was postponed to another Oppor- tunity.
5TH JULY, 1748.
Read a letter from Mr Hamilton to Mr Pownali dated the 30th of June 1748 Inclos- ing
A further Proposal upon his Petition praying for a Grant of 20,000 Acres of Land in South Carolina.
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Resolved to take Mr Hamilton's said Pe- Lition into Consideration tomorrow Morn- ing and the Secretary was directed to write to Mr Hamilton to desire his At- tendance tomorrow morning at Eleven o'clock.
6TH JULY 1748.
Mr Hamilton attending as desired, their Lordships had some Conversation with him upon the subject of his Petition for 300,000 Acres of Land, in the Province of South Carolina, whereupon he acquainted their Lordships, that he desired to take up no more land at first than should be sufficient to setrie the People he should carry over with him at the proportion of 100 Acres for every white person Jews or Christians and so from time to time to take up the like Quantity for every per- son he should bring into the Province, the Land to be granted to him upon a Cer- titicate from the Custom House Officer in the Province of the Number of Persons imported-the Land to be taken up rough and smooth as it runs and as near to- gether as possible, and in order to show a further Probability of his making a Set- tlement he acquainted their Lordships that a Gentleman whose name was Hempe was ready to engage to send him as many German Protestants as he should have Land to settle upon from time to time as he should have occasion for them: Where- upon he was directed to attend again on Friday and to bring that Gentleman with him and likewise to reduce his Proposall into writing and lay the same before the Board.
8TH JULY 1748.
Mr Hamilton attending as desired by the Minutes of the 6th instant laid before the Board the following further Proposals up- on his Petition for a Frant of 90.000 Acres cf Land in the Province of South Carolina. izt.
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That he may be intitled by His Majes- ty's Order to take up from time to time no more than 100 Acres of Land for each White Person Jews as well as Christians he shall bring into, and that shall after- wards be brought to settle in the said Province under his Direction; And that he may be intitled to take up none by virtue of such order but upon a certificate of an Officer of the Customs that the People are arrived in the Province, upon whose Account he is to take it up.
That the Lands shall be run out from time to time, where he can have it good and bad as it runs as near together as possible, all the Lands to be taken up to be free of Quit Rent for the first ten Years from the Date of each Grant under the Seal of the Province and afterwards to pay 4s. Proclamation Money per ann. for every hundred Acres.
At the same time Mr Hamilton ac- quainted their Lordships that Dr Hempe whom he was to have brought with him, was prevented by his other Affairs and would attend their Lordships on Tues- day next.
26TH JULY 1748.
Their Lordships further took into Con- sideration Mr Hamilton's Proposals men- tioned in the Minutes of the 8th Instant, and ordered the said Proposals to be sent to Mr Solomon da Costa, for his opinion thereupon, and whether he and the rest of the Jews concerned with Mr Hamilton are willing to engage in the said under- taking upon these Proposals, agreeable to what they had before agreed upon, men- tioned in the Minutes of the 22nd, of De- cember.
STH DECEMBER 1743.
Read a letter from Mr Solomon Da Costa to the Secretary dated the 2nd day of Sept
0
.
1749 relating to Mr Hamilton's last Pro- posal on hla Petition for a Grant of 200,000 Acres of Land in South Carolina signify- ing that If the Board think proper to comply therewith, they will then consid- er in what manner to carry the same into Execution.
Ordered that the Secretary to write to Mr Solomon Da Costa to know positively whether he and his Associates will ad- here to their former Proposition of ad- vancing EN000) in case the Board shall think proper to recommend the making a Grant to Mr Hamilton according to his said Proposal.
13TH, DECEMBER 1748.
Read a letter from Mr Solomon Da Costa dated the 12th day of Dec. 1748, in answer to one from Mr Hill mentioned in the Min- utes of the Sth, Inst, desiring him to ac- quaint the Board, that the Intention of himself and his Associates was to make the Arst Outset with £2000 and they should increase that Sum, if they found it answer their Expectations.
Ordered that the Draught of a Report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, be prepared pursuant to their Lordships order referring Mr. Hamilton's Petition for 200,000 Acres of Land in South Caro- lina mentioned In the Minutes of the 6th of April last which their Lordships are of Opinion, will not be fore His Majesty's Service to comply with, Mr. Hamilton not having laid before the Board anything that can Induce them to think that he can carry his Proposals into Effect as a Foundation for making such Grant.
14TH DECEMBER 1748
The Draught of a report to the Lords Committee of Council upon Mr. Hamil- ton's Petition for 200.000 Acres of Land in the Province of South Carolina Ordered to
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be prepared by the preceding Day's Min- utes was laid before the Board agreed to transcribed and signed.
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B. P. R. O. South Carolina B. T. Vol 15 1 9 26th March 1748
At the Council Chamber Whitehall the 26th of March 1748
By the Right Honorable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs,
His Majesty having been pleased by His Order in Council of the 22nd of this In- stant to referr unto this Committee the humble Petition of John Hamilton Esqr, Setting forth That there are great Tracts of Land in the Province of South Carolina lying ungranted and uncultivated, and that having discovered an Improvement in Manufacturing Plantation Pitch and Tar, and also a Species of Essential Oyl which will be useful in all His Majesty's Domin- iuns.
He has engaged with some Merchants of Fortune and Integrity who have agreed to advance a large Sum of Money to make an extensive Settlement and to advance all necessary Sums from time to time for transporting Inhabitants to that Proy- ince, and therefore humbly praying, that His Majesty will be graciously pleased to grant him 200,000 Acres of Land in South Carolina to be taken up together in a con- venient Place for Manufacturing and Shipping off those Commoditys for Eng- land, if so much can be had together in such convenient Place, if not, that the Petitioner may take it up in Parcels not less than 12,00 Acres in a Parcel, and Got more than Ten Miles Distant from each other. if such Parcels can be so tak- en up, without the lands of others inter- fering, and that the Petitioner may be at
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Liberty to take up the same from time to time as he shall bring. People to settle thereon, and to have the whole compre- hended in one or more Grant or Grants as it shall appear expedient. And that the Quit Rent may be remitted for the first Ten Years from the date of each Grant, and afterwards to pay the usual Quit Rent of Four Shillings Proclamation Money per Annum for each hundred Acres-The Lords of the Committee this day took the said Perition into their Con- sideration and are hereby pleased to referr the same (a Copy whereof is hereunto an- nexed) to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to Consider there- of, and Report their Opinion thereupon to this Committee. W. SHARPE.
To the Kings most Excellent Majesty in Council
The humble Petition of John Hamilton Esqr.
Sheweth
That Your Majesty having most exten- sive Tracts of Land in Your Province of South Carolina, lying ungranted and un- cultivated which were they settled with industrious People would at the same time increase the Revenue of the Crown the Trade and Navigation of England, and che Strength of that and the Adjacent Pro- vinces.
That your Petr. having discovered an ef- fectual Improvement in the Manufactur- ing the Plantation Pitch and Tar, which will excell all other, and prove very ad- vantaglous to your Majesty's Navy, and all British Shipping, and may soon save this Nation great Annual Sums of Money which now goes to Sweden &c, for those Commodityy, as also a species of Essential Oy! which will be as usefull in all your Majesty's Dominions.
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That in order to make an extensive Ser- tlement and extend the Manufacture of those useful Commoditys in the said Prov- ince which is peculiarly adapted chereto. as also to the raising of other Produce of principal use in several British Manu- factures, Your Petitioner has engaged with him some Merchants of Fortune and Integrity, who have agreed to advance a large Sum of Money for that purpose, and to advance hereafter all necessary Sums from time to time for transporting In- habitants they are to send carry on the Trade &c. Wherefore as very extensive tracts of Land will be requisite to Parcel out to such People as the benefit of car- rying on these Advantageous Manufac- tures, and raising such Produce, will in- duce to remove to the said Province un- der the Direction of Your Petitioner.
Your Petitioner therefore most humbly Prays Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to grant to Your Petitioner 200,000 Acres of Land in the said Province to be taken up together in a convenient Place for Manufacturing and Shipping off these Commoditys for England, if so much can be had together in such convenient Place if not, that Your Petitioner may take it up in Parcels not less than 12,000 Acres, In a Parcel, and them not more than Ten Miles distant from each other, if sach Parcels can be so taken up without the Lands claimed by others Interfering. And that Your Petitioner may be at liberty to take up the same from time to time as he shall bring People into the Province to Settle thereon, And to have the whole Comprehended in one or more Grant or Grants as It shall appear most expedient. And that the Quit Rent may be remitted for the first Ten Years from the date of each Grant made under the Seal of the Province, and afterwards to pay the usual Quit Rent of Four Shillings Proclamation
Money per Annum for each hundred Acres.
And Your Petitioner will ever Pray.
Received April ve 3d
Read Do ye 6th 1748
B. P. R. O. South Carolina B. T. Vol 15 I 11 (30th June 1748.)
Sir
I am extremely sory yt ve unfortunate Situation.
I have brought myself into, thro' yo pure honesty of my intentions, should lay me under a necessity of giving repeated trouble where I would rather oblige.
1 herewith send you a Proposal, which I hope will appear to the Lords a testi- mony that it is not my View, as I would not have a power to take great Tracts of the Kings Lands whether I can settle it or not; for as I perceive yt to be ye great Complaint, so I would avoid It. knowing I can make my doing so Subservient to the Service of the Crown, under their Lordships Instructions.
When the Board is at leasure to Consid- er my Petition, I hope you'll be pleased to Communicate this Proposall to their Lordships, and believe at ye same time yt 'tis ye view of ye Danger my Situation threatens me with which has made me more anxiously pre- perhaps is prudent; but as I did intimate to the Lords what - extraordinary Case is I hope their goodness will excuse ye- of my Zeal to be in a condition to Serve my Country in & W -- wants it, and save my Fortune now at Stake for yt Enterprize I am
Your most humble Servt.
Sir
I. HAMILTON. Stafford Buildings ye 30th of June 1748
P. S. I would have waited on you with the inc.os'd proposal was I not much in- deposed.
Pownell Esq.
INCLOSURE.
Mr Hamilton's Proposalls on his Petition praying for 200,000 Acres of Land in South Carolina.
He proposed to be at liberty to take up no more than 30,0000 Acres at first Survey, so much being about the quantity which will be sufficient to parcel out to the Pro- ple he takes over to the Province with him. And that he shall not have power to take up any more after that, till the People are ariv'd in the Province who he is to settle upon it, but that upon a Cer- tificate of an Officer of the Customs to the Governor, that such people are ariv'd the Petitioner may then be intitled to take up 200 Acres for each white Per- son that shall come to him, so much be- ing the Proportions generally allowed by their Lordships in former Grants.
The Petitioner being bound this way he humbly presumes effectually prevents him from locking up the Land as has been usual for 10 Years whether it is settled or not, in as much as he cannot take up any, after the first 30.000 Acres, but as be brings People into the Province to Settle upon it; which is asking but just what he can settle, and no more.
That he will take up the first 30,000 Acres altogether in such Convenient place as he can have it, and all other parcels he may afterwards take up shall adjoyn to the first, or be as near it as possible, and be obliged to always take up the Land good and bad, rough and smooth as it runs; and the Governor to make Grants of each parcel as it shall be taken up All the Land to be taken up to be free of Quit rent for the first ten years, from the date of each Grant under the Seal of the Province, and afterwards to pay 43 Proclamation money per Ann for each 100 Acres.
Recd July Ist
1748
Read Do 5th
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B. P. R. O. South Carolina B. T. Vol 15 1 12 1st July 1748.
My Hamilton's Proposall upon bis Pe- tition praying for Land in South Carolina.
That he may be intitled by His Majes- ty's Order of Council, to take up from time to time 100 Acres of Land for sach White Person, Jews as well as Christians he shall bring into, and that shall after- wards be brought, to settle in the said Province under his direction: And that he may be intitled to take up none by vir- tue of such Order but upon a certificate of an Officer of the Customs, that ye People are arived in the Province upon whose Account he is to take it up.
That he will run the same out from time to time, where he can have it, and good and bad as it runs, and as near together as possible. J. HAMILTON.
Reced July 7th
1743
Read Do 8th
B. P. R. O. South Carolina B. T. Vol 15 I 38 (2d September 1748.)
Sir
The reason why I did not sooner answer thelr Lordships question with relation to Mr Hamilton's last Proposal (which was delivered to me sometimes since by Mr Pownell, and which I now return to you inclosed) is because Mr Francis Salvador & Mr Benjamin Mendes Da Costa, who. are to be concerned with me in that Af- fair. live all the Summer in the Country, and come to Town but once or twice a Week about their Affairs, and therefore have not been able to have a Meeting with them upon that Subject till this week. When having taken the same into Consideration, we think that.if their Lord- ships shall be pleased to grant Mir Hamil-
I3
ton's request in any shape, it will at all events be fore ye Advantage of the Pub- lick; And when they shall so have done, we will consider in what manner to carry the same into Execution.
I remain with great respect their Lord- ships &c. Sir.
Devonshire Square
Bishopgate Street London
Friday Morning 2d Sept, 1784
Yr most humble Serve.
Thos. Hill Esqr. Solomon Da Costa. Recd Sept ye 3d
1743
Read Dec 13.
B. P. R. O. South Carolina B. T. Vol 15 I ".
Devonshire Square London Monday Morning 12th Dec 1748.
Sir
Your favour of the 9th Instant, I re- received last Saturday when I could not return immediate answer as you require In their Lordships names, by reasons of the day; and also because It was neces- sary to shew it to my Associates, ani consult with them the answer. Which having done, I have now the Honour to acquaint their Lordships (thro your means) that our intention was to make the first Outsett for Two Thousand Pounds, laid out in things necessary for the establishment of our undertaking, in such manner as Mr Hamilton should have advised, and should not have scrapled to encrease it to three times that sum or even more, if we found it answered our expectations. as well with regard to the Publick good, as to our Advantage. I have endeavoured go to explain my sall as not to be thought ambiguous, and cou- clude assuring you that I am Sincerely Sr
Your most humble Seryt. SOLOMON DA COSTA.
IN
Thes Hill, Esqr Reed Decbr ye 13th
1748
Read Ditto.
There are no further references to the subject. The negotiations had evidently come to an end.
The above documents make clear these facts: That there was an accession to the Jewish community in Charleston in 1750, that the Jews who came here from Lon- don, came not as a colony, but as individ- uals and that those who came did not be- long to the pauper class, who were as- sisted to emigrate here in order to re- lieve the strain and stress of relief work at home. This is in perfect accord with the information which we gather from the other sources.
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THE DAGGETT PRINTING CO., CHARLESTON, S. C.
eagA
4359
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