USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina under the proprietary government, 1670-1719, V.2 > Part 9
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Colonel Edward Tynte was commissioned Governor of North and South Carolina on December 9, 1708, but it was more than a year after that he came out and entered upon his duties. By his commission, he was authorized to ap- point a Deputy Governor of Governors in South or North
1 Hist. Sketches of So. Ca. 289-242 ; and see Hewatt's Hist. of So. Ca., vol. I. 155-159 ; Ramsay's Hist. of So. Ca., vol. II, 160; Statutes of So. Ca., vol. II, notes, 708-713.
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Carolina. He was authorized, also, to sell lands in fee in either colony at the rate of £20 for every 1000 acres, with a yearly quit-rent of 10%.
By his instructions, his attention was particularly called to the navigation acts, which he was required strictly to enforce. He was to take care that none but natives of the United Kingdom. or born in her Majesty's plantations, should sit upon juries in cases relating to the Queen's duties or forfeitures of goods by illegal importations. He should give notice to her Majesty's government of any attempted disposition of right of property to any other than her Majesty's natural-born subjects ; to take care that all places of trusts in courts of law or connected with the treasury should be in the hands of her Majesty's natural- born subjects. These instructions seem aimed at the ex- clusion of the Huguenots from these positions and from rights of property without the Royal consent.
By additional instructions, his attention was called to a modification of the navigation acts by which. during the war. the number and proportion of English mariners in each ship or vessel was reduced from three-fourths to one- half.
By still further instructions he was required to trans- mit to the Proprietors for their approval all laws passed. He was given power, with the consent of four or more deputies. to adjourn or dissolve the General Assembly when he might see fit; to fill vacancies in offices caused by death or removal. Abel Ketelby had purchased 5000 acres, which was to be admeasured to him. In the event of the death of the Governor or his departure. the deputies were to choose one out of their number to be Governor until another should be appointed by the Pro- prietors. He was to take great care that the Indians should not be abused, that justice should be duly admin-
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istered to them in the courts ; and he was to exert himself to the utmost to create a firm friendship, and to bring them over for the better protection and defence against the enemy and neighboring French and Spaniards. ITe was to inform himself of what acts were proper- to be passed likely to be beneficial to trade. He was to repre- sent the state of the whale fishing and what further encouragement was proper to be given to it. No land exceeding 640 acres was to be sold without a special warrant. The purchase money and quit-rents of all lands thereafter sold in South Carolina was to be of the value of English sterling money, and to be made payable at Charles Town; lands sold in North Carolina to be of the same value, and made payable at Chowan or Bath Town.1
The publications of Oldmixon and Archdale about this time drew attention in England to the fortunes of the Carolinians and other colonists in America. Lord Craven, by nature more moderate than the late Palatine, anxious to avail himself of this interest in his colony, charged upon the new Governor as his first duty the pacification of the people. When after a long delay Colonel Tynte had been approved by the Royal Government, and was ready to enter upon his duties, February, 1710. Lord Craven thus addressed him: " We earnestly request your en- deavors to reconcile the minds of the inhabitants to each other, that the names of parties, if any yet remain amongst you, may be utterly extinguished. For we can no ways doubt but their prosperity will most effectually render Carolina the most flourishing colony in all America. "2
No remarkable events occurred during Governor Tynte's
1 Coll. Hist. Soc. of So. Co., vol. 1, 154 ; Colonial Records of No. Ca .. vol. 1, 704-706.
2 Hist. Sketches of So. Ca. ( Rivers), 248.
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short term of office. He died the summer after his arrival. A General Assembly was held in April, 1710, and several acts were passed and approved by him. One of these was an act for regulating taverns and punch houses : 1 another, an additional act in relation to the establishment of the church.2 By this latter act the arrears of the parochial charges of St. Philip's, Charles Town, and other parishes were directed to be paid out of the public treasury: and, said the act. "the present rector of St. Philip's, Charles Town, the Rev. Mr. Gideon Johnson, having a numerous family, shall have fifty pounds per annum added to his salary for so long a time as he continues minister of the said parish," etc. The sums of money appropriated by the act were to be paid out of the money received for the duties on skins and furs. The most important of the acts of his brief administration, and one which renders that administration illustrious, however brief its dura- tion, was " An act for the Founding and Erecting a Free school for the use of the Inhabitants of South Carolina."3
The recital of this act is interesting as showing that even before this time, notwithstanding the political tur- moils and commotions which had distracted the province, the erection of a free school had been proposed, and some steps taken towards its establishment. It is as follows: --
" Whereas it is necessary that a Free School be erected for the in- struction of the youth of this Province in grammar and other arts and sciences and useful learning, and also in the principles of the christian religion ; and whereas several charitable and well disposed christians by their last wills and testaments have given several sums of money for the founding of a freeschool but no person as yet is authorized to take the charge and care of erecting a freeschool according to the in-
1 Statutes of So. Ca., vol. II. 836. The date of this act is given in the statute as of Utth of January. 1709. But this is a manifest mistake. Governor Tyute did not come out till some time after.
2 Ibid., 338. 3 Ibid., 342.
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tent of the donors, and to receive the said legacies, if tendered, nor to demand the same in case of refusal to pay the same, so that for want of some person or persons or body politick or corporate proper for the lodging the said legacies therein the same are not applied according to the pious and charitable intention of the testators or donors. Be it therefore enacted," etc.
The commissioners appointed under this act were the Hon. Colonel Edward Tynte, Esq., Governor, Colonel Thomas Broughton. Esq., Landgrave Joseph Morton, Mr. William Gibbon, Colonel George Logan, Richard Berres- ford, Esq., Arthur Middleton, Esq., Captain John Abraham Motte, Colonel Hugh Grange, Ralph Izard, Esq .. Lieu- tenant Colonel Alexander Parris, Esq., Lewis Pasquereau, Dr. Gideon Johnson, Dr. Francis Le Jau, Mr. Alexander Wood, and Nicholas Trott. Esq. These commissioners, comprising the leading men of all parties in the province, churchmen, dissenters, and Huguenots, were incorporated for the better support and maintenance of masters or teachers for the school, and for the erecting of schoolhouses and convenient houses for the accommodation of the masters and teachers. They were to meet annually on the second Tuesday in July to choose officers. Colonel Edward Tynte, Governor, was made the first President and required to summon the first meeting. All gifts or legacies formerly given for the use of a free school for the province were appropriated by the act for the school to be founded under it. The commissioners were authorized to take up by grant from the Proprietors or purchase as much land as they should think neces- sary. They were given power to appoint a fit person to be master of the school by the name and stile of Præ- ceptor and Teacher of Grammar and other arts and sciences. The person to be master of the school was required to be of the religion of the Church of England,
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and conform to the same, and should be capable to teach the learned languages, that is to say. the Latin and Greek tongues and also the useful parts of mathematics. The commissioners were to prescribe such orders, rules, stat- utes, and ordinances for the order. rule, and good govern- ment of the school and of the masters and teachers as should seem meet and convenient to them.
The other acts passed at this time were measures of or- dinary administration.
Governor Tynte died soon after. and by the instructions which he had brought it had been provided, as we have just seen. that in such an event the deputies of the Proprie- tors were to choose one of their number to be Governor until another should be appointed by the Proprietors. It happened that at this time there were but three deputies in the province; to wit. Robert Gibbes. Colonel Thomas Broughton, and one Fortescue Turbeville. The last- named person had just come out as the deputy of the Duke of Beaufort.1 and had been commissioned also to take probate of wills. and to graut letters of adminis- tration.2 Upon the meeting of these for the purpose of choosing a Governor, there had been a recess taken from the morning until the afternoon, when it was de- clared that Robert Gibbes was chosen and was proclaimed Governor. Strangely, it happened that Turbeville also died suddenly, and upon his death it was discovered that at the morning session Turbeville had voted for Colonel Broughton, but during the recess had been induced by bribery to change his vote to Gibbes. Upon this Brough- ton claimed the government, alleging Turbeville's pri- mary and nncorrupted vote in his favor. To this (ibbes would not yield. Each persisted in his claim, and thereupon ensned a most discreditable controversy. ending
1 Coll. Hist. Soc. of So. Ca., vol. 1, 156. 2 Ibid., 178.
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in riot. Many of the people sided with Broughton, but more with Gibbes. Broughton collected a number of armed men at his plantation and proceeded to the town. Gibbes, learning of this, caused a general alarm to be made and the militia to be called out. At the approach of Broughton's party to the gates of the town Gribbes ordered the drawbridge standing near the intersection of Broad and Church, now Meeting, streets, to be drawn up. Brough- ton's party demanded admittance. Gibbes from within the walls inquired why they came armed in such numbers. and whether they would own him for their Governor. They answered that they had heard there was an alarm. and were come to make their appearance, but would not own him, Gibbes, to be their Governor. He, of course, denied them entrance, whereupon some rode around the walls towards Craven Bastion seeking entrance there : but failing, soon returned to the drawbridge. In the meantime the Broughton party in the town, some of whom were inhabitants and others sailors ready for any mischief. gathered, and proceeded to force a passage and let down the drawbridge. Gibbes's party opposed, but were not allowed to fire upon them. After some blows and wounds given and received, the sailors and men of Broughton's party in the town succeeded so far as to lower the draw- bridge, over which their friends entered and proceeded to the watch-house in Broad Street.1 There the two town companies of militia were posted under arms and with colors flying. When Broughton's party came near they halted, and one of them attempted to read a paper, but could not be heard because of the noise made by the drums of the militia. Thus balked. they marched towards Granville Bastion and were escorted by the seamen. As they passed in front of the militia, whose guns were
1 Now the site of the old postoffice.
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cocked and presented, one of the sailors, catching at the ensign, tore it off the staff. On this provocation some of the militia fired their pieces, but fortunately no one was hurt. Captain Brewton with drawn sword demanded the torn ensign or flag, which was yielded, but Captain Evans, a considerable man of Broughton's party, soon after Attorney General. rescued it. Broughton's party continued their march for some time and then proclaimed him Governor. Hurrahing, they approached the fort gate of Granville Bastion and made a show of forcing it; but observing Captain Pawley with his pistol cocked. and many other gentlemen with their guns presented, and all forbidding them at their peril to attempt the gate, they retired to a tavern in the bay before which they first caused their written paper or proclamation to be again read. After much altercation and negotiation through the mediation of several peacemakers, a compromise was agreed upon by which the controversy was suspended to await the decision of the Lords Proprietors. In the meantime Gibbes was to continue in the administration of the government.1
It was not until January 23d. following (1710-11), that an account of the disputes between Colonel Broughton and Colonel Gibbes was received at a meeting of the Pro- prietors : upon reading which it was determined that Gibbes had been guilty of bribery, and had not been duly elected Governor. The Proprietors, it appears, had, however, before learning of this trouble, determined to appoint Charles Craven. a brother of the Palatine, Gov- ernor in the place of Colonel Tynte.2 Mr. Craven. who
This account is taken from Ramsay ( His. of So. Ca., vol. I. 58). who gives it upon the authority of an old manuscript in the handwriting of Thomas Lamboll, a native of South Carolina, who died in the year 175, upward- of eighty years of age. See also Hist. Sketches ( Rivers), 249. " Coll. Hist. Soc. of So. Ca., 182.
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was in Carolina, had already been appointed Secretary of the province.1 On the 14th of March the Proprietors sent Governor Craven an order declaring that as it ap- peared to them that Gibbes had been guilty of bribery, it was unanimously resolved that no salary should be paid to him as Governor.2
Notwithstanding this action on the part of the Proprie- tors, Gibbes continued in office, and administered the government until the end of the year. Thoroughly ac- quainted with the affairs of the province, having been in the colony from its earliest settlement, his administration was marked by wise enactment and the undisturbed pros- perity of the people. He was not. however, popular, and found in the Assembly many " unwilling members," who continued " very dilatory for six months" ; finally it be- came impossible to secure a quorum for the transaction of business. Another Assembly was chosen, May, 1711, but many members elected refused to qualify. Upon its as- sembling. Gibbes expressed his gratification of meeting. before his retirement, those who appeared. In his speech he said " there was one among them to whom he would readily resign the government whenever legally de- manded." He rejoiced that they had no complaints to make against him in the various offices in which he had served them. and stated that he had received from the Palatine congratulations on his recent election ; 3 for forty- eight years he had been in the service of Carolina, and left it in a flourishing condition. "abounding with trade with almost all parts of America, and most parts of
1 Coll. Hist. Soc. of So. Ca., 179.
2 Dalcho's Ch. Hist., note. 92.
3 These congratulations must have been sent. however. before the Proprietors had received the account of the manner in which he had secured his election by the deputies. There must have been some mis- take as to the length of his service, inasmuch as the colony had not been founded but forty-one years.
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Europe in amity with us, and some parts of Africa." He recommended particularly to their attention the introduc- tion of white immigrants on account of the large increase of negroes, who were beginning to exhibit a malicious disposition. He called attention also to the necessity of separating those sick of the smallpox. then prevalent in Charles Town, from contact with such as were not infected.1
Several events of interest took place during Gibbes's administration indicative of the growing and improving condition of the people ; it was remarkable also, on the other hand, for the further outbreak of Indian hostilities - this time in North Carolina, but soon to be renewed in this province also.
On the 17th of January, 1710-11, upon the application of several merchants representing " the great advantages that might accrue to her Majesty's subjects in general by constituting and erecting a port upon the river called Port Royal in Granville County, being as they alleged the most proper place within the province for ships of great burdens to take in meats, pitch, turpentine, and other naval stores for the use of her Majesty's fleet." the Lords Proprietors gave "directions for the building of a town to be called Beaufort Town," -in honor of the new Proprietor, the Duke of Beaufort, - upon the Port Royal River and island of that name.2 It was nearly twenty-five
1 Hist. Sketches of So. Ca. (Rivers), 250, 251.
2 Coll. Hist. Soc. of So. Ca., vol. 1, 159, 181.
Professor Whitney, in his tract upon the " Government of the Colony of South Carolina " (Johns Hopkins Univ. Studies, 13 series, 1-11, 64), says : " The second town of importance was Port Royal where the French had settled under Ribault in 1562, and where the Proprietors had wished the colonists to settle in 1670."
This is very inaccurate. The town was not called " Port Royal," but "Beaufort Town " as mentioned in the text; nor was it laid out upon
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years since the destruction. by the Spaniards, of Stuart Town. Lord Cardross's attempted settlement at Port Royal. But in the quarter of a century since, the country had filled up, and it was now deemed prudent to make another effort to establish a town upon that magnificent harbor. This was the foundation of a settlement which became the wealthiest, most aristocratic, and cultivated town of its size in America ; a town which, though small in num- ber of inhabitants. produced statesmen, scholars, soldiers, sailors, and divines whose names and whose fame are known throughout the country.
During Governor Tynte's brief administration, an act had been passed, as we have seen, to establish a free school. Under Gibbes's rule, the matter was pressed, and, with the assistance of the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel, the project was carried out. The missionaries of the society and many other gentlemen of the province. to whom the want of schools had been a source of great solicitude, addressed the society upon the subject. They described the deplorable condition of the rising generation for want of sufficient education, and lamented the decay of piety and morals as the inevitable consequence of leaving the young to their own pursuits and to the influence of evil example. The spiritual as well as temporal interests of the people were declared to be at stake. as an uneducated community was but a
the spot where Ribault had settled and left his colony in 1562. " Fort Charles," Ribault's settlement, was on " Parris Island." not on " Port Royal Island." The points are at least five miles apart. See Hist. Sketches ( Rivers). 25. and note ; and Mill', Atlas of So. Ca.
Professor Whitney is also mistaken as to the settlement of the third town, "Georgetown." That town was not settled, as he states, about the same time as Beaufort. It was not settled until nearly twenty years after; nor is Georgetown referred to as Winyaw. " Prince George's Winyaw" is the name of the parish, not of the town.
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small remove from the habits and feelings of savage life. The society recognized the force of the appeal, and, in the year 1711, they sent out the Rev. William Guy. A. M., who was placed in charge of the school, and who at the same time was appointed assistant minister of St. Philip's Church. Mr. Guy was a native of England, and in Dea- con's orders. He was ordained by Dr. Compton, Bishop of London, January 18, 1711. With Mr. Guy. the soci- ety sent out also the Rev. Benjamin Dennis, as a school- master for St. James. Goose Creek. Two schools were thus established in 1711.1
The congregation of St. Philip's Church had so in- creased, - despite the parochial troubles with the minis- ters, Marston and Marsden, and notwithstanding the character given them by Dr. Gideon Johnson in his pri- vate correspondence. - that not only was there a neces- sity for an assistant minister, but it became necessary to build a new church. both because of the decay of the old building and because the church was too small for the population.2 The preamble to the act for building the church states that several persons were desirous to have a new church built of brick in Charles Town. to be the parish church there, and a tower or steeple and a ring of bells therein, together with a cemetery or churchyard to be enclosed with a brick wall, for the burial of Christian people : and that charitable and well-disposed persons would contribute towards the building a church. if com- missioners were authorized and appointed to receive and take care of all such moneys as should be given for the purpose. Whereupon. the Rev. Gideon Johnson, Colonel William. Rhett. Colonel Alexander Parris. Messrs. Will- iam Gibbons, John Bee, and Jacob Satur were appointed commissioners for the purpose, and for receiving sub-
1 Dalcho's Ch. Hist., 93-248.
2 Ibid., 92.
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scriptions and charitable donations ; they were authorized to purchase and take grants of town lots for the church- yard, and to build the church of such height, dimensions, materials. and form as they should think fit; to enclose the churchyard, and to procure the ring of bells. The pews were to be built by the direction of the commis- sioners with the advice of the vestry; the Governor's pew to be built as he should direct. This act was merely permissive ; no public funds were appropriated for the purpose.1
Though Governor Craven's commission had been signed on the 21st of February, 1710-11, and though he appears to have been in the province, he had not assumed the government when. in September following, the outbreak of the Tuscarora Indians took place in North Carolina.
The Proprietors had been in negotiation with Baron Christopher de Graffenried and Lewis Michel for the establishment of a colony from the Swiss canton of Bern; and on the 3d of September, 1709, had given a warrant to De Graffenried for 10,000 acres of land, and to Michel for 3500 acres. Baron de Graffenried they made a Landgrave. The warrant for the survey of the land granted was made to John Lawson. the traveller among the Indians, and author of the work entitled A New Voyage to Carolina, from which quotation has been made, and who was now the Surveyor of North Carolina; and Christopher Gale, the Receiver General, was directed to supply the colonists with provisions upon their arrival.2 In laying out these tracts Lawson encroached upon lands near the Neuse River. claimed by the Tuscarora Indians. It happened. too, that at the time of the arrival of De Graffenried's colony the government of North Carolina was
1 Dalcho's Ch. Hist., 459. 454 : Statutes of So. Ca., vol. II. 352.
Colonial Records of No. Ca. vol. 1, 718.
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torn by the most violent factions. one led by Edward Moseley, and the other by Thomas Pollock, to which the Proprietors seem to have been as indifferent, if not dis- interested, spectators as they were to the struggles in South Carolina between Colleton and Sothell, Morton and Moore. and Gibbes and Broughton. The Baron. courted by both parties as well because of his title as Landgrave and its rights under the Constitutions, as because of the number of his followers, which might hold the balance of parties. ultimately was drawn to the support of Pollock, who was then maintaining the interest of Governor Hyde, against the pretensions of Colonel Cary, a struggle which ended in the latter's rebellion. During these commotions the Indians were made to believe that De Graffenried had come to expel them from their lands; and the Baron and Lawson, unfortunately exposing themselves upon an expe- dition up the Neuse River to ascertain if it was navigable. were taken, and Lawson was put to death, it is said. in the most inhuman manner. If the information subse- quently derived from the Indians be true, they stuck him full of fine. small splinters of torch-wood, like hog's bris- tles. and set them gradually on fire. Baron de Graffen- ried was spared from death and ultimately made his escape. This was but the beginning of the trouble. A general uprising took place, ending in the most horrible massacre on the 22d of September, 1711. Twelve hun- dred Tuscaroras, separated into numerous small divisions,
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