Narratives of Early Carolina, 1650-1708
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II I o n > pi O o ^ «-^ tin ;. > O - P w > i-" . oCI2 pi I— hj H OI— '^ O K I— o ORIGINAL NARRATIVES OF EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY NARRATIVES OF EARLY CAROLINA 1650—1708 EDITED BY ALEXANDER S. SALLEY, Jr. SECRETARY OF THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF SOUTH CAROLINA WITH TWO MAPS AND A FACSIMILE CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK 1911 o U COPYRIGHT, 191 1, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER's SONS Published April, 191 i % ^^ Hi A ') •i I'. A 5? (-1 / ?/ NOTE ^^_. With the assistance of Mr. Salley, the general editor makes the following comments upon the maps reproduced in this volume: The " Generall Mapp of Carolina," used as frontispiece, is re- produced from the somewhat larger map (8| by 6 inches) which appeared in the first volume of Richard Blome's Description of the Island of Jamaica, with the Other Islands and Territories in America, to which the English are Related (London, 1672). It will be ob- served that it is adorned with the eight coats of arms of the propri- etors. Of these Mr. Salley says that they "are almost heraldically correct, but several of the proprietors quartered their family arms with those of other sides of the respective houses, and their seal of the province, containing their eight coats of arms, displays these (Uarterings." The map extends from Cape Henry in Virginia to some distance down the coast of Georgia, perhaps as far as the A tamaha. The portion of it relating to North Carolina may be compar'^^^ with the John White map of 1585 or 1586, printed in the volume of this series entitled Early English and French Voyages, page 248. The map as a whole reflects the imperfect knowledge available in London at the time when it was made. It will be seen that the compiler has fallen into marked confusion of mind respecting the position of Charles Town. The first settlement of that name had been located some twenty or thirty miles up the Cape Fear River. The Charles Town founded in 1670 was placed on the west side of Ashley River and before long transferred to the present position between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Blome's map indicates "Ashly Riv." near his Charles Town but gives the latter a position near Cape Fear and not far from the old site on the Cape Fear River. The proper position of the name Ashley would be against the river lying between "C. Romano" and "R. Grandy" (the North Edisto). Another point deserving attention is that Charles VI NOTE Fort, the short-lived Huguenot establishment, is set on a large island east of "S. Hellen's," the two islands being of about the same size; whereas, as has been explained in one of Mr. Salley's foot-notes, St. Helena is a large island east of Broad River, while Charles Fort was on a small island formed by Broad River, Port Royal River, and Pilot Creek, lying southwesterly from St. Helena. The plan of Charles Town is reproduced, in the same size as the original, from an engraving by James Akin, in the second volume of Ramsay's History of South Carolina (Charleston, 1809). " The plan is indicated by Dr. Ramsay as taken from a survey of Edward Crisp in 1704." The original cannot now be found. It is perhaps identical with a map which Dr. Ramsay describes in his History (II. 262) as having been preserved among the papers of the distinguished family of Prioleau. Some doubt surrounds the origin of the map. Mr. Salley finds a record in South Carolina, of date 1716, reciting a grant that had previously been made to Edward Crisp of London, but finds nothing further to identify him with South Carolina. He signalizes two errors of fact in the "References" which are placed beneath the map. N is marked as Keating L. Smith's Bridge (wharf). There was no Keating L. Smith at that time; the owner was Keating Lewis. W is indicated as the scene of the first rice patch in Carolina; but Mr. Salley con- siders this to have no historical foundation. In general, however, the plan is correct. It may be compared with one by Herman Moll which constitutes a side map to his Map of the Dominions of the King of Great Britain in America, 1715. In Dr. J. L. E. W. Shecut's Medical and Philosophical Essays " (Charleston, 1819), there is a chapter (pp. 1-14) Of the original Topography of Charleston," which follows the lines of this Ramsay map, with explanations, and identifications of its landmarks with those of the author's time. J. F. J. CONTENTS NARRATIVES OF EARLY CAROLINA Edited by Alexander S. Salley, Jr. '^ PAGE The Discovery op New Brittaine, 1650 1 Introduction 3 Prefaces 5 Sir Walter Raleigh's Observation 7 Departure of Expedition 8 Arrival at the Meherrin Town 10 Passage of the Meherrin River 12 Tale of Powhatan's Treachery 14 Journey down the Roanoke River 15 Return Journey 17 Francis Yeardley's Narrative of Excursions into Carolina, 1654 21 Introduction 23 The Young Fur-trader's Expedition 25 The Indians visit Yeardley's House 26 Tales of the Tuscaroras 27 A Relation of a Discovery, by William Hilton, 1664 . .31 Introduction . •* 33 handiaW oi the Adventure . 37 Exploration of the Combahee River 38 Recovery of the English Prisoners 39 Correspondence with the Spaniards 42 Exploration of Port Royal and its Neighborhood .... 43 Of Cape Fear River 45 Of Hilton's River 48 Reprisals on the Indians 50 New England Men disparage the Country 53 Correspondence with the Spaniards 53 Proposals to the First Settlers 57 A Brief Description op the Province op Carolina, by Robert HoRNE (?), 1666 63 Introduction 65 General Description of Carolina 66 vii via CONTENTS PAGE Particular Description of Cape Fear Region 67 Productions of Earth, Water, and Air 68 Privileges to Settlers .71 A Relation of a Voyage on the Coast of the Province of Car- olina, 1666, BY Robert Sandford 75 Introduction 77 Address to the Proprietors 82 The Port Royal Discovery 83 Sandford takes Command; sets out to Explore 85 Explores the North Edisto River 87 Visits the Indian Tovs^n 90 Explores the South Edisto 92 Stands out to Sea and incurs great Danger 94 Explores St. Helena Sound 96 Explores Port Royal Sound 100 Explores Calibogue Sound . 103 Leaves Dr. Woodward with the Indians 105 Lies outside Charleston Harbor 106 Returns to Charles Town (on Cape Fear) 107 Testimonial of the Principal Gentlemen 107 Letters of Early Colonists, 1670 109 Introduction Ill Mr. Mathews's Relation of St. Katherina 114 Mr. Carteret's Relation of the Planting at Ashley River . .116 Letter of Joseph West 120 Letter of Governor Sayle and Council 122 A Faithfull Relation of my Westoe Voyage, by Henry Woodward 125 Introduction 127 Sets forth from Charles Town 130 Crosses the Edisto and the Head of Port Royal River . .131 Visits the Westo Town 132 Returns 134 Carolina, or a Description of the Present State of that Country, ^. ^ BY Thomas Ashe, 1682 135 ...J^ Introduction 137 ^ Preface 138 ^ . g The Origin of Carolina 140 y The Soil, Trees, and Vines 141 ^ Gardens and Vegetables 145 Ambergris 148 Animals and Birds 149 Fish, Turtles, and Alligators 152 CONTENTS ix Minerals and Metals 155 The Natives, their Arts and Government 156 The Proprietors, Towns, and Trade 157 An Account of the Province of Carolina, by Samuel Wilson, 1682 161 Y^ Introduction 163 Address to the Proprietors 164 The Situation and Granting of Carolina 165 The Beginnings of Settlement 166 The Climate 167 The Soil and Natural Productions 169 The Increase of Live Stock 171 The Indians and Relations with them 172 The Privileges granted by the Proprietors 173 Possibilities of Profitable Agriculture 174 )( Letters of Thomas Newe, 1682 177 Introduction 179 Arrival in Carolina; Charles Town; Prices 181 The Fur-trade 183 The Increase of Live Stock 184 Inquiries as to Books . 184 Hostilities with the Spaniards 185 Possibilities of Trade 187 Journal op Elder William Pratt, 1695-1701 189 Introduction 191 The Voyage from Boston 194 Arrival in Charles Town; Search for a Location . .195 Elder Pratt's Second Voyage 198 Jottings of Subsequent Events 199 Letter of Edward Randolph to the Board of Trade, 1699 . 201 Introduction 203 Description of the Province . 204 Attack by the Spaniards 205 Alarm over Settlement of Louisiana 206 The Making of Tar, Pitch, and Turpentine 207 Various Enclosures and Requests 209 Reverend John Blair's Mission to North Carolina, 1704 211 Introduction 213 ry Arrival in Virginia; Difficult Journey thence 214 Ecclesiastical Condition of North Carolina 215 Discouragements to Missionary Labors 217 CONTENTS PAGE Party-Tyranny, by Daniel Defoe, 1705 219 Introduction 221 Considerations on Invasions of Liberty 224 The Powers of the CaroHna Proprietors 225 The Settlement and Charter of Carolina 227 The Legislative Power in the Province 229 The Fundamental Constitutions 231 The Conduct of the Proprietors in Governing 232 The Representation of Colleton County 236 Its Complaints as to Elections 238 As to Relations with Indians and Spaniards 240 Tyranny of the Governor and Council; Riots 242 Appeal to the Proprietors .... 245 The Mission and Death of John Ash 247 The Petition brought over by Joseph Boone 248 The Letter of Mrs. Elizabeth Blake . 250 The Church Act of 1704 .... 253 Defoe's Criticisms of it 256 The Proprietors' Reception of the Remonstrances 258 Evil Consequences of Intolerance 260 111 Treatment of Rev. Edward Marston 262 The Necessity of Redress .... 264 The Present State of Affairs in Carolina, by John Ash, 1706 . 265 Introduction 267 Governor Moore's 111 Conduct 269 The St.