Traditions and reminiscences, chiefly of the American Revolution in the South: including biographical sketches, incidents and anecdotes ... particularly of residents in the Upper Country

Front matter

CHIEFLY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN THE SOUTH: INCLUDING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES, FEW OF WHICH HAVF. BEEN PUBLISHED, PARTICULARLY OF RESIDENTS IN THE UPPER COUNTRY. b y JOSEPH JOHNSON, M.D. Os Charleston, S. C. CHARLESTON, S. C. : WALKER & JAMES. 1851. Entered according to the Act os-gCa^pSte^^fc^yeai* 1851, BY JOSEPH JOHNSON, M. D. In the Clerk's office of the District Court for the District of South-Carolina. CHARLESTON, S. C: STEAM POWER-PRESS OF WALKER 4 JAMES, No. 101 East-Day.

Preface

. As I advance in years, I am sensible that my memory is failing me as to recent events, but not as to what I heard and saw in my youth. The remembrance of such occurrences, even in my childhood, is still vividly im pressed on my mind, particularly of such as were con nected with the Revolution. This partial failure of memory is but a gradual decline of my mental facul ties, and reminds me that those incidents and facts which I now remember, may soon be forgotten in " the down hill of life." My seniors and cotemporaries are also faUing off rapidly, and in a few years little or nothing could be collected of the many interesting scenes and events, which may still be preserved by committing them to paper. Occurrences which escaped the recording pens of historians, or were considered by them compara tively unimportant, too local or too individual for a place in general history, may even now interest our reading community.

Historians of the American Revolution all lived on or near the sea coast — many of the sturdy sons of the forest were therefore unknown to them, and the daring acts and patriotic sufferings of such worthy persons have never been written or published. Most of these collections are derived from the families or connections of the parties, and many of them from documents which may still be seen ; some of them from tradi-

PREFACE.

. VI tions — traditions from the lips of our parents and friends, whose memories we venerate ; and I transmit my collections to any Avho may have a curiosity to know some of the past events. " I still had hopes' Around my fire an evening group to draw, And tell of all I heard — of all I saw." — Goldsmith. My children, too, may have some curiosity to hear the traditions of their own family, and of the exciting scenes in the American Revolution in which they and their countrymen struggled and suffered together. I will, therefore, endeavor, by occasional biographical sketches, incidents and anecdotes, to elucidate some of the public events imperfectly described, or not recorded in history. Personal incidents being thus interwo ven with political and public transactions, will, I trust, be a relief to the narrative, without distracting or fa tiguing the attention of readers.

Some of the following articles I have republished from newspapers and periodicals, where I considered them worthy of again being brought before the pub lic, and of being more durably preserved in a book. For others I am indebted to friends who have kindly aided me with information and narratives. To these I return my thanks, and especially to the Hon. A. P. BUTLER. Hon. JOHN P. RICHARDSON. Hon. J. B. O'NEALL. Dr. A. L. HAMMOND, late of Augusta. Mrs. MARY BROUN, of Charleston. Mb. I. K. TEFFT, of Savannah. 9 INQ6Q

Introduction

. The people of these then Provinces were mostly emigrants from England, or were the children of such emigrants, who, claiming the rights of British subjects, taught them to their descendants. They who could afford it, sent their sons home to England for their education, who thus became confirmed in the rights, privileges, and duties of British subjects ; many sent their daughters also. Each Province being chartered by the British Crown, with the exclusive right to raise all their own taxes, by their own Delegates in their Provincial Assemblies, the inhabitants were ever on the alert to oppose all other exactions. The British government made numerous attempts of this kind, which excited discussion and opposition in public and private circles ; so that all persons, even of moderate education, were well informed on those sub jects.

In Marshall's Life of Washington, vol. i, in Ste vens' Georgia Historical Collections, and in other his tories, are various records stated of legislative provisions, remonstrances and resolutions against such pro ceedings. These, we believe, commenced in Virginia, were continued at intervals by other Provinces ; and the public mind was kept alive to the discussion by the memorials of Dr. Franklin and other Provin cial Agents, sent for that purpose as charge Æ'affairs, residing in England ; also by the publication of their correspondence and comments, in the public papers, on

INTRODUCTION.

. the claims and grievances complained of by the colonists. Among these were the able letters of Dr. Frank lin to Gov. Shirley, which a parliamentary writer de clared to be so full and conclusive, that scarcely any thing new against the right of Taxation could be ad duced after these. But these, too, were forgotten or overlooked in the excitements of war and changes in the Ministry or their measures. In South-Carolina the opposition to these measures was always kept up against their constitutionality ; but on the question of expediency the mother-country had the power to decide, and the colonists had not the power to resist. _ .,,.., „n v 9 W QO L TRADITIONS AND REMINISCENCES.

Chapter I

Culpepper's Insurrection in Albemarle — Dr. Hugh Williamson — Separation of North from South-Carolina — Dispute between Gov. Boone of South-Carolina and the Assembly — Stamp Act and Commotions in South-Carolina — Col. Henry Laurens — Death of Miss Davis — Capt. Daniel Curling — Congress of 1765 in New-York — Liberty Tree and its Confederates — First Funerals without Mourning — Gen. Christopher Gadsden. To the exaction of a tax on tobacco in 1677, forcible resistance was made in the northern part of Carolina, fifty-two years before its separation into North and South-Carolina, and one hundred years before the general American Revolution. This epitome of that revolution commenced in Albemarle, with John Cul pepper at its head, who was Surveyor General of the Province, and member of its Legislature.

It was in opposition to a tax of two pence on each pound of tobacco, sold to any one who did not ship it to Eng land ; thus giving England a monopoly of the tobacco trade, excluding even the colonists from buying to bacco even for their own use, except at a higher price than was paid by other British subjects, and extorting, at the same time, an unconstitutional tax from Ameri can subjects. Culpepper and his associates seized Miller — the col lector — took all the money that he had received in this office, and used it equitably in preserving the peace and defraying the expenses of his little State of Albe marle. The country prospered astonishingly in the actual enjoyment of free trade, during the three fol lowing years ; and the merchants of Boston, promptly availing themselves of the opportunity, carried on a brisk and profitable trade with Albemarle.

The gov- TRADITIONS AND REMINISCENCES OF eminent being strong in Virginia and Maryland, the people were compelled to pay the tax, but clamored loudly. They demanded that they also should be exempt from the tax, or that their nearest neighbors of Albemarle should be compelled to pay it also. Culpepper, finding that preparations were set on foot to crush his little sovereignty, went to England, and appealed to the throne for justice to his people, by a repeal of the tax, and mercy to himself for resisting the royal authority. He was there arrested, and about to be tried for high treason ; but when the ministry found that he would defend himself, by proving that their enaction was illegal, and that he was justified in resisting it, they shrank from the investigation, and Lord Shaftsbury contrived to hush up the question, lest it should be taken up by the House of Commons, and impair the influence and duration of his ministry.

He alleged that the laws of England had not yet been extended to this remote and obscure portion of Ame rica. But, if not extended, by what authority did his collector — Miller — extort upwards of £3,000 sterling PLAN OF CHARLESTON AS LAID OUT BY JOHN CULPEPFER, IN 1680, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND FORTIFICATIONS IN 1704, BY EDWARD CRISP. A Oranville's Bastion, T Quaker Meeting House, B Craven's do. V Court of Guards, C Carteret's do. W First Rice Patch in Carolina, D Colleton do. 1 Pasquero and Garret's house, E Ashley do. 2 Landsack's do. F Blake's do. 3 John Crosskey's do. G Half Moon do. 4 Chevalier's do. H Drawbridge, 5 Geo. Logan's do. I Johnson's, 6 Poinsett's do. K Drawbridge, 7 Elicott's do' L Palisades, 8 Starling's do M Rhett's Bridge, 9 M. Boone's do' N K. L. Smith's Bridge, 10 Tradd's do' O Minister's House, 11 Nat.

Law's do P English Church, 12 Landgrave Smith's do' Q French do. 13 CoL Rhett-S d R Independ do. 14 Ben. Skenking's do. S Anabaptist Church, 15 Sindery's do from the people of Albemarle ? If collected without law, why did he not arrest MiUer, and try him for ille gal practices ?* Culpepper immediately returned to Carolina, and, in the year 1680, laid out the original streets of Charles ton, running from south to north, intersected by others from east to west, at right angles.f That the ministerial party should abuse Culpepper, might be expected, and not injure him ; but that Ame rican writers should join in the outcry, without due in vestigation, is to be regretted. Even Dr. Hugh Wil liamson, a man of talents and a patriot, has fallen into this error. Dr. Williamson, the historian of North- Carolina, was the gentleman who obtained for Dr. Franklin the original letters of Gov.

Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, and of Oliver, the Lieut. Governor, to the British ministry, advising hostilities against the people of America. He was then in London, engaged in scientific investigations, and had observed a chamber or office in which colonial papers were kept for future reference. Concluding that the reported letters were probably there, he went, in the character of a messenger from the head of one of the departments, and called for the letters last received from Hutchinson and Oliver. They were handed to him, without sus picion, and immediately put by him into the hands of Dr. Franklin. Early the next morning, Dr. William son was the bearer of these despatches, and at sea, crossing over to Holland, on his way to America. This transaction gave rise to the violent philippic of Mr. Wedderburn, (afterwards Lord Loughsborough,) against Dr. Franklin, which has always been considered one of the most finished specimens of declama tion in the English language. * See Chalmer's Political Annals, p. 560, also Carroll's Collections, vol. ii., p. 340. f The first buildings erected in Charleston were irregularly built and inclosed.

On that part of it, appropriately called Zig Zag Alley, be tween Atlantic and Water Streets, tbe cows, as Knickerbocker says, had laid out the lines of that alley. The separation of North from South-Carolina is an era in their history. This separation was officially ordered in 1729, but not effected until 1732. The line was not run until 1735, and then very incorrectly executed. In 1763, instructions were received from the king for a re-survey, which, when completed, gave South-Carolina several of her best districts. These, previous to their being sub-divided, were known only by the aggregate name of " new acquisition." Ches ter District was certainly a part of it. After the re volution, another error was discovered, and repeatedly discussed with some warmth by the Governors of the two States.

The tax collectors of both States con tended for the right to extend each his warrants over the disputed portion of country, and the inhabitants refused to pay either, until the doubt was settled. It was finally adjusted about the year 1801, during the first administration of Gov. John Drayton. To commemorate the separation of the northern from the southern part of the Province, a silver medal was struck in the year 1736, by order of the North- Carolina Legislature, only one of which is now known to us. This was found in a neglected cabinet in Phila delphia, in the year 1845, and a copy of it obtained in type metal by Dr. Blanding, late of Camden, South- Carolina, and sent to his nephew, Captain William Blanding, of Charleston. The obverse represents Caroline, Queen of George H., with a sceptre in her right hand ; watering, with her left, a grove of young palmettos.

Her figure di vides these palmettos into two parts, representing the two Carolinas. The exergue is, " Caroline protecting," 1736, and over all, the words, " Growing arts adorn empire." The reverse represents George II., in the costume of Minerva — goddess of all the liberal arts and sciences — leaning on a spear in his right hand, at the foot of which, and behind him, are grounded the implements of war, — as the shield, helmet, sword, quiver, lance, standard, &c, over which the laurel waves, emblematic of victory. In his left hand, the palm leaf, (the emblem of constancy, faithfulness, pa tience and triumph,) waving over the emblem of the arts, represented by a globe, scroll, pallet and brushes, volumes, bust, &c, crowned with an olive branch. EXERG TJE. " GEORGE REIGNING." And over all, in the border, "BOTH HANDS FILLED FOR BRITAIN."

DISPUTE BETWEEN HIS EXCELLENCY, THOMAS BOONE, THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH-CAROLINA, AND THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. In a MS. record by Christopher Gadsden, we find a message from Governor Thomas Boone, of South-Caro lina, to the Assembly of that Province, dated 19th March, 1762, objecting to the election law of 1721, and recommending " a new law as absolutely necessary." This message was immediately committed, with due deference and respect to the officer from whoni it was received. On the 23d of the same month, the committee reported ; on the 24th, the Assembly discussed the report, and adopted the following message to the Governor: " May it please your Excellency — This House having fully considered the election act now in force, and not knowing, or having heard, of any bad consequences from the method thereby directed, for issuing and executing writs of election, are of opinion that it is not necessary, at this time, to alter that law in those respects."

By order of the House. B. SMITH, Speaker. Subsequent to this, a writ of election was issued to the church wardens in St. Paul's Parish, for the election of a member to represent that Parish in the As sembly, and a return made by them, that Christopher Gadsden was duly elected. It then is stated that the House sanctioned the election, that Mr. Gadsden was qualified before them, on the 13th September, 1762, and, by their order, went with two of their members, Mr. Bee and Mr. Sommers, to see that he takes before the Governor the required state oaths — one of which was for allegiance to Great Britain, the other disclaim ing the right of the Pretender's family to the throne. The Governor refused to administer the state oaths to Mr. Gadsden, and summoned the whole Assembly to meet him in his council chamber.

He there objected to the election of Mr. Gadsden, because the church wardens had not been sworn previous to that particular election. It appeared, how ever, that the church wardens had taken an oath, when elected to that office, that they would duly execute the duties of that office, of which holding these elections was a part. The Governor not only refused to admit the election of Mr. Gadsden, but dissolved the House of Assembly for their late contumacy. In the ensuing winter a new election was held, and a new Assembly convened, of which Christopher Gads den was again elected a member. Their first act was a remonstrance presented to the Governor, against his late dissolution of that body, dated 4th December, 1742, declaring that it would tend to deprive that House of 'a most essential privilege — that of solely determining the validity of the election of their own members, and productive of the most dangerous consequences.

They likewise enclosed the report of their committee on the subject, with the following resolutions : Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the power of examining and determining the legality and validity of all elections of members, to service in the Commons House of Assembly of this Pro vince, is solely and absolutely in, and of right doth belong to, and is inseparable from, the representatives of the people met in General Assembly. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committe-, that the Gover nor cannot constitutionally take notice of any thing said or done in the Commons House of Assembly, but by their report; and that his cen suring their proceedings is contrary to the usage and custom of Par liament. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that Christopher Gadsden, Esq., having been declared by the last Commons House of As sembly a member thereof, duly elected, and having taken therein the pro per qualification oath, his Excellency the Governor's refusal, when re quested by message from that House, to administer to him the state oaths required by law, in order to enable him to take his seat therein, was a breach of their privilege.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the abrupt and sudden dissolution of the last Assembly, for matters only cogniza ble by the Commons House, was a most precipitate, unadvised, unpre cedented procedure, of the most dangerous consequence, being a great violation of the freedom of elections, and having a manifest tendency to subvert and destroy the most essential and invaluable rights of the people, and reduce the power and authority of the House to an abject dependence on, and subserviency to, the will and opinion of the Gov ernor. On the 16th December, 1762, it was also resolved in the House, That his Excellency the Governor, by having repeatedly and con temptuously denied the just claims of this House, (solely to examine and determine the validity of the election of their own members,) hath violated the rights and privileges of the Commons House of Assembly of this Province.

Resolved, That this House (having ineffectually applied to his Excel lency for satisfaction for the breach of privilege) will not enter into any further business with him, until his Excellency shall have done justice to this House in this important point. South-Carolina, like the other Provinces, had an agent resident in London, for the purpose of representing the interests of their Province on all occasions, and of presenting to the proper departments of the British government any communications that he may be instructed to make to the ministry, to their officers or committee of the colonial department, and to the other resident agents of the other Provinces. Also to execute anjr other instructions that may be sent to him. At this time Mr. Charles Garth was the resident agent of South-Carolina.

The Assembly appointed a numerous committee to address and correspond with Mr. Garth on this sub ject, stating the particulars of their dispute with Governor Boone, inclosing the documents _ and eviden ces in their cause, with the grounds of their complaint. They did so, and instructed him to print the whole dispute, and submit it to the British ministry. _ Mr Garth did as instructed, and a copy of this printed statement has been preserved by Christopher Gadsden and his descendants, and is now before me after a lapse of 88 years. As far as I have been able to discover, this is the only copy. From these it appears that the House also ordered, on the 16th December, 1762, their proceedings in this case to be published in both the gazettes of this Province. They were accord ingly published, and may be seen in the Charleston Library, in the South-Carolina Gazette, at the dates above mentioned.

On the 13th September, 1763, the Assembly adopted an address to his majesty, stating their unhappy difficulties with the Governor, showing that his assum ed power of interfering in their popular elections would not only violate the charter of the Province, under which they wrere prospering and happy, but would be destructive of their personal rights as British subjects. This address was forwarded to their agent, Mr. Garth, and presented with the documents at a meeting of the British ministry, and by them referred to their committee on the plantations. The House still adhered to their resolution of having nothing more to do with Governor Boone ; laid all his messages and recommendations on the table, refused to pass a Tax Bill or appropriate money for the salaries of all officers, including the Governor, and not excepting their faithful agent, Mr. Garth.

At these proceedings the Governor was much irritated. It was the custom of all provincial agents to inclose their communications for the Legislatures to the Governors, sealed and directed. Governor Boone, contrary to usage, broke open the seal, and then sent the letter of Mr. Garth with an abrupt message: no other letters of course came through this channel to or from the committee of correspondence. On the 17th September, 1763, Mr. Gadsden reported to the House, that in obedience to their order, Mr. Moultrie and himself attended Sir John Colleton, to see him take the state oaths before the Governor at his own house, when Sir John Colleton, in their presence, informed his Excellency that he had taken the usual qualification oath in the House, and desired his Excellency to administer the state oaths to him.

Whereupon his Excellency was pleased to ask Mr. Gadsden and Mr. Moultrie, if they had any message to deliver to him from the Assembly. Mr. Gadsden then answered that he and Mr. Moultrie attended Sir John Colleton by order of the House, to see him take the state oaths. His Excellency replied that the House had no right to order any person into his dwelling house, and thereupon called his servant to open the door for Mr. Gadsden and Mr. Moultrie ; at the same time taking Sir John Colleton by the sleeve, and saying that if he had any business, he (his Excellency) was ready to transact it with him. Whereupon Mr. Gadsden and Mr. Moultrie bowed and retired. The Governor literally showed them the door. Sir John Colleton then attended and stated that the Governor had administered to him the state oaths ; but the usual evidence in such cases was want ing.

The House therefore sent for the clerk of the crown to bring with him the roll, whereon were recorded the names of those who had taken the state oaths. The clerk attended but without the roll, as he had given it up to the Governor, with the power to administer such oaths. Sir John Colleton was admit ted to his seat on his own testimony. The House then sent for the treasurer with his books, to show the accounts of the public creditors and funds: the treasurer attended, but stated that the papers had been delivered up to the Governor by his written order dated the 5th inst. Four other members of Assembly being duly elected, and having qualified before the House, were sent by its order, with Mr. Parsons and Sir John Colleton, to witness their taking the state oaths before the Governor. They returned, saying that they had gone accordingly, but that the Governor had refused, saying that he would not take any man's word, but would send for the journal and see, and then act as he should think proper.

Whereupon, resolved in the House of Assembly, "That his Excellency the Gov ernor, by his treatment of the members of this House, who waited upon him yesterday, to see several gentle men, duly returned members of this House, take the state oaths, hath been guilty of new insults to, and breach of the privileges of this House." Letters were now received from the agent in Ene> land, saying that he had called to inquire if any thing had been done in the dispute between the Governor and the Assembly, but was told that they could not decide on their ex parte statement, but had sent to Governor Boone leave of absence that he might come to England and be heard. This was very proper; the committee unasked, gave, very politely, permission for Governor Boone to return to England, that he might be heard, but the Governor would not then accept the invitation, and they expecting him, would not proceed in the investigation.

On the 6th January, 1764, Thos. Smith and Mr. Brailsford having been elected members of the House, were qualified there, and sent with Mr. Pinckney and Mr. Drayton, to take the state oaths before the Governor. Whereupon the oaths were administered and the declaration signed ; the Governor having ceased to make objections as of late, A motion was therefore offered, "That the resolution of the 16th December, 1762, to do no more business with his Excellency the Governor, and the several subsequent resolutions thereupon made and entered into, be vacated and discharged. " But this was negatived, probably because Governor Boone had not made any acknowledgment of mistake, regret, &c, or given any declaration that he would not resume the offensive measures. Another meeting of the Assembly was then convened by Governor Boone, early in May, 1764, but as the House continued firm in their non intercourse with him, although he had become more accommodating, he availed himself of his leave of absence, and sailed for England about the middle of May.

Lieutenant Governor Wm. Bull, his successor, then addressed the Assembly, and harmony was immedi ately re-established between the Legislature and the Executive; the liabilities of the Province paid, and peace established in South-Carolina. But not so in England as to South-Carolina's affairs. On the arrival of Governor Boone in England, he had the address, before the board of trade and plantations, by exhibiting his repeated addresses to the Assembly, urging them to provide for the Huguenots, as instructed by the king ; to protect the frontier settlers from the Indians ; and to make appropriations for the public creditors ; that the House had taken unreasonable offence at his being thus urgent in the duties of his office ; that his zeal in executing the instructions of this board, and the commands of his majesty, while contending for the prerogative of the crown, was the cause of these complaints against him.

His papers being all certified by the great seal of the Province, were admitted as evidence, while several of the documents from the House were rejected for want of the seals. The board reported, blaming the Gov ernor for " having been actuated by a degree of passion and resentment inconsistent with good policy, and unsuitable to the dignity of his situation. " Also blaming the House for having " violated their duty to his majesty, and his subjects of that Province, by totally interrupting the public business of the Province for so long a time, a conduct highly deserving his majesty's royal displeasure." They offered no opinion on the constitutional questions, the original cause of the dispute — the Governor's refusal to qualify an acknowledged member of the Assembly ; but go on to recommend what Governor Boone had withheld, the appointment of deputies to administer the state oaths to members elected to the House of Assembly.

Mr. Garth, the agent, appealed from such a vote of censure on his constituents'the Assembly, and employ ed Mr. Dunning, a celebrated lawyer, to advocate their constitutional rights, and justify their motives and doings. After this Mr. Garth became a member of Parliament, and therefore ceased to be their agent, but continued their friend. Here the correspondence terminates, and the final decision of the ministry is not reported. It was, however, evident that the Governor was recalled, and no other attempt ever made by any Governor to control the popular elections. Before this dispute terminated, the agitation about the stamp act commenced, and Mr. Garth gives a decided opinion that no petition would be received denying the right of Parliament to tax the American colonists. The stamp act, the tax on tea and other things, appear to have engrossed the public mind, both in England and America, during the next ten years, and to have ceased only Avith the ensuing war.

There can be little doubt that Governor interference with the election of Christopher Gadsden, was an exciting cause in South-Carolina, for the jealousy of their public and private rights ; that these feelings were confirmed and strengthed by the counte nance to Governor Boone given him by the British ministry, ancl irritated by their assuming a right to tax ancl govern America in all cases whatsoever. We find the following names attached to different parts of the correspondence, ancl cannot doubt that this dis pute roused in them, their families and friends, that spirit of resistance which led to the revolution, and carried them through it triumphantly. Benjamin Smith, James Moultrie, P. Manigault, Thomas Lynch, David Oliphant, Isaac Mazyck, Christopher Gadsden, J. Rutledge, Wm. Roper, Charles Pinckney, Thomas Wright, Henry Laurens, James Parsons, Raw.

Lowndes, Thomas Bee, William Scott, Ebin. Simmons, STAMP ACT AND COMMOTIONS. At length the stamp act was passed in 1764, by the British Parliament, in which America had no representative. This was a direct tax imposed on the colonies, and was opposed by them with more warmth and decision than usual, because a violation of their charter and rights as British subjects. When the stamps arrived in Charleston, nobody would accept the office of Receiver, and they were landed in Fort Johnson, which at that time was a strong fortress, but very negligently guarded. One hundred and fifty men were secretly organized, armed, and sent down to the fort in open boats, to destroy the stamps, or otherwise get rid of them. They surprised the fort, possessed themselves of the stamps, manned and loaded the heavy cannon, hoisted a flag, and were prepared for action by the dawn of day.