An historical account of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South-Carolina from the first settlement of the province, to the war of the revolution : with notices of the present state of the church in each parish: and some account of the early civil history of Carolina, never before published. To which are added; the laws relating to religious worship; the journals and rules of the convention of South-Carolina; the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal church, and the course of ecclesiastical studies

Front matter

(fimmll

^nivmii^ |

fxhxM^

Chap. 1. Settlement of Charles-Town, - - Page 1— 26

2. St. Philip's Church— Society for the Propagation of the

Gospel iiiToreign Parts— Missionary Instructions, and Missionaries— Extraordinary measures relating to an established Church— Dissentions, and appeal to England,

3. Establishment of the Church of England by Law-

Commissary— Governor's Speech— Memorial against hira, and addresses of the Assembly— Dean Swift- Conversion of Slaves— Indian War— Pastoral Letters— St. Philip's Church— Mr. Whitefield and Commissary Garden — Negro School, ■r. St. Michael's Parish established— Rev. Mr. Garden— Salaries of the Clergy— Pinckneyan Lecture— Rev. Mr. Clarke— St. Michael's Church— Clergy Society— Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts —Parochial Libraries— St. Philip's Pai-ish— Rev. Mr. Bullman— Biographical Sketches— Parochial Registers,

10. Prince George's Parish, Winyaw,

11. Prince Frederick's Parish, . - . - 12 All-Saints, Waccamaw,

13. St. Mark's Parish,

14. St. David's Parish,

15. St. Stephen's Parish, - - - -

16. St Matthew's Parish,

20. St. John's Parish, Colleton, 31. S;t. Bartholomew's Parish, 23. St. Helena's Parish, Beaufort,

23. Prince William's Pai-ish,

24. St. Peter's Parish, . - - 3.'5. St. Luke's Parish, . . -

26. Other Churches au^ Congregations : Sect. 1. Cuffee-Town,

3. Edisto Island, - . . .

3. Claremont, ...

4. Camden,

5. Trinity Church, Columbia, •

6. St. Helena Island,

7. Hilton Head, . . . -

8. Grace Church, Sullivan's Island,

28. Succession of Bishops in the Pro. Epis. Church U. S. A.

29. A List of Clergymen of the Church in So. Ca. Appendix I. Laws relating to Religious Worship,

II Journals of the Convention in So. Ca.

III. Sect. 1. Constitution and Canons of the Church,

2. Courseof Ecclesiastical Studies,

3. Rules of Convention of So. Ca.

398—426

427—431

432—436

437—462

464^573

574—596

596—601

602—604

AN

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF

THE CHURCH.

CHAPTER I. Settlement of Charles- Town

In the year 1662, certain noblemen applied to Charles the Second, for a Grant of an extensive territory in Ndrth-Ariierica. They alleged that they were influenced by a desire to enlarge his dominions, and by " zeal for the propagation of the Christian faith in a country not. yet cultivated or planted, and only inhabited by some barbarous People, who had no knowledge of God." A Charter was granted by the King on the 24th of March, 1662-3, to Edward, Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor; George, Dukeof Albermarle; William, Lord Craven; John, Lord Berkley; Atithony, Lord Ashley, afterwards Earl of Shaftsbury ; Sir George Carteret; Sir William Berkley; and Sir John Colleton, their Heirs and Successors; creating them absolute Lords and Proprietors of all the territory

" extending from the North end of the Island called Lucke-1. 1 md, which lieth in the Southern -Virginia Seas, and within Six and Thirty Degrees of the Northern Latitude, and to the West as far as the South-Seas, and so Southerly as far as the River St. Matthias, which bordereth upon the Coast of Florida, and within One and Thirty Degrees of Northern Latitude, and so West in a direct line, as far as the South-Seas aforesaid," — to be called the Province of Carolina. The Faith, Allegiance and Sovereign Dominion, were reserved to the King, his Heirs and Successors forever. The third and eighteenth articles of this Grant, are in these words :

" in. And furthermore the Patronage and Advowsons of all the Churches and Chapels, which as the Christian Religion shall increase within the Country, Isles, Islets and Limits aforesaid, shall happen hereafter to be erected, together with License and Power to build and found Churches, Chapels and Oratories in convenient and fit Places, within the said Bounds and Limits, and to cause them to be dedicated apd consecrated according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of our Kingdom of England, together with all and singular the like and as ample Rights, Jurisdictions, Privileges, Prerogatives, Royalties, Liberties, Immunities and Franchises of what kind soever, within the Countries, Isles, Islets and Limits aforesaid."

" XVIIL And because it may happen, that some of the People and Inhabitants of the said Province, cannot in their private opinions conform to the public exercise of Religion, according to the Liturgy, Form and Ceremonies of the Church of England, or take and subscribe the Oaths and Articles made and established ip that behalf, and for that the same, by reason of the remote Distances of these Places, will, we hope, be no Breach of the Unity and Uniformity established in this Nation, Our Will and Pleasure therefore is, and we do by these Presents, for us, our Heirs and Succes-

KING CHARLES' CHARTERS. S

sors, give and grant unto the said Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albermarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, their Heirs and Assigns, full and free License Liberty and Authority, by such legal Ways and Means as they shall think fit, to give and grant unto such person and persons, inhabiting and being within the said Province, or any part thereof, who really in their Judgements, and for Conscience sake, cannot or shall not conform to the said Liturgy and Ceremonies, and take and subscribe the Oaths and Articles aforesaid, or any of them, such indulgencies and dispensations in that behalf, for and during such Time and Times, and with such Limitations and Restrictions, as they the said Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albermarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, their Heirs or Assigns, shall in their Discretion think fit and reasonable ; and with this express Proviso and Limitation also, that such person and persons, to whom such Indulgencies and Dispensations shall be granted as aforesaid, do and shall, from Time to Time, declare and continue all Fidelity, Loyalty and Obedience to us, our Heirs and Successors, and be subject and obedient to all other the Laws, Ordinances and Constitutions of the said Province, in all matters whatsoever, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, and do not in anywise disturb the Peace and Safety thereof, or scandalize or reproach the said Liturgy, Forms and Ceremonies, or any thing relating thereunto, or any person or persons whatsoever, for or in respect of his or their Use or Exercise thereof, or his or their Obedience or Conformity thereunto."

A second Charter was granted to the Lords Proprietors, on the 30th June, 1665, by which the former Charter was confirmed, and the limits of their possessions extended " North and Eastward as far as the North end of Charahake River, or Gulet, upon a strait Westerly line to Wyonoake Creek, which lies within or about the Degrees of Thirty-six and Thirty Minutes Northern Latitude, and so West in a direct line as far as the South-Seas; and South and Westward as far as to the Degrees of Twenty-nine, inclusive. Northern Latitude, and so West in a direct line as far as the South-Seas," &c.

The Lords Proprietors, being about to take possession of these extensive territories, agreed upon a code of Laws for the government of the future colony. — The plan, suggested by the Earl of Shaftsbury, was moulded into form by the celebrated John Locke,* under the title of 7%e Fundamental Constitutions of South-Carolina. Among the articles of this fanciful System, are the following relating to Religion:

" XCV. No man shall be permitted to be a freeman of Carolina, or to have any estate or habitation within it, that doth not acknowledge a God ; and that God is publicly and solemnly to be worshipped.

" XCVL As the country comes to be sufficiently planted and distributed into fit divisions, it shall belong to the parliament to take care for the building of churches, and the public ihaintenance of divines, to be employed in the'exercise of religion, according to the Church of England ; which being the only true and orthodox, and the national religion of all the King's dominions, is so also of Carolina ; and therefore it alone shall be allowed to receive public maintenance, by grant of parliament-t

" XCVIL But since the natives of that place, who will be concerned in our plantation, are utterly strangers to Christianity, whose idolatry, ignorance, or mistake, gives us no right to expel, or use them ill ;

' Oldmixon's Anon. Hist, of British Empire in America, i. 462, 2d Ed.

t This article is said to have been inserted contrary to Mr. Locke's iudge* ment, by one of the Proprietors. Hewatt's So. Ca. i. 342.

FUNDAMJENTAL CONSTITUXIOiNft. O

and those who remove from other parts to plant there, will unavoidably be of different opinions concerning matters of religion, the liberty whereof they will expect to have allowed them, and it will not be reasonable for us on this account to keep them out ; that civil peace may be maintained amidst the diversity of opinions, and our agreement and compact with all men may be duly and faithfully observed; the violation whereof, upon what pretence soever, cannot be without great offence to Almighty God, and great scandal to the true religion, which we profess ; and also that Jews, Heathens and other Dissenters from the purity of Christian religion, may not be scared and kept at a distance from it, but, by having an opportunity of acquainting themselves with the truth and reasonableness of its doctrines, and the peaceableness and inoffensiveness of its professors, may by good usage and persua*^ sion, and all those convincing methods of gentleness and meekness suitable to the rules and design of the gospel, be won over to embrace and unfeignedly receive the truth ; therefore any seven or more persons agreeing in any religion, shall constitute a church or profession, to which they shall give some name, to distinguish it from others.

" XCVIII. The terms of admittance and communion with any church or profession, shall be written in a book, and therein be subscribed by all the members of the said church or profession ; which book shall be kept by the public register of the precinct where they reside.

" XCIX. The time of every one's subscription and admittance, shall be dated in the said book of religious record.

" C. In the terms of communion of every church or profession, these following shall be three ; without which no agreement or assembly of men, upon pretence of religion, shall be accounted a chiu-ch or profession within these rules :

6 SETTLEMENT OF CHARJLES-TOWN.

1. " That there is a God;

2. " That God is publicly to be worshipped.

3. " That it is lawful and the duty of every man, being thereunto called by those that govern, to bear witness to truth ; and that every church or profession shall, in their terms of communion, set down the external way whereby they witness a truth as in the presence of God, whether it be by laying hands on, or kissing the Bible, as in the Church of England, or by holding up the hand, or any other sensible way."

" CI. No person above seventeen years of age shall have any benefit or protection of the law, or be capable of any place of profit or honor, who is not a member of some church or profession, having. his name recorded in some one, and but one religious record at once.

" CII. No person of any other church or profession ghall disturb or molest any religious assembly.

" CIII. No person whatsoever shall speak anything in their religious assembly irreverently or seditiously of the government, or governors, or state matters.

" CIV. Any person subscribing the terms of communion in the record of the said church or profession, before the precinct register, and any five members of the said church or profession, shall be thereby made a member of the said church or profession.

" CV. Any person striking out his own name out oi any religious record, or his name being struck out by any officer thereunto authorized by each church or profession respectively, shall cease to be a member of that church or profession.

" CVr. No man shall use any reproachful, reviling, or abusive language, against the religion of any church or profession; that being the certain way of disturbing the peace, and of hindering the conversion of any to the truth, by engaging them in quarrels and animosities, to the hatred of the professors aitd that profession, • which otherwise they might be brought to assent to;

yHNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONS. 7

" CVII. Since charity obliges us to wish well to the souls of all men, and religion ought to alter nothing in any man's civil estate or right, it shall be lawful foT slaves, as well as others, to enter themselves, and be of what church or profession any of them shall think best, and therefore be as fully members as any freeman^ — But yet no slave shall hereby be exempted from that civil dominion his master hath over him, but be in all other things in the same state and condition he was ia before.

" CVIII. Assemblies, upon what pretence soever of religion, not observing and performing the above said rules, shall not, be esteemed as churches, but unlawful meetin.fi;s, and be punished as other riots.

" CIX. No person whatsoever shall disturb, molest, or persecute another for his speculative opinions in religion, or his way of worship."

Four different modifications of these Constitutions were subsequently sent to the Province. The original Constitutions, consisting of 81 Articles, were signed b)' the Lords Proprietors, Jiily 21, 1669, before the settlement of the colony. The second, of 120, were signed March 1, 1669-70. The third, of 120, were dated January 12, 1681-2.The fourth, of 121, were signed August 17, 1682. The fifth and last, consisting of 41, were dated April 11, 1698. They were intended to be the Fundamental and Unalterable Laws of the Province. The colonists were frequently urged to accept them ; but the representatives of the people would neither receive nor sanction them, and they were finally laid aside. At length, the people became dissatisfied with the Proprietary Government, and, in 1719, placed themselves under the immediate protection of the King. The Assembly offered the government of the Province to Robert Johnson, the Proprietary Governor, which he refused, and they elected Colonel George Moor. When the account of thi« revolution reached England, Geo. I. appointed Francis

8 SETTLEMENT OP CHARLfiS-TOWN.

Nicholson, Provisional Governor, until arrangements should be made with the Lords Proprietors. He arrived in Charles-Town, May 21st, 1721, and published the Royal Commission. Seven of the Proprietors surrendered, September 29th, 1729, all their title to, and interest in, Carolina, to Edward Bertie, Samuel Horsey, Henry Smith, and Alexius Clayton, in trust for the Crown. Seven-eighths of the Province were then vested in the following Proprietors, or Trustees :

The Earl of Clarendon's Share, of one-eighth, was vested in the Hon. James Bertie ;

The Duke of Albermarle's Share, in Hon. James Bertie, and Hon. Dodington Greville, in Trust for Henry, Duke of Beaufort ;

The Earl of Craven's Share, in William, Lord Craven ;

Lord Berkley's Share, in Joseph Blake, of South- Carolina ;

Lord Ashley's Share, in Archibald Hutcheson, in Trust for John Cotton ;

Sir John Colleton's Share, in his son, Sir John Colleton ;

Sir William Berkley's Share, in the Hon. Henry Bertie, Mary Danson, and Elizabeth Moor, or some of them.

The Proprietors sold their shares for £1 7,600, w^hich was £2500, for a full share to each of the Seven Proprietors. The Colonists owed them about £9000, for Quit-rents, which the King likewise purchased, for £6000. One-eighth of the Propriety and Quit-rents were reserved to John, Lord Carteret, his heirs, &c. Carolina having thus become a royal government, Geo. n. appointed Robert Johnson, as his Governor. He arrived in December, 1730.

The first settlement of this Province was attempted in 1660, by some colonists from Virginia. They landed at Port-Royal, but soon abandoned the enterprize. The second was likewise made at that place in 1670.

SETTLEMENT OF CHARLES-TOWN. V

%y some colonists from England, under Col. William Sayle. He was appointed by the Lords Proprietors, July 26, 1669, " Governor of all that Territory or part of the Province of Carolina, that lies southward and westward of Cape Carteret."

Port-Royal is eligibly situated for a commercial town, having a deep and capacious harbour, admitting ships of the largest class, and in its neighbourhood a tich and fertile country. It is probable that, the Spaniards became jealous of the settlement of the English, in a country to which they laid claim, and that the Indians, under their influence, showed some marks of hostility. Whatever was the cause, it must have been urgent, to induce them to relinquish their improvements, and commence again the labour of a new settlement. They continued at Port-Royal but a few months, and then removed to the western bank of Ashley river, " for the convenience of pasturage and tillage ;" and " on the first high land," laid the foundation of a to\yn, which th^y named, in honor of the King, Charles- Town. The site of this settlement now belongs to Elias Lynch Horry. The creek in its neighbourhood was originally called Town creek, and is now known by the name of Old-town creek. The point made by the confluence of Ashley river and Wappoo creek, was then called Albermarle Point.

The removal of the Colonists to Ashley river took place in the year of their arrival from England. This is ascertained by a codicil to Colonel Sayle's will, made in Charles-Town, September 30, 1670.* His Will was made in Bermuda the preceding Fe'-ruary, probably, on his passage from England. The couxil was proved before Giovernor West, April 10, 1671, in which Colonel Sayle styles himself, " Governor of that part of the Province of Carolina, southward and westward from Cape Carteret, otherwise called Cape Romauoe."

• Ramsay says the removal was in 1671. So. Ca. i. 2. C

On the death of Governor Sayle, the Council elected Colonel Joseph West, a man of distinguished activity, courage and prudence. The codicil to Colonel Sayle's will having been proved before Colonel West, as Governor, April 10, 1671, is an evidence that the election was held before that period. In Trott's laws of the Province,* it is stated that, he was chosen, August 28, 1671. This is probably wrong, as he was styled Governor in the record of the proceedings of Parliament, held August 25, 1671. Subsequently, the Lords Proprietors made provision against the death of their Governor. They sent to some confidential person in the Province, a dormant commission for this olifice. But if at the time of a Governor's death, or absence, not to return, there should not be such a dormant commission, then the Lords Proprietor's deputies were directed to elect a Landgrave, if there should be one in the Colony, and if not, one of their own number, to serve until the pleasure of the Proprietors should be known.

Instructions were sent to the Governor, dated at Whitehall, May 1, 1671, which were called, " Temporary Laws, Commissions and Instructions from the Palatine, and the rest of the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of the Province of Carolina, to the Governor and Council of Ashley River in the said Province." A model for the town was received at the same time, and was subsequently deposited in the office of the Surveyor- General.

The early records of the government of Carolina are incomplete. They appear to have been bound up at a period subsequent to their date, as some of the leaves have been misplaced, and others omitted or destroyed. The first page in the Journals of the Grand Council, is the 12th of their proceedings, and the 6th is preceded by the 25th. The first five pages are lost.

* Introduction, page 13,

These, probably, contained their proceedings from the time of their arrival in the Province, until their removal to Ashley river. Several meetings of the Council have no year affixed to them, vi^hich now can only be ascertained by a careful perusal of the context. Irrelevant matters are found in the same books, and among the records of Deeds, Warrants for land, Wills, &c. are found some of the Journals of the Grand Council. This arose from the circumstance of the Council, originally, exercising the various powers of a Court of Admiralty, Ordinary, Sessions, &c. or to the carelessness of the book-binder. The earliest record we have seen, and which we believe to be extant, is the following :

" Charles- Town, in the Province of Carolina. " Colonel JOSEPH WEST, Governor.

" In the Session of Parliament, viz: the 25th day of August, 1671, at Charles-Town, upon Ashley river* in the Province of Carolina, aforesaid, pursuant to the Lords Proprietors directions ; the said Parliament out of themselves chose five persons, namely, Mr. Thomas Gray, Mr. Maurice Mathews, Lieut. Henry Hughes, Mr. Christopher Portman, and Mr. Ralph Marshall, and the same day returned the names of the said persons, and presented them to the Governor and the Lords Proprietors Deputies, to be joined with the said Governor and Deputies as Members of the Grand Council for the people therein, to act and do as the Lords Proprietors have directed.

" At a meeting of the Governor and Council, August 28, 1671 ; sitting and present:

" The Governor, Sir John Yeamans, Captain John Godfrey, Mr. Stephen Bull, Mr. William Owens, Mr. Thomas Gray, Mr. John Foster, Mr. Maurice Mathews, Mr. Henry Hughes, and Mr. Ralph Marshall."

Emigrants began now to arrive in numbers. Many came from England in a ship chartered by the Lords Proprietors. In order to provide for their accommo-

12 SETTLEMENT OP CHARLES-TOWN.

dation, the Governor and Council directed the Sur- Teyor-General, September 5, 1671, to lay out a towri on Stono Creek, adjoining land of Thomas Gray, near Charles-town, containing 25 acres; of which 5 acreg were to be reserved for a church yard. A town lot, containing 4 poles, and a lot of 5 acres, out of town, for planting, were allotted to every person in each family. The choice was to be determined by drawing lots. Two vessels, likewise, arrived with emigrants from New-York; and the Grand Council directed. December 20, 1671, a town to be laid out for them, on a creek to the south of Stono, to be called James- Town.* It was to contain 30 acres ; and 5 poles were to be given to every person in each family. The land without the town, was to be laid out into lots often acres for each person. This place, after some years, was abandoned, and the settlers spread themselves over the country.

It appears that land was promiscuously taken up and occupied as a town, without any regard to its form or convenience. It is likewise probable that, its locality was not finally settled, for on the 24th October, 1671, a committee was appointed by the Grand Council, to examine the banks of Ashley and Wando rivers,t " and to make a return of what places might be most convenient to situate towns upon, that the same might be wholly reserved for these and the like uses." And again, Jannary 13, 1671-2, a committee were appointed to " view Wando river, and the several creeks there, and there mark such place or places as they shall think most convenient for the situation of a town or towns, and their report thereof to return to the Grand Council with all convenient speed. And it is further order-

• Ramsay, So. Ca. i. 4. dates this in 1674, and states that Stephen Bull, was Surveyov-Geneial. Captain Florence O'Sullivan held that office, having been appointed by the Lords Proprietors in 1669. '

t Wando was the original name of Cooper rivtr. In a deed of sale, dated December 19th, 1673, some lands are stated to bound " pn Wando river, otherwise called Cogper river."

ed and ordained by the Grand Council, that no person or persons, upon any pretence whatsoever, do hereafter run out or mark any lands in Wando river aforesaid, or in any creeks or branches thereof, until such report be returned by the said Captain John Godfrey, Captain Thomas Gray, and Mr. Maurice Mathews, as aforesaid." The report is not upon record.

Sir John Yeamans being the only Landgrave in the Province, believed himself entitled to the government on the death of Governor Sayle. At a meeting of the Grand Council, December 14, 1671, he " declared that he is sole Landgrave in this Province, according to the Fundamental Constitutions, and according to a letter from the Lords Proprietors to him directed, a copy whereof he does produce, he conceives he is Vice Palatine, and thereupoii requires the government and care of the affairs in this Province. Upon serious consideration had thereof, and of the Fundamental Constitutions,* and the Temporary Laws agreed on by the Lords Proprietors, ,and here remaining, and the true coherence between them. It is resolved and advised (nem. con.) that it is not safe or warrantable to remove the government as it is at present, until a signal nomination from the Palatine, or further orders or directions be received from the Lords Proprietors." As soon as the death of Governor Sayle was known in England, Sir John Yeamans was appointed Governor of Carolina. He was commissioned December 26, 1671, and prodaimed in Charles-Town, April 19, 1672.

Sir John Yeamans, who either resided in Barbados, or went there to promote the settlement of Carolina, came to the Province with some others, and a few negroes, immediately after the arrival of Governor Sayle.f It appears that Sir John was originally designated by the

* These Constitutions were acknowledged by the Governor and the Council, or Upper House, but not by the Representatives of the People, or House of Commons.

t Sec Hewalt's So. Ca. i. 53. .W

Lords Proprietors as the first Governor of this Province. In 1665, several persons in Barbados purchased extensive tracts of land in the intended Colony of Carolina, and paid for them in Muscovado sugar, at the rate of lOOOlbs. of sugar for every 500 acres of land. In these transactions. Sir John called himself Lieutenant- General and Governor of the Province of Carolina. The following papers on this subject are interesting, as connected with the early history of our country :

" BARBADOS.

" By virtue of an election of the adventurers for Carolina, did elect me to be one of the Treasurers [for the receipt] of all subscriptions ; and also of the receipt of what sugar in pursuance of the general concessions under the seal of the said Province. I do acknowledge to have received of Colonel Simon Lambert, the sum of four thousand pounds of Muscovado sugar; as witness my hand this 25th of April, 1665. " GEORGE THOMPSON.

" I, Sir John Yeamans, Bart. Lieutenant-General and Governor of the Province of Carolina, do acknowledge the above mentioned and expressed receipt, to be good and effectual to claim, have and enjoy, for every thousand pounds of sugar, five hundred acres of land ; according to the general concessions under the great seal of the said Province. Given under my hand the 7th of October, 1665.

" JOHN YEAMANS.

" Test, James Browne.

" Whereas the Proprietors of Carolina did about pight months past send an order to Sir John Yeamans, Bart, for the ordering the laying out of lands which was granted to the adventurers and underwriters, and who have paid for the discovery made of the Province of

Carolina, by Hilton,* at the rate of five hundred acres of land for every thousand pounds of sugar so paid, and to those that shall settle the said land before the 25th of March next, by sending one or more people to possess it, and do keep possession thereof.

" Now these are to notify the Governor and Council of Albermarle Point in Ashley river,t in the said Province of Carolina, that Thomas Lake, Esq. of Barbados, hath adventured and paid one thousand pounds sugar, on said account, whereupon we desire that accordingly five hundred acres of land may be laid out for him, he taking care to possess it as above mentioned. We are

" Your friends and servants,

" JOHN YEAMANS, " THO. COLLETON.

" Barbados, 2Ath Dec. 1670."

Lands were soon taken up on the east side of Ashley river, and settlements were formed in various parts of the neighbourhood. A part of the present site of Charleston, had been taken up by Henry Hughes, and John Coming. Mr. Hughes appeared before the Grand Council, February 21, 1671-2, " and voluntarily surrenfiered up the one half of his land near a place upon Ashley river, known by the name of the Oyster Point, to be employed in and toward enlarging of a town, and commons of pasture, there intended to be erected. Mr. Coming and Affera, his wife, came likewise before the Grand Council, and freely gave up one half of their land near the said place for the use aforesaid." The offer of Mr. Coming was relinquished by the Council, September 8, 1672, in consequence of the inhabitants refusing his land for the site of a town.

• Does this allude to Colonel Sayle's first voyage to explore the coast of Carolina? Probably, Hilton commanded the ship, or was the companion of Sayle, and that Hilton Head derives its name from him. If so, the voyage must have been made immediaUly after the Lords Proprietors obtained their charter, and not in 1667, as stated by Hewatt, So. Ca. i. 47.48. and Ramsay So. C. i.33.

+ This is another evidence of the removal of the Colony to Old-Toivn in 1670.

16 SETTLEMENT OF CHARLES-TOW]S'.

The Grand Council met at Charles-Town, April 19, 1672, when " it was advised that a proclamation be issued out to dissolve all Parliaments and Parliamentary Conventions, heretofore had or made in this Province ; and that a summons likewise be proclaimed requiring all the freeholders in this Province, to come before the Grand Council, at Charles-Town, to-morrow, being the 20th April, inst. then and there to elect a new Parliament." The proclamation was issued the same day, and on the next, the election was held, and the following persons returned and presented to the Governor and the Lords Proprietors Deputie^: Stephen Bull, Captain Florence O'Sullivan,* John Culpepper, John Robinson, Christopher Portman, Ralph Marshall, John Mavericke, John Pinckard, Captain Robert Donne, Amos Jefford, Richard Conant, Peter Heme, Richard Chapman, John Yeamans, Timothy Biggs, James Jones, Edward Mathews, Samuel West, Richard Cole and Henry Hughes.f This is the first popular election on record in South- Carolina, that has come down to us. The records of the preceding Parliaments and elections are not extant. J