Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-13
Mistprw ut 8. Garnlina,
-. Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
..' .' HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE I'D. '" 80" e.
EarIy Settlement of South Carolina.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

| CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
The individual who has only limited
knowledge Of human nature, might be ready
to conclude that all the circumstances con-
nected with the settlement of South Carolina,
would have inspired the first European in
habitants that came to the country, to live
together in perfect harmony. This was far
from being the case; nor is it to be wondered
at. As we have seen, the majority of the i'm
migrants were dissenters from the Church of
Eng land but the proprietors and the Grand
Council were Cavaliers There is not the
shadow of doubt that the Cavaliers designed,
from the first, to establish kind Of religious
oligarchy. This, together with the recollec.
tion of the fiery struggles which had been
passed through in old England, fed the bitter
hate which still lived in the bosom of the dis
senters No doubt both parties were greatly
to be blamed To allay the party feeling
which existed amongst the settlers, required
all the skill, energy and prudence Of Joseph
West. Notwithstanding the great zeal man.
ifested by the different religious sects, very
little was done, directly, by any Of them, for
many years, to promote piety. A minister
and church was an appendage of every New
England settlement. A church was built and
the people settled around it. Such was not
the case in Carolina. For period of ten
years, we have no certain account Of the erec-
tion Of any church, or even of any preaching
in the colony. Joseph West is characterized
by all parties as devoutly pious man, and
we may reasonably conclude that, occupying
the position and exercising the influence which
he did in the colony, he would exert happy
restraint over the wayward, and encourage
those religiously disposed.
However retarding these religious bicker-
ings might have been to the growth and pros
perity Of the colony, they did not put stop
to its expansion. The locality chosen on the
west side Of the Kyewaw was found not suited
to the purposes of the colony. The express
object which was had in view in selecting it,
was because it was so situated that no large
vessel could approach it. The simple fact is
the first settlers were afraid that they would
be attacked by the Spanish. They were aware
that the mercies of that people were cruel
Hence, they selected "high ground" on
Kyewaw river, thinking that at that point
they would be comparatively safe. Port
Royal was abandoned because it was a good
harbor and near the Spanish. The "high
ground" on the Kyewaw was selected because
it was farther away from the Spanish, and
had no harbor. The proprietors enjoined it
upon the immigrants to settle at distance
from the coast for the sake of health.
The point of land between the Kyewaw and
Wando rivers the Ashley and Cooper
was soon discovered to be more favorable for
settlement than that first chosen. Individ-
uals had settled on this place, which was called
Oyster Point. The Grand Council, on the
18th of January, 1872, directed Capt. Mau-
rice Matthews and Capt. Godfrey to make an
examination of the Wando river with refer
ence to its suitableness for settlement.
What the character of the report of these in
dviduals was we can only conjecture. 1t
may we'll be supposed that they were pleased
with the situation. 1t was now found that
the spot first selected, whilst it could not be
approached by an invading fleet, was still
greatly exposed to the Spanish and Indians.
The peculiar situation of Oyster Point-being
simply tongue of land, bounded on both
sides by a river-rendered it much more de-
sirable for town constantly liable to be at
tackled by an enemy. 1t also possessed com.
mercial advantages. This, however, was a
matter of secondary consideration. The
great object with the immigrants in selecting
a site for town, was its advantages in mil
itary point of view Any individual who
will look at the map of the State Of South
Carolina, will not be slow in concluding, that
for all the purposes Of the early settlers, there
is no other location equal to Oyster Point.
This tongue of land had been, at an early Pc
riod in the history of the colony, taken up by
Henry Hughes and John Coming.
The object of the survey made by Captain
Godfrey and Captain Matthews, does not,
however, seem to have been made with special
reference to change Of location, but only
with the view of securing safe locality on
which other immigrants might settle. From
the nature of the surrounding circumstances,
all the settlements were made in what were,
with propriety, called towns Single individ-
uals could not have protected themselves
against the hostile Indians. That it was not
contemplated in 1e72, to make Oyster Point
the chief town, is evident from the conduct Of
Hughes and Coming. On the 21st of Febru-
ary, 1872, they met the Grand Council and
Henry Hughes gave up one half of his land,
NEAR place upon Ashley river, known by
the name of Oyster Point, to be employed in
and toward the enlarging of town and com.
mon of pasture, there intended to be erected"
Mr.. John 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. In fact the set
Element of Oyster Point must have COM
menced very soon after the settlement on the
western bank of the Kyewaw, which the i'm
migrants named Ashley, in honor of the Earl
Of Shaftesbury-
As early as June 18th, 1872, we find the
Grand Council devising ways and means for
the defense of the province. One, amongst
many other orders issued by that body, is in
these words: Gall the inhabitants on the other
part of the river, called Oyster Poynt, doe
repaire to the plantation there, now in the pos
session of Hugh Carterett Cooper and being
soc embodyed, doe march forward to the plan
tation now in the possession of Mr.. Thomas
Norris, or Mr.. William Morrill,, which may
be thought most safe and useful for that de-
sign, under the command of Mr.. Robert
Donne, there to remayne and exercise such
orders and rules as the Grand Council shall
think fit to be prosecuted for the better safe
ty of that part of this settlement"
The town was, by order, or rather by the
consent of the Grand Council, laid out by
John Culpepper in 1872. The warrant is
sued by Governor Yeamans to Surveyor Cen