Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-08
Ai5tprg pf $. Garplina,
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
De Gourges made no attempt, whatever, to
plant colony in the New World. He came
to avenge the blood Of his injured country
men. This DONE he returned to France, not,
however, to be hailed as dcliverer, but to be
hunted as all outlaw. He repaired to Portu-
gal. From the sovereign Of this country he
received commission and prepared to enter
the Portuguese army. At that time Spain
and Portugal we're at war but De Gourges
died Of grief before entering the service OF
his adopted country. This was in 1867
For period Of more than one hundred
years, what is now known as South Carolina,
remained in the nominal possession of Spain.
The Spanish called it Florida the French
named it New France; and the English South
Virginia. The forest remained untouched,
and the wild beasts still continued to sport
through its valleys and over its hills. Settle
ments we're made in Virginia, Massachusetts,,
New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware,
and in what is now North Carolina; but no
permanent settlement was made in South Car
oina previous to 1870.
In the year 1922, some individuals fled
from the hostilitics OF the Indians in Virginia,
and came down to some part of the country
and acted as missionaries. Their labors in
this capacity, according to an old author, were
greatly blessed. The King of one Of the
tribes, or of the country, it is said, was con-
verted and baptized. The labors of these
missionaries were, it would seem, confined to
the Mallicans and Apalachites. AS the lat
ter tribe inhabited the head waters Of the AL
tamaha and Savannah rivers, we may con-
clude that the gospel was preached by these
persons, whoever they were, in the States OF
Georgia and South Carolina, soon after the
settlement of Virginia. The same authority
(Old Mixon) informs US that man by the
name of Brigstock found, in the year 1868,
Englishmen amongst these tribes. He fur
ther informs us that this Brigstock was gladly
welcomed and honorably entertained in Eng
lish style by these missionaries. This fact is
given by Old Nixon on the authority of Brig
stock
In 1860, few persons from Virginia came
to South Carolina, in the neighborhood OF
Hilton Head, but on account of the dreaded
hostilities of the Indians, who still, and long
afterward retained a vivid recollection of We
lasqucs and Meleudez, and on account of the
still more dreaded barbarities Of the Span
iards, they did not remain.
On the Oath of March, in the fifteenth year
of the reign of Charles the Second, ofEngland,
this potentate granted to Edward, Earl OF
Clarendon George, Duke Of Albemarle
William, Earl of Craven; John, Lord Berk'
ley; Anthony, Lord Ashley Sir George Car
terett, Knight and Baronet; Sir John Collie
ton, Knight and Baronet, and Sir William
BerkIey, knight, all that part Of America in
north latitude between thirty-one degrees and
thirty.six degrees from the Atlantic on the
east, to the Pacific on the west. This was in
the year 1868. Two years atterward, on the
thrtieth of June, as a special favor to Ed
ward Earl of Clarendon, and his associates,
the grant was extended thirty minutes north
ward and two degrees southwark. Whatever
was the motive of the donor, this was lordly
gift 1t embraces, we may say, the garden
SPOT of North America, and contains many
times as much territory as the British domin-
ions in Europe.
In 1867, a vessel was fitted out and put un-
der the command Of William Sayle, for the
purpose of exploring the territory thus grant
ed. Saylc was driven by storm amongst
the Bahamas. He discovered that the situa-
ton of one Of these islands-Providence-was
such that ON being fortified, it would afford
both a retreat and defense to any colony that
might be planted in Carolina. Finally, he
reached the coast of South Carolina and at
tempted to land, but was beaten back by the
natives He was delighted with the appear
ancc of the country, and on returning to Eng
land, gave glowing description Of the excel
Iencies of it to the proprietors. In January,
1870, the proprietors having fitted out three
vessels at their own expense, and a. "goodly
number of men," placed the whole under the
command of Col. William Sayle, for the pur-
pose of taking actual possession of the terri
tory embraced in the grant, and planting on
it colony. The proprietors formed joint
stock, and made liberal provisions for the un-
dertaking. 1t is evident that they were in
earnest They did not contemplate failure.
The commission Of Savle was dated July 26th,
1860. On the 18th Of March, 1910, the fleet
arrived at Port Royal. The nearness of this
II A.