Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-10-21
Aisturp uf $. Garplima.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
1t is thought that about one hundred and
fifty persons constituted the colony, that in
1870, made a settlement on the right bank Of
the Ashley river. The exact number is not
known, but there are reasons for concluding
that it was some place in the neighborhood OF
the number stated above. These were all
white, and the majority Of them Dissenters.
That is, they we're individuals who were either
opposed to the Church of England and were
members of some other denomination Of Chris
tians, or they were members of the Church of
England. but opposed to some Of the practices
of that church. ......
Slaves were brought in the colony by John
Yeamans but very short time after its SET
tlement. By these, and the Indians who were
reduced to bondage, most of the manual labor
in the colony was performed. In 17O1 the
whole population, including the whites, the
negroes and the Indian slaves, amounted to
seven thousand. In1724, the period at which
we have arrived, the whole number Of inhab-
itants was thirty-two thousand. Of this num-
Der, eighteen thousand were slaves, the most
of whom were negroes.
1t was now 6fty-four years since the land.
ing of Sayle and his little band, and when we
take all things into consideration, the increase
was certainly very great. On several occa.
sions, the number of the inhabitants had been
thinned by the wars with the Indians and
Spanards and at other times disease, in it's
worst form, had preyed upon the settlers.
Small pox and yellow fever had visited the
province. In fact, shortly after the settlement
was made, it seems to have been very sickly.
Besides these things, during the latter part of
the proprietary government, the encourage
ment to immigrants was not very great. When
we consider all these things, the increase from
one hundred and fifty Inhabitants, to thirty
two thousand in period of fifty -four years,
is, we think, very remarkable.
The mode of life. of the first settlers was ex-
ceedng simple and frugal. The majority Of
them were English, but other nations of Eu-
rope we're represented. Some of the settlers
were possessed of considerable fortunes, but
by far the greater portion of them were from
the humble walks of life There is an abun-
dance of evidence that the settlers generally
were intelligent, high-minded and patriotic,
and very respectable number of them were
men of culture and refinement. The enact
lnents made by the colonial Assembly, even
in the very infancy of the colony, are an hon
or to any nation. They give unmistakable
evidence of both moral and intellectual stam-
ina. The early laws of South Carolina are
unsurpassed by those ofany of the colonies in
America. Like the manners and customs Of
the people, they are English in Ill their lead
ing features. The people were frugal. They
indulged in but few luxuries. Each farm
produced an abundance of supplies to meet
the necessities of it's owner and some to sell.
The rivers and bays were full of fish, and the
forest abounded with game of great variety.
1t was customary for the planters to hire, for
a mere trihe, an Indian hunter. This Indian
was able to keep the family Of his employer
in an abundance Of animal food
The eprincipal cereals cultivated, were maize,
or Indian corn, peas and rice. The two for
Iner the settlers found to be the principal far
inaceous food of the Indians. Both Of these
the first settlers discovered to be more healthy
and better adapted to the wants of laboring
men than rice, and hence their cultivation
was at first more extensive than that of rice
or any other crop.
For long time after the first settling OF
the State, the plow was but little used. This
arose from two circumstances. At first no
domestic animals, such as horses, mules and
oxen, were possessed by the settlers and most
of the settlers coming from old countries from
which all stumps, roots and stones had been
removed from the field, they entertained the
notion that the plow could not be used in this
country until the soil was reduced to similar
condition. The manner Of cultivating the
maize was learned from the Indians. Ridges
about five feet apart were made with the hoe,
and the maize planted on the top Of the ridge
During the growth of the maize it was worked
exclusively with the hoe. The grass was cut
out and the soil drawn up in kind of hill
around the root of the stalk. After the maize
had attained a considerable height, peas were
planted at each stalk of maize. Spanish po'
tatoes we're also cultivated. Rice was sown
in the wet places that were unsuited to the
cultivation of maize. The luxuries in which
the people ipdulged occasionally, we're coffee,
sugar, tea and rum. Sayle, and his little
party who settled on the Ashley river, brought
a still, but there is no evidence, so far as we
have discovered, that it was used. Orchards
and vineyards were planted, and at a very
early period, the inhabitants learned to con-
vert the fruit into alcoholic beverages.
The commerce of the colony was, at this
time, as previously, carried on with the West
Indies and the northern colonies. Lumber
and naval stores were sent to the West Indies,
for which molasses, sugar, coffee, rum and
cotton were received in exchange Nearly all
the money that was in the colony came from
this quarter Rice, tar, pitch and hides were
sent to the English colonies in the north and
exchanged for flour, fruit, beer, cider and
salt fish.
As early as the year ITO, a considerable
variety of fruits had been introduced into the
country. Grapes had been. brought from
Madeira and other grapegrowing countries
Figs, apples, pears, ounces, oranges and
peaches, had been introduced, and many OF
the trees we're bearing. Of many of these
there were several varieties, especially of the
peach. At first, peach trees were planted
with view to feeding hogs on the fruit.
Up to this period, no peach brandy seems
to have been made in the colony. The peach
is, we believe, generally regarded as native
of Persia. This seems to be indicated by its
botanical name, Psrsica. Yet, it would appear
from some old accounts Of the first settlement
of Carolina, that the peach was found here
when the settlers first came, and that the In
dans made delicious cordial out Of the fruit
The woods of South Carolina, one hundred
and fifty years ago, were full Of wild animals,
many of which have entirely disappeared
Besides the few wild animals which still re-
main, there were then elks, bufEsloes, bears,
tigers and wild cats. Bufaloes were abun'
dant in some sections of the State. These