Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-26
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close of
the Revolution.
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1875.
INSTALLMENT VIII.
Administration of John Yeamans


| Administration of John Yeamans
On the 18th of April, 1872, Joseph
West retired from the office Of gov
ernor Of the colony, settled at Ash
ley river, and Sir John Yeamans was
publicly proclaimed. This was the
beginning Of a series Of calamities,
both to the immigrants and the pro-
prietors.
Yeamans had won for himself at
last the appreciation Of the propri-
etors in the manner in which he had
conducted their affairs at Cape Fear.
It Is however. doubtful whether or
not he ever had anything in view
except the reparation Of his own
ruined fortune. The proprietors
from the beginning were favorably
disposed toward Yeamans. He and
they had many views, respecting men
and things, which were common.
The majority of the proprietors were
cavaliers, and so was Yeamans.
| Whatever may be said regarding
Yeamanss gubernatorial career at
Cape Fear he signally failed at Ash
ley river. He commenced a course
of conduct which showed that he had
no desire to advance the welfare OF
the infant colony or to promote the
interest of the proprietors. His acts
resembled those Of a selfish land
holder. He who had ruled at Cape
Fear with the affection Of a father,
now grasped with the rapacity of a
miser. No sooner was he proclaimed
governor than the whole face OF
things was changed. On the goth
Of April, the very day after he assum-
ed office, the people were assembled
and a new parliament chosen. Ste
phen Bull, Christopher Portman,
Richard Conant, Ralph Marshall and
John Robinson were chosen men,
bers Of the Grand Council The dep
uties of the proprietors were Colonel
West, Captain Thomas Gray. Captain
John Godfrey, Maurice Matthews and
| William Owens. The influence Of
West was not lost, notwithstanding
| the IdCl lIldl was ISiioNSu oS oo'
ernor. He remained true as steel,
both to the people and the propri-
etors.
| Yeamans had a plantation in Bar
BADGES, and he had a definite knowl-
edge Of the wants Of the commu-
nifty. He knew the kind Of merchan-
disc that was in the greatest demand
there and which would command the
greatest amount of money. All Yea
mans seemed to have in view was the
amassing of a fortune for himself.
To effect this purpose. he commenced
buying up the produce Of the settlers
and shipping it to the Barbados
The colony was thus, If not impov-
erished, retarded in its progress; and
the proprietors. in their efforts to
support the colony, were involved in
heavy debt. They became disheart-
ened and concluded that In the fu-
ture they would be more sparing In
granting supplies The colonists ask
ed for a supply of stock. This was
refused them by the proprietors on
the ground that 1t was not the inten-
ton Of the latter to establish colony
Of graziers but Of planters.
The official character of Yeamans has
been supported by certain class OF
old writer's: but it Is clear that they
were favorable to him because Of
his political notions and ecclesiasti-
cal connections. Those who defend
him said that he incurred the disap-
probation of the proprietors by MAX
ing too many and too large demands
upon them for the welfare of the
colony This copclusion is not we'll
supported. The inhabitants Of the
colony would scarcely have been dis
satisfied with a governor who was
thus zealously striving to advance so
much, and there was no prospect
that the demand upon them for sup
plies would come to an end. There
is one fact which must settle this
matter forever. 1t is this: Sir John
Yeamans was poor when he was
made governor of the colony, and
when he died in August, 1874 he was
rich. He had no other means of
making his fortune except his plant
ations and his traffic with the colo
nists
| During the infancy of the colony
manual labor was all, or nearly all,
performed by white servants who
had been brought from England,
and by Indians who had been
either bought from their enemies or
captured in war, and sold into sla-
very to defray the expense Of the
war. It was customary for the i'm
migrants to hire an Indian hunter.
Such an individual could be procured
for less than five dollars a year, and
he would supply a family in meat OF
the choicest kind all the time.
Governor West Again.
| In May, 1874, Joseph West was
again commissioned governor and
made a landgrave by the proprietors.
Sir John Yeamans on account Of bad
health, had, previous to this time,
gone to Barbados where he died in
August of the same year. On the
departure of Yeamans the people
selected West to be their governor,
and the selection was confirmed by
the proprietors.
When West commenced his second
term of office, the colony was in
bad condition. Dissension had sprung
up, and old animosities which had
been lulled to sleep, were aroused
in all their original strength. The
very existence of the colony was
thre atened. Yeamans by purchasing
the products of the people and send
ing them to the Barbados, had re-
duced the colony to the greatest ex-
tremity Famine began to stare them
in the face. The cry for bread was
heard in various quarters. Open re-
bellion was plotted. The facts con-
cerning 1t are few, but the differences
are plain and easy.
The proprietorS, with the excep-
ton of Ashley Cooper were caval-