Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-24
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close OF
the Revolution.


From the Ynrkville Enquirer Of 1875
/ INSTALLMENT XXXIII.
Early Isolation.
The colony of South Carolina occu-
pied, for a period of more than sixty
years, an isolated position. On all
sides, it was a frontier settlement. BY
land it was exposed to the scalping
parties Of the Yemassees; and by sea
1t was exposed to plundering pirates.
These latter were, at first favorably
treated by the settlers; but he who
forms a league with rogues, must eth
er turn rogue himself, or be deserted
and plundered by his confederates.
Such was the case with the first set
tiers Of South Carolina. They formed
with the pirates. kind of tacit ar
lrangment that these plunderers Of the
sea might enter the port OF Charies
Town and go out again undisturbed.
The colonist sorely needed money, and
the pirates brought Spanish coin into
the country and spent it freely. The
early settlers of the colony never ask
ed how or from whom this money was
obtained. So far they winked at the
conduct Of these robbers on the high
seas. Farther than this, they did not
go. When however, the colonists were
ldisposed to obey the enactments relat-
ling to pirates, the pirates turned their
vengeance upon the commerce OF the
colony.
The Yemassees, and tribes In alli-
ance with the Spanish in Florida, often
sent out marauding parties. These
kept the inhabitants of the country In
a state of continual dread, and often
drove them, panic stricken, to Charles
Town.
Settlement Of Georgia,
Beyond the Savannah. no settlement
was attempted. BY the terms OF the
treaty made by Nicholson with the In
dams, this river was made the dividing
line between the tribes and the Eng
lish settlement. All the territory west
and south of this river was a waste
inhabited only by wild beasts and saw
ages. Both the English and Spanish
claimed the soil. Neither, however,
had made any attempt to settle 1t.
This territory now forms the state OF
Georgia. Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1887
more than eighty years before the set
tlement was begun at Charles Town
landed at the mouth Of the Savannah
but made no settlement.
In 1892 some benevolent persons In
England determined to open up home
in the New World for the poor and OPP
pressed of Europe. Chief amongst
these individuals was James Ogle-
thorpe. A variety Of propitious events
had conspired to elevate Oglethorpe
to a high position of influence in the
English government. He was born
some time in December, 1888 in Sully
county, England. At an early age, ne
exhibited a military turn Of mind, and
in l714 was commissioned an officer
In the kings guards. The Duke OF
Marlborough was impressed with his
personal beauty and dignity, and recon-
mended him to Primo Eugent. In the
campaign of 1716-17 against the Turks,
he distinguished himself. and on re-
turning to England was, in 1922 elect
J ed a member of parliament from the
borough of Hazlemere. This position
he held for a period Of more than thir-
ty years During this time he devised
} a scheme for ameliorating the condi-
ton Of London debtors. Having sue
ceeded in this, he next turned his at
tention to the poor and INDECENT OF Eu-
rope Such is the origin Of the settling
of the state Of Georgia. A company
was formed and funds raised by pri-
vate subscriptions for the purpose OF
erecting a home in the New World fol-
the poor, especially Of England and
Ireland. Application was made to the
. king by whom a charter was granted
!; on the 9Th Of June, 1882. The main
!, object contemplated by this undertak-
ing was to furnish a home for the
! poor; but it was also designed to make
the new colony a kind Of protection
. to South Carolina.
Twenty-one persons were appointed
trustees of the undertaking and the
/ money was deposited In the Bank OF
/ England. Every precaution was taken
to secure a proper investment Of the
funds. In July the trustees had their
first meeting, and Lord Percival was
) chosen president. On the 2Sth of No
Gravesend, and on the oath Of Janua-
ry, 1888, they arrived at Charles Town
, 1t had been determined by the trus-
tees at their first meeting to form the
: settlement on the territory embraced
between the rivers Savannah and Alta
maha. Hence so soon as they arrived al
| Charles Town, preparations were made
for reaching this point.
South Carolina Helps.
The new comers were gladly well
coined by Governor Johnson and the
: people of Charles Town. The people
of South Carolina showed their gen.
erosity by sending the newly arrived
colonists provisions and also cows and
hogs with which to stock the contem-
plated settlement. William Bull, after
ward-in 1737-governor Of South
Carolina, volunteered to accompany
the colony to it's point Of destination
General Oglethorpe was with the lately
. arrived settlers. Governor Johnson
sent the boats belonging to the colony
to accompany them on their journey
On the 18th of February, 1888, they
arrived at Yamacraw bluff and laid the
, foundation of the present city of Sa-
vannah. In honor Of George the Sec
ond, the King of England, by whose lib
> erality the scheme had been greatly
advanced. the trustees had named the
settlement Georgia; whilst the town
huilt was from the river on which ii