Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-19
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1875.
INSTALLMENT vi.
Founding of Charleston.

Founding of Charleston.
Captain Halstead brought instruc-
tions to the governor respecting the
Colonial parliament. These instruc-
tions are addressed to Governor Sayle.
This shows that the death Of the gov
ernor was not on the 1st Of May. 1871.
known to the proprietors; but since
| the location Of the colony was known
we may infer that Captain Bairne re-
moved the colonists from Port Royal
to Ashley river and having landed
them, returned to England. The gov
ernor was required, within thirty
days after receiving the instructions,
to summon the freeholders of the
| plantations and require them to elect
twenty men who. together with the
deputies Of the proprietors were for
the present to be the parliament Of
| the colony. These, or the majority
of them, were to make such laws as
might be necessary for the prosperity
Of the colony. The parliament was to
meet every two years, on the first OF
November. The first thing the par
Lament was required to do on assem-
bling, was to choose five men whom
they might think fittest to act in con-
cert with the five deputies Of the pro-
prietors, and who with the five oldest
Of the nobility were to constitute the
grand council On the 25th Of Au-
gust, 1871, Thomas Gray, Maurice
Matthews, Henry Hughes, Christopher
Portman and Ralph Marshall were
chosen. Joseph Dalton was chosen
secretary Of the Province and Thomas
Thompson, marshal. The militia was
put under the command Of Captain
Thomas Gray and Capt. John Cod
frey.
They were now put into working
order. Governor West was a man Of
energy. The work Of laying out and
fortifying the town, which, in honor
Of Charles the Second had been named
Charles Town, progressed rapidly.
The works were finished in May, 1872,
and Stephen Bull was put in COM
mand with the titles of master of ord
nance and captain Of the fort Of
Charles Town." A constant watch
was kept by the citizens. No night
was permitted to pass without pa
trolling party being sent out. The in
habitants of the town were required
to do duty twice as often as those who
were settled on farms in the country.
The Grand Council, with Governor
West for it's chairman, met frequent
ly-once every week and frequently
oftener when necessity required 1t.
The first meeting of which we have
any notice, took place three days af-
ter the organization or on the 2Sth
Of August, 1871. The first matter
that seems to have merited its atten-
ton was the form Of oath to be ad-
ministered to each member OF the
council. One of the clauses Of the
oath bound each member Of the coun-
Gil to doe equal right to the rich
and poore" Each member of the
council was required to swear as fol-
lows: You shall not give or be OF
council for favor or affection, in any
difference or QUARREL depending be-
fore you: but in all things demeane
and behave yourself as to equity and
justice appertains."
The first item of businss proper
that came up before the council, was
petition from John Newton and
original Jackson against Maurice
Matthews, a member Of the council
and others. The difficulty. If such 1t
really was, seems to have been about
seventeen pieces of cedar timber. 1t
may be thought strange that men In
an almost unbroken forest would
have any sort Of difficulty about a
few sticks Of cedar timber" or would
ever have thought Of petitioning
dignified council about such a thing.
It must be remembered that at that
time cedar was regarded as the most
valuable of timbers. 1t was highly
priced for making boxes, chests and
drawers. 1t was then supposed that
it was a perfect preventive against
moths. The case of John Newton and
original Jackson against Maurice
Matthews and others was thus dis
titioner doe appeare before the COVER
nor and council upon Saturday, the
ninth day of September next, peremp-
| torily, to prosecute the said complaint
| 1afn &c ~ On tho 6aV
appointed (Sept. 9, 167D, the coun-
Gil met and made this decision: Upon
hearing the matter Of the petition Of
John Newton and original Jackson
against Mr. Maurice Matthews, Mr..
| Thomas Gray and Mr.. William Owen
| both parties having referred them
selves to the determination OF the
governour and council-that the said
John Newton and original Jackson
shall have the sixteen pieces Of cedar
timber desired, and one piece Of ce-
dar timber more claymned by the
said Mr.. Maurice Matthews, Mr..
Thomas Gray and Mr.. William Owen,
&C"
ICSt Olu uOSulllChto pOSSSSS e~it 49,
terest in themselves and they possess
an interest on account of the time
in which they originated. The Eng
| lish language as will be readily per-
ceived by the spelling Of several
words, has undergone great changes.
When the petition of John Newton
and original Jackson was read be-
fore the Grand Council. South Caro-
lima was less than two years old. In
November of the same year G67D
Henry Hughes appeared before the
Grand Council and made his COM
! plant on the behalf of our Sovereign
Lord. the King. against Thomas Scre-
man. upon the - of October, 1871, at
| Charles Town. this province, did
feloniously take and carry away from
the said Henry Hughes. one turkey
cock of the price of tenn pence of
lawful English money, contrary to
the peace of the sovereign Lord. the
King. his crOwne." This was a COM
plicated case. Thomas Screman, from
L /.