Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-04-27
weeks before Christmas. We found
the inhabitants very kind. We stayed

pOrK, rum anu salt. we were IluCH
distressed in this part of our passage
AS it was the dead Of winter We were
exposed to the inclemency Of the
weather day and night; and (Which
added to the grief Of all pious persons
on board) the atheistical and BIAS
phemous mouths of our patrons and
the other hands. They brought us up
as far as Potato Ferry and turned us
on short, where we lay in Samuel
Commanders barn for some time; and
the boat wrought her way up to the
Kings Tree, with the goods and pro-
visions, which believe is the first boat
that ever came up so high before.
While we lay at Mr.. Commanders, our
men came up in order to get good
houses to take their families to. They
brought some few horses with them.
What help they could get from the few
inhabitants in order to carry children
and other necessaries up, they availed
themselves. AS the woods were full
of water and the most severe frost, 1t
was very severe on women and chill
dren.
1--WE set out in the morning and some
got no further that day than Mr.. Nc
Donald's and some as far as Mr.. Plow-
denis; some to James Armstrong;
and some to Uncle William James's.
Their little cabins were as full that
night as they could hold, and the next
day every one made the best they
could to their own place, which was
the first day Of February, 1875. My
father had brought on shipboard four
children, viz: David, Robert, John
and Sarah. Sarah died in Charles
Town and was the first buried
at the Scotch Meeting House grave
yard. When we came to the Bluff, my
mother and us children were still of
the expectation that we were coming
to an agreeable place. But when we
arrived and saw nothing but wilder
ness and instead of a fine timbered
house, nothing but a mean dirt one,
our spirits sank. And what added to
our trouble, our pilot we had with us
from Uncle William James's, left us
when we came in sight of the place.
My father gave us all the comfort he
could by telling us we would get all
these trees cut down, and in short
time there would be plenty of inhabi-
tants so that we could see from house
to house. While we were at this, our
aro Guy
out. Father heard that up the river
swamp, was the Kings Tree, although
there was no path, neither did he know
the distance, yet he followed up the
swamp until he came to the branch
and by that found Rodger Gordon's.
We watched him as far as the trees
would let us see, and returned to our
dolorous hut, expecting never to see
But after some time he returned and
brought fire. We were some comfort
ed; but evening coming on, the wolves
began to howl on all sides. We then
feared being devoured by wild beasts,
having neither gun nor dog, nor any
door to our house. Howbeit, we set
to and gathered fuel and made on
good fire and so passed the first night.
The next day being a clear, warm
morning we began to stir about; but
about midday. there arose a cloud
southwest, attended with high wind,
thunder and lightning. The rain pen
etrated through the green poles and
brought down the sand that covered
them over, which seemed to threaten
to bury us alive. The lightning and
claps were very awful and lasted
good space Of time. I do not remem-
ber to have seen a much severer gust
than that was. 1 believe We all sim
cerely wished ourselves again at Bel
fast. But this fright was soon over
and the evening cleared up comfortable
and warm. The boat that brought up
The goods arrived at the Kings Tree.
People were much oppressed In bring
ing their things as there was no horse
there. They were obliged to toll hard
and had no other way but to convey
their beds, clothing, provisions, chests,
tools, pots, ETC., on their backs. At that
time there were very few or no roads,
and every family had to travel the best
they could, which was here double dis
lance to some. for they had to follow
swamps and branches for their guides
for some time. After a season, some
men got such knowledge of the woods
as to blaze paths so that people soon
found out to follow blazes from place
to place. AS the winter season was
far advanced, the time to prepare for
planting was very short. Yet people
were very strong and healthy. All that
could do anything wrought diligently
and continued clearing and planting as
long as the season would admit, so
that they made provision for the en-
suing year.
AS they had but few beasts, little
served them and as the range was
good they had no need Of feeding
creatures for some years. / remember
that among the first things that my
father brought from the boat was his
gun. which was one Of Queen Anne's
muskets. He had her loaded with
swan shot. One morning when we
were at breakfast, there was travelling
possum on his way passing by the
door. My mother screamed out say
/ ing, There Is a great bear" Mother
and us children hid ourselves behind
some barrels and the chest at the other
end of our hut, whilst father got his
gun and steadied her past the fork