Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-27
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close OF
the Revolution.


sive trader amongst the Indians. He
could speak the language Of several
tribes, and acted as a kind Of factor to
the Indians. Another individual by the
name of Jean Courture, who also had
made himself thoroughly acquainted
with the language of nine tribes Of In
dians, and had travelled beyond the
Appalachian mountains more than
three hundred miles, was engaged by
Loughton and Tranter as an inter-
prefer. Courture disclosed the fact
that he had, In some rivulets beyond
these mountains, picked up four
pounds of gold. In the same locality
he found number Of blue stones
which he believed to be lapis lazuli, one
of his expeditions gave him as many
pearls OF good size as filled both his
hands. Some traders, as he believed
seduced his Indian companions, and
the one who carried his box of jewels
ran away. On arriving at Charles
Town, Courture was imprisoned by
the governor, but released on his pay
ing five hundred dollars. THE gov
ernor," Courture said, endeavored, by
threats, to force him to reveal the To-
cality where the gold was discovered;
but not being able to extort from him
the fact, he then imposed upon him
heavy fine."
So soon as the facts in reference &c
the search for gold. under the patron
age of the King of England, was COM
municated to Courture, he entered into
the scheme with all his heart. A COM
pany Of explorers was formed. The
names of the party, at least Of the lead
ing spirits-were Jean Courture, John
Smith. David Maybank, Solomon Le-
gare and Henry Netherton. The
scheme thus concerted, did not on ac-
count of two circumstances, succeed.
One Good who was connected with the
party, was drowned by falling into the
Savannah amongst the rocks, and
James Moore dealt unfair and made
false promises.
Trott Gives Trouble.
The peace and comfort Of the last
days of Blake's administration, were
disturbed by Nicholas Trott. The pre-
else time that Trott came into the col
ony, we are not able to say. On the
5th of February, 1897, the lords pro-
prietors constituted him, during pleas
ure, attorney and advocate general Of
the province south of Cape Fear. BIS
instructions are dated March the 9Th,
1898. At the same time, instructions
were sent to Joseph Blake, the gov
ernor, enjoining upon him to give Trott
all countenance and encouragement
1t would appear that Trott arrived at
Charles Town in the spring Of 1888.
The history Of Nicholas Trott Is in
timately connected with the history Of
South Carolina during this and the
subsequent twenty years. He was
native of the city of London, and had
at one period Of his life been governor
Of the Bahama Islands. When sent to
Charles Town, he was by the proprie-
tors, clothed with very extensive and
very great powers. All the laws pro-
posed by the assembly had to be ex-
amined by him before finally passed.
He had authority to take entries Of all
ships either coming into Charles Town
or going out. All legal matters Of
great Importance were under his con-
troll. According to some historians, 1t
would appear that Nicholas Trott was
the first chief justice of the. state Of
South Carolina. This Is an error. Ed
ward Bohun was, by the proprietors.
constituted chief justice on the 22nd
Of May, 1898. Bohun did not live long.
He and Samuel Marshall the pastor of
the Episcopal church in Charles Town,
together with many Of the provincial
officers and one half Of the members
Of the general assembly, were carried
off in the fall of 1898 by yellow fever.
When Trott became chief Justice 1t Is
not easy to say. It is probable that as
soon as Bohun died. Trott was, by the
governor appointed to fill his place.
Provision was made by the proprietors
for filing the place Of Chief Justice
Bohun in the event he should die. 1t
is probable that the attorney general
was made Chief Justice at this time,
and continued up to 1719.
Quarrel in Council.
Trott was beyond all controversy, a
man OF great learning, no small share
of ambition. and very little stability.
He was on all sides Of the questions
of the day, and really on no side. He
managed to gain the good esteem Of
the populace, and in the fall Of 1890 he
was chosen a member of the general
assembly.
During the conference of some Of
the committee, serious difficulty took
place between Governor Blake and
Trott The governor, as he thought,
was grossly insulted. The conference
was broken up. The whole affair was
brought before the assembly and Trott
managed by his shrewdness, to have
a resolution passed by the assem-
bly,. that any manager appointed by
this house have freedom of speech"
The governor had Trott suspend
ed from exercising the functions
Of the office Of attorney gen.
eral, because he had in several in
stances, acted with partiality. This
was a serious state of things. In the
midst of this commotion, Governor
Blake died. Trott did not find 1t a diff
ficult task to persuade the next assem-
bly, to remove his suspension and re-
store him to office.
TO BE Continued.