Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-01
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
From the First Settlement to the Close OF
the Revolution.
From the Ynrkville Enquirer Of 1875
INSTALLMENT XXXV.

INSTALLMENT XXXV.
Early in 1875, Robert Johnson died.
The last law to which he assented, Is
dated April 2S, 1885,, He was succeed
ed by Thomas Broughton. Robert
Johnson was governor Of South Caro-
lima in 1719, when the government OF
the state passed out Of the hands OF the
lproprietors and became royal prov
lince. In 1880, he succeeded Arthur
Middleton as the third royal governor.
Robert Johnson was more than popu-
Ilar-he was universally beloved. TO
Iperpetuate his memory, a monument
was erected at the public expense.
From the inscription over this monu-
ment, we learn the following facts. He
died on the 3rd of May, 1875. aged
fifty-three years. He was the first
captain, general, governor and COM
mander- in chief, and vice-admiral OF
the province of South Carolina after
the purchase of 1t by the King of
England. The marble upon which
these facts are recorded, was given we
learn from the same source. by the
general assembly as a mark Of pecu-
liar esteem and gratitude" He was
buried near ST. Philips church. of
which he was a member.
His successor, Thomas Broughton,
had long been connected with the colo
Inv. In ITO, we find him contending,
as one Of the deputies Of the proprie-
tors, with Robert Gibbes for the office
of governor. Again, we find him speak
er Of the lower house Of the assembly,
under Nicholson and Middleton; and
now in 1875, governor Of South Caro-
lima. Thomas Broughton Is quantity
described as plain honest man, but
little distinguished, either for his
knowledge or valor" He continued In
Office until 1887.
At this time that portion Of the state
south Of a line drawn east and west
across the state, as high up as Kings
Tree, was partially settled. In some
sections of this territory. there were
only a few settlers, and in other sec
tions there were only a few traders.
In 1904 a trader by the name Of Henry
Sterling, established kind Of trading
post on Lyon creek, in the present
county of Orangeburg.
During the administration of
Broughton, as previously, multitudes
continued to pour into the country
from Germany, Ireland, Scotland and
England. All Of them were Protestants
and most of them poor. One Of the
first acts that was passed by the as
sembly after Broughton became gov
ernor, was IAN act to provide a full
supply for subsisting poor Protestants
coming from Europe and settling In
South Carolina" Previously to this the
sum Of 5000 pounds-about $25,0OO-
had been annually appropriated by the
assembly for this purpose: but so great
was the tide of immigration and SO
needy were the immigrants, that this
/ sum was found insufficient. 1t was
proposed that some Of the immigrants
be bound out to masters for term of
years, Dul lLiS piopoSiIioh "e0 INV
acceded to, and a tax was imposed for
the purpose of relieving the poor.
| Charles Town, about this time pre-
sented a very strange spectacle. Hus-
bands were seen carrying all sorts OF
household stuff on their backs, whilst
their wives and children were follow
ing at their heels, each loaded with
something The old settlers were kind,
but so great were the numbers of new
comers that all could not be comfort
ably provided for. Some Of these I'M
migrants were the sons and daughters
of wealthy families, whilst many of
them were from the humber walks of
life. The tyranny Of the governments
of Europe in conjunction with the op-
preston of landlords, drove to South
Carolina some of the best families OF
the Old World.
These immigrants had at first many
things in common. Prominent among
these was the fact that they were,
whatever might be their nationality,
all Protestants. At first the majority
Of the settlers were dissenters. These
dissenters embraced, Baptists, Presby-
| terians, Huguenots and other individ-
uals who, although members Of the
Church of England, were not In full
sympathy with it. The Huguenots who
were what are known in church history
as Geneva Presbyterians, gradually
became almost as a whole, part and
parcel of the Church of England.
Many things made the transition easy.
Their forms of worship in some things
bore a striking resemblance to those
were kindly treated and gently dealt
with by the Society for the Propaga-
ton Of the Gospel in Foreign Ports. -
BY this society ministers who spoke
the French language were furnished to
Huguenots. This had powerful effect
upon the minds of these French immi-
grants. Almost imperceptibly the ma
jority Of them soon became warmly
attached to the Church of England.
In 1898 an effort was made to establish
lcplSCOpdCy dS lut lOlIll VI ltll6loll vi
the province. This law was modified
in 1904, ari Episcopacy became the
established religion up to the time of
the Revolution in 1875. This enabled
Episcopacy to grow and flourish as no
other form of religion could. For this
particular denomination, churches were
built and ministers supported out of
the public treasury. Dissenters not
only had to build their own houses of
worship and support their own pas
tors; but also to contribute their part
to the support of the established
church. At the time that Broughton
was governor of South Carolina the
province was, when we take every
thing into consideration, well supplied
with churches and ministers of the
gospel. With regard to the ministers
it may be said that they were men of
learning and excellent natural endow-
mentS.
At very early period, the settlers
of South Carolina directed their atten-