Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-30

ty houses were erected; but what the
exact number Of the colony was, 1t
is impossible to say with certainty.
In order to increase the growth Of the
town and give 1t an Importance
which II could not otherwise have, the
proprietors ordered that all ships be
loaded and unloadel at 1t. In laying
out the town lot of five acres was
to be laid out for each Of the pro-
prietors, wherever they might see
fit, either in person, or by their
agents to select 1t. Any individual
who took up lot was required to lay
a foundation of a house upon 1t with
in one year and have house erected
upon the foundation within two years.
Any person taking up lot and fail
ing to comply with this requirement,
forfeited all his claim to the lot; and
the Grand Council could grant the
lot to any one else, and he would be
at liberty to build upon 1t. The OBJ
ject Of this proviso. no doubt was to
preclude speculation. Any person
could take up as many lots as he
desired, provided he would build
upon each extra lot within twelve
months, house at least thirty feet
long, sixteen feet wide, and two sto-
ries high, beside garrets.
Immigrants focked In from all
quarters. England, Ireland and the
West Indies and the colonies in the
northern part of North America each
sent its quota, and the town grew
rapidly. Land increased In value.
Within two years after its settlement,
a hundred houses were built. Land
sold for five dollars per acre and
rented for half as much per annum.
Almost from its very foundation, the
town began to assume commercial
aspect. In November, 1880, sixteen
ships-some Of them large for that
period of the world-entered the
harbor at one time.
Heretofore the colony had been
without any church building or reg
ular church organization. A five
acre lot had been reserved, as we
have seen, in one of the contemplated
settlements, for church; but we
have no evidence that any church
was erected upon 1t. In 1882, dur
ing the administration Of Governor
West, the first church In the state
was begun. 1t was Ions called the
English church. It's distinctive name
was st. Philips-now ST. MichaePs.
A law was passed by parliament for
bidding drunkenness and idleness
enjoining the observance Of the Sab
bath.
The saddest event of this period
was the removal of Governor West
from Office. From the first he had
been intimately identified with the
colony in all its movements, and un-
der his wise and prudent manage
ment, 1t had grown and fiourished.
Oldmixon says the reason that West
was removed from Office Of governor.
was because he dealt in Indians and
opposed the proprietary party. There
seems to be some strange incon-
sistency about the charge, which 1t
is not easy to reconcile. The immi-
grants were allowed, from the first
to hold negroes in slavery, and exer-
cfse over them absolute eontrel. It
could not be said that the proprietors
were opposed to slavery. The main
point OF opposition to West was his
religious creed and his political no
tons. The proprietors saw that West
kept the Cavaliers in check. Joseph
Morton succeeded West as governor.
From a letter written to Andrew
Percivall by the proprietors we learn
that Joseph Morton and Landgrave
Axtel, about this time were instru-
mental in bringing five hundred peo-
pie to the colony in less than
months time" 1t is barely possible
that this circumstance influenced the
proprietors to degrade West and ele-
vate Joseph Morton.
TO BE CONTINUED.