The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-25
Extracts From Early South
Carolina History.
From B. r. Carroll's History
OF South Carolina.
printed for County Educational
Department.)
MISSIONARIES, &c.

The province OF South Carolina
showed SO earnest q desire of hav-
ing Ministers Of the Church of Eng
land, upon the first information they
received Of this corporation being
erected, that the society resolved very
early to send missionaries to this
colony, that SO good disposition of
the people might be assisted as soon
as possible. Accordingly, in June
1902, the Reverend Mr.. Samuel Thomas
was sent thither. The society design
ed he should have first attempted the
conversion of the Yammassee Indians,
but the governor, Sir Nathaniel John
son, and several other gentlemen
there, judging 1t not to be proper
season to enter upon this work, he
did not engage in that mission; but
after some small continuance in the
governors family, he was appointed
by Sir Nathaniel Johnson, to cure of
the people settled on the three
branches of Cooper river, Is miles dis
tant from each other; but to make
Goosecreek the chief place Of his resi-
dence. Gooscreek was one of the
largest and populous country towns,
and settled by English families entire
iy well affected to the Church Of Eng
land, and who formerly had for some
time the Reverend Mr.. Corbin for
their minister. The parish is 20 miles
in length, and from to IA in breadth
Mr. Thomas discharged his ministerial
office with very good success, he ac-
quainted the society. that tho his
communicates at first were but 5, they
soon increased to 80; that he had
taken much pains also in instructing
the Negroes, and learned 20 OF them
to read. But In October 17O6, this
worthy missionary died, Gas several
gentlemen of the country wrote word)
very much lamented for his sound
doctrine, exemplary life, and indus
try; after having laid good founda-
ton for his successors, to carry on
the work he had begun.
The society appointed the Reverend
DR.. LIE Jeau to succeed him. Upon his
arrival In the country in l706, he ac-
quainted them, he had met with an
extraordinary kind reception from his
excellency the governor and the chief
Justice, and had received many tokens
Of great civility and goodness from
several worthy persons. The people
were then very busie in providing all
materials for fitting up the church
and parsonage house, which they soon
after complicated He transmitted to
the society an account Of the state
Of his parish and other ncighbouring
settlements wherein he represented
very earnestly, that 1t was the great
est pity imaginable. to sec how many
various opinions had been spread
there, by a multitude of teachers and
expounders Of all sorts and perswa-
sions; and yet he could find very few
that understood Christianity, even as
to the essential parts Of it.; yet the
parents and masters were endued with
much good will, and a ready disposi-
ton, to have their children and SER
wants taught the Christian religion. He
was not only very diligent in his prop
er cure at Gooscreek, but also assist
cd In other places, where a minister
was wanting; the church at Charles
Town being some time after his ar
rival vacant, he used to preach once
month there, where at Easter he
had but "a communicates, tho there
were about 500 persons of age in the
place. He sometimes visited the
French settlement in Orange Quarter
then entirely destitute of minister
and administered the sacraments
among them. This settlement consist
ed Of about 80 families, out Of which
there were SO persons communicates
His own parish had about 100 families
making up 1000 persons. much the
greater number of which were mem
,bers Of the Church OF England. He
performed all parts of his ministerial
duty with great diligence. The first
year Of his mission, he baptized 81
children, the second 10, and the num-
ber Of communicates increased to 35.
He instructed and baptized many Ne
groes and Indian slaves: and whereas
he found several parents had neglect
cd to have their children baptized. be-
cause they paid some duties to the