The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-08-31
EARLY CAROLINA HISTORY.
An Ancient History That Carries Pro-
foundest Meanings.
By IN. L. Willet.)

! regarding ancient history down IL
Beaufort county. The facts are that
in Beaufort county some of the most
| important history Of the early days
Of this country happened and tc
which no publicity by historical writ
ers has been given. These Beaufort
dates takes priority over and ante
date many national historic events
which happened much, later and
which carried no greater importance
to the nation, but which for some
reason our historical writer's have
given great emphasis. The fact is
that the lime-light has been thrown
upon the wrong object!
Columbus Landed.
Columbus landed in America in
1892 fourteen hundred and ninety
two.) 1t was only twenty-eight years
and thirty-three years after this that
the two Spanish landings took place
on St. Helena, fifteen hundred and
twenty (1520) and fifteen hundred
and twenty-five (1525.)- 1t was only
seventy years after Columbus that
the first colony that landed on Ameri-
can shores occurred-a landing by
the first French Hugenots in America
and who built the first American fort,
namely Charles Fort on Paris Island,
and who, together with the Indians,
built the first American ocean going
ship. The celebrated jamestown,
Virginia landing and the Plymouth,
Massachusetts landing, both by the
>English, occurred respectively fifty
and sixty years after the Paris Is
land landing.
Other Beaufort Facts.
It is most probable that more In
dians of the more civilized type were
congregated in Beaufort county
there were six chiefs in this one coun-
ty-than in any other section OF our
country. Judging by the amount or
Indian corn that was grown and out
in the fields as we grow it and done
four hundred years ago, it is possible
that Beaufort county led all other
sections in this most important crop
which gave the American Indians
their bread.
It is possible that the first great
AGRICULTURAL development in this
country was the rice and Indigo in
dustry in Beaufort county. The
crops we're adapted to Beaufort local
conditions. They were crops used
both for America and for export to
England and were crops so valuable
that these lands sold at that time for
even more per acre than they sell for
today!
Memorials for Shrines.
repeat again that this country,
the State Of South Carolina and our
Revolutionary Societies owe it to the
truth of history to set up an appro-
pirate memorial at Charles Fort,
Paris Island; and the Episcopal
church by all means must take over
and look after and beautify old Shell
don Parish church, richer by far than
any ecclesiastical ruin in the United
States. Mr.. R. H. McCurdy, veal
thy New Yorker who spends his Wint-
ers nearby and who owns these ada
cent lands recently at his own ex-
pense put a fence around the church.
The Leading Factor.
repeat again that it is time for
this nation to know that Beaufort
county was the leading factor in the
early history of this country-his-
toric, CIVIL, social, ecclesiastical and
industrial. Let the nation know that
Beaufort county chronologically fol-
lows Columbus and that these many
other national events so much laud-
ed by our historians, follow Beau
fort!
] wish to return thanks for data
for these comments to Mr.. H. D. Os-
wald, of Andrews, S. c., Messrs. II.
NJ. Stewart, w. R. Eve, Jr., 5. r.
Sherman, L. j. Williams and Captain
Pat Wall, all of Beaufort county.
Some of these gentlemen have, as
has also Mr.. Winthrop Packard, OF
Boston, some exceedingly interesting
photographs as concerning these old
historical days and I would have been
glad to have incorporated some OF
these pictures had space permitted
me to do so.
The Civil War.
The northern army occupied Beau
fort county from the beginning to the
end of the Civil war. The white ma
tives all left the county Lands were
confscated and sold for song to