Narratives of Early Carolina 1660-1708

412 Pages·1911·23.992 MB·English

by  Alexander S. Salley

ORIGINAL NARRATIVES
OF EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
REPRODUCED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
GENERAL EDITOR, J. FRANKLIN JAMESON, PH.D., LL.D.
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH IN THE
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
NARRATIVES OF EARLY CAROLINA
1650 1708

ORIGINAL NARRATIVES
OF EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
NARRATIVES
OF EARLY CAROLINA
165O 1708
EDITED BY
ALEXANDER
SALLEY,
S. JR.
SECRETARYOFTHEHISTORICALCOMMISSIONOFSOUTH CAROLINA
WITH TWO MAPS AND A FACSIMILE
.*
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
NEW YORK
1911
COPYRIGHT, IQII, BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
PUBLISHED APRIL, 1911
i/.//
NOTE
WITH the assistance of Mr. Salley, the general editor makes
the following comments upon the maps reproduced in this volume:
The "Generall Mapp of Carolina," used as frontispiece, isre-
produced from the somewhat larger map (8^ by 6 inches) which
appeared in the first volume of Richard Blome's Description of the
IslandofJamaica, withthe OtherIslandsand TerritoriesinAmerica,
to which the English are Related (London, 1672). It will be ob-
served that it is adorned with the eight coats of arms of the propri-
etors. Of these Mr. Salley says that they "are almost heraldically
correct, but several of the proprietors quartered their family arms
with those of other sides of the respective houses, and their seal of
the province, containing their eight coats of arms, displays these
quarterings." The map extends from Cape Henry in Virginia to
some distance down the coast of Georgia, perhaps as far as the
Altamaha. The portion of it relating to North Carolina may be
compared with the John White map of 1585 or 1586, printed in
the volume of this series entitled Early English and French Voyages,
page 248.
The map as a whole reflects the imperfect knowledge available
in London at the time when it was made. It will be seen that the
compiler has fallen into marked confusion of mind respecting the
position of Charles Town. The first settlement of that name had
been located some twenty or thirty miles up the Cape Fear River.
The Charles Town founded in 1670 was placed on the west side of
Ashley River and before long transferred to the present position
between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Blome's map indicates
"Ashly Riv." near his Charles Town but gives the latter a position
near Cape Fear and not far from the old site on the Cape Fear
River. The proper position of the name Ashley would be against
the river lying between "C. Romano" and "R. Grandy" (the
North Edisto). Another point deserving attention is that Charles
NOTE
vi
Fort, the short-livedHuguenotestablishment,is seton alarge island
east of "S. Hellen's," the two islands being of about the same size;
whereas, as has been explained in one of Mr. Salley's foot-notes,
St. Helena is a large island east of Broad River, while Charles Fort
was on a small island formed by Broad River, Port Royal River,
and Pilot Creek, lying southwesterly from St. Helena.
The plan of Charles Town is reproduced, in the same size as
the original, from an engraving by James Akin, in the second
volume of Ramsay's History of South Carolina (Charleston, 1809).
The plan is indicated by Dr. Ramsay as taken "from a surveyof
Edward Crisp in 1704." The original cannot now be found. It
is perhaps identical with a map which Dr. Ramsay describes in his
History (II. 262) as having been preserved among the papers of
the distinguished family of Prioleau. Some doubt surrounds the
origin of the map. Mr. Salley finds a record in South Carolina,
of date 1716, reciting a grant that had previously been made to
Edward Crisp of London, but finds nothing further to identify
him with South Carolina. He signalizes two errors of fact in the
N
"References" which are placed beneath the map. is marked
as Keating L. Smith's Bridge (wharf). There was Wno Keating L.
Smith at that time; the owner was Keating Lewis. is indicated
as the scene of the first rice patch in Carolina; but Mr. Salley con-
siders this to have no historical foundation. In general, however,
the plan is correct. It may be compared with one by Herman
Moll which constitutes a side map to his Map of the Dominions of
the King of Great Britain in America, 1715.
In Dr. J. L. E. W. Shecut's Medical and Philosophical Essays
"
(Charleston, 1819), there is a chapter (pp. 1-14) Of the original
Topography of Charleston," which follows the lines of this Ramsay
map, with explanations, and identifications of its landmarks with
those of the author's time.
J. F. J.
CONTENTS
NARRATIVES OF EARLY CAROLINA
EDITED BY ALEXANDER S. SALLEY, JR.
PAGE
THE DISCOVERY OF NEW BRITTAINE, 1650 1
INTRODUCTION . 3
PREFACES 5
Sir Walter Raleigh's Observation........ 7
Departure of Expedition 8
Arrival at the Meherrin Town 10
Passage of the Meherrin River 12
Tale of Powhatan'.s Tr.each.ery ........ 14
Journey down the Roanoke River 15
Return Journey 17
FRANCIS YEARDLEY'S NARRATIVE OF EXCURSIONS INTO CAROLINA, 1654 21
INTRODUCTION 23
The Yo'ung Fur-trader's Expedition 25
The Indians visit Yeardley's House 26
Tales of the Tuscaroras 27
...
A RELATION OF A DISCOVERY, BY WILLIAM HILTON, 1664 31
INTRODUCTION 33
.......
Landfall of the Adventure 37
Exploration of the Combahee River 38
Recovery of the English Prisoners 39
....
Correspondence with the Spaniards 42
Exploration of Port Royal and its Neighborhood 43
Of Cape Fear River 45
Of Hilton's River 48
Reprisals on the Indians 50
New England Men disparage the Country 53
Correspondence with the Spaniards 53
Proposals to the First Settlers 57
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROVINCE OF CAROLINA, BY ROBERT
HORNE (?), 1666 63
INTRODUCTION - 65
. . .
General Description of Carolina 66
vii
CONTENTS
viii
.....
PAGE
Particular Description of Cape Fear Region .6687
Productions of Earth, Water, and Air ..... .' * . .71
Privileges to Settlers . . . . f . .
A RELATION OF A VOYAGE ON THE COAST OF THE PROVINCE OF CAR-
.75
OLINA, 1666, BY ROBERT SANDFORD . . . . '
INTRODUCTION 77
Address to the Proprietors .8832
The Port Royal Discovery . . . . . , .
Sandford takes Command; sets out to Explore 85
Explores the North Edisto River ; 87
Visits the Indian Town 90
Explores the South Edisto .9942
Stands out to Sea and incurs great Danger . . . .
Explores St. Helena Sound 96
Explores Port Royal Sound 100
Explores Calibogue Sound ....... 103
Leaves Dr. Woodward with the Indians . . . . . . 105
Lies outside Charleston Harbor 106
Returns to Charles Town (on Cape Fear) 107
Testimonial of the Principal Gentlemen 107
LETTERS OF EARLY COLONISTS, 1670 109
INTRODUCTION Ill
Mr. Mathews's Relation of St. Katherina . . . . . .114
Mr. Carteret's Relation of the Planting at Ashley River . . .116
Letter of Joseph West 120
Letter of Governor Sayle and Council 122
A FAITHFULL RELATION OF MY WESTOE VOYAGE, BY HENRY WOODWARD 125
INTRODUCTION 127
.
Sets forth from Charles Town 130
Crosses the Edisto and the Head of Port Royal River . . . 131
Visits the Westo Town . .. . . . . . . . -. 132
Returns . . . , v . 134
CAROLINA, OR A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THAT COUNTRY,
BY THOMAS ASHE, 1682 *.. -. . V>" ' * 135
INTRODUCTION ., . . . . . * . . . . 137
Preface -. . . 138
The Origin of Carolina . . . . . . . . .140
The Soil, Trees, and Vines 141
Gardens and Vegetables 145
Ambergris 148
Animals and Birds 149
. .
Fish, Turtles, and Alligators 152