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MEMORrM. US8ASV UNIVERSITY Of ^iTTSWftGK
THE HISTORY
OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
WILLIAM & WAKY ISLINGTON
MEMORIAL LIBRARY UNIVEfiStTY Of PITYSfSURQM
THE
HISTORY
JVOHTH CAROLINA.
BT
HUGH WILLIAMSON, M.D. LL.D.
Hi
Member of the Holland Society of Sciences, of the Society of Arts and Sciences of Utrecht, of the American Philosophical Society, Sec.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
PHILADELPHIA:
PUBLISHED BY THOMAS DOBSON, AT THE STONE HOUSE,
NO. 41, SOUTH SECOND STREET.
Fry and Kammever, Printers.
1812.
331^
DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, to wit:
»#*#*** BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twentieth
*L. S.* day of May in the thirty -sixth year of the Indepen-
»♦##*## dence of the United States of America, A. D. 1812,
Thomas Dobson, of the said district, hath deposited in this office
the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in
the words following to wit:
"The History of North Carolina. By Hugh Williamson, M. D. LL<D. Member of the Holland Society of Sciences, of the Society of Arts and Sciences of Utrecht, of the American Philosophical Society, &c. In two volumes. Vol. I."
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, intituled, " An act for the encouragement of learning, by secu- ring the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned.'* And also to the act, entitled, " An act supplementary to an act, entitled, ' An act for the encouragement of learning, by secu- ring the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, en- graving, and etching historical and other prints."
D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the district of Pennsylvania
PREFACE.
AN collecting materials for the history of North Carolina, little information could be obtained from any accounts that have been published, of the British colonies, or either of them. Hackluyt, Purchass. and other ancient writers, have been suf- ficiently minute in describing the first discoveries, and the attempts that were made to form settlements on different parts of the continent: but no writer has treated, with any attention, of the pro- gress of colonization or the civil history of North Carolina, from the time in which the first permanent settlements were formed in that country. vTynn, Oldmixon, and others, who wrote of Carolina, have done little more than name the northern province: their attention was chiefly en-
vi PREFACE.
gaged by South Carolina. Such were the effects of a good port and a large town, where the commerce of the province cen- tered, the produce was shipped, and the principal inhabitants usually resided. My information has chiefly been taken from public records, and from letter books, or other manuscripts in the possession of ancient families.
The books that contain the proceedings of the governor's council, the journals of the legislative assembly, and other docu- ments that remain in all the public offi- ces in the state, have been consulted. Information, little to be expected from such records, has also been obtained from dockets of the supreme courts. Extracts of laws that were never printed, powers of attorney, copies of affidavits, and much heterogeneous matter, were inserted in those dockets, in the infant state of the colony, beside a general abstract of the
PREFACE. vii
pleadings. The late C. Pollock, was pleas- ed to favour me with the letter book of his ancestor, who had been thirty years deputy to one of the lords proprietors, and governed the province, at different periods, as president of the council. I am also indebted to the letter book of Alex- ander Spotswood, who was lieutenant go- vernor of Virginia, near the beginning of the eighteenth century. General Wad- dell, who deservedly possessed the confi- dence of Governor Dobbs and governor Tryon, used to preserve every letter and instruction directed to him, while he serv- ed the province in a civil or military ca- pacity. His descendents, in the most obliging manner, were pleased to send me all the documents of a public nature, that had been found in his cabinet. I have received much information, on detached subjects, from some of the most ancient and respectable citizens in the state, who continue to serve the country, and from
via PREFACE.
others who have lately been numhered with the great majority.
A gentleman, from Bern in Switzer- land, had the goodness to furnish me with a large file of letters, in a corrupt German language, written hy the Baron de Graf- fenried, respecting Carolina.
Of the debates that have arisen be- tween the several governors and the le- gislative assemblies, and the disputes be- tween the proprietary agents and the peo- ple, I was furnished with copious details. If I had been disposed to record disputes that originated in pride, resentment, the spirit of party, avarice or a dishonest temper, I might have swelled this work to a considerable bulk. Such details of follies and vices cannot be interesting. Some papers however, will be found among the Proofs and Explanations, that Jiad no claim to being copied, except that
PREFACE. ix
occasional specimens may be acceptable, as they help to illustrate the manners and spirit of the times.
There are chasms in the journals, and records remaining in the secretary's of- fice, that were obviously occasioned by public commotions. Those defects would have been most conveniently supplied, by reference to records in a public office in London. Much research became neces- sary, to supply, as far as possible, those accidental defects. The governors lived, and the assemblies met, at so many places, that ancient records are greatly scattered. Copies of instructions to the governors are sometimes entered on the journals of the councils; but copies are missing of some laws that have not been printed. Mr. Chalmers in his " Annals of the United Colonies," availed himself of the papers that are in the plantation office. He promised a continuance of vol. i. b
x PREFACE.
those annals. It was a ministerial work, written during the revolution war; and the apparent ohject was to prove that the colonists had no claim to being exempted from taxation by the British parliament. But that question being settled, by the treaty of peace, the further labors of Mr. Chalmers, in that field, were not required. As I wished to get a copy of certain papers, that come under the Carolina head, I hoped, for the reason stated, that Mr. Chalmers, who was employed as a clerk in a public office, would furnish my friend with a copy, or assist him in ob- taining one. He would do neither; but threatened to interfere, if application should be made to the head of the proper department.
It was known that John Archdale, for- merly a proprietor and governor of Ca- rolina, had published some account of the province, in the year 1707; but that book
PREFACE. xi
is not to be purchased in London. A gen- tleman who had formed a library, con- sisting of every publication respecting American affairs, or visits made by Brit- ish subjects to other parts of the world, gave that library to '; the Society for pro- pagating the gospel in foreign parts." The library, to save storage, was removed to Gresham college; but the librarian died and the books were dispersed. Mr. Archdale's work, and sundry other publica- tions of that period, are only to be found at present in the British museum. Doc- tor, Romayne, who ten years ago was in London, in the most obliging manner caused copies to be made of all the valu- able information, that is contained in Mr. Archdale's work, or in two other small books, respecting North Carolina, that were published about the end of the seventeenth century. Those copies he sent me.
xii PREFACE.
The natural history of Carolina, or an account of its animal, vegetable, and fos- sil productions, would form of itself a work of considerable magnitude; but this is less desired by the inhabitants of the state, who rather wish to know what were the difficulties under which their ances- tors struggled, and the steps by which the colony attained its present rank among the states.
I have confined myself to this part of the history, although it was the less pleasing task; for it is a history of disas- ters, misrule, and oppression; a more constant succession of grievances, than fell to the lot of any other colony.
Having observed that some military transactions in the southern states, du- ring the revolution war, had not been cor- rectly detailed, and finding much reason to complain, that North Carolina had not
PREFACE. xiii
obtained, from any writer, the credit she deserved for her exertions on that occa- sion, I proposed to bring the history of the state down to the year 1790, and had collected materials for that purpose. But considering that the history of the province may be acceptable to many people, who are less solicitous about late military transactions, which continue to live in the memory; considering also that the extent or value of the services rendered by North Carolina cannot be fairly estimated, without taking a general view of the other military operations du- ring the war, an arduous work, I desisted from my original plan.
A copy of this history was prepared; many years ago; but I was not in haste, for sundry reasons, to send it to the press. In case I had been called away, the publication, as I thought, might have been trusted with great safety to my
xiv PREFACE.
oldest son: a young man, whose moral and christian virtues, could not be prais- ed above his merits. But it pleased his heavenly Father lately to remove him to " a house not made with hands." In this case I deemed it proper to have the work published without further delay.
New York, June, 1812.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Different nations attempt to form settlements in the coun- try, now called Carolina — A general view of the origi- nal colonists. — Columbus made his discoveries at a fortunate period. — Former adventurers to America are little known. — The original discoverers of North and South America are equally forgotten. — Adventurers from different nations succeed Columbus. — John Cabot, in the service of Henry the Seventh, explores the coast. — Ponce de Leon, in the service of Spain, dis- covers Florida. — Verezano, in the service of France, discovers Carolina. — A colony of French Huguenots attempt a settlement in Carolina, but are destroyed by the Spaniards. Their Spanish executioners are destroy- ed also, - - - - - Page 1
CHAPTER II.
Walter Raleigh obtains a patent for planting in North America, and sends a colony to take possession. — They land to the westward of Cape Hatteras. — They trade in a friendly manner with the Indians. — Returned
xvi CONTENTS.
home they make a favorable report of the country. — Raleigh sends out a second colony, who insult the na- tives, and settle on Roanoke island. — The governor ex- plores the country and searches for gold. — His progress is checked by the natives. — An Indian chief meditates the destruction of the colony. — His schemes are dis- covered and he is killed. — The colony is visited by Sir Francis Drake, with whom they return to England. — A third colony arrives, and a few of them remain to keep possession of the country, but are destroyed. — A fourth colony is sent out with orders to enter by Chesapeak bay. — They are landed at the former inlet, and compelled to settle on Roanoke island, by the per- fidy of a mariner. — They send their governor to En- gland to solicit supplies.— Some years elapse, by reason of the Spanish war, before the governor returns, and when returned he could not find the colony. — Raleigh in the mean time, assigns to a company in London, the right of trading to Virginia, and attempts in vain to dis- cover the colony. — The first emigrants were bad plan- ters, ._----- £5
CHAPTER III.
King James grants to other persons the lands that had been granted to Raleigh. — A colony arrives in Chesa- peak bay, and settles near the mouth of James' river. — The spirit of jealousy and discord pervade the colo- ny.— Captain Smith fortunately becomes governor, but
CONTENTS. xvii
he is taken prisoner by the Indians.— His life is saved by Pocahontas the emperor's daughter. — The London company send out more colonists, who are idle and turbulent. — A small settlement is formed near the head of Nansamond river. — The whole colony is nearly destroyed by intemperance. — More adventurers come out. — The emperor's daughter is married to one of the colonists. — A new settlement is formed on Nansa- mond.— Virginia becomes a regal government. — Peo- ple who are driven from the old settlement by intole- rant laws, remove to the waters of Albemarle sound, and purchase land from the Indians, - - 67
CHAPTER IV.
A charter is granted by Charles the Second, to eight lords and gentlemen, for part of the country that had been called Virginia The new province is called Ca- rolina.— A government is formed for the settlers near Albemarle sound. — Another government is formed for settlers on Clarendon river, near Cape Pear. — Drum- mond is appointed governor of Albemarle county. — Peo- ple are encouraged to settle by liberal promises. — The first settlers on Clarendon river are driven off by the Indians. — They are replaced by a colony from Barba- does, of whom sir John Yeamans is made the gover- nor.— The tenure of land in Albemarle is improved by
a new charter. — A colony settles at Port Royal A
new and impracticable form of government is project- Vol. I. c
xviii CONTENTS.
ed for Carolina — Charleston becomes the seat of government for the southern colony. — Stevens is ap- pointed governor of Albemarle. — Laws are made to encourage population. — Miller, a turbulent man, is sent to Virginia, to be tried for seditious practices. — Cart- wright is appointed governor of Albemarle He re- tires, and Eastchurch, then in England, is appointed governor of the county, and Miller his deputy. — Mil- ler rigidly discharging his duty, is imprisoned by the advice of a factious demagogue. — The rioters seize the treasury, and assume the government. — East- church arriving, is not permitted to exercise the go- vernment.— He dies before he can raise troops to subdue the insurgents. — The rioters appeal to the pro- prietors with fictitious complaints. — Their leader is ar- rested in England and tried, 88
CHAPTER V.
Sothel, a proprietor, is appointed governor. — Harvey is deputy governor. — Sothel, on his passage to Carolina, is taken prisoner by the Algerines — Jenkins admin- isters the government. — The colony is distracted by anarchy and violence. — Sothel arrives in Carolina, and becomes a scourge to the colony. — He is compelled to resign the government. — The number of colonists de- creases greatly, by the continuance of anarchy. — Lud- well, a proprietor and governor, attempts the redress of grievances. — Archdale, a proprietor, is appointed governor of the province. — He restores order to the
CONTENTS. xix
colonies. — Walker becomes president of the council. — Cary is made deputy governor. — Settlements are form- ed to the southward of Albemarle. — Payments are made in country produce, instead of cash, at fixed prices. — The laws are not printed. — There was no re- ligious establishment for many years.— .Glover admin- isters the government, as president of the council. — Cary resists the government, by an armed force. — Hyde is appointed governor — Cary's partisans are dispersed, - - - - 135
CHAPTER VI. A colony of French huguenots settle on Trent river.—- A colony of persecuted and distressed Palatines settle at Newbern.— The Indians have decreased greatly, since the arrival of the first colonists. — As the settle- ments extend, the Indians become more jealous.— The Indians seize Lawson the surveyor general, and Graffenried. — They put Lawson to death — The In- dians attempt a general massacre, and destroy many of the Inhabitants. — An Indian war becomes general. — Some Indians are killed; and a shameful peace is made by the commanding officer. — Pollock, as president of the council, administers the government.— The In- dians renew the war. — Another army marches against them. — Eight hundred Indians are made prisoners; and the Indians sue for peace. — The colony is greatly reduced by Cary's rebellion, and the Indian war, I 78
ERRATA. VOL.1.
Page 41, line 9th, for Oceam, read Occam.
68, 17th, for twenty-fourth, read the twenty -fourth,
85, 7th, for Matrovers, read Matravers.
VOL. II.
Page 18, , 19th, for or, read on. 55, 4th, for S. read Gr.
80, 4th, for Bloden, read Bladen,
96, 2lst, for Bertil, read Bertie. for Tyrnel, read Tyrrel. 142, 3rd, for crown, read Craven.
THE HISTORY
OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER I.
OF THE DISCOVERIES MADE IN AMERICA FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF EUROPE.
JM O permanent settlement was formed, in any part of North America, for many years after it had been discovered. The coast was explored by adventurers from different nations, and the country was claimed by the several princes to whom
VOL. T. A
2 THE HISTORY OF
they severally belonged, but one disaster or another prevented either of the claim- ants, from keeping possession. Sir Walter Raleigh was the first adventurer, who at- tempted to plant an English colony upon this continent. His attempts did not suc- ceed according to his zeal and expecta- tions; for his ships found no safety in the waters of North Carolina; but he gave rise to a spirit of enterprise and an extensive knowledge of the country. Other bays and rivers were discovered, and colonies were planted in the vicinity of better harbours, where they might take root in safety. Many years after Carolina had been discovered, after one colony and another had been expelled or destroyed, after settlements had been formed in other districts to the north- ward, some industrious people, removing from a stubborn soil or from the tyranny of unequal laws, seated themselves upon the waters of Albemarle sound; 'upon the
NORTH CAROLINA. 3
waters first explored by Sir Walter Ra- leigh, and among the natives. When a colony had sprung up in this manner, a charter was obtained, by sundry lords and gentlemen, for a large tract of coun- try, including the soil and seigniory. The province was then called by its present name.
The adventures of small parties of ci- vilized men among savage tribes in the wilderness, cannot be very interesting to the reader; but as the first English colony, that visited this continent, seat- ed themselves upon Roanoke island in North Carolina, it may be expected that, in giving the history of this pro- vince, we should give a detail of the se- veral incidents that led to its perfect es- tablishment. By looking back to the first discovery of this country, and taking a short view of the attempts that were made, by different nations, to keep it in
4 THE HISTORY OF
their possession, we shall be enabled to form a proper estimate of the difficulties that presented themselves to the first co- lonists; and we shall the better under- stand, in what manner the province was eventually settled.
It will hardly he disputed that America had been visited once and again, by peo- ple from Asia and Europe, before the age of Columbus; though none of the former adventurers have acquired celebrity by their achievements. There was a coin- cidence of fortunate circumstances, that caused the discoveries of Columbus to be regarded as miraculous, and prosecuted with a degree of zeal, little short of en- thusiasm. The use of the magnetic com- pass had lately been discovered in Eu- rope; and the spirit of navigation and commercial enterprise was cherished, at that epoch, by means unknown to former generations. The nations of Europe were
NORTH CAROLINA. 5
just emerging from a state of ignorance and barbarity; for the art of printing bad lately been invented; and men, who had long been exercised in the destructive art of war, began to wish for some more useful employment. If Columbus was not the first adventurer, who returned to his own country, he was probably the first who returned with specimens of gold and other precious articles, which never fail to excite cupidity. The Tartars, who migrated by an easy passage to the west- ern coast of North America, may have communicated for many years with their native country; but there was nothing se- ductive in the appearance of the land they had discovered. It was chiefly re- commended by plentiful game for the support of indolence; and it was a refuge from domestic troubles.
Those adventurers, whoever they may have been, whether more or less mime-
6 the history en-
rolls, had not any great object in view; and their history is buried in the dark vale of oblivion.
" Ignotis perierunt mortibus illi."
The names of princes, true or fabulous, who first established governments in dif- ferent parts of the other continent, may be traced from ancient records; but small as the empires, or rude as the nations may have been, who are thus recorded in his- tory, we constantly find that other people, whose origin is not discovered, had been living in each of those countries before such governments were established. The first adventurers to America are not more completely sunk in obscurity than the first settlers in the greater part of Af- rica, Asia, and Europe. The eastern coast of North America was visited by Erick a Norwegian, near one thousand years ago; but he was not the first hardy ad-
NORTH CAROLINA. 7
venturer, who discovered that country.* He found a race of savages there. High northern or southern latitudes are hadly fitted to cultivation; nor do they abound in the most desirable game. People, who live in such climates, must be chiefly supported by the gifts of the ocean. For it is known that fish abound in high latitudes; and the natives of cold cli- mates, by living on the water, in quest of food, are observed to acquire habits that are nearly amphibious.
It is not strange that America should have been frequently visited by such people, since it is not far distant from either shore of the other continent; but the history of those visits could not be the subject of public attention. The discovery of a few wild grapesf did not excite the
* See Proofs and Explanations^ A. t See Proofs and Explanations, B.
8 THE HISTORY OF
avarice of Eriek's cotemporaries, nor of those who had gone hefore him; and the furs, in which they dealt, were found in all high latitudes. The first navigators, who discovered South America, were not less enterprising than Columhus. Those men sailed to a country at three times the distance;* but they had fewer won- ders to relate. They had not discovered a new race of men, for wild beasts were the only inhabitants; nor could they tell, that the earth teemed with silver and gold; for those treasures had not been opened. Whoever those adventurers may have been; however great their genius and enterprise; they have fallen a prey to dumb forgetfulness. They wanted letters or historians to preserve their fame. The wisdom of Solon, and the virtues of Scipio, have been celebrated by many a pen, while the founders of greater em-
* See Proofs and Explanations, B.
NORTH CAROLINA. 9
pires and greater conquerors, have pass- ed away like evening meteors.
« Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear."
The visit of Columbus was made at a fortunate period; and it was made to a country that promised ease and riches. The first adventurers to a new country have seldom discovered any thing more tempting than a subject for industry, or a field for labour; but Columbus had disco- vered a country that was already settled; and the plunder of the natives might produce war without hazard, and wealth without labour.
After Columbus had tendered his serT vices to Genoa his native country, to Por- tugal, and to Spain, without success, he sent his brother Bartholomew with a tender of his services to the king of England; but his brother suffered ship-
vol. I. b
10 THE HISTORY OF
wreck on his passage; and some years elapsed before he made his application to Henry the seventh. That prince cannot be said to have countenanced the project; for he gave no proofs of his approbation before Christopher had sailed on his se- cond expedition to America. The world is indebted to the benevolence, the gene- rosity and liberal sentiments of a woman, for one of the most useful discoveries that ever was made. A discovery that has already given birth to millions, who are the most prosperous, and should be, if they duly estimated their advantages, the most happy of the human race. We are indebted to Isabella of Spain for the ex- pedition of Christopher Columbus. Her husband Ferdinand, the king, would not countenance the measure; and she pledg- ed her jewels to procure the necessary outfits.
NORTH CAROLINA. H
If the princes in Europe, who had little money or limited conceptions, were deaf to the proposals of Columbus when he offered his services to search for a new country, thos<- very princes, after he had made the discovery, seem to have been equally solicitous to obtain a share in the profits. The English, the French, and Portuguese, were ready to assist the Span- iards in reaping the golden harvest: the Spaniards alone had the fortune, I shall not call it good fortune, to pitch upon the chief sources of silver and gold.
Christopher Columbus discovered one of the Bahama islands, now called Cat* island, the eleventh of October 1492. After visiting Cuba and Hispaniola, he returned to Spain.
John Cabot, a Venetian in the service of Henry the seventh, sailed from Bristol in the year 1496, with four ships, in quest
12 THE HISTORY OF
of land to the westward.* Lest he should interfere with the claims of Spain, he held a northern course. In that direction he discovered Newfoundland and the northern part of this continent; which he traced, from a high degree of latitude, until he came to the thirty eighth; from which he returned to England,t his pro- visions failing. Henry did not think fit to prosecute those discoveries; and many years elapsed before other attempts were made, by English subjects, in America.
Florida was discovered in the year 1502, by an accident that would be class- ed among fables, not with correct history,
* Bacon's History of Henry the Seventh.
t It is fully ascertained that John Cabot carried over the turkey from America. That bird, before his time had not been known in any part of the old continent. The French then called it, with some propriety, as they con- tinue to call it, coq d'Indie, the cock from India; for Ame-
NORTH CAROLINA. 13
if the foibles and follies of men did not compel us to believe many other stories equally at variance with nature and sense. The diligent and persevering search for the philosopher's stone, had long been the opprobrium of chemistry; and many a visionary at this hour continues in chase of the perpetual motion: a thing impossible in nature. It had been report- ed, a few years after the discovery of America, that there was a fountain in Bimini, one of the Bahama islands, that had the marvellous and happy power of restoring youth and vigor to aged per- sons, who should bathe in its waters. Jean Ponce de Leon, a wealthy but aged in- habitant of Porto Rico, believed the story, and sailed in quest of the grand restorative. Stretching to the westward, he discovered land in March, the sabbath
rica at first was called West India. The English alone whimsically called the bird a turkey.
14 THE HISTORY OP
before Easter, which the Spaniards call Pasqua de Mores; for which reason he called the country Florida. Ponce de Leon dipped himself in every stream or foun- tain that he saw. No brahman or mahom- edan could match him in ablutions; but he returned an older man. Failing in his attempts to recover youth, he resolved to increase his wealth, at the expense of the natives. For this purpose he ob- tained a commission, by which he Avas authorized to conquer and govern the country he had discovered. In the year 1513 he arrived on the coast of Florida with a considerable body of men; but in a short time he sustained a furious at- tack by the Indians, in which the greater part of his troops were cut off. With the survivors he arrived in Cuba. Those ad<- ventures of Ponce de Leon were sup- posed to vest, in the crown of Spain, a sufficient claim to all the country that was then called Florida.
NORTH CAROLINA. 15
John de Verezano, a Florentine in the service of Francis the first, sailed from Britanny, in January 1524, to make dis- coveries in America. He touched the continent near the thirtieth degree of north latitude, and called the country Mocosa; taking possession of it in the name of the king of France. He stretch- ed along the coast to the northward, touched at Sandy Hook and Rhodeisland, and left the coast near the fiftieth de- gree of latitude. He died on his return to France; and his discoveries were not prosecuted for many years: they served nevertheless as the foundation of the claims of France to a considerable part of this continent.
The misfortunes of Ponce de Leon, and of Lucas d'Aillon, a subsequent governor, whose men were cut off nearly in the same manner, did not prevent the Spaniards from making further at^
16 THE HISTORY OF
tempts on the coast of Florida. Fer- dinand de Soto landed there in May 1539, with six hundred men, and two hundred horses. This adventurer had served with Pizarro in South America, and shared in the spoils of Peru. He came in quest of gold, not with any de- sign to plant a colony. From the coast of Florida he travelled to the westward, and passed the second winter among the Chickesaw Indians, who had the ad- dress to get some of his horses. From the Chickesaw country, he crossed the Mississippi, and continuing his researches to the westward, he died upon Red Biver. The remains of his army escaped by the Mississippi, in small vessels of their own construction. Such was the issue of the first visits that were made on the coast of Florida, which included Georgia and Carolina. No attempt had been made to establish a colony, nor had any Spanish adventurer in that age
NORTH CAROLINA. 17
reconciled himself to the thoughts of labour. Their object was gold, which was to be acquired by plundering the natives, or by the labour of those unfortu- nate people when reduced to slavery.
When the controversy in France be- tween the Huguenots and Catholics had become serious, admiral Coligni, who was of the reformed church, turned his attention towards North America, as a future asylum, in case of necessity, for a persecuted sect. In pursuit of that ob- ject, he despatched captain Ribault with two ships, and every thing necessary for planting a colony. That officer, finding a good harbour, landed at Port Royal, that now belongs to South Carolina, where he built a place of defence and returned to France, leaving twenty or thirty men to keep possession of the country; but they also returned to France the next year. Coligni prevailed on the king, in the
vol. i. c
18 THE HISTORY OF
year 1564, to fit out three other ships under the command of Laudonnier, who had formerly sailed with Ribault. The Indians expressed great joy at his ar- rival. He built a new fort which he call- ed Charles, sent back the ships, and re- tained one hundred men, with whom he explored the country, and began to plant. But his people, impatient of labour like all the first adventurers, discovered a gold mine, as they alleged, by art ma- gical, and compelled him to dig for the precious metal. This officer, being unable to govern a seditious colony, and greatly distressed by the want of pro sons, pre- pared to leave the country about the first of August 156 5; but he was prevented by the arrival of Ribault, who brought troops and planters, with their wives and children. Ribault had been appointed go- vernor of the colony; but his administra- tion was of short continuance: for the colo- ny was entirely composed of Huguenots;
NORTH CAROLINA. 19
and Philip the second, of Spain, had resolv- ed, that a colony of heretics should not take root in America. Don Pedro Melan- des, a bigot not less cruel and intolerant than his master, was appointed governor of Florida. This officer arrived on the coast with three hundred soldiers and twenty-six hundred planters. They seem to have been the first Spanish adven- turers in that region, who had any thoughts of agriculture. They landed at an inlet, a few miles to the southward of Fort Charles. Ribault, very impru- dently, embarked in the month of Sep- tember with his best troops to attack the Spaniards. He was overtaken the next day by a storm, that proved fa- tal to ships and men. A few days after that disaster, the Spaniards, coming by land to the fort, assailed it sword in hand. Laudonnier made a gallant de- fence, but was overpowered by num- bers $ and the fort was taken. While the
20 THE HISTORY OF
Spaniards were diverted by plunder, that officer escaped with eighteen or twenty men, in a small vessel that lay in the harbour. The rest of the garrison, with all the women and children, were put to the sword,* except fifteen, who were hung on the nearest trees. Lest it should be unknown, that so many executions had been caused by a spirit that was falsely called religion, the following inscription was found near the bones of those un- fortunate victims:
" They were hung as Lutherans, not as Frenchmen."
Justice, though she often halts in her pace, was not long in overtaking these merciless bigots. Guerges of Gascony,f
* In a petition to king Charles of France, by some of the widows and children of the men who fell on that occasion, the number massacred is said to have been nine hundred.
t Guerges had formerly served with distinction in Italy against the Spaniards, by whom he was taken prisoner, and compelled to work as a slave on board a galley. The
NORTH CAROLINA. 21
a private gentleman, in the true spirit of chivalry, fitted out three ships at his own expense, and sailed in quest of Me- landes and his companions with one hun- dred and fifty soldiers and eighty sea- men. He entered a small harbour, fifteen leagues to the northward of Port Royal, about the middle of April 1568. The Spaniards, after repairing Fort Charles, had erected two other forts on the same river, at two or three miles distance, The old fort was garrisoned by one hun- dred and sixty men, and each of the new forts by seventy men. Guerges was accompanied by a man who had served with Laudonnier, and proved to be a useful interpreter. The Indians were taught the object of the expedition; and
vessel in which he served was taken by the Turks, and retaken by the knights of Malta, by whom he was set at liberty. From that time he followed the sea, and became an expert navigator.
22 THE HISTORY OF
they tendered their services with the ut- most alacrity.; for the cruelty of the Spaniards had excited universal indig- nation. Guerges surprised one of the small forts at the dawn of day, and put all the garrison, except fifteen, to death. Pursuing his success while the panic was strong, he attacked the other small fort, and took it by storm. This garrison was also put to the sword, except fifteen, who were reserved for the gibbet. The old fort was strong and well provided. To attack such a garrison as it contain- ed, with an inferior number of regular troops, was a hazardous enterprise. The Indians were not ignorant of the danger. One of their chiefs told Guerges, as they advanced towards the fort, that he ex- pected to fall in battle, but he confided that the captain would give his wife the presents intended for him. In that case she would be enabled to celebrate his death; and he would be welcome in the
NORTH CAROLINA. 23
land of spirits. Fame and fear had mag- nified the number of French combatants. As they drew near the fort, the Spanish governor detached fifty men to recon- noitre. Their retreat was cut off by strat- agem; and they were put to death. The troops in the fort, panic-struck by that execution, fled to the woods; but the woods were filled with hostile Indians. Death was inevitable. They returned and surrendered. Fifteen of this garrison were also reserved for the gibbet; the rest were put to the sword. Near the graves of the men thus retaliated on, there was set up an inscription to in- form posterity that
" They were hung as Traitors, Robbers and Murderers, not as Spaniards or mariners."
Having destroyed the fort, Guerges brought off the plunder, and arrived at Eochelle in June. If the courage of that Gascon had been vtempered with hu-
24 THE HISTORY OF
manity, his zeal and patriotism would have entitled him to lasting honours.
The pretensions of France and Spain to the possession of Carolina, at this pe- riod, were nearly alike. The greater part of America was claimed by Spain, because an officer in the service of that government had discovered three or four islands and a small part of the con- tinent. France claimed Carolina, because two or three mariners in the service of that government had surveyed the coast, and given names to some rivers and bays. Both nations had attempted to form settlements in the country; and they had both been disappointed. In a few years we shall find another claimant.
CHAPTER II.
SIR WALTER RALEIGH ATTEMPTS TO SETTLE A COLONY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
WE have seen that Newfoundland and a considerable part of the continent were discovered at an early period, by Cabot, in the service of Henry the Seventh; but that prince did not think fit to prosecute those discoveries. Not that Henry was less desirous than other monarchs to ex- tend his empire or increase his trea- sures; for he acquired wealth, On sundry occasions, by fraudulent means. But Ca- bot had found no evidence of riches among the Indians. He had seen neither gold nor silver among the numerous tribes who lived near the coast; and Henry was not willing to expend his
vol. i. n
26 THE HISTORY OF
own treasures with the distant hope of increasing commerce and enriching his subjects. It happened that Portugal was extending her discoveries and commerce to the eastward, along the coast of Af- rica, at the very period in which Ame- rica was discovered by Columbus. In that case, it was not improbable, that the claims of those nations might in- terfere; for Portugal had obtained an ex- tensive grant from the pope of Rome. To prevent any possible interference, his holiness, who doubtless had the same right to bestow earthly kingdoms as seats in paradise, was pleased to limit his grant to Portugal, by such lands as they should discover to the eastward of a cer- tain meridian, passing through the At- lantic. He gave the king of Spain all that he should discover to the westward of that line. Henry the Seventh may have desisted from American discoveries, lest he should interfere with the Spanish
NORTH CAROLINA. Q2
monarch, whose friendship he cultivated, and whose daughter he sought in mar- riage for his eldest son. It may he recol- lected, that his successor, Henry the Eighth, employed much of his time in the gratification of his passions; and his immediate successors, Edward and Mary, paid little attention to foreign objects. The comprehensive mind of queen Elizabeth cherished every project, by which her navy might be strengthen- ed and her commerce extended; neither did she fear or flatter the king of Spain. In the year 1579 she was pleased to grant a patent to sir Humphrey Gil- bert, by which he was authorized to search for and discover remote heathen- ish and barbarous lands; to settle, for- tify and govern the same. Having ob- tained that patent, sir Humphrey sailed directly for Newfoundland; but he re- turned without forming any settlement. He was accompanied on that expedi-
28 THE HISTORY OF
tion by sir Walter Raleigh, who was his half-brother. He sailed a second time for Newfoundland in the year 1583; and Raleigh, in the ardent spirit of ad- venture, sailed with him in another ship. But a malignant fever breaking out, in a few days, on board that ship, Raleigh was obliged to return. Gilbert arrived in Newfoundland; but he was lost on his return to England, and his projects failed.
Sir Walter Raleigh, not discouraged by the misfortunes of his brother, re- solved to attempt a colony in the new world. But the inhospitable island that he had seen was not the object of his ambition: he proposed to plant in a warmer climate on the continent. Ra- leigh had served the queen of Navarre a considerable time, in France. On that occasion he became acquainted with all the discoveries that had been made by
NORTH CAROLINA. 29
French or Spanish adventurers, on the southern coast; and the claims or pro- jects of Coligni, the only adventurer he could respect, were buried with himself in the dust. He obtained a patent, in March 1584, for such lands as he should discover, not in the possession of any christian prince or people.* It was pro- vided by the patent, that no settlement should be formed, by any other person, within two hundred leagues of the place or places, which he might cause to be settled within six years. The grant was very extensive; and lie took care that it should not be forfeited by delay. In little more than four weeks he despatched two small vessels, under the command of expert mariners, to take possession of the coun- try. They touched at the Canary islands and the West Indies in their passage.
"•See Abstract C.
30 THE HISTORY OF
This was originally deemed to be the proper course to North America, for the benefit of the trade winds.* They got soundings the second of July; and stretch- ing to the northward, under an easy sail, they cast anchor the fourth of Julyf in the mouth of an inlet, which they took for a river. After returning thanks for a safe passage, they took possession of the country for queen Elizabeth. The land was sandy; but every tree and shrub was loaded with grapes; and the low ground was covered with tall cedars.
* It has been observed that the northwest winds pre- vailed on the coast of North America, when the first co- lonies were planted, more than they do at present, nearly as three to one; therefore the passages from Europe, in high latitudes, at that period, were usually very long.
t They sailed 27th of April 1584. They touched at the Canaries 4th of May, at the West Indies 10th of June, and landed in North Carolina the 4th of July. This has become a memorable day in the United States.
NORTH CAROLINA. 31
They soon discovered that they were on an island about twenty miles long, which the Indians called Wokokon. On the third day after their arrival, three of the natives, for the first time, appeared on the beach and received some pre- sents. On the following day, forty or fifty Indians approached the ships. They left their canoes at a small distance in a cove, and presented themselves on the beach. Granganimo the sachem was among those Indians: his rank appeared by his deportment. He took his seat upon a long mat; and four of his chief men seated themselves upon the other end of the mat. The rest of the Indians stood at a respectful distance. The mas- ters of the ships landed, with some of their people, in arms. The prince made them signs to seat themselves near him. He then touched his head and breast, and afterwards touched theirs, to signify his desire of mutual confidence and
32 THE HISTORY OF
friendship; and he made a long speech, which they wished in vain to understand. They gave him sundry presents, which he received thankfully; and they gave presents to the officers who attended him, but the prince took the whole to himself. On the next day, a profitable trade was opened with the natives. Twenty skins, to the value of twenty crowns, were purchased for a tin dish, and other articles in proportion. After some days, Granganimo introduced his wife and some of his children. She was ornamented with strings of pearls, and wore a cloak and apron of skins dressed in the fur. When the ships had been some time at their anchorage, one of the captains, with seven or eight of the adventurers, proceeded in a boat towards Hoanoke island, where they arrived the next day. On the north end of the island there was a small town, consisting of eight or ten houses, built of cedar and
NORTH CAROLINA. 33
surrounded with palisades, for defence against an enemy. Granganimo lived in that town. He was not at home; but the untaught civility of his wife left the cap- tain and his company nothing to desire. She ordered her people to carry them ashore on their backs. Their boat was drawn up, and their oars secured. She placed her guests by the fire to dry their clothes; for it was raining. Some of her women washed their stockings; and others washed their feet. Their clothes being dry, she conducted them into an- other apartment and gave them a plenti- ful dinner, consisting of roasted venison, hommony, fish, melons and sundry fruits. They used earthen pots and wooden dishes. While the strangers were at dinner, two Indians entered the house with their bows and arrows. The white men looked towards their arms. The princess did not wait for any further re- monstrance. The Indians were turned VOL. t. e
34 THE HISTORY OF
out; and their bows were broken. She in- treated her guests to stay all night in the palace; but they launched their boat and dropped a grapnel at some distance from the shore. She observed, with marks of grief, that she had not gained their confidence; but she pressed them no further. Their supper was sent to the boat; and they were supplied with mats as a defence from the rain. Thirty or forty men and an equal number of wo- men were directed to watch near them, all night, on the beach.
The particulars of this visit have been detailed, because the conduct of that wo- man is a correct portrait of the female character, and a specimen of that atten- tion which the stranger and the afflicted may expect to receive from, women in every part of the world.
NORTH CAROLINA. 35
Having finished their trade, and taken a short view of the country, those advenr turers returned to England about the middle of September, taking two Indians with them.*
This visit, as we have seen, terminated in the most friendly manner. The parties had been equally disposed to acts of kindness; and they seem to have thought well of one another. There was nothing in the conduct of the English that could excite jealousy or suspicion. Their num- ber was small; and their conduct was inoffensive. They vieAved the country, but were not suspected of a design to seize it and destroy the inhabitants. In this case, nothing appeared in the con- duct of the natives, but a species of hos-
* One of those Indians named Manteo continued to be faithfully attached to the colonists, and became a useful interpreter.
36 THE HISTORY OF
pitality, that is common to men seldom visited by strangers and little attached to property. In a short time, the Indians had occasion to change their opinion con- cerning the object of the strangers; and the white men had equal reason to change their opinion concerning the in- nocence and simplicity of the natives.
"When we consider the manner in which travellers usually speak of things they have seen in a distant country, we cannot wonder that the expectations of people in England were exceedingly raised, by the report of those adven- turers. The fragrant and delicious smell of the country had arrested the pas- sengers, before they were in sight of land. The woods were filled with game. Every bush was loaded with grapes, a sight not common in England. A savage could fill his canoe with fish, in two or three hours, in the sound. The
NORTH CAROLINA. 37
natives were hospitable and inoffensive. Pearls were found in abundance; and there was reason to expect much gold. Such was the report. The country was a paradise, in which every sense was gratified. Queen Elizabeth was greatly pleased with this valuable addition to her dominions. The new country was called Virginia, a name by which her majesty was flattered; and every part of this continent, claimed by the En- glish, was called by that name for many years. In a short time after the return of those ships, Raleigh was elected a member of parliament for Devonshire. He was also knighted by the queen; and his patent was confirmed by an act of parliament.
Seven ships were immediately pre- pared for a second expedition* under
* The Tiger of 140 tons, Roebuck 140, Lion 100,
Elizabeth
38 THE HISTORY OF
the orders of Ralph Lane and sir Richard Granville. This little squadron reached the coast in July,* and dropped their anchors, without the har, at Wokokon. Governor Lane, sir Richard Granville, and fifty or sixty other officers and men, immediately crossed the sound to ex- plore the country. They discovered an Indian town near the mouth of Pamptico river, and another town near the mouth of Neus; from which they directed their course to Socotan,f where they were ci- villy entertained hy Wingina, the brother of Granganimo. From Socotan, some of the boats proceeded, by the shortest course, to Wokokon: but Granville with the other boats returned to Aquascosack, a town on the waters of Neus, to demand a
Elizabeth 50, Dorothea a small bark, and two small pinnaces.
* Twenty sixth July, 1585.
t Socotan was near the present site of Beaufort.
NORTH CAROLINA. 39
silver cup that had heen stolen from him, when he visited that town on his late circuit. The cup was not restored ac- cording to promise; and the Indians, apprehending danger, fled to the woods: upon which their town was burned and their corn destroyed. This was the first act of hostility; and it proved to be the plentiful source of calamity. We are not surprised at such instances of tyranny. It is common for the strong to insult the weak; but it is strange that men should not be instructed by the nume- rous cases of deadly revenge that have been taken by unarmed savages. One of the most accomplished mariners of the present age, while he was attempting to recover a boat of little value in an arbitrary manner, fell by the hands of naked men. He must be weak indeed, whose revenge may not be dangerous. The passionate and rash conduct of sir Richard Granville cost the nation many
40 THE HISTORY OF
a life. The fair beginning of a hopeful colony was obscured, it was nearly de- feated, by resenting the loss of a silver cup. Towards the last of August sir Richard sailed for England, having pro- mised to return in the spring. Most of the other ships had sailed before him. Their chief lading was red cedar, sas- safras and peltry. The new colony had settled on Roanoke island; and, though they were one hundred and seven in number, there had not been, on the first of September, a single instance of sick- ness among them. Governor Lane was diligently employed, during the autumn and winter, in exploring the country. He visited the Chesopians, on Elizabeth river; formed a league with the Mora- tucks, on Hoanoke river; and visited the Chowanokes, a powerful tribe. The dis- coveries of that officer cannot be under- stood by their original names; for every thing is changed, except the name of a
NORTH CAROLINA. 41
small island. Rivers and sounds have lost their Indian names; inlets have changed their position; and the Indian trihes are exterminated. Hatorask was the name of a small inlet, a little to the westward of Cape Hatteras. The land, adjoining the cape, was called Paquewock. The second inlet, to the westward of the cape, was called Occam; and there was a third inlet, a few miles to the eastward of the present Oca- coke, that was called Wokokon. The sec- tion of the bank that lay between Oceam and Wokokon was called Croatoan; and the point of main land, now called Cro- atan, was called Dasamonquipo. Roanoke river was Moratock; Albemarle sound was Weapomiock; and Chowan was Cho- wanoke. This river gave its name to a numerous tribe. All the Indians, who lived on the eastern waters of Albemarle, were called Weapomiocks; but the sub- divisions of this tribe were called by the vol» r. F
42 THE HISTORY OF
several rivers on which they lived. Okis- ko was their chief.
The conduct of governor Lane cannot be deemed instructive, except by show- ing us what we should not do; for he attempted every thing among the sava- ges by force, nothing by persuasion; hence it followed, that while he was pur- suing his researches in the interior, a powerful confederacy was formed against him near the coast. Granganimo, who had been a friendly chief, died in the spring; upon which, his brother Wingina succeeded to the government of his sub- jects, and removed from Socotan to the mouth of Albemarle sound. This chief had never expressed any attachment to the adventurers; but their late impru- dent and despotic measures had made him a determined enemy. While the go- vernor tarried among the Chowanokes, their king, Monatenon, was very desirous
NORTH CAROLINA. N 43
of being relieved from such a visiter. He described a powerful king to the northward who lived upon an island.* Many of his subjects lived near the sea; and pearls were plenty in his dominions. He referred to the waters of Chesapeak. The distance, as he alleged, was not more than three days' journey; and he offered guides, if the governor should be disposed to make that king a visit. But pearls were not the object of this adven- turer. He was in search of gold. The river Roanoke was then described as the certain road to great discoveries. Moratock river was said to rise thirty or forty days' journey above the town of that name, from a great rock; and that rock was so near the ocean that salt wa- ter was dashed across it by every storm, so as to injure the fresh water in the
* An island in James's river.
44 THE HISTORY OF
river. Skiko, the son of Monatenon, as- sured the governor, that there were valuable copper mines on the river, as he had been informed by other Indians, for he had not travelled so far. The ore yielded two fifths of pure copper, as they alleged, not so red or hard as the copper from Europe. The governor was confi- dent that he had now discovered the South sea. Of the copper there could not be any doubt; though he rather conceived that gold was the metal they described, from its being washed down by torrents. He resolved to go in quest of those trea- sures. By a strange abuse of power, the governor had seized Monatenon and held him prisoner in the midst of his own subjects- That sachem could bring three thousand bowmen into the field. When Lane determined to ascend the Roanoke, he liberated Monatenon, but made his son Skiko a prisoner. As the governor was not acquainted with the navigation
NORTH CAROLINA. 45
of the river, he sent to the coast for a pilot; and Wingina was enabled, by that incident, to expose him to danger. He privately informed the Moratock and Mangoaek Indians that Lane intended to destroy them. They believed the story, and removed their families and corn from the banks of the river. The gover- nor ascended the river with two boats and forty men; but he suffered in a short time by the want of provisions; for he had expected to get a supply from the natives. He did not see an Indian for three days; but his people would not re- turn. The Moratock Indians had fled; but they confided that they should make some of the Mangoacks prisoners, who must be ransomed by a good supply of provisions. The calls of hunger were stifled by the more powerful thirst of gold. On the evening of the third day, some Indians, from the river bank, called Manteo, and began to sing. Manteo put
46 THE HISTORY OF
on his armour; and a shower of arrows taught the governor that he was among his enemies. He landed and pursued the Indians, in vain, until it was dark. On the next morning he descended the river. In the course of that day, he reached Cheponock, the present site of Edenton. The Indians of that town had also fled; but he got a supply of fish in their wears. On the next day he arrived at Roanoke island.
While Lane was engaged in his ro- mantic expedition, searching for gold and the Pacific ocean, it had been report- ed that he was killed by the Mangoack Indians. Wingina believed the story, and resolved to destroy the colony, by re- moving his people from the island and neglecting to plant corn; but the return of the governor, with Skiko his prisoner, who was the son of a powerful prince, made a temporary change in his projects.
NORTH CAROLINA. 47
He suffered his people to set wears and plant corn. This favourable appearance was increased by the conduct of Monate- non, who ordered Okisko, a subordinate prince, to do homage to queen Elizabeth. This homage, by twenty four captains in behalf of their chief, produced the sem- blance of respect in the conduct of those Indians before whom it was performed. But Wingina, a dark and dangerous ene- my, in the meantime was preparing for a tragical adventure. The claim of hom- age, by a distant potentate, had no ten- dency to gain his esteem or quiet his fears. This prince, who trusted more to artifice than strength, made preparations, as he alleged, to celebrate his father's death in a splendid manner. The Man- doacks from Currituck, the Chesopians and the Weapomiacks, were invited to attend the festival; and fifteen hundred warriors, of those tribes, assembled at Dasamonquipo, the tenth of June. Twen-
48 THE HISTORY OF
ty or thirty of the bravest men were instructed to set Lane's house on fire by night; it was covered with reeds. The governor would turn out, as they expect- ed without his arms, to escape the flames; and the bravoes were to put him to death. The flame of the houses was to be a signal to the Indians at the point, who were to cross in their canoes and destroy the colony. With all these pre- parations, Wingina had doubts concern- ing the issue of his project. He appre- hended that the white men, collected together, might prove too strong for his auxiliaries; therefore he caused all the fish wears to be destroyed; and his people were instructed not to sell any corn. In consequence of those measures, the co- lonists were scattered abroad in quest of food. vVingina remained at the point; but some of his associates had crossed to the island, to take the lead in the projected massacre. The cloud was ready
NORTH CAROLINA. 49
to burst on the heads of the devoted colony, when Skiko, the brave and gene- rous son of Monatenon, disclosed the dangerous secret. Upon this discovery Lane began to plot in his turn. He sent a messenger to Wingina, informing him that he proposed going to Croatoan, on the'following day, to look for ships that were expected on the coast; that he should call upon him in the morning, to get some corn, and people to assist him in catching fish. He destroyed the canoes of the visiting Indians in the night, and killed some of those people. In the morning he called upon Wingina, .who was attended by six or eight of his chiefs; for they had not heard of the disaster in their island. They were all put to death. The colony in that manner escaped destruction; but their fears did not subside. Sir Richard Granville, who promised to return in the spring, had
VOL. T. g
SO THE HISTORY OF
not arrived; but a messenger from Groa- toan gave notice that sir Francis Drake was on the coast. He had been instructed, to visit the colony on his return from an expedition against the Spanish West Indies. The admiral cast anchor in the open road; for no large vessel had hitherto crossed the bar. He supplied the colony with a bark of seventy tons, and four months' provisions for one hun- dred men. He furnished them also with two pinnaces and a sufficient number of able seamen; but the bark, with the men and provisions on board, was driven to sea in a storm. She did not return. The admiral offered another vessel of double the size, with a good commander and a sufficient supply of provisions; but the ship could not be put into a place of safety; and the colonists, whose spirits were broken by disappointments and dangers, without fortitude and without
NORTH CAROLINA. 51
resources, returned to England in the fleet.*
A ship of one hundred tons, loaded with stores, arrived on the coast a few days after the fleet had sailed; but the master returned to England, as he found no remains of the colony. About a fort- night after his departure sir Richard Granville arrived at Hattorask with three ships. Not finding the storeship, nor any traces of the colony, except empty houses; and being unwilling to abandon the country, he landed fifteen men with provisions for two years, and left the coast. Sir Richard was a military man; his ships were armed; and he was more disposed, and much better calculated, for prosecuting war than cultivating the arts of peace in a young colony.
* They sailed 19th June, 1586.
52 THE HISTORY OF
Not discouraged by repeated disap- pointments, sir Walter adhered to his original plan. He fitted out three vessels, the next spring,* and took other mea- sures for making a permanent settle- ment. The chiefs of the new colony were incorporated, by the title of " The gover- nor and assistants, of the city of Raleigh, in Virginia;" f and they obtained all the prerogatives, jurisdictions, royalties, and privileges, that had been granted to sir Waiter by the queen. Women and chil- dren came out with those adventurers; and they were instructed to call at the West Indies for cattle and fruit trees.
*1587.
f No city was built or founded by those unfortunate men; but the legislature of North Carolina, after a lapse of two hundred years, in grateful remembrance of the man who was the parent of the British colonies in America, and planted the first colony in North Carolina, called their seat of government by his name.
NORTH CAROLINA. 53
From his improved knowledge of the country, sir Walter had reason to con- fide, that a colony might now he planted in safety. Governor Lane had discovered the mouth of Chesapeak hay; and sir Walter gave particular instructions to the colony, not to settle at Roanoke island, hut proceed to the waters of Chesapeak, where they might build a city on the bank of some river, and detain one or two of their vessels to be em- ployed in collecting provisions and keep- ing the Indians in check. The officers were instructed to call at Roanoke, and take off the men left there by sir Richard Granville. The largest ship, on this ex- pedition, was commanded by Simon Fer- nando, who had been twice on the coast of Carolina as a pilot. The projects of a great man, the hopes of a nation, and the lives of many innocent people, were blasted together by the perfidy of that contemptible mariner. His origin is not
54 THE HISTORY OF
stated,* nor do we know that he was bribed bj the Spaniards, though he was in habits of friendship with the governor of Hispaniola; but every step he took, on that expedition, was marked with a design to defeat the colony. The parties interested, by a fatal mistake, had not the power of controlling him. The vessels stopped on their passage at Santa Cruz;- but Fernando would not stop at Hispa- niola, for salt or live stock, although he passed in sight of the island. This was a second disappointment; for he had put into a bay on the coast of Portugal, where he left one of the vessels in dis- tress. The ship and pinnace arrived at Hattorask the twenty-second of July. White, the governor, with fifty good men embarked in the pinnace to search for the men that had been left on Roanoke island; but they were no sooner under weigh, than the seamen were ordered by Fernando not to bring back the planters
NORTH CAROLINA, 55
nor any person except the governor and two or three of his friends; for he intend- ed to sail immediately for England. The governor remonstrated against those or- ders in vain; for the sailors were under the command of Fernando. The party landed that evening on Roanoke island, where the former adventurers had con- structed a fort. The houses left by those people were repaired; and the colonists were cheered, in a few days, by the ar- rival of the vessel that had been left in distress. Six days after their arrival, one of the assistants was killed by the In- dians, while he was fishing, at a small distance from his companions. An of- ficer was sent to Croatoan, in company with Manteo, to inquire the fate of those men, who had been left by sir Richard Granville; but he got no intelligence ex- cept that they fled in their boat, after one of them had been killed by the na- tives. The governor sent a messenger
56 THE HISTORY OF
to the Indians at Dasamonquipo, lately commanded by Wingina, to signify his desire of treating for peace; but they fled from their town, instead of treating as they had promised. Every step, taken by those people, was marked by a spirit of deadly hostility.
The ships being ready to sail, gover- nor White was entreated by the planters to return to England, that he might so- licit their affairs.* He was not inatten- tive to his friends in the colony. Ships
* Governor White, on his return to England, touched at a port in Ireland, where he is believed to have left the potatoe that thrives so well in high latitudes, though it cannot resist intense cold. It is said that the potatoe has been found near the coast in Carolina. Certain it is that the yam has lately been found in its uncultivated state in the woods near Edenton. Roots of this kind cannot be numerous where hogs are numerous, as they have been for one hundred years in Carolina.
NORTH CAROLINA. 57
were prepared and ready to sail the next spring, with more planters and sufficient supplies; hut that expedition was sus- pended, with many other private con- cerns, hy the Spanish armada, that threat- ened to subvert the English government. Two armed vessels were nevertheless despatched from Biddeford, with provi- sions; hut they were driven back by the enemy.
Sir Walter Raleigh had now expended forty thousand pounds sterling, in his attempts to settle a colony; and he was not relieved by any returns from Ame- rica; for the profits of trade fell into the hands of other people. The privilege of trading to Virginia was nevertheless deemed, by mercantile men, to be a de- sirable object. In that case, it was natu- ral to confide, that the spirit of com- merce would preserve an intercourse
VOL. I. h
58 THE HISTORY OF
with the new discoveries, until a colony should he established there. Under these impressions, sir Walter assigned to Tho- mas Smith of London and his associates, the privilege of trading to Virginia, and continuing the colony there; reserving only, to himself, one fifth part of the gold and silver they should discover.* He en- gaged also to confirm to them all the privileges he had granted to the colony, then settled on Roanoke island. In the mean time, he continued his endeavours to relieve the colony; for he could not trust the philanthropy of a mercantile company, who would rather 'confine their speculations to dies apeak bay, than trust their ships in an open road, near Cape Hatter as.
* The assignment was made 7th March 1589.
NORTH CAROLINA. 59
After the defeat of the great armada, many adventurers were prepared to cruise against the Spanish commerce in the West Indies. Three privateers, fitted at Bristol, by the same owner, were ready to sail: but they were prevented by a fur- ther embargo. Sir Walter obtained a spe- cial permit for the sailing of those privateers; it being provided, that the owner should bind himself, under the penalty of three thousand pounds, to carry governor White and a number of planters, with their furniture, to the new settlement in Virginia. The pass being obtained, before the bond was executed, the ships were despatched, without a single passenger, except governor White and his servant. After taking some prizes in the West Indies, one of the privateers, stretching to the northward, cast anchor in five fathoms water, off Roanoke inlet. Governor While, landing
66 THE HISTORY OF
with a small party, did not find a single man on the island. The houses in the old town were destroyed; but the place was fortified with palisades of large trees, curtains, and flankers. Part of the works are seen at this day. The planters had talked of making a settle- ment near the head of Albemarle sound; but they promised to inscribe, on a tree, the name of the place to which they should remove; cutting a cross, over the in- scription, in case of being pressed by any calamity. The word Croatoan was carved in capitals, upon a post, at the entrance of the fort, without a cross. Within the fort were bars of iron and pigs of lead, nearly overgrown by weeds; but the pinnace was not found, nor the small piece of artillery, that had been left with the colonists. The commanding officer expressed his willingness to sail for Croatoan; but the wind being at north- east, he lost his best anchor in heaving
NORTH CAROLINA. 61
up. He dropped another anchor; hut it tlid not hold, and he slipped the cable in order to clear the land. The wind shifting in a few hours to the northwest, he changed his plan and directed his course for England.
Other vessels were sent, year after year, by sir Walter Raleigh, for the sole purpose of relieving the colony:* but the commanders do not appear, in a sin- gle instance, to have seen Roanoke island. They sought their private emolument in pursuit of other objects, and returned to England with trifling excuses.
It may appear strange to some of us, who were born in America, that Raleigh
* The colony that was left on Roanoke island consisted of ninety-one men and seventeen women, beside two childern of Dare and Harvie, who were born in the island.
62 THE HISTORY OF
should have found so much difficulty m forming a settlement. One colony after another returned to England, because they could not maintain themselves on the sea-coast in Carolina. One hundred men, after they had been ten months in the country, were in danger of starving, unless the Indians had supplied them with corn and fish. It will appear more remarkable, that seven eighths of a sub- sequent colony should have perished in six months, by the want of a constant supply of provisions, after part of them had lived three years in the country. Of nine thousand emigrants, who arrived in Virginia in the space of twenty years, not more than two thousand were alive at the end of that period.
" Tantae molis erat conclere gentem."
"We have seen the states of Kentucky and Tennessee spring out of the wilder-
NORTH CAROLINA. 63
ness in a few years; and we know with how much ease our fellow-citizens can plant a new country. They clear land and raise corn enough, in four or five months, to make themselves independent. In case of necessity, they can support themselves by a gun, while the corn is growing. Great allowance is doubtless to be made for the description of men, who first came over. They were not accustomed to the use of a gun, nor were they trained to labour. But the misfortunes of those people may chiefly be traced from the spirit of the times. The mind of man, like his body, is subject to epidemical complaints. There have been instances, not a few, in which great bodies of men have been so much disordered in their minds, in reference to a particular sub- ject, that they seemed to be perfectly insane. Not to mention the cases of insanity, that frequently appear in small societies, it may be recollected that the
64 THE HISTORY OF
British nation, or a considerable part of them, enriched themselves for several months with the froth of the South sea. The French nation, in equal contempt of reason, amused themselves for a con- siderable time in dancing after a Missis- sippi bubble; and the Hollander exchan- ged industry, economy, and commerce, for the shadow of a spotted tulip. When we say that the minds of those people suffered a temporary derangement, we put the most favourable construction upon their conduct. Many people in Eu- rope, after the discovery of America, seem to have laboured under a similar species of insanity. They dreamt of no- thing, they expected to find nothing, in the new world, but prodigies and won- ders. The rapacious Spaniard had ex- torted much gold and silver from the helpless natives; hence it was presum- ed that gold and silver abounded in America, as iron, marie, or fossile coals
NORTH CAROLINA. 65
abound in the other continent. They needed only the mattock or spade of a digger. The first adventurers, to a man, came out in quest of the precious metals; and they suffered many hardships before their golden dreams had vanished, or before they could reconcile themselves to the thoughts of labour. When they be- gan to work, they did it without skill; and many years elapsed before they ac- quired the simple art of cultivating Indian corn. We have lately seen a small French colony, on the Ohio, distressed for several years, before they could sup- port themselves, though they had the advice and example of American farmers. After all allowance has been made for the description of men who first came over, and the circumstances under which they settled, I think it probable, that the native white American is more am- bidextrous; that he has a greater ver-
VOL. I. I
66 THE HISTORY, fec^
satility of genius, and can more readily turn himself to all the necessary de- mands of life, than the native of the other continent.
CHAPTER III.
A PLANTATION IS FORMED NEAR THE MOUTH OF JAMES'S RIVER. SOME OF THE COLO- NISTS MIGRATE TO THE SOUTHWARD.
AFTER the death of queen Elizabeth, sir Walter Raleigh could neither obtain favour nor justice at court. He was not fitted to the times. His enterprising and military spirit excited the fears of James the First, who was a vain pusillanimous prince. In the short space of eight months Raleigh was disgraced, arrested, tried,* and condemned, at the instance of his sovereign.
* He was accused of having confederated with the fords Gray, Cobham, and others in a plot for placing Arabella Stuart on the throne. That lady was related to
68 THE HISTORY OF
As the lands that lately were disco- vered in Virginia had become the object of great expectation, sundry lords and gentlemen, in London, prayed the king that he would give them a title to the new country. In consequence of that petition sir Thomas Gates, sir George Sommers, and others, were incorporated with liberty to form a plantation in any part of Virginia, between the thirty-fourth and forty-first degrees of north latitude. Another patent was granted, at the same time, to a company in Bristol and the west of England, to form a settlement in a higher latitude. A second charter, en- larging and explaining the first, was granted to the London company, twenty- fourth of May, 1606, who were very numerous. This company sent out a
king James, by the Lenox family, and was equally de* scended from Henry the Seventh.
NORTH CAROLINA. 69
small colony the next spring, who arriv- ed in Chesapeak about the first of May. They were to be governed by a presi- dent and council, who were vested with legislative power. This little colony was distracted with the baneful spirit of dis- cord, from the day in which they sailed. They arrested captain Smith on the pas- sage, upon a charge of intending to murder the council and make himself king. The personal merits of that officer had excited the jealousy of those worth- less adventurers. He was the only intel- ligent, brave, and deserving officer who had embarked in that enterprise. He had formerly served against the Turks and acquired reputation by his valor. The names of seven men, chosen by the com- pany to form a council, had been inclosed in a sealed cover, that was not to be opened before they arrived in Virginia, When the seals were broken, it appeared that Smith was a member of the counr
70 THE HISTORY OF
cil; but lie was not suffered to act in that capacity. He was ordered up the bay to Explore the country. Upon his return, he demanded a trial; and being fully ac- quitted, he took his seat in council. The witnesses, adduced against him, accused the persons who suborned them; and Wingfield the president, being the most guilty, was ordered to pay him two hun- dred pounds. The shipping departed for England in June, taking as usual a cargo of cedar, sassafras and other wood. One hundred and eight persons were left in the country; and fifty of that number died before winter* The survivors were preserved by the prudence and diligence of captain Smith, who, by a strange re- verse of fortune, had obtained the go- vernment of the colony. Wingfield and Kendal, two of the council, had b^en con- victed of embezzling the stores, and de- graded; others had sailed for England, and some were dead. The government of
NORTH CAROLINA. 71
the colony rested upon Smith and Mar- tin; but Smith was the only man of bu- siness. In one of his excursions, during the winter, in quest of corn, Smith was surrounded by the Indians and taken prisoner. They knew his rank, and con- ducted him to Powhatan the emperor. That man had thirty subordinate and tributary kings. He had a body guard of two hundred men, and lived in great barbaric splendor. He was some days consulting what should be done with Smith. He resolved at length to put him to death. A great stone, for this purpose, was placed on the floor; and the execu- tioners were to beat out his brains with clubs. At the instant in which his head was laid on the stone, Pocahontas, the favourite child of the emperor, who was in her thirteenth year, flew to the pris- oner, clasped his neck and covered his head by her own. Persuasions were in- effectual; for nothing but force could
72 THE HISTORY OF
remove her. The emperor was greatly affected by an incident so little expected in the presence of all his nobles. He paused and yielded to the intreaties of his daughter. Smith was detained some weeks, as an ingenious artist, to work in the palace; but the emperor, being in- formed of the wonderful effects of a grindstone, and the more astonishing effects of a cannon, Smith was liberated under the promise of sending from James- town, the seat of the colony, a grindstone and two pieces of ordnance. When he arrived at the fort, he delivered the can- non, according to his promise; but the Indians were greatly disappointed in not being able to carry them. The grind- stone was portable; and the messengers were dismissed, well pleased with pre- sents that Smith sent to the emperor and his women. The detention of the president, a few weeks longer, must have proved fatal to the colony; for he
NORTH CAROLINA. 7&
found them on his return, in a state of anarchy and confusion; the strongest party being ready to escape in their bark. By the arrival of a store ship, in the spring, those mutinous and discon- tented people were governed, for a few months, with less trouble. In the begin- ning of winter, when the leaves had fallen, the president despatched a hardy woodman to the Chowanoke Indians, un- der the pretence of sending presents to their king; but his object was to inquire for the Roanoke colony. He sent two other men to the Mangoacks, on the river Nottoway; but they returned, as the other had done, without any information except that the white people were all dead.
The London Company, not satisfied with the returns they had received from Virginia, applied for another charter, which they obtained, with more ample
vol. r. k
74 THE HISTORY OF
powers.* In consequence of the new char- ter, in which many lords and gentlemen of great influence were named, such a spring was given to the affairs of the company, that five hundred adventurers came out the same year. Lord Delaware was appointed governor of the colony* sir Thomas Gates and sir George Sum- mers being lieutenant governor and ad- miral. These gentlemen were authorized to discharge the duties of governor until lord Delaware should arrive; but coming out together, they had the misfortune to suffer shipwreck on the islands of Bermudas. The new adventurers, in con- sequence of that disaster, being a profli- gate set, without prudence, industry or any knowledge of business, in a short time had fallen into a state of general confusion. Captain Smith, in that case,
* It was dated May, 1 609.
NORTH CAROLINA. 75
with the hope of saving the colony, re- sumed the command, alleging that his power had not been legally suspended. His task was difficult; but he adopted the best expedient for ruling such dis- orderly people: he divided them. One hundred and twenty were detached to form a settlement on Nansamond river, and the same number to the falls of James river.
As the president, after some time, was returning from the falls, fire by some accident was conveyed to his powder- horn, while he was asleep in the boat; and he suffered greatly by the explosion. In consequence of his wounds he was obliged to sail for England; and the colony was again reduced to the verge of de- struction by ignorance, indolence, and intemperance. A succession of twenty presidents, who attempted to govern, in the space of a few months, is a sufficient
76 THE HISTORY OF
indication of the character of those peo- ple. They consumed their provisions by riot and dissipation; but they had not sufficient address to get a supply from the natives. Of five hundred persons, who were left in the province by captain Smith, not more than sixty were alive at the end of six months, including wo- men and children. Sir Thomas Gates and sir George Summers, having built two small barks in Bermuda, arrived at James- town about the middle of May: and the wretched remains of the colony embark- ed with them to depart for England. As they were dropping down the river, they met lord Delaware with three ships and a plentiful supply of provisions. By the prudence and fortitude of the new go- vernor, order was restored and indus- try promoted. Lord Delaware, depart- ing for England the next year, in bad health, was succeeded in his command by sir Thomas Dale, who brought with
NORTH CAROLINA. 77
liim a good supply of men and cattle; but lie was not thankfully received, for he compelled the planters to work. Poca- hontas,* the emperor's daughter, had saved the colony once and again, by in- forming them of the time and manner in which her father proposed to cut them off. She was afterwards, at a considerable distance from Jamestown, induced to come on board a small vessel, with some female attendants, to examine the con- struction of a floating house. The captain thought fit to carry her to the fort, where she was treated with the utmost respect; but the governor detained her as a valua- ble hostage. During her residence at Jamestown she formed an acquaintance with John Ralfe, a worthy young man, who loved her as she deserved; and their affections being mutual they were mar-
April, 161?.
78 THE HISTORY OF
ried by the emperor's consent. From that time the colony enjoyed peace dur- ing her life. As the destruction of the colony was certainly prevented by the exertions of captain Smith, and his life was saved by the signal humanity of a young savage; we learn with pleasure that the posterity of Pocahontas, now ealled by different names, are numerous and respectable in Virginia, though every other branch of the imperial family, without fruit or leaf, has long since mouldered in the dust.
From this period the colonists, being able to support themselves, increased in number and acquired property, though they suffered occasionally by the weak- ness or rapacity of a governor. The num- ber of settlers about Jamestown, being greatly increased by the arrival of men and women from England, a small party
NORTH CAROLINA. 79
was detached* to the post that had for- merly been taken on Nansamond river by order of captain Smith. From that settlement emigrations commenced, in a short time, to the waters of Albemarle sound, by the way of Blackwater and Bennet's creek. Currituck was planted, at the same period, by the way of Eliza- beth river.
King Charles, coming to the throne, dissolved the London Company and took the government into his own hands. f From that time patents were issued in his name, with a reserved quit-rent of two shillings for every hundred acres. The lands were holden in free and com- mon soccagejj and every man who set-
* 1621.
fAnno 1626.
4 The settlers before that time had been tenants at will.
80 THE HISTORY OF
tied in the province was allowed fifty acres of land for himself, and the same quantity for every person in his family, provided he should clear and plant three acres for every such person within the space of three years. Upon this change, the province increased rapidly; hut its growth was again checked hy the avarice of sir John Harvey their governor, who, under the cloak of power, imprudently put into his hands, insulted the best sub- jects, and inflicted such intolerable fines that the council apprehended him and sent him to London a prisoner.
Harvey was succeeded in the govern- ment by sir William Barclay. This gen- tleman was removed from the government by Oliver Cromwell; but he resumed the administration upon the death of the Protector, and proclaimed Charles the Second. Barclay was a man of strong- passions with considerable address. Dur-
NORTH CAROLINA. 8^
ing his administration the government was nearly overturned by a riot, that is usually called Bacon's rebellion. The particulars of that rebellion, which cast a dark shade upon the character of sir William Barclay, have never, that I have seen, been fully explained. The reader may find the story among the proofs and explanations marked D, as I have extract- ed it from an original manuscript.
Among the vices of a profligate king, the religious intolerance of Charles the Second was not the least hurtful to a young colony. Severe laws were enacted in Virginia against the quakers, who were equally vexed on both sides of the Atlantic* By an act of the Virginia le-
* By an act of the 13th of Charles the Second (1662) entitled " An act for preventing the mischiefs and dama- ges that may arise by certain persons called quakers, and others, refusing to take lawful oaths," it was provided
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82 THE HISTORY OF
gislature every master of a vessel, who should import a quaker, unless such as had been shipped from England under an act of the thirteenth of Charles the Second, was subjected to a fine of five thousand weight of tobacco, for the first offence. Intolerant laws were made at the same time against sectarians of every denomination in Virginia; and many of the most industrious subjects were constrained to leave the colony. They fled to the wilderness, at the dis- tance of eighty or ninety miles from the operation of those laws. Hence it
that every five of them, meeting for religious worship, should be fined for the first offence five pounds; for the second offence, ten pounds; and for the third offence, abjure the realm or be transported by order of his majesty to any of his plantations. Many quakers refused to take the oath; and they were transported accordingly. Sixty of them were exported from England in one ship, the Black Eagle, in March 1664, and the governors of the planta- tions were ordered to receive theim
NORTH CAROLINA. g3
followed, that the first settlers, near Pas- quetank and Perquimons, were chiefly emigrants -from Virginia and dissenters from the established church of England; many of them were quakers. Such was the effect of a persecuting spirit in Vir- ginia, and such is the connexion between the first settlements in Virginia and those in North Carolina. Such also is the connexion between the original attempts of sir Walter Raleigh and the final set- tlement of a colony on the waters of Albemarle.
No prince could be more liberal than Charles the Second, in rewarding his friends with that which cost him no- thing; nor was he without precedent, in his own family, in granting the same thing a second time. James the First; divided the province, that had been granted to sir Walter Raleigh, between two companies; and Charles the First
84 THE HISTORY OF
granted a considerable part of the same territory to one of his favourites. In the fifth year of his reign, he granted to sir Robert Heath, the attorney general, all that part of America from the river Saint Matthew in thirty degrees of north lati- tude, to the river Passo Mago* in thirty- six degrees, and extending in longitude from the Atlantic to the South sea; also all the islands of Veanis and Bahama, not being in the actual possession of any christian prince; creating the said sir Robert Heath, his heirs and assigns, true and absolute lords and proprietors of the said region and territory ; saving the faith and allegiance due the king and his successors. The territory thus grant- ed was erected into a province by the name of Carolina. The laudable zeal of
* The great entrance viz. Albemarle sound.
NORTH CAROLINA. 4S
sir Robert Heath for promoting the christian faith, enlarging the empire, and increasing the commerce of the king- dom, at his own charge, are stated as motives to this grant. Sir Robert, upon the twenty-third of Charles the First, conveyed the province to lord Matrovers, who, on the death of his father, became earl of Arundel and Surrey. He intended to have planted a colony, and sent a ves- sel to examine the coast; but he was interrupted by the civil war$ in which he was one of the king's generals. Charles the Second granted to eight of his favourites the territory that had been twice or three times granted to other persons; the patent issued to sir Robert Heath being declared void, " because the conditions, on which it was granted, had not been fulfilled." His majesty was pleased to grant to Edward earl of Cla- rendon, George duke of Albemarle, Wit-
86 THE HISTORY OF
liam earl of Craven, John lord "Berkeley, Anthony lord Ashley, sir George Car- teret, sir John Calleton, and sir William Berkeley, all that province or tract of land that lieth between thirty-six de- grees and thirty-one degrees of north latitude, extending from the Virginia seas westward to the South seas, to- gether with all the royalties, properties, jurisdiction, and privileges of the county of Durham or any other county palatine. This charter was dated the 24th of March 1663. A second charter was granted them* after they had obtained more correct information concerning the coun- try. The second charter included all the lands that lie between the latitude of twenty-nine degrees, the beginning of that degree, and the latitude of thirty?
* The SOth of June 1665.
NORTH CAROLINA, 87
six degrees and thirty minutes, being eight degrees and thirty minutes, and ex- tending from the Atlantic to the South
sea.*
* See Proofs &c. D.
CHAPTER IV.
CHARLES THE SECOND GRANTS THE SOIL AND SEIGNIORY OF CAROLINA TO EIGHT LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, UNDER WHOM THREE GOVERNMENTS ARE FOUNDED.
WE have now arrived at a period, from which we are to trace the pro- gress of a small colony, seated in Caro- lina. A colony, as the reader observes, that was not seated hy any design of the national government, to extend its commerce or to civilize the Indians. Nor was it seated by ambitious men, through the desire of obtaining large seigniories or collecting treasures of gold. It had been thriving, for several years, like a foundling, without the fostering hand of a parent. It was the child of despotism
NORTH CAROLINA. 89
and intolerance; but it was the first co- lony that adhered to the soil, took root, and continued to grow. In reviewing* the progress of this colony, the reader is not to look for those incidents, which are confessedly the most admired in civil histories. He will not be entertained by long details of battles and sieges; of countries laid waste, cities reduced to ashes, and men extirpated by thou- sands. He will not be amused by the achievements of great men, such as Alexander and Gengis Kan: men who are called great, not because they enacted good laws, or made their subjects happy; not because they performed a series of good actions: they were called great, because they committed great robberies and innumerable murders; desolated kingdoms, and filled the earth with widows and fatherless children. Like a* general famine or pestilence, they were a great curse. In the history of this co-
VOL. I. M
90 THE HISTORY OF
lony, he will find nothing that is marvel- lous or uncommon. He will find a colony labouring for sixty or seventy years under a constant succession of calami- ties and disasters. He will see anar- chy and confusion constantly prevailing against the advantages of soil and climate. He will see that the public peace was destroyed, and the subjects were involv- ed in broils, sedition, and misery, once and again, by the artifice and intrigues of little villains. The history of such men is less amusing than the exploits of great robbers; but it may be more useful in the common path of life. We seldom find much difficulty in knowing our duty; but we need advice, example, or experi- ence, to shun the snares of ambitious or wicked men.
The proprietors of Carolina had reason to promise themselves a considerable re- venue from their new province. The
NORTH CAROLINA. 91
territory was extensive; the produce val- uable; and the difficulties of planting a colony were chiefly overcome. People had been removing to that country for more than twenty years, at their own expense; whereas, former colonists had been transported and fed at the expense of other men.
There were two settlements within the limits of North Carolina, when the last charter was granted. The chief set- tlement was on the waters of Albemarle, to the northward of the sound. The other was a small colony, that had re- moved from Massachusetts, and seated themselves upon Charles river; that is now called Oldtown creek, near the south side of Clarendon river; that is usually called Cape Fair by a strange corrup- tion of terms, because there is a dan- gerous cape at the mouth of the river
92 THE HISTORY OF
that is, not without reason, called Cape Fear.
No time was lost in forming govern- ments for these several colonies.* A county was erected on the waters of Al- bemarle; and the board of proprietors authorized sir William Berkeley to super- intend the affairs of that county, and constitute a governorf and a council of six, who should rule the community ac- cording to the powers granted in the charter. He was also instructed to con- firm people in their possessions^ and
* A county was originally a distinct government.
f See Proofs and Explanations, E.
| As the first settlers, on the waters of Weapomiock, now called Albemarle sound, were chiefly refugees from ecclesiastical oppression, they had no claims on govern- ment; nor did they wish to draw its attention. They re- garded the Indian natives as the true lords of the soil; treated with them in that capacity; purchased their lands,
NORTH CAROLINA. 93
grant land to all applicants, allowing three years for payment of quit-rents. Laws were to be made, by consent of the freemen or their delegates; and those laws were to be remitted to the pro- prietors for their approbation. Sir Wil- liam Berkeley visited the colony in person the following summer, and appointed such officers as then appeared necessary, making Drummond their governor. The proprietors, at their first meeting, had published proposals to such persons as should settle in Carolina. The terms were calculated for the meridian of New England; from which, as appears by one of their letters,* they expected the chief
and obtained their grants. The number of those people, in the process of time, had drawn the attention of govern- ment; and sir William Berkeley, the governor of Vir- ginia, in the year 1661, was instructed to give them other titles to those lands, causing them to hold under ihe crown.
* See Proofs and Explanations E.
94 THE HISTORY OF
r
supply of planters. They promised that every man should enjoy the most perfect freedom in the exercise of his religion. By their subsequent conduct we shall see with how much sincerity or truth they made that promise. Adventurers were promised gratuities in land, accord- ing to the number of their respective families. They were also to enjoy free- dom from customs, according to the charter. The settlers were to present thirteen persons to the proprietors, who were to choose a governor and council of six out of that number. The governor, council, and delegates, to be chosen by the people, as soon as the circumstances of the colony would permit, were to make laws, not repugnant to the laws of England, nor to be in force if disan- nulled by the proprietors. Before those measures had produced any effect, the New England colony, who had settled on Oldtown creek, were driven away by the
NORTH CAROLINA. 95
Indians.* Those people had shipped off some Indian children, for the purpose, as they alleged, of having- them educated to the northward. The Indians, in a short time, were induced to believe that their children had been sold into slavery. The very suspicion of this outrage upon humanity excited general indignation and hostility. The Indians, without other weapons than bows and arrows, by kill- ing or stealing cattle, and by other acts of constant aggression, caused those peo- ple to leave the settlement. We are not willing to believe, that any class of men were guilty of deliberate cruelty, under the semblance of friendship; although the lax state of morals among the origi- nal settlers, and the prevailing custom
* They had settled on that river in the year 1660, and deserted their habitations before the autumn 1663, leav- ing many hogs and neat cattle in the hands of the Indians.
96 THE HISTORY OF
at that period, of selling the miserable natives into slavery, gave too much coun- tenance to the charge. The Massachu- setts emigrants alleged the sterility of the soil, as the chief cause of their de- serting the settlement. Whether this or the other was the true cause of their removing, this alone was a sufficient cause.
Some planters in Barbadoes, who wish- ed to remove to the continent, employed captain Hilton, about this time, with fifteen or twenty men, to explore the coast. The site of the late colony had drawn their attention; and the captain was instructed to be particular in ex- amining the lands from which they had removed. He anchored within Cape Fear, * and proceeded up Clarendon
* September 166;
NORTH CAROLINA. 97
river in his boat, until his progress was stopped by logs. While he was on the river, he purchased from the Indians a considerable tract of land; for which he paid them in kettles, beads and other articles in demand among the savages, for use or ornament.
Those people, having made their pur- chase from the Indians, solicited a grant of thirty-two miles square from the pro- prietors, with the powers of a corpora- tion. Those powers were refused; but they obtained liberal grants of land and every other reasonable indulgence. In consequence of those arrangements, a small colony from Barbadoes seated themselves near the mouth of Oldtown creek,* on the south side of Clarendon river; and a county was established in
* Anno 1665. VOL. I. N
98 THE HISTORY OF
that part of the province, named Claren- don, with the same constitution and powers that had been granted to Albe- marle. Sir John Yeamans was chosen governor of the county. This gentleman's father, an alderman of Bristol, during the civil war had been executed by Fiennes, the governor of that city under the parliament, for attempting to betray it to the forces of king Charles. The son was created a baronet to reward his father's loyalty; but the title only served to make his poverty the more conspicuous; wherefore he removed to Barbadoes to mend his fortune.
As the safety of a young colony is proportioned to the number of fencible inhabitants, the Barbadoes emigrants en- deavoured to strengthen themselves by making the most flattering offers of land to all adventurers. They promised, through the indulgence of the proprietors, to
NORTH CAROLINA. 99
every man who should join them before the last of March 1667, one hundred acres of land in fee, and the same quan- tity for his men servants, and each of his children. He was also to have fifty acres for each of his women servants and slaves, upon the condition, that he should bring with him a good musket, ten pounds of powder, twenty pounds of lead, and provisions for six months.* Every man servant, when free, was to have one hundred acres of land, two suits of apparel, and the necessary tools for his trade. They were, as in the other colonies, to be governed by laws made by the lords proprietors, until they should become sufficiently numerous to have representa- tives chosen annually by themselves; by whom, with the governor and his council, their laws were to be made. They chose
* See A Brief Description of Carolina, printed by Ro- bert Heme, Gresham College, London, 1666.
100 THE HISTORY OF
their own governor, who was to continue in office for three years. This was a privi- lege peculiar to the Cape Fear colony.
There are soils upon which neither animals nor vegetables increase. This was unfortunately the case with the tract upon which the West India planters had settled. In May 1666 there were not more than eight hundred persons in the colony. They supported themselves ne- vertheless, a few years, by exporting boards, shingles, ton timber, and staves, to Barbadoes; from which they received dry goods and West India produce. They had the good fortune to preserve peace with the Indians; and the governor of their choice ruled them with prudence and affection.
The first legislative assembly, of which we have any notice, was convened in Albemarle county in the year 1667.
NORTH CAROLINA. 101
Hitherto the inhabitants had lived with- out anxiety or care. They had no law- suits; for they were not in debt. They had little need of money; for they had no taxes to pay. But the time was at hand, in which they were to pay quit-rents for their lands. By that circumstance they were induced to examine their titles, and consider the terms and conditions on which they held those lands. The terms were not satisfactory. The several tracts, offered by the proprietors as a gratuity to promote the settlement of Albemarle, had not been so large as were promised in Clarendon county. This however was not the subject of complaint, for the quality of the land was better; but the terms, upon which titles could be obtain- ed for those gratuitous tracts, had been made more difficult than the terms an- nexed to similar grants in Virginia.*
*The bounty lands were fifty acres for every person in
102 THE HISTORY OF
The assembly petitioned the proprietors on this subject, and were gratified by an instrument of writing, that is called the great charter.*
The proprietors fitted out a vessel the next year for making discoveries in the southern part of their territory. Seal, who commanded that vessel, was driven by a storm among the Bahama Islands, of which he made a favourable report. He also described the mouths of several rivers or inlets that he had seen in Carolina.
the family, for which a warrant was issued; but those lands, by the conditions of the grant, returned to the pro- prietors, unless three acres should be cleared and planted within three years for every fifty acres taken up. This did not require great exertions; but, easy as the task may appear, it was more, in many cases, than the settlers were ready to perform. Applications were made every year to the governor and council for more time to save land that had escheated.
* See Proofs and Explanations F.
NORTH CAROLINA. 103
Upon his report, the proprietors obtained a charter for the Bahama Islands; and they fitted out two ships with adventurers, arms, provisions, and instruments of hus- bandry, for planting a southern colony. Seal was appointed their governor.* He fixed the colony at Port Royal, where he found deep water and a good harbour. A new county was erected for that colony: it was called Carteret, and extended from Cape Roman southerly. The settlers, after some time, were relieved by a ship from England, in which the proprietors sent deputies to assist the governor. Three distinct governments were then establish- ed in Carolina; the several governments being called counties; for a precinct, in the original form, conveyed the same idea that a county does at present.
As it was to be expected, that a great
Twenty-sixth July 1669.
104 THE HISTORY OF
and fertile province would become the residence of a numerous and powerful body of people, the lords proprietors thought fit in the infant state of those colonies to establish a permanent form of government. Their object, as they ex- pressed themselves, was " to make the " government of Carolina agree, as nearly " as possible, to the monarchy of which it " was a part, and to avoid erecting a "numerous democracy." Lord Ashley, one of the proprietors, who was after- wards created earl of Shaftesbury, a man of fine talents, was requested by the pro- prietors to prepare a form of government; but he availed himself of the abilities of John Locke, the celebrated philosopher and metaphysician, who drew up a plan, consisting of one hundred and twenty articles or fundamental constitutions, of which the following are the outlines.
Carolina shall be divided into counties Each county shall consist of eight signio-
NORTH CAROLINA. J05
ries, eight baronies and four precincts. Each precinct shall consist of six colonies. Each signiory, barony, or colony shall consist of twelve thousand acres. The signiories shall be annexed unalienably to the proprietors; the baronies, to the nobility; and the precincts, being three fifths of the whole, shall remain to the people.
Any proprietor, before the year 1701, may sell his proprietorship and signio- ries, but not afterwards.
There shall be two orders of nobility chosen by the proprietors, viz. Land- graves and Casiques.
There shall be as many landgraves &s counties, and twice as many casiques.
Each landgrave shall hold four baro- nies, and each casique two baronies.
Any landgrave or casique, before the year 1701, may alienate his dignity with all the baronies annexed, not afterwards.
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They shall necessarily descend from that period to his heir; hut he may sell or let two thirds of the land for a term not ex- ceeding three lives, or thirty-one years.
There may he manors, to consist of not less than three thousand acres, or more than twelve thousand in one tract or colony.
The lord of every signiory, harony, or manor, shall have the power of holding court leet, for trying causes civil or crimi- nal, with appeal to the precinct or county court.
No leet man shall remove from the land of his lord, without permission.
There shall he eight supreme courts. The oldest proprietor shall be palatine; and each of the other proprietors shall hold a great office: viz. the several offices of chancellor, chief justice, constable, ad- miral, treasurer, high steward, and cham- berlain.
The palatine's court shall consist of
NORTH CAROLINA. 107
the palatine and the other seven proprie- tors.
Each of the other proprietors, being at the head of a court, shall have six coun- sellors and a college of twelve assistants.
The chancellor's assistants shall be called vice-chancellors.
The chief justice's assistants shall be called justices of the bench.
The constable's assistants shall be called marshals.
The admiral's assistants shall be called consuls.
The treasurer's assistants shall be called under treasurers.
The high steward's assistants shall be called comptrollers; and
The chamberlain's assistants shall be called vice-chamberlains.
Of the forty-two counsellors, in the several courts, the greater number shall be chosen out of the nobles or the sons of proprietors or nobles.
,108 THE HISTORY OF
There shall be a grand council, which is to consist of the palatine, the other seven proprietors, and the forty-two coun- sellors, from the courts of the several proprietors. They shall have the power of making war and peace, ^c.
Every proprietor may have a deputy, who shall have all the powers of his de- putator, except that of confirming acts of parliament and nominating nobility.
In every precinct there shall be a court consisting of a steward and four justices.
In every county there shall be a court consisting of a sheriff and four justices, one from each precinct; all of them chosen and commissioned by the pala- tine's court.
No cause of any free man, civil or criminal, shall be tried in any court, ex- cept by a jury of his peers.
Juries are to consist of twelve men, of whom it shall be sufficient that a majority are agreed.
NORTH CAROLINA. 109
It shall be a base and infamous thing, in any court, to plead for money or re- ward.
The parliament shall meet once every two years. It shall consist of all the pro- prietors or their deputies, the land- graves, the casiques, and one commoner from each precinct chosen by the free- holders in their respective precincts. These four estates shall sit in one room, each man having one vote.
The parliament may be summoned to meet at other times by the palatine's court.
No matter shall be proposed in parlia- ment that had not previously been pre-, pared and passed by the grand council.
~No act shall continue in force Longer than to the next biennial meeting of par- liament, unless in the mean time it shall have been ratified by the palatine and a quorum of the proprietors.
While a bill is on its passage before
110 THE HISTORY OF
the parliament, any proprietor or his deputy may enter his protest against it, as being contrary to any of the fundamental constitutions of government. In which case, after debate, the four orders shall retire to four separate chambers; and if a majority of either the four estates deter- mines against the bill, it shall not pass.
All towns incorporated shall be govern- ed by a mayor, twelve aldermen, and twenty-four others, who shall form a com- mon council.
There shall be a register in every pre- cinct, in which all titles to land, all births, marriages, deaths, ^c. shall be registered.
The church of England being deemed the only true orthodox church, no provi- sion shall be made by parliament for any other church.
Every man shall declare himself to be of some church or religious profession, and as such he shall enter his name with the precinct register; from which it may
NORTH CAROLINA. Ill
be struck off by himself or by order of the society of which he had been a member.
No man, above the age of seventeen years, shall have any benefit of the laws, whose name is not recorded as a mem- ber of some church or religious profes- sion.
Those fundamental and unalterable constitutions were signed by the lords proprietors the first of March 1669. It would be difficult to account for some of the articles that are contained in this plan of government, except by recurring to the old adage, that respects Scylla and Charybdis.
The proprietors, or some of them, had lately smarted under a government that was called republican. They were zeal- ous royalists; and they expected, by the help of a powerful aristocracy, to obviate
112 THE HISTORY OF
the return of republican measures; but we are sorry to find, among the works of John Locke, who was an advocate for civil and religious liberty, a plan of govern- ment, that in some articles does not con- sist with either.
It will readily be perceived that a go- vernment, to be administered by nobles, was not well adapted to a country in which there was not one nobleman; but this was the case in the counties of Albe- marle and Carteret.* The lords proprie- tors, in the mean time, resolved to come as near to the great model as possible. For this purpose, governor Stevens of Albemarle, and Sayle of Carteret, were instructed to issue writs, requiring the freeholders to elect five persons, who,
* John Locke and Sir John Yeamans had been created landgraves; but Yeamans alone was resident in the pro- vince.
NORTH CAROLINA. US
with fiye others to he chosen by the pro- prietors, were to form a grand council for the governor.*
The parliament was to be composed of this great council and twenty delegates, who were also to be chosen by the free- men. In the mean time, the proprietors made temporary laws for the preserva- tion of good order in the several colonies; laws that were little respected by men who had not been consulted in forming them.
Upon the death of governor Sayle, who sunk under the diseases of a sickly cli- mate, sir John Yeamans claimed the office of governor, as vice-palatine; for he was the only landgrave, or nobleman, then residing in Carolina. But the coun-
* In a short time the governor's council was formed in a different manner.
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cil appointed Joseph West their gover- nor, until they should learn the will of the proprietors. In a few months, Sir John Yeamans received a commission, by which he was appointed governor of the southern county.* From that period there have not been more than two go- vernments in Carolina.
Ever since their first establishment in this province, the lords proprietors had supported a commercial agent, for the benefit of the planters. He supplied them with cattle, provisions, and implements of husbandry; and he received payment in peltry, beeswax, or the produce of their farms.
It was not understood, for many years, what would be the staple of the southern
* August 1671,
NORTH CAROLINA. 1 15
colonies. Men are apt to believe that similar climates and fruits are found upon a continent in every part of the world, between the same parallels of lati- tude. But it was known that olives, grapes, oranges, almonds, and figs, have flourished upon the old continent between the parallels of twenty-eight and thirty- six degrees; therefore it was taken for granted that Carolina would produce the same fruits in abundance. Lest the plan- ters should be discouraged from export- ing their produce, by the weight of the revenue laws, while the colony was young, it was provided by the charter, that from the year 1667, silks, raisins, capers, wax, almonds, oil and olives, might be carried to England, duty free, for the space of seven years. The planters in Carolina, in the mean time, had not availed themselves of that indulgence; nor had they made any progress in cultivating the vine or raising silk. From this circumstance it was in-
116 THE HISTORY OF
ferred, that skilful persons were needed, by whom the planters might be instruct- ed in the necessary arts. About that time a multitude of Huguenots had escaped from France. They were fully instructed in the several arts of preparing wine and silk. Fifty families of those people, men women, and children, were sent to Caro- lina, by the king, passage free, in the year 1680. Some experiments were made in both Carolinas with the silk-worm and the grape; but the planters were soon convinced that a crowded population, and the consequent poverty of the inhabitants, are necessary to the profitable culture of silk. They also discovered that their time might be more profitably employed than in cultivating the vine, the almond, the fig, or the olive tree. The culture of those plants has therefore been neglected, be- cause they are unprofitable, not because the soil or climate are unfit to produce
NORTH CAROLINA. 117
them. The mulberry tree is an indige- nous plant, and so is the grape vine. Olive and almond trees are observed to thrive; and the fig tree grows in many places spontaneously on the coast. The object of government was to make the colonies profitable to the mother country; but the chief object of the planter was to raise a useful crop, and support his fa- mily with ease.
While Sir John Yeamans was governor, some of the planters from Port Royal, and others from Charles river, in Clarendon county, removed to Wancto and Keawah, now called Cooper and Ashley rivers, for the benefit of range. The raising of cattle was thought to be more profitable and easy than felling of timber. This new settlement was more desirable on many accounts than either of the original seats of government. A -station, at the junction
118 THE HISTORY OF
of those rivers, was healthy, pleasant and easily defended in case of an Indian war; wherefore a town sprung up in that place; and in a short time it became the centre of commerce.
The second colony, that settled near Cape Fear, had never been very nume- rous. The barrenness of the soil, in that vicinity was not to be overcome, by flat- tering promises to adventurers. By nu- merous migrations to the southward, the colony was greatly reduced; and the whole country was again surrendered to the original savage, before the year 1690.
Sir John Yeamans, who had ruled a small colony with prudence and modera- tion, became insolent, unjust, and tyranni- cal, when he governed people by whom he had not been chosen. He was vitiated by prosperity; wherefore the proprietors.
NORTH CAROLINA. 119
in consequence of numerous complaints, removed him from the government.*
Samuel Stevens had been governor of Albemarle from the death of Drum- mond.f The inhabitants were satisfied with the conditions on which they held their bounty lands. Every man's property was secure; and no taxes could be levied except by consent of the assembly. All denominations of people enjoyed religi- ous liberty upon taking the oath of alle- giance to the king and fidelity to the lords proprietors; but we have not seen any laws made by the assembly before the year 1669. The means of increasing the colony seem to have claimed the chief attention of the legislature at that period. ¥pr this purpose it was enacted,
* He died in the colony possessed of a handsome estate. tin the year 1667.
X20 THE HISTORY OF
1. That no subject shall be sued, with- in fiye years, for any cause of action that may have arisen out of the county.
2. That no person shall receive a power of attorney to collect any debt contracted out of the county.
3. That all settlers be exempted from taxes for one year.
4. That transient persons, who do not belong to the colony, be prohibited from trading with the Indians.
5. That all persons be restrained from making any transfer of lands within two years.
Another and a more honourable mode of increasing the colony was protected by law. There was not any clergyman in Albemarle county; nor was there any regular mode of celebrating marriage. Wherefore it was enacted,
NORTH CAROLINA. 121
6. That any two persons desirous of being married, and presenting themselves before the governor and council, in the presence of some of their acquaintance, and declaring their mutual consent, should be deemed husband and wife.
A duty of thirty pounds of tobacco was imposed upon every law-suit for paying the expenses of the governor and council during the sitting of the assembly. These laws were all ratified by the proprietors.
The county of Albemarle was at first divided into four precints, viz. Currituck, Pasquetank, Perquimons and Chowan; in which case, five representatives were chosen for each precinct. When Tyrrel precinct was afterwards laid off, it was permitted to have two representatives only; but the same law provided that it should have five representatives when-
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ever it should contain five hundred tax- able* inhabitants.
The fundamental constitutions, lately adopted and signed by the lords proprie- tors, proved to be a source of perpetual discord, instead of promoting the public good. A plan of government that was not favourable to civil liberty, and had little dependence on the will of the people, was regarded by them with an eye of jealousy and a spirit of discontent. During the continuance of the original govern- ment, that was professedly temporary, people looked forward to a form that was less desirable, and symptoms of revolt were frequent. While the public mind was agitated in this manner, by contend-
* Taxables were every white male aged sixteen years, and every slave, negro, mulatto, or Indian, male or female, aged twelve years.
NORTH CAROLINA. 123
ing passions, one Miller, a man of some talents but of a violent temper, was char- ged with seditious practices and sent to Virginia to be tried by sir William Berk- ley; because he was a proprietor. It may appear strange that men, who were com- plaining of a constitution that would abridge their liberties, should have dis- covered so little respect for the chartered liberty of a fellow subject. But they were angry; and anger is a bad counsellor. It is the enemy of correct reason or con- sistent conduct. Miller was tried and ac- quited: the proprietors nevertheless con- demned the whole of those proceedings, equally subversive of their jurisdiction and the liberty of the subject,
Upon the death of governor Stephens, the assembly, according to the proprie- tory instructions, chose Cartwright their governor; but he returned to England a short time after his promotion. In that
124 THE HISTORY OF
case Eastchurch, who had heen speaker of the assembly and chanced to be in England, was appointed to the govern- ment.
The county of Albemarle at this period contained about fourteen hundred taxable inhabitants; of whom one third were ne- groes or Indians, men or women slayes. The land was fertile; and the planters raised near eight hundred hogsheads of tobacco in the year. The trade of Albe- marle, from its first settlement, was chiefly managed by little adventurers from New England. Those people bring- ing their goods to every man's door, by a few necessaries, many trifles, and a plenti- ful supply of ardent spirits, had secured a perfect monopoly of the valuable staple of North Carolina. The planter had not much trouble in selling his crop; and he did not perceive that, by selling cheap
NORTH CAROLINA. 125
and buying dear, he lost half the produce of his farm. The proprietors had been striving to alter the course of that ruin- ous commerce; but the people refused to be instructed. Their enemies were more successful than their friends. The pro- prietors had other measures at heart, which they attempted, in vain, for several years. They wished to have settlements formed to the southward of Albemarle sound, and a communication by land with the southern colony. The governor of Albemarle and his council, regardless of their instructions, had prevented any settlements to the southward of the sound, because the Indian trade was chiefly in their own hands. That trade was very profitable; and they perceived, that it would be diverted into the haads of other people, whenever the settle- ments should be extended. Such was the motive by which they were induced to
126 THE HISTORY OF
betray their trust, to sacrifice the in- terest of their constituents, and check the growth of the province. It is not al- leged, that any thing uncommon has been observed in the conduct of those men. They worshipped the common idol, private interest. An idol that, in most cases, is the arbiter of right and wrong.
Eastchurch, who was a man of firm- ness and activity, had gone to England, to solicit the affairs of the colony. In pro- moting him to the government, the pro- jrietors seem to have made a prudent choice. But Miller was in London at the same time: he had gone to solicit re- dress for the wrong he had sustained, in being sent out of the colony for trial. Miller was appointed secretary of the go>ernment, and was made a member of the council, in the character of deputy
NORTH CAROLINA. 127
to one of the proprietors.* He was also made collector of the revenue by the commissioners of the customs. Nothing could be more imprudent than the sud- den promotion of Miller, among people whom he regarded as his enemies. To send a man of strong passions, vested with considerable power, to collect mo- ney that was very scarce, among people who had injured him, was delivering the debtor into the hands of a merciless creditor. It was sending a wolf to guard the sheep. The governor and his secre- tary left England in the same vessel. They came by the West Indies, where Eastchurch was detained by private bu- siness; but Miller proceeded to Albe- marle to rule the colony as president of
* Each of the proprietors had a deputy in the colony; and the governor's council was composed of those eight deputies.
128 THE HISTORY OF
the council, or deputy governor, until Eastchurch should arrive. Miller was not inattentive to his duty as collector of the revenue. Having no disposition to indulge the people, he exacted the utmost farthing. Before his arrival, the assembly had appointed a collector of the tobaceo duty. That officer paid over a considerable amount that he had re- ceived; and Miller collected, from July to December, three hundred and twenty- seven thousand weight of tobacco, and two hundred and forty-two pounds ster- ling in cash; for duties were payable in cash or tobacco. He rows against wind and tide who attempts the refor- mation of bad habits: Miller attempted to destroy the New England monopoly and to establish a direct trade to the mother country. In the discharge of Ms duty, as president, he did some excep- tionable things, at a time when the correct discharge of his duty would not
NORTH CAROLINA. 129
have escaped censure. Great prudence was required among people chafed in their tempers, who watched for his faults or his mistakes; hut Miller was not a prudent man: he scattered the sparks of discontent; and the New England traders were prepared to hlow them into a flame. Currency was given to the most provok- ing falsehoods. It was said, and the story was believed, that the proprietors in- tended to raise the quit-rents from one halfpenny to two-pence, and then to six- pence the acre. This was a pestilent fiction; for it reached the feelings of every man who expected to have more land, and every man who had not ob- tained a patent for the land he occupied. At this period of general discontent, one Culpepper* arrived from South Carolina,
* This man had been surveyor general in South Caro- lina.
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who fled from that colony, to escape the gibhet, for his attempts to cause the poor to plunder the rich. No man could he more noisy than Culpepper in profes- sions of attachment to the constitution and rights of the people, though his true object was anarchy and civil commo- tions, that he might seize the opportu- nity of floating upon the wrecks of other men's property. While the public mind was chafed by such measures and men, a trader named Gillam arrived from New England, as usual, in the beginning of winter,* with an assortment of dry goods and groceries. He was immedi- ately arrested, by order of the president, and required to give security, one thou- sand pounds sterling, that he would abide his trial on a charge of a breach of the revenue laws. Gillam, who had
* This was the beginning of the winter 1 677.
NORTH CAROLINA. 131
reason to be alarmed, pretended that he would leave the country; and the people fook arms in support of a smuggler. The president and six members of the coun- cil were seized and put into prison; for it was clear that a notorious offender could not be safe while there was any appearance of regular government. But there was another argument, not less conclusive, in favour of a revolution: there were three thousand pounds ster- ling in the treasury.* The insurgents, when they assumed the government, laid their hands upon the money in the royal treasury, appointed courts of justice, call- ed a parliament, and exercised the powers of a regular administration, for the space of two years. In the mean time Culpep- per, who had been the very life of the in- surrection, discharged the profitable duty
* See Proofs and Explanations G. and G. g.
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of collector of the customs. A manifesto published by the rioters, on that occa- sion, is a humiliating specimen of the weak and flimsy arguments that may be sufficient to induce the multitude to sup- port a dangerous insurrection.* We la- ment the credulity of our fellow citizens, when we observe instances of this kind, in which harmless undesigning men are made the tools of faction, and are per- suaded to risk their lives in supporting the private and personal views of some idle, worthless adventurer. "When East- church arrived, the next year after the riot, though he had not offended the people, he was not received as governor. The empty gratification of power, and the solid fruits of plunder, were not easi- ly surrendered by the factious leaders of the people. Eastchurch applied to the
* See Proofs and Explanations H.
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governor of Virginia for assistance to re- store the government; but he died of a fever before the troops could be raised. The insurgents, who now discovered that serious correction might be expected, sent Culpepper and another of their lead- ers to England with a promise of sub- mission to the proper authority; but they required, as an excuse for the late revolt, that Miller should be punished. But Mil- ler himself demanded justice against the insurgents; for he had lately arrived in London, having escaped, with the other deputies, from confinement. Culpepper was arrested and tried for high treason; but he was acquitted upon his plea that the late disturbance among the planters could only be considered as a riot. Per- haps the circumstance of his being im- properly brought to trial, out of his country, had more weight with the jury.
134 THE HISTORY, &c,
It may appear somewhat strange that the subjects in Carolina should have re- volted on the very next year after the general revolt, called Bacon's rebellion, had been suppressed in Virginia. It would not be alleged that the Carolinians had been tempted to rebel, by the impu- nity of the Virginia insurgents; for we have seen that sir William Berkley, in cutting off the delinquents, was not much restrained by the milk of humanity.* But the object of revolt in Carolina was very different from what it had been in Virginia, and it was pursued with less violence.
* See Proofs and Explanations E.
CHAPTER V.
THE INCREASE OF THE COLONY, UNDER A SUCCESSION OF GOVERNORS, IS RETARD- ED BY MALADMINISTRATION AND CIVIL COMMOTIONS.
THE lords proprietors had now to determine whether they should employ force, and teach the insurgents to res- pect the laws, or accept a nominal sub- mission upon their own terms. They adopted the latter plan; for they believed, or affected to believe, the promises of rioters and robbers. Hence it was that the colony lingered for many years under a painful and wasting hectic, that was cherished by their weak, inergetic mea- sures. This palpable instance of indo- lence or irabecillity gave countenance
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and spring to future insults and disor- ders, whereby the colony was long de- tained in a state of minority.
A governor was then required whose address should make him popular, whose wisdom should discover the best mea- sures, whose justice should reward the deserving, and whose example should induce men to observe the laws. We shall presently discover how well the proprietors succeeded in their choice. Lord Clarendon had lately sold his eighth of the colony to Seth Sothel, a man who was perfectly disengaged from business; and it was conceived that one of the proprietors, in the character of governor, would be greatly superior te any of his predecessors, because he had a personal interest in the growth of the colony. Sothel was appointed governor; and the administration was committed to John Harvey, as president of the council,
NORTH CAROLINA. 137
until Sothel should arrive; but the public sufferings were not relieved by that mea- sure. It was known that Harvey could not be long in power, therefore his pro- mises and threats were equally disre- garded. Sothel was captured by the Algerines, on his passage to Carolina. And the government of Albemarle, in the meantime, was committed to John Jenkins, a man of respectable talents. As some of the first settlers held their lands under grants issued in Virginia, before Carolina became a province, those people were then gratified by new grants, that were issued, according to late in- structions from the proprietors.* An act of oblivion passed in favour of the late rioters, except that the duties due the king were to be paid, and his collector indemnified. The proprietors gave ex-
* The Instructions were dated 5th February 1679. VOL. I. S
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cellent advice to the governor, to be communicated to the people. But rioters are not governed by reason: a course of idleness and rapine had produced in- veterate habits; and idle habits are sel- dom cured, except by external force or extreme indigence. The restoration of ..plunder was a hard condition of peace. The rioters had never been guided by justice: they were the strongest party; and they proceeded against their oppo- nents by fines and imprisonment; so that many people fled to Virginia to shun persecution.
While the colony was labouring under this general calamity, a dawn of hope cheered the inhabitants, by the arrival of governor Sothel, who sustained also the respectable rank of proprietor. He had been instructed to expel from his coun- cil those who were concerned in the late disorders; to establish a court of
NORTH CAROLINA. 139
the most impartial inhabitants, for re- dressing the wrongs of those who had suffered by violence, and to assist the officers in collecting the revenue. It can- not indeed be alleged, of this unfortunate colony, that they exchanged king Log for a Stork. They had long been suffer- ing under a scourge of their own mak- ing; but they had now to suffer a variety of penance under a new master. The annals of human depravity are stained with the gloomy and dark characters of treacherous confidents, corrupt judges, and rapacious governors; but the name of Sothel has a prominent claim to notice in that long and hideous catalogue; for he was among the foremost in the race of infamy. We search in vain for the time or means by which he acquired a thorough contempt of justice. Did he conceive that man should be a wolf to man, because he had seen tyranny in its completest form, while he lived among the Alge-
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rines? Or did he think, with the Spar- tans, * that men could be taught by fraud and rapine how to set a proper value upon justice and good laws? Du- ring the space of six years, in which he misruled the inhabitants of North Caro- lina, the dark shades of his character were not relieved by a single ray of virtue. Despising instructions, and desti- tute of principle, his sole object was plunder and property. In that pursuit, his avarice could not be satiated. For the sake of acquiring fees, as governor or proprietor, he disputed the best titles
* The Spartans trained their children in the love of temperance, by exposing drunken slaves to their view. We have frequently to lament that young gentlemen are not universally taught to despise the base and ridiculous habit of profane swearing, when they observe that the most abandoned and the most ignorant of the human spe- cies are most in the habit of embellishing their noisy nonsense with the livery lace of oaths and curses.
NORTH CAROLINA. 141
and vexed the fairest traders. For a handsome bribe he would suffer felons to escape; and he would distress the innocent for a smaller sum. Justice and injustice were alike to him: they were both at market; and they were botli to be purchased with money. The patience of the inhabitants was at length exhausted by his tyranny, and they seized him with the purpose of sending him to England; but he prayed that he might be tried by the next assembly. He was tried according to his request; and the assembly determined that he should im- mediately resign the government, and that he should depart the country within twelve months.
Was it to be expected that Sothel would ever be found again at the head of any government? He retired to South Carolina, where his vices, like those of Culpepper, recommended him to public
142 THE HISTORY OF
notice. There was a faction in that co- lony, who quarrelled with Colleton their governor, because he attempted to re- strain some disorderly practices. Colle- ton was set aside from the government; and Sothel, because he was a proprietor, or because he had been active in promo- ting discord, was made governor in his place. Within two years those licentious people were taught, by his iron rod, the salutary lessons of repentance and refor- mation.*
* He was removed in the year 1692.
Weak and wicked as the colonial governors were, in many instances, we can hardly pass the appointment of Sothel to the general account of court favour or inatten- tion. Sothel believed that a distant colony might be plun- dered with impunity; for the late incidents in Carolina had given too much countenance to that supposition; and there is reason to believe that he purchased lord Claren- don's share of the province, with the hope of making a fortune. A proprietor could hardly be refused the go- vernment. As he entered extensively into the Indian
NORTH CAROLINA. 143
The proprietors, weary and sick of the unalterable rule, by which they had not been able to govern the colonies — a rule that had caused much discontent — re- solved that " as the people have declared they would rather be governed by the powers granted by the charter, without regard to the fundamental constitutions, it will be for their quiet and the protec- tion of the well-disposed to grant their request."* It was unfortunate that the identity of the instrument, which was designed to be the fundamental constitu- tions or magna charta of Carolina, should have been disputed. The lords proprie- tors in July 1669 imprudently transmit- ted a rough sketch of what was in con-
trade, among other means of acquiring property, he was in the direct way to obtain his object. He died in North Carolina in the year 1694 without issue.
♦April 1693.
144 THE HISTORY OF
temptation; but the perfect constitutions were signed by them in March 1670. The first, being more favourable to the people, were accepted; but the latter were soon denied to be authentic, and were rejected. This contributed to numerous disputes and to the final abolition of that curious system, at the end of twenty- three years.
The baneful effects of rapine, anarchy, and idleness, may be inferred, from the decrease of subjects in North Carolina. At a general court that was held the twenty-eighth of November 1694, the list of taxables did not exceed seven hundred and eighty seven. This is little more than half the number that was in the colony at the beginning of Culpep- per's insurrection.* By a more stable
See Proofs and Explanations I.
NORTH CAROLINA. 145
government, the colony, in a few years, resumed its former growth. Philip Lud- well, the governor, according to his in- structions, desired all persons, who had suffered any wrongs under the govern- ment of Sothel, to make application to him, and he would do them justice. The frauds that Sothel had committed, in his private capacity, were to be redressed by other means; and it appears, by the numerous suits that were brought against his executors, and by the evidence ex- amined in court, that his private* and his public character were in perfect uni- son. Many recoveries were had against his estate; but the proprietors, who sued for rents that he had received, to a con- siderable amount, were nonsuited, be- cause they were tenants in common.f
* See Proofs and Explanations K.
t Tenants in common were afterwards subjected to re- ciprocal
VOL. I. T
146 THE HISTORY OF
Ludwell continued but a short time in the colony;* and he was succeeded in the administration by Thomas Harvey as deputy governor. The conduct of that officer was mild and prudent; but he wanted that strength of judgment and weight of character, which are necessary to removing grievances, and quelling a licentious spirit, such as then disturbed the peace of both Carolinas.
It is difficult to determine in which of the colonies, riot and disorder first appeared; but folly is infectious. How- ever we may value ourselves upon our intellectual powers, it is not to be de- nied, that in many cases we are guided by passion and not by reason: by the
ciprocal actions of account by a statute of fourth of queen Ann.
* He was four years governor; but he resided the greater part of that time in Virginia.
NORTH CAROLINA. 147
fashion of the times, and not by moral sentiment. Is there a custom so foolish, so useless, or so ridiculous, that it may not be admired and become the rage among civilized nations? It was to-iittle purpose that plebeians were restrained, by an act of parliament, in the time of Edward the Fourth, from disfiguring their shoes or boots, by a bowsprit toe, more than two inches long. Men of for- tune cannot expect the monopoly of folly. The peasant will tread upon the cour- tier's heels. It is greatly to be wished that follies alone were under the influ- ence of fashion; our morals also, in too many cases, are under its direction. Riot- ing, profanity, drunkenness, perjury, se- duction, and robbery, in different ages, have been countenanced and promoted by this blind and brainless tyrant. It is to be lamented that fashion does not, on some occasions, lend her assistance to virtue; but we observe that one pro-
148 THE HISTORY OF
fligate libertine has more influence upon the manners of society than the precepts and example of many virtuous citizens. Aristophanes, the infidel and comedian, had infinitely more success in corrupting the citizens of Athens, than Socrates and all his disciples in reforming them.
u Probitas laudatur et alget."
The inhabitants of North and South Carolina had been governed, for several years, by the same laws; the interest of those colonies was nearly the same; and they continued to be under the same influence and superintendence af- ter they began to make laws for them- selves. In such a case, we are not surprised, that complaints in one of the colonies were quickly followed by similar complaints in the other; nor that riots, mobs, and insurrections, in either of the governments, should have given the
NORTH CAROLINA. 149
tone to similar disorders in the sister colony.
We haye noted that South Carolina was governed a few years hy sir John Yeamans. That colony was chiefly com- posed of puritans and cavaliers, who had migrated from England during the civil commotions: men who were perfect an- tipodes to one another in all their ideas of government, civil or religious; hut governor Yeamans was a zealous cava- lier; and the council, by his direction, was chiefly composed of high church- men. Sir John Yeamans was succeeded in the government by Joseph West, who was a moderate and prudent man; but his council, being cavaliers, wished to establish a high-toned prerogative go- vernment. West was succeeded by Mor- ton, who in a short time gave place to Colleton. During the administration of that gentleman, the high church party
150 THE HISTORY OF
had nearly destroyed the government. They opposed every measure that was recommended by the first magistrate; they refused to make any salutary laws, and despised the laws already made. That their contempt of government might be placed in the strongest light, they caused a bill to pass in the house of assembly for disabling Mr. Colleton from holding any office in the colony.* At this period it was that Sothel, from North Carolina, assumed the govern- ment.
Smith, the legal successor of Colleton, was equally incapable of reducing those disorderly people to the obedience of the laws. The spirit of envy, hatred and discord pervaded the colony. The French huguenots, who had settled in the pro-
* In the year 1690.
NORTH CAROLINA. 151
vince, were treated in the most~ inhos- pitable manner. Those people, being aliens, and incapable of holding lands, were refused the benefit of naturaliza- tion; their marriages, by ministers not ordained by bishops, were deemed ille- gal, and their children treated as bas- tards. The leading object of the faction was to deprive all dissenters, from the English church, of the rights of suffrage; and to make them perfect blanks in society. Governor Smith, being wearied by fruitless attempts to satisfy the dis- contented, quiet the turbulent, or re- move pretended grievances, asked leave to retire from the helm. The proprietors had long been acquainted with the disor- ders that prevailed in North Carolina; and the disorders in South Carolina were cherished, if possible, by a more dangerous spirit; for the factious and turbulent were covering their vices by the cloak of religion. It was admitted
152 THE HISTORY OF
that serious and powerful measures must be adopted to correct a disease by which the whole body was afflicted. Governor Smith had represented to the proprietors, that " the country could not be settled unless one of themselves should be sent out, with full powers to heal grievances." Their first choice of a governor, for this purpose, fell upon lord Ashly. It was presumed that his pleasing manners, high rank, and respectable talents, might be effectual in reducing those colonies to the obedience of the laws. Lord Ashly alleged, that the state of his private af- fairs did not permit him to leave the kingdom; whereupon John Archdale, an- other of the proprietors, a man of great prudence, sagacity and command of tem- per, was appointed governor of Carolina. He was vested with authority so great and extensive, that the proprietors thought fit to have it recorded, in his commission, that such powers were not to be claimed.
NORTH CAROLINA. \$$
as a precedent, by future governors. He arrived first in South Carolina,* where he formed a new council of moderate men; and in a short time, by remitting some arrears of rent,f and by other con- ciliating measures, he prevailed so far in quieting the most turbulent spirits, that he ventured to call a meeting of the general assembly. The address of the representatives of the people to the lords proprietors, at the rising of the assem- bly, is a proof, if any thing can be in- ferred from addresses, that they found themselves happy in their governor.^
Archdale was one of the people who are called quakers; and we discover
* August 17th, 1695.
t He remitted three years' rent to such as held their lands by gran*s, and four years' rent to such as held them only by a survey.
} See Proofs and Explanations, K k.
VOL. I. U
154 THE HISTORY OF
marks of philanthropy in the course of his administration, that were in perfect agreement with his puhlic profession. Averse as he was to military operations, and the shedding of blood, he believed that a small colony, surrounded by sa- vage and hostile Indians, should hold themselves in a state of constant de- fence. With this view he promoted a mi- litia law, which, in the spirit of tolera- tion, granted exemption to men who were restrained by religious principles from bearing arms.* However prudent and necessary it was to be capable of repelling injuries, the governor believed, that peace was more to be desired than success in war. For this reason, the whole of his conduct towards the Indians was influenced by justice and kindness. The Yammassee Indians, who lived to the
* See Proofs and Explanations, K k 2.
NORTH CAROLINA. 155
southward of Charleston, took some Spanish Indians prisoners, whom they offered to sell as slayes, according to the fashion of the times. But the Yammassee Indians were under the protection of the English colony. The governor sent for the chief of that tribe, and gave him a letter to the governor of Saint Augus- tine, with orders to deliver that letter and the prisoners to the Spanish go- vernor. The liberation of those prisoners made a favourable impression upon all the neighbouring Indians, and was of great use to the colony, by extending the Indian trade.
There was at that period a space of near three hundred miles between the North and South Carolina settlements. The Indians were numerous and pow- erful about Pamlico,* Neus, and Trent
* The lower part of Taw river was called Pamlico.
156 THE HISTORY OF
rivers; and the Indians, who lived near Cape Fear, were not improved in ci- vilization by the intercourse they for- merly had with the English colonies in that vicinity; for the settlement was deserted a second time. Whenever a vessel was cast away upon the Cape, a disaster that was frequent in those days, the Indians destroyed the unfor- tunate passengers with unrelenting cru- elty. It happened that some Indians, who lived to the northward of Charles- ton, making war upon the Cape Fear Indians, took some of them prisoners, and sold them for slaves. The Cape Fear Indians complained of that mis- fortune to an English trader, and were advised to put themselves under the protection of government; in which case, no other Indians as he alleged, would venture to insult them. They applied to governor Archdale, in consequence of that advice; and he promised them pro-
NORTH CAROLINA. 157
tection, upon the condition that they should never insult any people who might he cast on shore near the Cape. They agreed to the terms; and within a few weeks, they gave their assistance to fifty adventurers from New England, who were shipwrecked on Cape Fear, in their way to Charleston.
Governor Archdale, upon his arrival in North Carolina, had less trouble in restoring peace and good order than he experienced in the southern government. Factious spirits were no longer coun- tenanced by the bad example of a sister colony; and a considerable part of the inhabitants were of the people called quakers, with whom the governor had personal influence. Although he spent more of his time in South Carolina (for he had more to do in that colony) his attachment to North Carolina was ob- vious. He purchased lands in Albemarle,
158 • THE HISTORY OF
and one of his daughters married in Pasquetank; where some of his descen- dents are living at this day.
Archdale had not retired many years from Carolina, when the spirit of dis- cord and persecution revived in the southern colony. The high church party, during the administration of sir Na- thaniel Johnson, hy disputing elections and many dishonest measures, obtained a majority of one vote in the house of assembly; upon which they passed a law to disable dissenters from becoming members of the assembly, and another law for establishing the chureh of En- gland. When those laws were transmit- ted to England, they were ratified by the proprietors, notwithstanding the zealous opposition of Mr. Archdale. But the dissenters carried their remonstrance to the house of lords; and that right honourable body were pleased to address
NORTH CAROLINA. 159
her majesty, queen Ann, praying that she would cause the laws to be repealed, as being made in direct violation of the chartered rights of the subject. They advised her also to cause proceedings to be had, by quo warranto, against the proprietors' charter. The laws were re- pealed by the proprietors, at her ma- jesty's command; but other steps were not taken at that time against the charter.
Thomas Harvey, in the character of deputy governor, once more discharged the duties of that office, when Archdale left the colony. Upon the death of Har- vey, in the year 1699, the administration was committed to Henderson Walker, who was chosen president of the council. He was a respectable lawyer, and had been some years a judge in the supreme court.
160 THE HISTORY OF
Robert Daniel, a landgrave, was made president of the council in the year 1703, upon the death of Walker, and was succeeded in the administration by Thomas Gary, who was deputy governor. The number of inhabitants had increas- ed greatly by peace and good order for the space of ten or twelve years. Settle- ments were formed on the waters of Neus and Taw* rivers. Bath county was also set off to the southward.
The first plantations were formed upon Pamlico river in the year 1698; and there is reason to believe that the settlement of that district was not a little forwarded by the previous calamities of the Indian natives. Although the northern part of
* Taw river, in the Indian language, signifies the river of health. This word, like most other Indian names, is corrupted. It is now called Tar river. Tarhunta is call- ed Nahunty; and Cotechna is Contentny.
NORTH CAROLINA. 161
the colony had not suffered, at this time, by a general Indian war; there had ever been a want of friendship and confidence between the white people and the In- dians, who lived upon the waters of Taw river, Neus, and Trent. The Pamlico In- dians were a numerous tribe; and the Caronine Indians were distinguished by their barbarity. But the Pamlico Indians were nearly destroyed, in the year 1696, by a pestilential fever, that desolated their towns; and the Caronine Indians, about the same time, were humbled and greatly reduced by the arms of a more powerful nation. The colonists embraced that opportunity of forming settlements to the southward.
The northern government, for many years, consisted of Albemarle county alone; for which there was a great seal, and all the different officers that are ne- cessary in a province. It was originally
VOI/. i., x
162 THE HISTORY OF
called by the lords proprietors, " our county of Albemarle in Carolina;" but in process of time, about the beginning of the eighteenth century, it was called" The colony of North Carolina." The governor in his commission was styled " governor, captain general, admiral, and commander in chief, of that part of our province of Carolina that lies northeast of Cape Fear."* In some of the first commis- sions, the government was described by " that p*art of Carolina which extends from Virginia to Pamlico river and five miles to the southward." The assembly in their acts called it the province of North Carolina. Although the county of Albemarle consisted, for many years, of four precincts that lay on the north side of the sound; other precincts were
* In the year 1712 governor Hyde in his commission is called the governor of North Carolina.
NORTH CAROLINA. 103
added, as the population increased. From the year 1738, the precincts were called counties; and the counties of Albemarle and Bath were no longer known. While money was scarce in the colony, it be- came necessary, in many cases, to re- ceive payment of quit-rents and other debts in such articles of country pro- duce, as were marketable and easily transported. The price of those several articles was fixed by acts of the assem- bly; at which they were a legal tender, except in cases where a special agree- ment had been made. When judgment was obtained in court, for damages to a certain amount, the entry was usually made in the docket with the following addition, " payable in deer skins, hides, tallow, or small furs, at country price." The proprietors had stores in the several precincts for the reception of country produce, which was paid them for lands or rents. This produce was shipped by
164 THE HISTORY OF
their agents, for the West Indies, or sold at other markets. Such was the difficulty of collecting money or produce, in the disordered state of the colony, that as- signments were occasionally made of lands or quit-rents to public officers, to secure payment for their services.*
While the fundamental constitutions retained the shadow of force, the legis- lative body was called a parliament; from the year 1693, it was called an assembly. We can readily perceive that the laws, made by the parliaments or the assem- blies, must have been unknown in many cases, or badly understood by the sub- ject; for they were not printed. Every new law was read in hearing of the people, at the next court after it had
* The rent of land on Salmon creek was assigned by law to governor Ludwell for the payment of his salary.
NORTH CAROLINA. 165
been made. In consequence of such pub- lication, the laws were supposed to be known. At a single session of the bien- nial assembly, fifty laws were made. The subject must have had a good memory, who could retain all those laws, although they were " openly read" at the next session of the general court. The ruling powers in England seem to have regard- ed knowledge as a dangerous plant in a distant province; else they would not have instructed lord Effingham, the go- vernor of Virginia, " not to suffer the use of a printing press on any occasion what- ever." It was a strange cause of grati- tude, for which sir William Berkeley gave thanks to Heaven, that " there was not a printing office in any of the southern. provinces." If ignorance was desirable, it should have prevented riots and rebel- lions in Virginia and the southern colonies. After the people had received better instruction, they became more ob-
166 THE HISTORY OF
servant of the laws. The general assem- blies and the general courts, as well as the precinct courts, sat in private houses for many years; nor was there a court- house in North Carolina before the year 1722. Rice and tar, which are primary articles in the staple of Carolina, were not contemplated by the first adventu- rers. They were introduced or promoted by incidents not foreseen. A ship, from Madagascar for London, chanced to touch at the bar below Charleston; and the cap- tain presented a fe>v quarts of seed rice to the governor, who made him a visit. Naval stores had been obtained by the En- glish nation from the Baltic; and the tar trade was chiefly monopolized by Swedish merchants. While England was contend- ing with France for the superiority at sea, those merchants not only demanded a very unreasonable price for their tar; but they claimed the exclusive privilege of transporting it to England, at a heavy
NORTH CAROLINA. 167
freight. The nation was induced by those extortions to encourage the preparation of tar in the colonies. This was effected in the third of queen Ann (1704) by a considerable bounty.
The first settlers were of different re- ligious denominations; and their zeal, for many years, was not sufficient to build churches or support public teachers. The majority, being dissenters, could not expect any support from govern- ment. Forty years had elapsed before the inhabitants of that colony began to per- secute one another in favour of an es- tablished church, and before they began to display their zeal for Christianity, by giving proofs that they had not a chris- tian temper. In the year 1702, the as- sembly passed a law, by which thirty pounds currency per annum were raised, in each precinct towards the support of a minister. In thfe following year the first
168 THE HISTORY OF
episcopal minister arrived: he was chiefly supported at the expense of lord Wey- mouth. In the year 1705, the first church was built in Chowan precinct; and a larger church was huilt the following year in Perquimons. Two episcopal ministers arrived about this time. The province was afterwards divided by law into parishes, each precinct in general forming one parish. The people on Neus, and all the southern settlers, were then included in Craven parish. A magistrate, was authorized, by the same law, to join people in marriage, provided there was not a minister in the parish, otherwise he was subject to a fine of five pounds, for performing that service. Protestant dissenters were allowed, by another act, to ivor ship in public, subject in the mean time to such rules, regulations and re- strictions as were contained in the se- veral acts of parliament in England. Quakers were permitted by law to affirm
NORTH CAROLINA. 169
instead of swearing; but they could not, by virtue of such affirmation, give evi- dence in any criminal case, or serve on a jury, or hold an office of profit or trust. These were the first departures, in the northern government, from the original engagement of the proprietors, on the subject of religion; but the spirit of in- tolerance grew stronger as the province increased; for the constant influence of patronage, and numerous emigrations from Virginia, had given the episcopa- lians a majority in the legislature.
From the time in which the first set- tlements were made on Pasquetank, the conduct of the Indians had been friendly and inoffensive, when compared with their treatment of the first colonists, who attempted to form a settlement near the end of the sixteenth century. There had been some bickerings between the
VOIi. I. Y
170 THE HISTORY OF
white men and the Indians. There had heen complaints on both sides; but there had not been any general alarm that could restrain the progress of settling, nor any dispute that might be called war. The time was now at hand, in which the colony was destined to suffer by a double calamity, civil insurrection and an Indian war.
Thomas Cary, who was deputy gover- nor, had also been collector of the pro- prietary quit-rents. As he had neglected to settle his accounts, the proprietors, by an instrument of writing, which they sent by John Porter, one of their depu- ties, removed him from the several offi- ces of deputy governor and receiver of rents. They instructed the council, at the same time, to choose a president by whom the government should be admin- istered. William Glover was chosen pre- sident at a meeting of the deputies, seven
NORTH CAROLINA. 171
members being present.* Cary sat in council for a considerable time, and sub- mitted to the administration of Glover; but listening afterwards to bad advice, and forming a wrong estimate of his par- tisans, he attempted to resume the go- vernment by an armed force. In the midst of that dispute, Edward Hyde arrived, with the commission of lieuten- ant governor;! but Cary had commenced hostilities, and resolved to persevere. He alleged certain grievances as the cause of his resistance. Governor Hyde promised to redress the grievances of which he complained; but he would not disarm; for his object, as it commonly happens with insurgents, was very dif- ferent from what he pretended. Spots-
* This was in May 1709. The deputies present were Glover, Cary, Porter, Forster, Gale, Lawson, and Mosely. The eighth deputy, Pollock, alone was absent.
t He arrived 10th August 1710.
172 THE HISTORY OF
wood, the governor of Virginia, sent a confidential messenger to confer with Cary, and offer his mediation to accom- modate differences, or at least to sus- pend all acts of violence, until the pro- prietors should signify their pleasure respecting the laws by which he pre- tended to be aggrieved.* But Cary was deaf to such advice; for he expected to get possession of the government. He was deluded by the successful robbery of Culpepper. He had a brigantine and a smaller vessel, in military array, in the bay of Edenton: the governor was in town; and Cary expected to carry him off. But he deceived himself, greatly, in expecting the success of Culpepper, with- out presenting his faction with similar temptations. There seldom has been a want of idle, indigent and dissolute men,
* See Proofs and Explanations L.
NORTH CAROLINA. 173
in any country, ready to assist in a riot or revolt; but the activity of those men is usually proportioned to their hopes of pay or plunder. Culpepper could pre- sent a full treasury and a considerable revenue to the avarice of his copatriots: they expected to share in the spoil; but Gary's chief object was to retain the trea- sure that was already in his hands. The object of his revolt did not reach the gene- ral passion of the multitude: they would not risk their livefe to gratify his ambition, or mend his fortune. He made an at- tempt upon Edenton; but he was repuls- ed without the loss of much blood. Finding himself too weak for offensive operations, he retired to Pamlico, near Bath, and began to fortify the house of one Roach, an English factor. That man had lately arrived in the province, and was courting popularity, in the usual mode, by opposing the government. He had a good supply of arms and ammuni-
174 THE HISTORY OF
tion in his store, which he had imported for the Indian trade; and a competent supply of rum. By his assistance Cary was enabled to arm his associates; and, while they were protected by a stockade, they defied the officers of government, and suspended the operations of justice.*
Though the citizens, in general, did not choose to commit themselves, by sup- porting Cary in his rebellion; few of, them were disposed to lend their assist- ance in bringing him to justice. They looked on with a criminal indifference. A strange distinction is frequently made between crimes; the order of nature be- ing reversed, and the smaller crime held in greatest contempt. Such are the effects of fashion, by which all laws, human and divine, have been suspended. A rioter
* See Proofs and Explanations M.
NORTH CAROLINA. 175
may insult the government and violate the laws; a smuggler may perjure him- self and defraud the treasury; but in many cases they proceed with impunity, because it has not been the fashion to restrain villains of this or the other class. But small thieves discover that every man is their enemy. When citizens re- fuse to discharge their social obligations. - in compliance with a vitious custom, they should not complain if a standing army is employed. When their liberties are invaded, by such an army, they must blame themselves.
It was fortunate for North Carolina, that there chanced to be some regular troops in Virginia. The governor of that province, upon the application of gover- nor Hyde, sent a party of marines from the guard-ships that lay in Hampton road. Gary's partisans dispersed them- selves as the marines approached. Many
176 THE HISTORY OF
of tliem were taken up by the civil offi- cers and prosecuted. Cary attempted to elude justice, by affecting to brave it. He went to Virginia with Truit, one of his associates, under the pretence of tak- ing his passage to England; but governor Spotswood, not believing that he had any design to visit the proprietors, caused them both to be apprehended and sent over in the Reserve and Tiger ships of
war.
*
Hyde, who was appointed governor the next year, issued a proclamation, according to his instructions, granting full pardon to all the late insurgents, except Thomas Cary, J John Porter,
* See Proofs and Explanations N.
$ Although Cary was not tried in England For his re- bellion, he was not relieved from the apprehension of trial and punishment, in Carolina, for many years. He feared that in case of conviction his estate would be for-
NORTH CAROLINA. 177
and three other persons whom he named.
feited, therefore he caused lands to be patented in the name of his infant son.
Anno 1703, Albemarle sound was frozen over. Before the year 1708 only two persons had been executed for capital offences: viz. A Turk for murder and an old wo- man on the suspicion of witchcraft.
VOL. I. Z
CHAPTER VI.
A COLONY OP PALATINES ARRIVE A GENE- RAL INDIAN WAR.
THE population of North Carolina was increased, near the beginning of the eighteenth century, by two small co- lonies of foreign protestants, French and Germans. A colony of French hugue- nots, encouraged by king William, in the year 1690, had come to America and seated themselves at the Manakin town, in Yirginia, above the falls of James's river. Not well pleased with the lands they first occupied, and the greater part of Carolina being unappropriated, they removed to the southward, and seated themselves upon Trent river, with Ry- bourg their pastor.* They were sober,
t In the year 1707.
THE HISTORY, &c. 179
frugal, industrious planters, and in a short time became independent citizens.
The German colony was from Heidel- berg, and its vicinity, on the Rhine. Those unfortunate people had suffered persecu- tion, because they could not change their religious opinions, from time to time, so as to be in constant agreement with the ruling prince. The elector palatine, Fred- eric the Second, embraced the Lutheran faith. Frederic the Third became a Cal- vinist. Lodovic the Fifth restored the Lutheran church; his son and successor became a Calvinist. That prince was suc- ceeded in the government by a Catholic family, who oppressed the protestants.
Those people had also the misfortune to live between powerful rivals, who were often at war. In the year 1622, count Tilly, the imperial general, took the city of Heidelberg and put five hundred of
180 THE HISTORY OF
the inhabitants to the sword. In the year 1634, the city was taken by Lewis the Fourteenth, and many of the inhabitants destroyed. In the year 1688, it was taken a second time by the French, who laid the inhabitants under a heavy contribu- tion; after which, at the approach of the imperial army, they blew up the citadel and reduced the city to ashes. The city, being rebuilt, was taken again by a French army, who committed it to the flames in the year 1693. The inhabitants, men, women, and children, about fifteen thousand, stripped of their property, were turned into the fields by night. Upon the retreat of the French army, the inhabi- tants were again prevailed upon to re- build the city, being promised liberty of conscience, and exemption from taxes for thirty years. After some time the elector, who seems to have believed that promises made to heretics should not be
NORTH CAROLINA. 181
observed, began to persecute his pro- tectant subjects. The French army hav- ing again crossed the Rhine, the distress- ed Palatines, persecuted by their prince and plundered by a foreign enemy, fled to England, about six thousand of them, for protection, in consequence of en- couragement they had received from queen Ann.*
Having pitched their tents at a small distance from London, they were sup- ported at the public expense until they could be shipped off for Ireland or the colonies. Christopher de Graffenried and Lewis Michell were attempting, about this time, to mend their fortunes by pur- chasing lands in some of the British colonies. Michell had been several years in America and had obtained some know-
* By her proclamation 1708.
182 ^HE HISTORY OF
ledge of the country.* The lords pro- prietors of Carolina had agreed with those gentlemenf that ten thousand acres of land should be laid off for them in one body between ISeus and Cape Fear, they paying twenty shillings for every hun- dred acres and six-pence the yearly quit- rent. The surveyor general was also in- structed to lay off an additional tract of one hundred thousand acres, which was to be reserved for them twelve years. One of them was to be gratified by a title when he should pay the usual price for five thousand acres of land. De Graf- fenried made the purchase and was crea-
* This Michell was originally employed, by the Can- ton of Bern in Switzerland, to search for a large tract of vacant land on the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Carolina, to which they might send a colony. He spent some years in exploring the country. There was no scarcity of mountainous land, such as those people are ac- customed to; but they desi&ted from the project.
t April 1709.
NORTH CAROLINA. 183
ted a baron. This company, having se- cured the lands, wished to make them productive by settling them with tenants; and the poor Palatines presented them- selves as an object of speculation. Com- missioners had been appointed by the queen to collect and receive money for the use of the Palatines, and to provide them with settlements. Graffenried and Michell covenanted with those commis- sioners, that they would transport, to North Carolina, six hundred and fifty of the Palatines; about one hundred families; that they would lay off for each family two hundred and fifty acres of land, to be held five years with- out cost, and from that period at the annual rent of two-pence currency per acre. The Palatines were to be supplied twelve months, with necessary provi- sions, to be paid for at the end of the following year; and they were to be fur- nished, gratis, with tools sufficient for
184 THE HISTORY OF
building houses. It was also stipulated that, within four months from their arri- val, they should be provided with a cer- tain number of cows, hogs, and sheep, which were to be paid for, at the end of seven years; and half the remaining issue was to be returned in lieu of in- terest.
The commissioners allowed five pounds sterling per head, for transporting the Palatines; and those people, who had each of them, young and old, received twenty shillings of the charitable collec- tions, made through the kingdom, lodged that money in the hands of Graffenried and Michell, to be returned them in Ca- rolina.* The Palatines arrived, in Decem- ber 1709, at the confluence of the rivers Neus and Trent, where they erected temporary shelters until they could be
***0mm ir»TU'»i ■ ■ ■■" ■ ■■ — i ■ ■■—— ^w ■■■—■in i wi ■»■»■»
* See Proofs and Explanations O.
NORTH CAROLINA. 185
put in possession of their lands. The place on which they encamped was called New Bern, from Bern in Switzerland, where Graffenried was born. The Pala- tines had too much reason to complain of their trustees; for Graffenried, in whose name the lands were taken up, returned to Switzerland without giving them a title for their settlements. He mortgaged the lands to Thomas Pollock for eight hundred pounds sterling; and they pass- ed to the heirs of that gentleman.* The Palatines, in the mean time, being in- dustrious and living in a country where land was plenty and cheap, increased in number and acquired property. After many years, upon their petition to the king, they were in some measure indem-
* Pollock, by a letter to Graffenried, sixteenth Feb- ruary, 1716, offered to return him the land, fifteen thou- sand acres, if he would repay the money. See letter book.
TOL. I. 2 A
186 THE HISTORY OF
nified, by a grant of land, ten thousand acres, free from quit-rents for ten years.
The Indians, who lived upon the coast in Carolina, were divided into small tribes without any powerful confederacy. Upon every section of the bank, there was a tribe; and there were other small tribes within the sound. Those Indians, having a plentiful supply of fish, depend- ed less upon venison, bears' flesh and other wild game, than their brethren who lived farther from the coast. This seems to have been one of the reasons why so much land was taken up and settlements formed, more than sixty years, before the first Indian war. Another reason, for the long continuance of peace, may be traced from the situation and temper of the first settlers: they were not under the protection of government; they came among the Indians as suppliants who asked favours, not as masters who claim-
NORTH CAROLINA. 187
ed rights. Their conduct was inoffensive as their language. They purchased the soil, paid the stipulated price, and shun- ned every cause of hostility. The conduct of their successors, for many years, was equally inoffensive. The Indians had once and again, by particular treaties, reserved for themselves a square of three or four miles, including their towns. The white people, hy encroaching upon those reservations, had caused disputes; and other disputes, not less serious, had been excited by strong drink. Governor Daniel, in the year 1703, apprehending bad con- sequences from drunken affrays, stipu- lated with the Indian chiefs, in a solemn treaty, that " no rum should be sold to an Indian by any trader." By this regu- lation he expected to prevent frauds, disputes, and war. But the young Indians complained of the treaty as a restraint on their natural liberty. They claimed the privilege of destroying themselves;
188 THE HISTORY OF
they demanded and obtained the usual supply of rum. At the period to which I refer, we search in vain for the numerous Indian tribes, who lived near the coast in Carolina, when sir Walter Raleigh ob- tained his patent for that country. In the progress of one hundred and twenty years, they had vanished, from the con- suming touch of ardent spirits, like snow beneath a vertical sun. The Chowanokes, who could bring three thousand bowmen into the field, were now reduced to fif- teen men, who lived in a small town near the mouth of Bennet's creek. The Moratock Indians, a numerous tribe, had disappeared; and the Mangoacks, who numbered three thousand bowmen, were now reduced within the compass of a small village. Fifteen hundred volunteers, from the Indians who lived on the waters of Currituck, on the north side of Albe- marle sound, had assembled at Dasamon- quipoto assist at the projected massacre of
NORTH CAROLINA. 189
the little colony, upon Roanoke island; but all the tribes, to which those Indians belonged, were now reduced to forty-six fencible men. The Tuskarora Indians, Who lived on the waters of Neus, Con- tentny and Taw rivers, were the only powerful nation with whom the white in- habitants of North Carolina, had any in- tercourse. They could muster twelve hundred fighting men.* They lived at a great distance from the old settlements, and had not suffered much by the use of strong drink; but they had not observed with indifference the advances lately made towards their country; nor had they observed, without jealousy and fear, the encroachments that were made upon the reserved lands of small insulated tribes, during the late period of anarchy and confusion. John Lawson, who had lived
* See Proofs and Explanations P.
190 THE HISTORY OF
some years near Bath, was generally known among the Indians. He had lately been appointed surveyor general; and in the discharge of his duty he excited the jealousy of those people; for he had mark- ed off some of their lands. One tract of five thousand acres, and one of ten thou- sand acres, had lately been surveyed for Graffenried. The Indians, always suspi- cious, could not regard the advances of settlement, and the late surveys made on their lands in any other light than so many strokes at their independence. They had much reason to be dissatisfied with the approaches of the colonists; and their tempers were greatly soured by the fre- quent impositions of fraudulent traders. Lawson was the first who fella sacrifice to their jealousy. Being a diligent offi- cer, and anxious to serve the proprietors, he resolved to explore the lands upon the
NORTH CAROLINA. 191
river Neus.* For this purpose he took a small boat at New Bern, and accompani- ed by baron de Graffenried he proceeded up the river. In the evening of the first day they stopped at an Indian town, near the river, where they intended to lodge. As they were not kindly received by the Indians, they resolved to return to their boat; but they were detained by the In- dians and roughly treated. Upon a so- lemn trial before a numerous assembly, the next day, they made a plausible ex- cuse, for their journey into the Indian country, and were seemingly acquitted; but new complaints being made on the following day, especially against Lawson, sentence of death passed upon them both. Baron Graffenried had the good fortune to save his life by a claim of rank, or the difference of country. He
* Graffenried calls it « the New river," certainly by a mistake.
192 THE HISTORY OF
alleged that he was not of the English nation, like the other inhabitants of Ca- rolina, but the king or chief of a small inoffensive tribe, who had lately settled at the mouth of Trent. Lawson was put to death; but Graffenried, from a regard to his rank, his nation, or his innocence, was suffered to escape.* There is no reason to believe that the Indians had contemplated a general war before Law- son fell into their hands; but having killed a public officer, and a respectable subject, they resolved to proceed; for a retreat was hardly practicable,
" They were in blood,
Stept in so far."
In that case, they formed the barba- rous resolution of murdering, in one day, all the settlers to the southward of Al- bemarle sound. Graffenried was detained
* See Proofs and Explanations Q.
NORTH CAROLINA. 193
among them until they should have fin- ished the hloody work. Having divided themselves into small parties, six or seven in a company, they entered the settlement upon the twenty-second of Sep- tember, and put whole families to death.* One hundred and thirty persons fell, on that memorable day, by the hatchet. The Indians, to shun suspicion, did not come with their fire-arms: they trust- ed to their tomahawks; but the strata- gem had not the desired effect; for it was not possible to strike every family at the same hour; and many of the set- tlers being in the woods or fields, the alarm in a short time became general, and people defended themselves in their houses. Graffenried in some manner se- cured his people by a treaty that he made with the Indians, while he was a
* The anniversary of the Indian massacre in 1711 was solemnized for many years, according to an act of assem- bly, as a day of fasting and prayer. VOL. I. 2 B
194 THE HISTORY OF
prisoner;* but the other inhabitants of Bath county, from that day, were in con- stant danger of being scalped by the In- dians, or starved to death by hunger. North Carolina did not contain two thou- sand fencible men at the time of that massacre. The inhabitants in general had been disturbed, and many of them had fled to Virginia, during Cary's rebellion. In this weak and divided state of the colony, it became necessary to claim as- sistance from South Carolina. The legis- lature of that colony immediately granted an aid of four thousand pounds; and they detached colonel Barnwell with a small party of white men, and a considerable body of Indians, who were of the Che- rokee, Creek, and Catawba, nations. The colonel, in different actions, killed fifty of the Cores, Bear River, Neus or Matta- muskeet Indians, and took two hundred . . . i ii ■
* See Proofs and Explanations Q.
NORTH CAROLINA. 195
women and children prisoners. He also killed about thirty of the Tuskarora In- dians. A considerable body of those In- dians, near six hundred, had inclosed themselves in a fort, at a small distance from Neus. The colonel, who was pro- vided with two field pieces, made regular approaches to the fort. Michel], his engi- neer, one of the Swiss adventurers, had run a parallel within thirty-three feet of the palisades, and had prepared fagots to fill the intermediate space: the Indians, who had been principals in the late mas- sacre, were chiefly in that fort, and must have surrendered at discretion in a few hours; but colonel Barnwell made peace with them while their affairs were in this critical situation, and suffered them to es- cape. In a few days, those very Indians re- newed hostilities. A bad understanding had lately subsisted between governor Hyde and colonel Barnwell. The colonel wished to throw the odium of the Indian war
196 THE HISTORY OF
upon Hyde; for lie was making interest to supplant him in the government. How many of our species are sacrificed to the ambition, the avarice, or malice, of con- temptible individuals!
Upon the death of governor Hyde, the next year, Thomas Pollock was chosen president.* That gentleman had been twenty years the deputy of lord Carteret or his father, and was much esteemed for his integrity. During his administration, in a letter to the lords proprietors, he drew a full length portrait of the colony with dark colorings.
"The subject laboring under every calamity by which a vitious, ignorant and obstinate people can be punished; civil contentions, which have risen to the shed- ding of blood; general poverty; short
* Twelfth of September 1712.
NORTH CAROLINA. 197
crops; a sickly season; and a dangerous Indian war. The people on Neus and Pamlico rivers are generally ruined, their houses and furniture burned, their whole stock of cattle, horses, and hogs, killed or carried off by the Indians, while the families were pent up in the forts. All the inhabitants, on the south and southwest of Chowan river, are secured in forts. Provisions for the army and the inhabitants, on Neus and Pamlico, are sent from Albemarle. The forces on those rivers under colonel Mitchell and colonel M'Kee, not above one hundred and forty. The Tuskarora Indians, numerous and well provided with arms and ammunition, expect assistance from the Five Nations or Senekas. Hence they are confident of suc- cess; while the subjects of North Caro- lina are dispirited, undisciplined, timo- rous, disobedient, and divided; they, who are in the service, ill provided with clo- thing and not able to buy."
198 THE HISTORY OF
Colonel Barnwell had returned to South Carolina, immediately after his impru- dent or deceitful treaty; and the Indians having renewed the war, a second appli- cation was made to the government of South Carolina for assistance. Applica- tion was also made to the government of Virginia; and the legislature of that pro- vince, with some difficulty, were prevail- ed upon to grant one hundred and eighty pounds for purchasing dufiils to clothe the North Carolina troops, and one thou- sand pounds to be employed in raising forces if necessary. They were not raised. The defence of Bath county, in the mean while, rested on the troops who are men- tioned in the president's letter, and on twenty Yammassee Indians, commanded by colonel M'Kee, who, by their zeal and activity, were a terror to the hostile tribes. As it was not possible for those men to guard the settlement at all points, the Mattamuskeet and Core Indians killed,
NORTH CAROLINA. 199
or made prisoners during the winter, forty-three of the inhabitants of Roanoke island, Croatan or Alligator; for the Tus- karora Indians, the original aggressors, had persuaded four of the smaller tribes to join them. The governor of South Ca- rolina was not tardy in sending the suc- cors, that had been requested. Colonel Moore, an active young officer, whose father had lately been governor of that colony, arrived on the first of December, with forty white men and eight hundred Ashley Indians.
They marched to Albemarle sound, and continued there some weeks; for the ne- cessary provisions had not been ready at Bath. About the twentieth of January, they took up their march for Taw river, where they were detained to the fourth of February by a deep snow. The Tuskarora Indians had forted themselves to shun the Ashley Indians, who pressed them
200 THE HISTORY OF
hard in the woods. They took their po- sition upon a plain, on the side of a creek, about one mile froni Cotechney, and fifty miles from the mouth of that river. In order to secure themselves against artil- lery, they sunk square pits in the ground, about six feet deep. Those pits were co- vered with poles and separated from one another by a natural wall of earth. The whole was surrounded by palisades. There was also a proper supply of corn in the fort; but those pesple, who in other respects secured themselves with some degree of prudence, had not any water within the palisades. They trusted to a trench of communication with the adja- cent brook. This oversight proved fatal to many of them, for colonel Moore sta- tioned some of his troops on the other side of the brook, so as to rake the trench when the enemy came for water. There was but one passage by which the Indians might attempt to escape with any pros*
NORTH CAROLINA. 201
pect of success. In that direction the co- lonel huilt a small redoubt. As the In- dians were well supplied with small arms, colonel Moore broke ground at a res- pectable distance from the fort, and ad- vanced by regular approaches until he entered their works.* Eight hundred In- dians of the Tuskarora tribe were taken prisoners. The Ashley Indians claimed them as the reward of their services; and six hundred of those people immediately returned to South Carolina, with the pri- soners, to sell them for slaves. There were twenty-two white men killed during the siege and twenty-nine wounded. Thir- ty-six of the auxiliary Indians were killed and fifty wounded.
* This fort, called Naharuke, was taken the twenty-sixth of March 1713. The Indians immediately deserted an- other fort that they had finished. They were taught the folly of standing a siege.
VOfc. i. 2 c
202 THE HISTORY OF
After that decisive stroke, the Tuska- rora Indians, of the eastern division, sued for peace, which was granted on terms that were very humiliating, viz.
1. The Tusks shall deliver twenty In- dians who shall he named, who were the chief contrivers of the massacre, and who took Law son and Graffenried.
2. They shall restore all their prisoners, also the horses, cattle, arms, and goods, thev have taken from the inhabitants.
3. They shall pursue the Cotechnee and Mattamuskeet Indians as enemies.
4. They shall deliver two hostages for each of their towns.
King Blount's chief town was on the east side of Taw river, about twenty miles above Washington. He continued, from that period, faithfully attached to the co- lony. His people had entered, with some reluctance, into the war; for they were
NORTH CAROLINA. 203
better acquainted with the white people, than their brethren, who lived to the westward. During the following summer, king Blount brought in thirty scalps of the enemy Indians; but the greater part of the Tuskarora nation, unable to con- tend and unwilling to submit, removed to the northward, and joined the Seneka and other confederate tribes, on the fron- tiers of New York.* They constitute one of the tribes who are now called the Six Nations. From that time, hostilities were continued with little success, by the Cores and Mattamuskeet Indians. King Blount and his people vexed them ex- ceedingly, by taking many of them pri- soners. The fate of those people was the
* This migration of the Tuskarora Indians and other migrations of Indian tribes, that are well attested, do not accord with lord Karnes's observation, that " Savages are remarkably attached to their native soil."
204 THE HISTORY OF
more degrading; for they were uniformly sold as slaves. f
Peace was made, in February 1715, with the Cores and other enemy Indians, who were permitted to live at Mattamuskeet, on the condition, that a commissioner should reside among them, to inspect their conduct.
North Carolina had not been three months at peace, before an Indian war broke out in the southern colony. Assist- ance was immediately requested; and co- lonel Moore was despatched by land, with fifty men to their relief. The Tuska- rora Indians were to have settled between Neus and Taw rivers; but they conceiv- ed themselves in danger, after the south- ern Indians had commenced hostilities;
t See Proofs and Explanations Q q.
NORTH CAROLINA. 205
wherefore they ohtained permission to settle on the north side of Roanoke river above Windsor; where the remains of that nation continued to live to the year 1803 on lands reserved for them.
The assembly found it necessary, dur- ing the Indian war, to issue eight thou- sand pounds in bills of credit;* and those bills were made payable in discharge of all debts that had been contracted for rated commodities. That law, which al- tered the nature of contracts, was soon observed to have injurious effects. The money depreciated; and the assembly in vain attempted to raise its value, by a petition to the proprietors, intreating them to receive that paper in payment for their lands. f The receivers of quit-
* June 1713.
t During the infant state of the colony, the proprietors sold their land at twenty shillings the hundred acres, and
206 THE HISTORY OF
rents and other proprietary dues, did not refuse country produce at the price fixed by law; but they would not receive paper currency, for it could not be remitted to England; nor would a single member of the assembly receive it, at the nominal value, for any article that could be re- mitted.
We have seen the inhabitants of North Carolina agitated by civil commotions, oppressed by their governors and assailed by a barbarous enemy; but the weight of those several calamities will be more correctly estimated by attending to the progress of population. The number of taxable inhabitants in the year 1676, little more than twelve years after the charter
six-pence quit-rent. They raised the price in the year 1694 to thirty shillings the hundred. And in the year 1711 they advanced the price to forty shillings the hundred, and one shilling quit-rent.
NORTH CAROLINA. 207
was granted, has been stated at fourteen hundred. Fifty-three years had now elaps- ed since the proprietary government was in operation; great additions should have been made in that time, by natural in- crease, beside the German and French colonies that have been mentioned, and the numerous adventurers, who arrived from the northern colonies, and from the mother country; but the whole number of taxable inhabitants in the year 1717 did not exceed two thousand.* This fact alone is a sufficient proof that the admin- istration of government had been ex- tremely bad. We formerly observed that Culpepper's insurrection, and the tyran-
* This could hardly imply thirteen hundred fencible in- habitants. For it is believed that one third of the taxables were slaves. And though free men, of sixteen years, were taxable, it does not follow that lads of sixteen years can endure the hardships of a campaign. It consists with the writer's observation, that a great proportion of those, in
208 THE HISTORY OF
ny of Sothel, had banished from the co- lony almost half of the inhabitants. The anarchy that was effected by Cary, and the subsequent Indian war, do not ap- pear to have been less fatal to the state of population People had fled from Ca- rolina, in such numbers, during the war, that the governor issued a proclamation, for the purpose of preventing the general desertion of the colony. And the gover- nor of Virginia, by his proclamation, or- dered that all fugitives from Carolina, without a pass, should be apprehended and sent back. The temperature of the climate in Carolina was so inviting, the soil was so fertile, and the means of living so easy, that the inhabitants must have been very numerous, at the period to which we refer, if the government had
the southern states, who sunk under the fatigue of mili- tary service, during the revolution war, were young men under nineteen years of age.
NORTH CAROLINA. 209
been administered, with any degree of wisdom. The farmer was not constrained to make any provision for his cattle in the winter, for they found a sufficient supply in the woods; and flocks of wild cattle became the subjects of profitable game to the hunter. After settlements had been formed to the southward of Al- bemarle sound, the inhabitants of Bath county claimed, and were allowed by go- vernment, the exclusive privilege of kill- ing wild cattle in that part of the country. We have seen the pestilential effects of bad officers; and it will be granted that in some cases, the lords proprietors were not to blame; for they had been deceived; but in other cases they showed a crimi- nal indiscretion. They commissioned men of suspected or bad characters. It ap- pears upon record, that in the year 1701, John Porter prosecuted Christopher But- ler for calling him " a cheating rogue." Butler admitted the words charged in vol. i. 2 n
210 THE HISTORY OF
the indictment, and justified. He was ac- quitted by the jury; and Porter was order- ed to pay costs. After a few years, this very Porter was made deputy to one of the proprietors, and consequently a member of the council. His virtues were not im- proved by his rank; for he associated with Cary in his rebellion. The proprietors were not less unfortunate in their choice of measures than of men. The governors had a standing instruction, not to assent to any law, that was to continue in force more than two years. The object of this instruction was to prevent the possible continuance of a bad law; but the mea- sure, in many cases, prevented the benefit of good laws. The governor, who knew in what manner the laws were estimated, frequently refused his assent to the re- newal of a good law, unless he should re- ceive a particular douceur for that ser- vice. The assembly, in some cases, ob- jected to his terms; and the inhabitants
NORTH CAROLINA. 21 1
suffered by the indiscreet regulation. In a government that was long agitated by civil commotions, it is not to be sup- posed, that the morals of the inhabi- tants, in private life, were very cor- rect.*
* March 1720. The grand jury presented thirty-six per- sons, viz. seven for drunkenness, eight for profane swear- ing, seven for breaking the sabbath, four for adultery, five for stealing or mismarking hogs, three for breaking the peace, and two for selling liquor without license.
PROOFS AND EXPLANATIONS:
A.
PAGE 7.
VV HEN Harold Harfagus, in the ninth century, made himself master of all Norway, which had formerly been divided into many kingdoms, the Norwegian nobility, many of them, impatient of a superior fled to Iceland, Shetland and the Orkneys. Ingulf a nobleman, of some consideration, removed to Iceland in the year 879, with a small colony. That island was sufficiently known; for it had been visited by fishermen or sea rovers, who, for two or three hundred years, had covered the northern ocean. He found a wooden cross on the south shore, and a thick forest of birch trees, but no inhabitants.
In the year 982, Eric, the son of Torwald, whose father had fled from Norway, being himself obliged to flee from Iceland, settled a small colony in Greenland, which had lately been discovered. The name given to this cold region was seductive; and the colony increased con- siderably until the year 1348, when a great proportion of the inhabitants were cut off by a pestilential disease,
-2 14 PROOFS AND EXPLANATIONS.
The present savage inhabitants of Greenland have a tradition concerning that colony, and retain part of their language.
In the year 1001, Biarm, the son of Herial a Nor- wegian Icelandei', sailing for Greenland without a pilot, the wind blowing at north for some days, fell in with land to the westward that was flat and covered with trees; on which he did not land; for it did not answer the description of Greenland. After his return to Ice- land, having described the flat country he had seen, Lief the son of Eric, who had discovered Greenland, sailed in quest of the land Biarm had discovered. He soon reached the coast, and running along it some days, he found a river which he entered. The river abounded in salmon, the air temperate, and the soil good. Here he discovered native grapes; whence he named the country Vinland. The adventurers erected houses and spent the winter among the natives, who were small inoffensive men. They had canoes fit for a single person, when hs went a fishing. Some years after this discovery, Torsin a rich Icelander with his wife, five other women, and sixty sailors, much cattle, provisions, and implements of husbandry, formed a settlement in Vinland. The natives traded with them, bringing furs, sables and small white skins. Torsin returned home after three years, with a valuable cargo of furs and raisins. The fame of :his riches induced other adventurers to visit the colony;