Subject: Ramsay's History of SC, Preface
Resent-Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 17:10:57 -0700 (PDT)
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Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 20:10:00 -0400
From: "Steven J. Coker"
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To: SCROOTS-L@rootsweb.com
RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1670
TO THE YEAR 1808.
by David Ramsay, M.D.
Preface dated "Charleston, December 31st, 1808"
Published in 1858, by W.J. Duffie, Newberry, S.C.
Reprinted in 1959, by the The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, S.C.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.
CIVIL HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
CHAP. PAGE
I. Population ........................................................ 1
II. Proprietary Government from its Commencement in 1670,
till its Abolition in 1719 ...................................... 14
III. The Revolution in 1719 from proprietary to Royal Government .... 31
IV. Royal Government from 1720 to 1776 .............................. 53
MILITARY HISTORY, FROM 1670 TO 1776.
V.
Sec. 1. Contests with Spaniards ..................................... 70
2. Contests with Indians ....................................... 84
3. Military Operations against Pirates ........................ 113
VI. The settlement of the Back Country ............................. 118
THE CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
FROM A BRITISH PROVINCE TO AN INDEPENDENT STATE.
VII.
Sec. 1. Of Introductory Events and Taking of Arms .................. 124
2. Of the Extinction of Royal Authority and of the Royalists .. 141
3. Of the Formation of a Regular Constitution ................. 148
4. Of the Attack of the Fort an Sullivan's Island by Sir Peter
Parker and Sir Henry Clinton, and the Invasion of the
Cherokees by Colonel Williamson ............................ 152
5. Of Independence and the Alliance with France ............... 162
6. Campaign of 1779 ........................................... 167
7. Campaign of 1780-Fall of Charlestown ....................... 181
8. Campaign of 1781 ........................................... 223
9. Marion's Brigade ........................................... 228
10. Campaign of 1781 continued ................................. 237
11. Campaign of 1782 ........................................... 249
12. Revolutionary Miscellaneous History ........................ 252
PREFACE.
The growing importance of the United States excites an increasing curiosity to
be acquainted with their early history. Of their wars and of their late
revolution much has been written, but a development of the causes which, in
less than two centuries, have raised them from poverty to riches - from
ignorance to knowledge - from weakness to power - from a handful of people to
a mighty multitude - from rude woodsmen to polished citizens - from colonies
guided by the leading strings of a distant island to a well regulated,
self-governed community, has not been sufficiently the subject of attention.
It is a work of too much magnitude to be incorporated in a general history of
the whole, and cannot be done to purpose otherwise than by local histories of
particular provinces or states. Much useful knowledge on these subjects is
already lost, and more is fast hastening to oblivion. A considerable portion
of it can new only be recovered by a recurrence to tradition - for records of
many events worthy of being transmitted to posterity have either never been
made, or if made have been destroyed. Every day that minute local histories of
these states are deferred is an injury to posterity - for by means thereof
more of that knowledge which ought to be transmitted to them will be
irrecoverably lost. These views were so forcibly impressed on the author of
the following work, that he began many years ago to collect materials for
writing a detailed history of the State in which Providence had cast his lot.
In vain did he expect complete information from public records. On many
interesting subjects they were silent - the most early were illegible - others
were lost in the hurricanes or fires which at several successive periods have
desolated Charleston. Much of what escaped from these calamities was destroyed
in the invasions of the State by the British in 1779 and 1780. Of what
remained every practicable use was made; but to remedy their defects,
application was made to the only repositories of facts on which reliance could
be placed. This was the recollection of old citizens and especially of such as
were the descendants of the first settlers. To them, in the year 1798, he
addressed a circular letter and queries on a variety of subjects connected
with the history of Carolina.* These were sent to well informed persons in
every part of the State, and afterwards printed in the newspapers. In
consequence thereof, much useful information has been received. All the early
histories which treat of Carolina were attentively perused, but from them
little of consequence could be obtained. Dr. Hewat's historical account of the
rise and progress of the colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, was read with
much more advantage - on it greater reliance was placed - and of it more use
has been made, than of all the histories which had preceded. To him every
Carolinian ought to be obliged for preserving many useful facts which
otherwise would before this day have been forgotten. His valuable work was
written shortly before the American Revolution, when tradition went further
back and was more recent than at present. Much of the information contained
therein is said to have been derived front Lieutenant-Governor William Bull,
who had been a public officer since 1740, and who was the son of
Lieutenant-Governor Bull, and the grandson of Stephen Bull, who had held
public offices in succession from the very first settlement of the colony. For
the thirty-four eventful years of revolutionary war and civil improvements
which have intervened since Dr. Hewat wrote and the year 1808, the author has
been a contemporary witness of all, and an actor in several of the scenes
which are the ground-work of the history of South Carolina in that interesting
period.
Chalmers' political annals of the united colonies also afforded many
statements of which use has been made. His knowledge was derived from an
authentic source, the plantation office. In dates and early matters of fact,
where he differed from other writers, his authority has been considered as
paramount; but in matters of opinion, his assertions have been received with
large allowance for the principles and feelings of a man who, in consequence
of his adherence to the King of Great Britain, was not permitted to continue
an inhabitant of the United States during their revolutionary struggle for
independence.
Governor Drayton's view of South Carolina affords more interesting detailed
views of the interior economy of the State than had ever been given. His
official station and duties as governor opened to him sources of information
inaccessible to all preceding writers. Much original matter previously
unnoticed is contained in his valuable work, and of it use has been made in
the following pages.
After the proposals had been issued for publishing the History of South
Carolina, and the greater part of it had been written, a flood of local
intelligence, in answer to the preceding queries, poured in on the author.
Much of this came too late to be incorporated in its proper place; it was too
valuable to be suppressed, and was therefore introduced in the appendix in the
form of statistical accounts. To his many correspondents, the author returns
the warmest acknowledgments for their valuable communications, which will be
noticed in their proper place. To the Reverend Donald M'Leod he is under very
particular obligations for his minute, accurate, and satisfactory account of
Edisto Island, and he begs leave to recommend it to others as a model worthy
of imitation. If one or more persons in the different districts or other
portions of the State, will take the trouble of furnishing statements on the
plan of Mr. M'Leod, the author pledges himself, if his life is spared, to
connect the whole in one view, and give it to the public as a statistical
account of South Carolina. If this proposal should be carried into effect a
collection of facts useful to philosophers, legislators, physicians and
divines, would be brought to light. The interior economy of the State, which
is now the least known of any one in the Union, would become the most known.
South Carolina would rise in the esteem of the citizens of other States, many
of whom, from not knowing better, load it with reproaches it does not deserve,
and deny it much of that credit to which it is justly entitled.
DAVID RAMSAY.
Charleston, December 31st, 1808.
-=-=-=-=-
*SIR -- Having made some progress in collecting materials for a general
HISTORY OF SOUTH-CAROLINA from its first settlement, I beg the favor of you to
furnish me, in Charleston, with information on any subjects that may properly
be incorporated in such a work; and in particular, with answers to all or any
of the following inquiries, at least as far as they respect the vicinity of
your residence. If you should not have leisure for this purpose, I request
that you would put them in the hands of some suitable person who may be
willing to collect and transmit the wished-for information.
I am your most obedient, humble servant,
Charleston, November 19, 1798, DAVID RAMSAY.
The time when the settlement of your parish or county began? the date of the
Oldest grants of land; and the place from which the first settlers migrated,
with some account of the most remarkable of them?
The Indian name of your parish or county: what tribes of Indians formerly
occupied it? notice of their monuments and relies which may remain? if they
have disappeared, when and by what means? if still in your settlement, or the
vicinity, what is their present state, condition and number?
Biographical anecdotes of persons in your settlement, who have been
distinguished for their ingenuity, enterprise, literature, talents civil or
military?
Topographical descriptions of your parish or county, or its vicinity - its
mountains, rivers, ponds, animals, useful and rare vegetable productions;
stones, especially such as may be useful for mills, lime, architecture,
pavements, or for other purposes; remarkable falls, caverns, minerals, sands,
clays, chalk, flint, marble, pitcoal, pigments, medicinal or poisonous
substances, their uses and antidotes?
The former and present state of cultivation; what changes has it undergone; an
account of the first introduction of rice, indigo, &c. Your ideas of further
improvements either as to the introduction of new staples or the improvement
of the old, or with respect to roads, bridges, canals, opening the navigation
of the rivers or boatable waters?
An estimate of the expenses and profits of a well-cultivated field, of any
given dimensions, say 20 acres, in tobacco, cotton, rice, wheat, or corn, with
the average price of land?
The distinction of soils, with a notice of the productions to which they are
respectively best adapted; a notice of the different kinds of useful timber;
the proportion between cleared and uncleared land; and of the proportions
between the number of inhabitants and number of acres?
What are the natural advantages in your vicinity for the erection of mills,
and for other labor-saving machinery; for catching and curing fish, and for
raising stock?
Singular instances of longevity and fecundity? observations on the weather,
epidemic and other diseaes, and the influence of the climate or of particular
situations, employments or aliments; and especially the effects of spirituous
liquors on the human constitution?
Is your population, distinguishing white from black, increasing, decreasing,
or stationary; and the causes and evidences thereof?
What manufactures are carried on? how have they been affected by the
independence of these States, and by the establishment of the federal
constitution and your thoughts on the further improvements of them? what
public libraries have you? what encouragement is given to schools and
colleges? and what has been done, or is doing, to advance literature or
diffuse knowledge?
What churches are there in your parish or county; how long have they been
erected; how are they supplied with preachers? how are they attended on days
of public worship? what has been done, or is doing, to promote morality and
religion among the people?
The date, extent, consequences and other circumstances of freshets,
whirlwinds, hurricanes, or other remarkable events, which have taken place, as
far back as can be recollected, in your county or parish?
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I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided,
and that is the lamp of experience.
I know no way of judging of the future but by the past.
- Henry (1736-1799)