Transactions of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina
No. 5.  pp 14-18, Charleston, South Carolina,  1897.
Press of Walker, Evans & Cogswell Co.

IMMIGRANTS FROM 1690 TO 1700.

   Humphrey, in his historical account of the incorporated Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel, etc., published in 1728, informs us that "Carolina,
although peopled at its first settlement with the natives of these kingdoms -
England, Scotland and Ireland - until the year 1701 had no minister of the
Church of England resident therein." In which statement he was, no doubt,
mistaken. Whether the church contemplated to be built on the eastern branch of
Cooper river, near the T, by Cæsar Moze, was ever erected, agreeably to its
mention in his will, is not known, but it being mentioned would seem to prove
that at the time, at least an irregular service was held by the Huguenots in
that vicinity.
   These, doubtless, formed the germ of the population of the parish of St.
Denis, in that part of it subsequently known as French or Orange Quarter. It was
not until the year 1703 that the first Episcopal Church out of Charleston was
built. This was at Pompion Hill, on the Eastern branch of the Cooper river,
midway between the T and Huger's Bridge, in the parish of St. Thomas, adjoining
St. Denis, the two having afterwards been incorporated and known until the
present day as the parish of St. Thomas and St. Denis. The Pompion Hill Church
was first built of cypress and afterwards substantially of brick.
   Concurrent circumstances prove that the French Protestant refugees organized
religious congregations for public worship in every instance immediately after
their first arrival in any part of the country, and preceded all the
denominations of Christians in the introduction of the public worship of God
wherever they became established.
   Hewitt, in his History of South Carolina, says: "In 1690 King William sent a
large body of Huguenots to Virginia. Lands were allotted them on the James
river, which by their diligence and industry, they soon improved into excellent
estates. Others purchased land from the Proprietors of Carolina, transported
themselves and families to that quarter, and settled a colony on the Santee
river. Others, who were merchants and mechanics, took up their residence in
Charleston, and followed their different occupations. At this period these new
settlers were a great acquisition to Carolina. They had taken the oath of
allegince to the king, and promised fidelity to the Proprietors. They were
disposed to look on the settlers, whom they had joined, in the favorable light
of bretheren and fellow adventurers, and though they understood not the English
language, yet they were desirous of living in peace and harmony with their
neighbors, and willing to stand forth on all occasions of danger with them for
the common safety and defense.
   Judge James, in his Life of Marion, says: About seventeen years after the
first settlement of Carolina, in 1690, and a short time subsequently, between
seventy and eighty French families, fleeing from the bloody persecutions exerted
against them in their mother country, settled on the banks of the Santee. These
extended themselves at first only from the lower ferry at South Santee -
Mazyck's Ferry - about two miles below Wambaw Creek, in St. James Parish, to
within a few miles of Lenud's Ferry and back from the river into the Parish of
St. Denis, called the Orange Quarter. From this point, says Simms, they
gradually spread themselves out so as to embrace in partial settlement the
spacious tract of country stretching to the Winyaw on the one hand and the
sources of Cooper river on the other, then extending upwards into the interior,
following the course of the Santee nearly to the point where it loses its
identity in receiving the descending streams of the Wateree and Congaree.
   Oldmixon, in his history of Carolina, published in 1708, remarks of Craven
County, that it is pretty well inhabited by English and French. Of the latter
there is a settlement on the Santee river. The English settlement embraced
within the Parish of St. Stephens, was designated as English Santee, while that
below, composed of Huguenots in the Parish of St. James, was called French
Santee. A French dancing master, settling in Craven County, says Oldmixon taught
the Indians country dances, and to play on the flute and hautbois - thus raising
himself to a good estate. It seems that the barbarians encouraged him with the
same extravagance as we do the dancers, singers and fiddlers - his countrymen.
   The Huguenots on the Santee had established residences north of the river,
within ten years of the supposed period of their first settlement in that region
of country. Although concurrent opinions have designated the year 1690 as that
in which a colony was first seated there, circumstances would indicate an
earlier period. This will be more particularly referred to hereafter. There is
on record a power of attorney given by Peter de St. Julien de Malacare to his
son John, dated July, 1690, and witnessed by Henry le Noble, René Ravenel, Peter
Girard and Peter de la Salle residents on that river. This, then, is a legal
transaction which can scarcely be supposed to have occurred in the first year of
their migration, - although somewhat possible.
   We find on record another instrument of the same import, drawn by Bartholomew
Gaillard, vesting similar powers in his brother John, dated May 22d, 1692. It
appears that there were three brothers, all residents on the Santee, the name of
the third being Peter. We find also a warrant under the name and seal of James
Colleton, Governor. dated 5th April, 1687, by virtue of which 200 acres of land
were surveyed and laid out for Henry Augustus Chastaigner and Alexander Thesée
Chastaigner on the Santee, in April, 1693. A grant for the same was issued March
12th, 1698-9. Another warrant of survey is recorded in favor of John Francis
Gignilliat for 200 acres of land, dated January, 1688-9. Also an order to the
same effect from Joseph Morton, Governor, for 100 acres of land to Nicholas de
Longuemare, [1] dated January 5th, 1685-6.
   The several grantees were residents of Jamestown, on the Santee. Pierre and
Gabriel Manigault located there for a short time after their arrival in
Carolina, but the conditions did not seem favorable to them and they returned to
Charleston. If the date of their arrival was 1686, it would prove that a partial
settlement was made previous to 1690.
   About this time Benjamin Marion, the immigrant, arrived in the province. The
writer of "The Marion Family" Richard Yeadon, assigns the date of this event to
the year 1690, without any positive evidence whatever.
   Dalcho very erroneously attributes it to the year 1694 and assigns the same
date to the arrival of Daniel Huger. In the journals of the Governor and
Council, commencing from 1670 is the following memorandum viz., Whereas,
Benjamin Marion hath made it appear yt he hath at his proper cost and charge
imported into the province of Carolina seven persons, aged above sixteen years,
to plant and inhabit in ye sd province, named Benjamin Marion, Judith, his wife,
Andrew Dealean, Madeleine Bulnatt, Mary and Nicholas, servants, Toby, and Rosa,
a negro woman, and persons under yt age mentioned, ye names of all which persons
were registered in ye Secretary's office, within fourteen days after their
arrival in ye province aforesaid. You are therefore to survey and admeasure out
for the said Benjamin Marion, three hundred and fifty acres of land according to
ye rules and portions appointed by ye Lords Proprietors. Instructions for
granting of land bearing date ye 6th February, 1692, of which survey you are to
make certificate, ye wch, together with a plott of ye sd land, and you are to
take notice yt if ye sd Benjamin Marion doth not, within ye space of ninety days
after ye surveying and admeasuring out ye sd land of 350 acres, take out grants
for the same, according as it is appointed by the power to me given and granted
by William, Earl of Craven, Pallatine, Anthony, Lord Ashley, George, Lord
Carteret, Sir Peter Colleton, Baronet ; Lith Lothill, Tho Archdale and Thomas
Amye, Esquires, for conveying land that then ye sd land is free to be made
choice of, surveyed or granted to any other person whatever.
   Given under my hand and seal this thirteenth day of March, Ano Dmi 1693-4.
                        THO. SMITH, Governor.
To Job Howes, Surveyor.

   This record would seem to determine the period of his arrival, as having been
between the 6th February, 1692-3, and the 13th March, 1693-4. Nothing
conclusive, however, on the subject can be inferred from it. The conjecture of
Richard Yeadon is, therefore, probably correct.
   By order of Tho. Smith, Governor, dated 1693-4, 300 acres of land were
admeasured and laid out for Isaac Caillabæuf, he having, at his own expense,
brought into the province the following persons, etc., their names having been
registered in the office within fourteen days after their arrival, viz.: Isaac
Caillabæuf, Rachael Caillabæuf, his wife, Peter Gaillard, Magdalen Gaillard,
Mary Rambert, and James Bonneau.  As early as the year 1686, Paul Bruneau, whose
name is in a catalogue of Huguenot refugees resident on the Santee, was the
owner of land in Carolina.

-------------------
1 Probably the ancestor of the Longmires of Abbeville, S.C.

==== SCROOTS Mailing List ====