Margaret B Miller wrote:
> Steve: Would you or some other nice person be so kind as to define the
> following words for me:
> 1) cowpen
> 2) landgrave
> 3) cassique

---------- STEVE COKER'S REPLY ----------

RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
From ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1670 TO THE YEAR 1808.
by David Ramsay, M.D. 
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/9980/history.html

ABOUT COWPENS
Volume I, page 118
"Two classes of people generally advanced in front of the regular settlers or
cultivators of the soil.  These were the owners of cowpens, and traders with the
Indians.  An uncultivated country covered with canes and natural grasses,
possessed many advantages for raising stock.  These were greatest where the
settlements were least.  Central spots in which cattle might be occasionally
rallied, and so far domesticated as to prevent their running wild, were sought
for and improved.  These were often located in front of the settlements, and
were called cowpens.  They did not interfere with the pursuits of the natives,
and therefore seldom gave offence; though they were sometimes observed with
jealousy as the precursors of settlement."


ABOUT LANDGRAVES AND CASSIQUES
Volume I, pages 16-17
"...The proprietors, anxious to improve their property, with the aid of the
celebrated John Locke, framed a constitution and laws for the government of
their colony. These were in substance as follows: "The eldest of the eight
proprietors was always to be Palatine, and at his decease was to be succeeded by
the eldest of the seven survivors. This Palatine was to sit as President of the
Palatine's Court, of which he and three more of the proprietors made a quorum,
and had the management and execution of the powers, of their charter. This Court
was to stand in room of the King, and give their assent or dissent to all laws
made by the Legislature of the colony. The Palatine was to have power to
nominate and appoint the Governor, who, after obtaining the royal approbation,
became his representative in Carolina. Each of the seven proprietors was to have
the privilege of appointing a deputy to sit as his representative in Parliament,
and to act agreeably to his instructions. Besides a Governor, two other
branches, somewhat similar to the old Saxon constitution, were to be
established; an upper and lower House of Assembly: which three branches were to
be called a Parliament, and to constitute the Legislature of the country. The
parliament was to be chosen every two years. No act of the Legislature was to
have any force unless ratified in open Parliament, during the same session, and
even then to continue no longer in force than the next biennial Parliament,
unless in the meantime it be ratified by the hands and seals of the Palatine and
three proprietors. The upper house was to consist of the seven deputies, seven
of the oldest landgraves and cassiques, and seven chosen by the Assembly. As in
the other provinces, the lower house was to be composed of the representatives
From the different counties and towns. Several officers were also to be
appointed, such as an admiral, a secretary, a chief justice, a surveyor, a
treasurer, a marshal, and register; and besides these, each county was to have a
sheriff and four justices of the peace. Three classes of the nobility were to be
established, called barons, cassiques, and landgraves; the first to possess
twelve, the second twenty-four, and the third forty-eight thousand acres of
land, and their possessions were to be unalienable. Military officers were also
to be nominated; and all inhabitants, from sixteen to sixty years of age, as in
the times of feudal government, when regularly summoned, were to appear under
arms, and in time of war to take the field."


MORE ABOUT LANDGRAVES AND CASSIQUES

SOUTH CAROLINIANA LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY SOUTH CAROLINIANA SOCIETY
MANUSCRIPTS COLLECTIONS
http://www.sc.edu/library/socar/uscs/1993/cromp93.html

Laurence Cromp Carolina Herald

The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina, drawn up by John Locke, provided for
an hereditary nobility consisting of one landgrave and two cassiques from each
of the colony's twenty-five provinces. The "Grand Model of Government", as the
Fundamental Constitutions came to be known, stipulated that the dignity of the
proprietors, landgraves, and cassiques be supported by grants of large estates
and secured by making these estates forever inseparable from the titles and
privileges of the respective orders.

In order to furnish to these nobles the outward and visible signs of their
status, the Lords Proprietors in 1705 appointed Laurence Cromp, Esq., of
Worcester to the position of Carolina Herald, with power to grant arms to the
landgraves and cassiques. Whether Cromp ever made any grant of arms is
uncertain, and it is unknown whether the Carolina nobility ever had the
opportunity to wear their gold chains or robes of scarlet and gold specified by
the document.

The text of the document, reproduced here in part, reads as follows:

"WHEREAS our late Sovereign Lord Charles the Second King of great Brittaine,
France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging, of his special Grace
and Favour did give and grant unto Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of
Albemarl, William Earl of Craven, John Lord Berkley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sr.
George Carteret, Sr. John Colleton Knts. and Barts. and Sr. William Berkeley
Knt. our Predecessors and to their Heires and Successors forever, together with
the Province of Carolina, Power, States, Degrees, both of Titles, Dignities and
Honours, there to be Settled and Sett up as of Men well deserving the same
Degrees to bear, and with such Titles to be Honoured and adorned, AND WHEREAS by
our form of Government It was by our said Predecessor Established and
Constituted, and is by us and our Heires and Successors for ever to be observed,
That there be a certain Number of Landgraves and Cassiques who may be and are
the perpetual and Hereditary Nobles and Peers of our said Province of Carolina,
and to the End that above Rule and Order of Honor may be Established and Settled
in our Said Province. We therefore...the Lord Proprietors of the said Province
of Carolina being well Satisfied of the great Integrity, Sckill and Ability of
you the Sd. Laurence Cromp, Doe hereby make, Constitute and appoint, and hereby
have made, constituted and appointed You the said Laurence Cromp to be President
of our Court of Honor and principal Herald of our whole Province of Carolina, by
the Name of Carolina Herald. To hold the Same dureing the Term of Your Natural
Life with such Fees, Perquisites and Proffitts as Shall be approved on and
Settled by us, and as perpetual Monument of our Favour towards our Landgraves
and Cassiques and their Meritt, We do hereby Authorise, Impower and direct you
the said Laurence Cromp Carolina Herald, to devyse, give, Grant and Assigne to
the said Landgraves and Cassiques of our Sd. Province upon the Face of the Sun
in its' Glory Such Arms and Crest as you Shall think most proper, & upon the
Escocheon of the said Arms a Landgraves & Cassiques Cap of Honor, which said
Badges or Distinctions of Honor they are not to make use till assigned by You,
and to Invest our Said Landgraves & Cassiques that are already made & to be
made, in Robes of Scarlet Interlaced with Gold, to be by them worn on all great
& Solemn Occasions, & also to Invest them with a Purple Ribbon or Gold Chain,
with the Sun in its Glory Pendant at the Same, with this Motto about the Face of
the Said Sun VIDIT QUE DEUS HANC LUCEM ESSE BONAM, which said Gold Chain and Sun
or Purple Ribbon & Sun, We Injoyne and require them always to appear with.
Draughts of all which are depicted in the Margin hereof, & We doe hereby grant &
Confirm to the said Landgraves & Cassiques of our Said Province and their Heires
for Ever all the above mentioned Honorable Distinctions of Nobility. And We do
hereby further direct, Grant & impower you, under your hand & Seal to devyse,
Give, grant and assign upon the Face of the Sun in its' Glory such Arms & Crests
as you Shall think most ffitt & proper to all such Inhabitants of our said
Province, that to you shall appear deserving the Same as an Everlasting Monumt.
to them and their Posterity of their Rise & Descent from our sd. Province of
Carolina, And We likewise Impower You to hold a Court of Honor & to Cite & Cause
to appear before you all such Person or Persons, as Shall presume to use any
Coat of Arms that they cannot make out their due Right to, then to deface the
Same wheresoever borne or Sett up & make publick Proclaimacon thereof, and also
we require that all the Inhabitants aforesaid duely observe the Rules & Orders
of your Said Court. And you are also hereby obliged to keep a Register of all
Such Arms, Crests or Alterations & Assignmts. of Arms as Shall by you be granted
or Assigned to Any Persons Inhabitants of Our said Province, And you are to
preserve & Register the Pedigrees and Descents of the Severall Familys
Inhabitants of Our Said Province, And you are to regulate all Publick & Solemne
Processions & Meetings & all & Singular the promisses above mentioned....Given
under Our Hands & the great Seal of Our Province 1st June 1705."

Signed by Lords Proprietors Granville, Craven, Carteret, Ashley, and Colleton,
this copy of the document was "Taken from the Originall in the Custody of Peter
LeNeue ... & now in the Custody of Mr. Hodgson ... who is one of the
Landgraves."

==== SCROOTS Mailing List ====