Chalmers (“Annals,” in Carroll’s Hist. Coll., ii. p. 289) says Yeamans and his colonists arrived at Cape Fear “during the autumn of 1665.” Dr. Hawks gives May, 1664, on p. 83 (vol. ii.), and 1665 on pp. 181 and 453. From the Charleston Year Book, 1883, p. 359, it appears Yeamans had ample powers in 1665 to explore the coast south and west of Cape Roman. He did sail from Barbadoes for that purpose, in October, and did go at that time to Cape Fear, of which he was governor by appointment nine months before. He may have been at Barbadoes merely for the purpose of making ready for that exploration. We have no reason to doubt the settling at Cape Fear in May, 1664, whether Yeamans was or was not, at that time, the leader of the colonists. In Sandford’s Relation (1666) the expression “the great and growing necessityes of the English colony in Charles river,” when Yeamans arrived (November, 1665), seems to refer to colonists already there. It was for the interests of the Proprietors to secure—as they did in 1665—the services of such a man not only for Clarendon, but as their “lieutenant-general” for further services southward in their policy above indicated. The difficulty appears to be that Sir John had a policy of his own,—to grow rich; and that his real home was all the while in Barbadoes. He did not sacrifice himself for the emolument of their lordships either at Cape Fear or at Ashley River, as will be apparent in our subsequent narrative.
[712] Sandford’s Relation, and information from papers in London now being received by the authorities in North Carolina.
[713] See Abstracts, etc., relating to Colonial Hist. of N. C., p. 3; also for this letter, Hawks, ii. p. 23; and for a copy of the declaration, etc., of 25th August, Rivers’ Sketch of the Hist. of So. Carolina, p. 335.
[714] See Chalmers’ “Annals” in Carroll’s Collections, ii. p. 288, with respect to charges against Clarendon.
[715] Under their charter they could grant titles of honor, provided they were not like those of England. A provincial nobility was accordingly created under the titles of Landgraves and Cassiques. The province was divided into counties; each county into eight signories, eight baronies, and four precincts, and each precinct into six colonies for the common people. Each of the other divisions (that is, excluding the precincts) was to contain 12,000 acres; the signories for the Proprietors, the baronies for the provincial nobility, to be perpetually annexed to the hereditary title. These nobles were, in the first instance, to be appointed by their lordships. In their subsequent endeavors to establish this scheme of government quite a large number of provincial nobles were created: the philosopher Locke, James Carteret, Sir John Yeamans to begin with, and many others, from time to time, till the title of Landgrave—and there were Cassiques also—must have appeared to the recipient as ridiculous as it was to Albemarle to be first Palatine, Craven first High Constable, Berkeley first Chancellor, Ashley Chief Justice, Carteret Admiral, and Colleton High Steward, of Carolina.
[716] This, it is true, was not contrary to the charter, but there is no doubt that the majority of the early settlers were dissenters, and the establishment of this Church, to be supported by taxation, occasioned much dissatisfaction and active opposition.
[717] A Brief Description, etc.; also Hawks, ii. p. 149.
[718] Instructions for Gov. Sayle, July 27, 1669.
[719] They said, “Sir John intended to make this a Cape Feare Settlement.” Charleston Year Book, p. 376.
[720] Letter of the people in South Carolina to Sothel, 1691; Sketch of Hist. of S. C., p. 429. See also memorial from members of the assembly in Clarendon County, probably in 1666, asking for better terms of land than in the agreement with Yeamans; otherwise the county may be abandoned. See Abstracts, etc., p. 6 (N. Carolina).