Carolina

Maps

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  1673 New Description of Carolina by John Ogilby.jpg

Sources from old books

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Carolina, a Country of Florida, in the North, lying South of Virginia, extending it self from the 29th to the 36th Degree of Northern Latitude, and watered on the East by the Atlantick Sea; first called Carolina, not from King Charles II. as our Authors give it out, but from Charles IX. King of France, in whose Reign, this Country was by one Ribaut, a Frenchman, wrested from the Spaniard, which Ribaut gave not only the Name of Caroline to this Part of the Continent, but named the Rivers there by the Name of the Seine, Loire, Somme, Garonne, and others of more Note in his Country. But the French were soon dispossessed by the Spaniards, who injoyed it till 1627, when they were routed out again by the French, who quitting the Country after this their Expedition, the English took Possession of it. Anno 1663, King Charles II. granted it by Letters Patents in Propriety to Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarl, William Earl of Craven, John Lord Berkeley, Anthony Lord Ashly, since Earl of Shaftsbury, Sir George Carteret, and Sir John Coleton, Knights and Baronets, and Sir William Berkley, Knight, by which Letters Patent the Laws of England are always to be in force in Carolina; only the Lords Proprietors have Power, with the Consent of the Inhabitants, to make such By-Laws as may be thought necessary for the better Government of the Province. The 2 Colonies of Albemarl and Ashly River, are now in a very thriving Condition, for the Soil is generally good, yields plenty of Corn and Pasture, eatable Roots and Herbs, and excellent sort of Fruits. The Vines thrive here to Admiration, and its Plenty of Mulberry-Trees makes it capable of a good Silk-Trade; nor does it want Tame or Wild Fowl, or any sort of Game. The Air is very temperate, considerihg its Southern Situation. For the Benefit of Trade and Navigation, there is scarce a Country better accommodated with good navigable Rivers, so that one cannot fix any where further than 7 Miles distance from some River or other, many of them Navigable, even against Stream, for the space of 300 Miles. The 2 principal Colonies now planted there, are at Albemarl and Ashly River, that lying in the most Northerly Part towards Virginia, This is in the Latitude of 32 Degrees, and some odd Minutes, both setled at the Charge of the Lord Proprietors; the first in 1670, and the last ten Years after. Charles-Town, the chiefest Place of the whole Country is the Port Town for both.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

Carolina, so call'd from the King of Great Britain, Charles II. is a part of Florida, and Peopl'd with an English Colony by the Proprietors, the Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarl, &c. in the year 1670. It lyes betwen the 29th and 36th Degree of Northern Latitude, having Virginia on the North, the Atlantick Ocean on the East, and the Pacifick Sea on the West, and Tegesta on the South.

The Air of it is wholsom and temperate, neither troublesome in Winter or Summer. The Soil is generally very Fruitful, and produces besides what is proper to the Climate, good Wheat, Barley and all other English Corn; as also Turnips, Carrots, Parsnips, Potatoes, and twenty sorts of Pulse, which we have not in England. In their Woods they have not only all Trees useful for Timber, but many sweet smelling Trees and Shrubs, as Cedar, Cypress and Mirtles; among which there harbour Hares, Squirrels, Racoons, Coneys, and plenty of fat Deer; as also store of wild Turkies, Partridges, Paroquets, Doves, Cranes, and divers other Birds, whose Flesh is delicate. They have also plenty of Hogs and Sheep, which encrease there wonderfully. Here are also met with some strange and Monstrous Creatures, as Rattle-snakes of two Yards and an half long, Wild-cats bigger than a Fox; as also Otters, Bears, Lepards and Wolves; but no Lyons. They export also several sorts of Wine, Oil, Olives, Cotton, Indico, Silks, Ginger, Tobacco, Sassaparilla, Turmerick, Sassafras and Snakes-root, which arise from their Tillage and Manufacture.

The Natives have a perfect Friendship with the English, and are ready upon all occasions to serve them. They are generally of a good Meaning and Honest, no ways addicted to Vice, moderate in their Diet and Apparel, addicted to Mirth, admirers of Valour and Courage, and therefore continually in War, so that they are almost Destroyed.

They Worship one God as the Creator of all things, whom they call Okee, and their High Priests Offer Sacrifice to him; but they believe that he minds not human affairs himself, but committs the Government of them to lesser Deities. They believe the Transmigration of Souls, and Happiness after Death. They Bury their Dead in four several Burying-places, according to their four several Tribes. The English enjoy a liberty of Conscience by the Constitution of their Government, so that they are of different Judgments.

The Natives are govern'd by Kings, whose Will is their Law. The English, by the Laws of England and such By-laws as their Governors find necessary for that Province. No Mony can be raised nor Laws made without the consent of the People or their Representatives in a general Assembly. They have Magistrates to execute their Laws.

This Country hath many great Rivers, and some of them Navigable; Ashley River is the biggest. They have several Towns, but Charles-Town is the Principal.