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INTRODUCTION

Upon this above mentioned agreement, made with seven of the Lords TROTT'S Proprietors, to surrender their title and interest to his Majesty, and the same being established and confirmed by the said act of Parliament, his Majesty was pleased to give his royal commission under the broad seal of England, unto the above mentioned ROBERT JOHNSON, Esq. constituting him Governor of this Province, with the usual full and ample powers given to the other Governors of the King's plantations.

His Excellency Robert Johnson, Esq., arriving at this Province in the month of December, 1730, he published his commission, and took upon him the Government of this Province, and hath passed several acts which are contained in the first part of this collection, from number 543 to 577 inclusive, and in the second part containing the temporary acts, from number 12 to 36 inclusive.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST CHARTER OF CAROLINA, 1663.

SECTION 1. The Proprietors therein named having besought King Charles the Second for leave to make a Colony in America, not yet cultivated or planted,

2d. The King gives, grants and confirms to them all that Territory in America, bounded within 36 and 31 degrees of North Latitude, and West as far as the South Sea,

3d. With Patronage, Jurisdictions and Privileges.

4th. Creating them Lords and Proprietors of the said Province, in free and common Soccage.

5th. The said country and Islands erected into the Province of Carolina. Power granted to enact Laws for the whole Province, or any part thereof.

And to appoint Judges, Justices, Magistrates, and Officers.

6th. And until Assemblies of Freeholders be called, the said Proprietors to make orders and Ordinances.

7th. License to all the King's liege people to transport themselves to said Province.

8th. Licence to freight to every port, and transport goods, wares and merchandizes, saving to the King the customs and duties.

9th. Sundry goods to be imported and exported duty free.

10th. Ports and harbours to be constituted.

11th. Subsidies to belong to the Lords Proprietors.

12th. The Lords Proprietors may grant the Premises in fee simple, fee tayle, for life or for years, to any person or persons, to be held of the Proprietors,

13th. And confer any titles of honour not used in England.

14th. And to erect Forts, Castles, Cities, Towns, Fortifications, &c.

15th. To levy, muster and train men, make war, &c.

16th. And to exercise Martial Law.

17th. The Province of Carolina and its inhabitants to be subject to the Crown of England.

18th. The Lords Proprietors empowered to grant liberty of conscience. 19th. In cases of doubts or questions, the interpretation to be most favourable to the Lords Proprietors.

THE FIRST
CHARTER.

THE FIRST CHARTER GRANTED BY KING CHARLES THE
SECOND TO THE LORDS PROPRIETORS OF CAROLINA.

CHARLES THE SECOND, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.-To all to whom these Presents shall come-GREETING:

1st. WHEREAS our right trusty, and right well beloved Cousins and Counsellors, Edward, Earl of Clarendon, our high Chancellor of England, and George, Duke of Albemarle, Master of our horse and Captain General of all our Forces, our right trusty and well beloved William Lord Craven, John Lord Berkley, our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor, Anthony Lord Ashley, Chancellor of our Exchequer, Sir George Carteret, Knt. and Baronet, Vice Chamberlain of our household, and our trusty and well beloved Sir William Berkley, Knt. and Sir John Colleton, Knight and Baronet, being excited with a laudable and pious zeal for the Propagation of the Christian Faith, and the Enlargement of our Empire and Dominions, have humbly besought leave of us by their industry and charge, to transport and make an ample Colony of our subjects, natives of our Kingdom of England, and elsewhere within our Dominions, unto a certain country hereafter described, in the parts of America not yet cultivated or planted, and only inhabited by some barbarous people, who have no knowledge of Almighty God.

2d. And whereas the said Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, have humbly besought us to give, grant and confirm unto them and their heirs, the said country, with Priviledges and Jurisdictions requisite for the good government and safety thereof; KNOW YE, therefore, that we, favouring the pious and noble purpose of the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, William Lord Craven, John Lord Berkley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley and Sir John Colleton, of our special grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, have Given, Granted and Confirmed, and by this our present Charter, for us, our heirs and succesors, do Give, Grant and Confirm unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William Lord Craven, John Lord Berkley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, their heirs and assigns, all that territory or tract of ground, scituate, lying and being within our dominions of America, extending from the North end of the Island called Lucke-Island, which lieth in the Southern Virginia Seas, and within six and thirty degrees of the Northern Latitude, and to the West as far as the South Seas, and so Southerly as far as the river St. Matthias, which bordereth upon the coast of Florida, and within one and thirty degrees of Northern Latitude, and so west in a direct line as far as the South seas aforesaid; together with all and singular Ports, Harbours, Bays, Rivers, Isles, and Islets belonging to the country aforesaid; and also all the Soil, Lands, Fields, Woods, Mountains, Fields, Lakes, Rivers, Bays and Islets, scituate or being within the bounds or limits aforesaid, with the fishing of all sorts of Fish, Whales, Sturgeons, and all other Royal Fishes in the Sea, Bays, Islets and Rivers within the premises, and the Fish therein taken; and moreover all Veins, Mines, Quarries, as well discovered as not discovered, of Gold, Silver, Gems, precious Stones, and all other

whatsoever, be it of Stones, Metals or any other thing whatsoever, found or to be found within the countries, isles and limits aforesaid.

3d. And furthermore, the Patronage and Advowsons of all the Churches and Chapels, which as Christian Religion shall increase within the Country, Isles, Islets and Limits aforesaid, shall happen hereafter to be erected, together with license and power to build and found Churches, Chappels and Oratories, in convenient and fit places, within the said bounds and limits, and to cause them to be dedicated and consecrated according to the Ecclesiastical laws of our Kingdom of England, together with all and singular the like, and as ample Rights, Jurisdictions, Priviledges, Prerogatives, Royalties, Liberties, Immunities and Franchises of what kind soever, within the Countries, Isles, Islets, and Limits aforesaid.

4th. To have, use, exercise and enjoy, and in as ample manner as any Bishop of Durham in our Kingdom of England, ever heretofore have held, used or enjoyed, or of right ought or could have, use, or enjoy. And them, the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, their heirs and assigns, We do by these Presents, for us, our heirs and successors, make, create and constitute,the true and Absolute Lords Proprietors of the Country aforesaid, and of all other the premises; saving always the faith, allegiance and sovereign dominion due to us, our heirs and successors, for the same, and saving also the right, title, and interest of all and every our subjects of the English nation, which are now planted within the limits and bounds aforesaid, (if any be). To have, hold, possess and enjoy the said Country, Isles, Islets, and all and singular other the Premises, to them the said Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, Sir John Colleton, their heirs and assigns forever, to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, as of our Manner of East Greenwich in our County of Kent, in free and common Soccage, and not in capite, or by Knight service; yielding and paying yearly to us, our heirs and successors, for the same, the yearly rent of twenty marks of lawful money of England, at the feast of All-Saints, yearly forever, the first Payment thereof to begin and to be made on the feast of All-Saints, which shall be in the year of our Lord one thousand, six hundred and sixty-five, and also the fourth part of all gold or silver ore, which, within the limits aforesaid, shall from time to time happen to be found.

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5th. And that the country, thus by us granted and described, may nified by us with as large Titles and Priviledges as any other part of our Dominions and territories in that tegion, Know ye, that we of our further grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, have thought fit to erect the same tract of ground, county, and island, into a Province, and out of the fulness of our royal Power and Prerogative, We do, for us, our heirs and successors, erect, incorporate and ordain the same into a Province, and call it the Province of Carolina, and so from henceforth will have it called; and forasmuch as we have hereby made and ordained the aforesaid Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, their heirs and assigns, the true Lords and Proprietors of all the Province aforesaid; Know ye, therefore moreover, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in their Fidelity, Wisdom, Justice and provident Circumspection, for us our heirs and successors, do grant full and absolute power by virtue of these presents, to them the said Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord

THE FIRST

CHARTER.

CHARTER.

THE FIRST Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, and their heirs, for the good and happy Government of the said Province, to ordain, make, enact, and under their seals to publish any laws whatsoever, either appertaining to the publick state of the said Province, or to the private utility of particular persons, according to their best discretion, of and with the advice, assent and approbation of the Freemen of the said Province, or of the greater part of them, or of their Delegates or Deputies, whom for enacting of the said laws, when and as often as need shall require, we will that the said Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, and their heirs, shall from time to time assemble in such manner and form as to them shall seem best, and the same laws duly to execute upon all people within the said Province and limits thereof, for the time being, or which shall be constituted under the power and government of them or any of them, either sailing towards the said Province of Carolina, or returning from thence towards England, or any other of our, or foreign dominions, by imposition of penalties, imprisonment, or any other punishment; yea, if it shall be needfull, and the quality of the offence requires it, by taking away member and life, either by them, the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, and their heirs, or by them or their Deputies, Lieutenants, Judges, Justices, Magistrates, Officers and Members to be ordained or appointed according to the tenor and true intention of these presents; and likewise to appoint and establish any Judges or Justices, Magistrates or Officers whatsoever, within the said Province, at sea or land, in such manner and form as unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John Lord Berkley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton and their heirs, shall seem most convenient; also to remit, release, pardon and abolish, (whether before judgment or after) all crimes and offences whatsoever, against the said laws, and to do all and every other thing and things, which unto the compleat establishment of justice unto courts, sessions, and forms of judicature and manners of proceedings therein do belong, although in these presents express mention be not made thereof; and by Judges and by him or them delegated, to award process, hold pleas, and determine in all the said Courts, and places of Judicature, all actions, suits and causes whatsoever, as well Criminal or civil, real, mixt, personal, or of any other kind or nature whatsoever; which laws, so as aforesaid to be published, our pleasure is, and we do require, enjoin and command, shall be absolute, firm and available in law, and that all the liege people of us, our heirs and successors, within the said Province of Carolina, do observe and keep the same inviolably in those parts, so far as they concern them, under the pains and penalties therein expressed, or to be expressed; provided nevertheless, that the said laws be consonant to reason, and as near as may be conveniently, agreeable to the laws and customs of this our Kingdom of England.

6th. And because such assemblies of freeholders cannot be so conveniently called, as there may be occasion to require the same, we do, therefore, by these presents, give and grant unto the said Edward, Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Antony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, their heirs and assigns, by themselves or their magistrates, in that behalf lawfully authorized, full power and authority, from time to time to make and ordain fit and wholesome Orders and Ordinances, within the

CHARTER.

Province aforesaid, to be kept and observed as well for the keeping of THE FIRST the peace, as for the better government of the people there abiding, and to publish the same to all to whom it may concern; which ordinances, we do by these presents streightly charge and command to be inviolably observed within the said Province, under the penalties therein expressed, so as such Ordinances be reasonable, and not repugnant or contrary, but as near as may be, agreeable to the laws and statutes of this our Kingdom of England, and so as the same ordinances do not extend to the binding, charging, or taking away of the right or interest of any person, or persons, in their freehold, goods or chattels whatsoever. 7th. And to the end, the said province may be the more happily increased, by the multitude of people resorting thither, and may likewise be the more strongly defended from the Incursions of Salvages and other Enemies, Pirates and Robbers, therefore we, for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant by these Presents, Power, License and Liberty unto all the liege people of us, our heirs and successors, in our Kingdom of England or elsewhere, within any other our dominions, islands, colonies or plantations (excepting those who shall be especially forbidden) to transport themselves and families unto the said Province, with convenient shipping and fitting provisions, and there to settle themselves, dwell and inhabit, any law, statute, act, ordinance, or other thing to the contrary, in any wise notwithstanding. And we will also, and of our more special grace, for us, our heirs and successors, do streightly enjoin, ordain, constitute and command, that the said Province of Carolina, shall be of our allegiance, and that all and singular the subjects and liege people of us, our heirs and successors, transported or to be transported into the said Province, and the children of them and of such as shall descend from them, there born or hereafter to be born, be and shall be, denizons and lieges of us, our heirs and successors, of this our Kingdom of England, and be in all things held, treated, and reputed, as the liege faithful people of us, our heirs and successors, born within this our said Kingdom, or any other of our dominions, and may inherit or otherwise purchase and receive, take, hold, buy, and possess any lands, tenements or hereditaments within the same places, and them may occupy, possess and enjoy, give, sell, aliene and bequeathe; as likewise all liberties, franchises and privileges of this our Kingdom of England, and of other our dominions aforesaid, and may freely and quietly, have possess and enjoy, as our liege people born within the same, without the least molestation, vexation, trouble or grievance, of us, our heirs and successors, any statute, act, ordinance, or provision to the contrary notwithstanding.

Sth. And furthermore, that our subjects of this our said Kingdom of England, and other our Dominions, may be the rather encouraged to undertake this expedition with ready and chearful minds; know ye, that we of our special grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, do give and grant by virtue of these presents, as well to the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle, William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton, and their heirs, as unto all others as shall from time to time repair unto the said Province, with a purpose to inhabit there, or to trade with the natives of the said Province, full liberty and license to lade and freight in any port whatsoever, of us, our heirs and successors, and into the said Province of Carolina, by them, their servants or assigns, to transport all and singular their goods, wares, and merchandises, as likewise all sorts of grain whatsoever, and any other things whatsoever, necessary for the food and clothing, not prohibited by the laws VOL. I.-4.

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