lown, under the pretence of a " Dancing-bout,"
and, when proper preparations were made, to rush
into the heart of the city, take possession of all the
arms and ammunition they could find, and murder
all the white men, and then turn their forces to the
different plantations. Such was the secrecy with
which this conspiracy was conducted, that it was
discovered only a short time previous to its projected
explosion, and many of the negroes had actually as-
sembled. As soon as the discovery was made, the
citizens, by '"^private orders and ivithout noise,'''' rendez-
voused at their respective points of alarm, and imme-
diately marched to the place where the Negroes
were collected, and without the slightest opposition took
the whole of them prisoners. The ringleaders of the i
rebellion were immediately executed, and the remain- !
der returned to their daily labor and obedience.
In the year 1739, there were no less than three
formidable insurrections among our slaves, in which
many valuable lives were lost, and, during the fury
and devastation of which, the most detestable outra-
ges were committed. They were all, however, in-
stantly quelled, and the measure of retribution was full
to overflowing. These insurrections were all foment-
ed by the Spaniards in St. Augustine, w ho clandestine-
ly gave protection to all the fugitive slaves from this
colony, and by sen(,ling their Priests as cmmissaries
70
'among our Negrot's, created among them such wild,
and visionary id/?as of liberty and freedom, as finally
plunged them into oj3en rebellion.
Hewitt gives us the following interesting account
of this Insurrection.
"At this time, (about the year 1740,) there were above 40,000
Negroes in the Province. Long had liber*)) and protection been
promised and proclaimed to theui by the Spaniards at Augustine,
nor were all the negroes in the province strangers to the proclama-
tion. At different times S|)anish emissaries had been found secretly
tampering with them, and persuading them to fly from slaver^^
Five negroes, who were cattle hunters, at Indian Land, some of
whom belonged to Captain McPherson, after wounding his son and
killing another man, made their escape. Several more attempting to
getaway wi^ve taken, tried, and hanged at Charles Town.
" While Carolina was kept in a state of constant fear and agitation
from this quarter, an insurrection openW broke out in the heart of the
settlement which alarmed the whole province. A number of ne-
groes having assembled together at Stono, flrst surprised and killed
two young men in a ware-house, and then plundered it of guns and
ammunition. Being thus provided with arms, they elected one of
their number captain, and agreed to follow him, marching towards
the souUi-west, with colours flying and diums beating, like a discip-
lined comp my. I'hi y forcibly enterc<l the house of Mr. Godfrey,
and havini^ ;ii./rdered him, his wife, and children, they took all the
arms he hud in it, srt fire to the house, and then proceeded totrards
Jacksonborongh. In tlieir way they plundered and burnt (very
house, killing every while person they found in them, and eouipelling
the Negroes to Join them. Governor Bull retuining to Charleston
from the southwaicl, met ihem, and, observing them armed, spread
the alarm, which soon reached the Presbyterian Church at W^iltown,
where Archibald Stobo was preaching to a numerous congregation of
Planters in that quarter. By a law of the province, all Planters
weie obliged to carry their arms to Chinch, which at this critical
juncture proved a very useful and necessar}- regulation. The women
were left in Church trembling with fear, while the militia, under the
command of Captain Bee, marched in quest of the Psegroes, who
by this time had become formidable, from the number that joined
them. They had marched about twelve miles, and spread desola-
tion through all the plantations in their way. They halted in an
open lleld, and began to sin<x and ilance, by way of trium])]i. Du-
ring these rejoicings, the militia discovered them, and st itioned them-
selves ill diflerent places around then), to prevent them from making
their escape. One party advanced into the open field and attacked
them, and, having killed some iNegroes, the remainder took to the
woods and were disj)ersc(l. Miiny run back to their j)laiitations, in
71
hopes of escaping suspicion from the absence of their masters; but
the greater part ivere taken and tried. Such as had been compelled
to join them, contrary to their inclination, were pardoned, but all the
chosen leaders and first insurgents suffered death.
" All Carolina was struck with terror and consternation by this
Insurrection, in which a6ot»e twenty persons were murdered betbre.
it was quelled."'
We cannot omit to give place to the very valuable
Document which follows. It presents a faithful and
afflicting picture of the Province at this period, and
details with heart-rending accuracy the sufferings
through which it had passed. What greater or more
honorable proof can we have of the bold and perse-
vering spirit of our ancestos. Notwithstanding the
difficulties and dangers which surrounded them on
all sides and the afflictions with which they were vis-
ited, they manfully breasted the storm and triumphed
over every obstacle.
We have preserved both the style and punctuation
of the original, a copy of which we have taken from
the Secretary of State's Office in Charleston :
PETITION and REPRESENTATION to His Majesty of the present state o/
the Province.
TO THE king's MOST EXCELLENT AIAJE.STY.
The Humble Petition and Representation of the Council and Assembly of
your Majesty's Province of South-Carolina upon the present state of the
said Province :
MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,
We your Majesty's most dutiful and Loyal Su1)jects the Members of your
Majesty's Council; and the Members of the Commons Hou^e of Assembly of
this your Maje-ly's Province of South-Carolina, now met together in General
Assembly, to take under consideration the dangerous sitiialion in uliicit tin Pro
rince now is, Most humbly beg leave lo nprpsetit to yonr Majesty, that it is with
the utmost grief and concern we find tlii^ Province grehtly reducsd and weak-
ened, by a series of Calamities and Misfortunes which have attended it for some
time past. The Small Po.r, in the year 1738, succeeded by a Pesliteulinl Fevtr,
in the year 1739, whereby numbers who had escaped the first were carried off
by the'last That again succeeded by an Insurrection of our slates in which,
many of the Inhabitants iccre murdered in a barbarous and cruel manner; and
that no sooner q}ielled ilmn another projected m Charles Town, and a third lately
in the very heart of the Sctllements, hid happily discorered lime enough tu be pre-
vented. Wrestling svith dilficultys at home, we see ourselves at the s«me time
exposed to dangers from abroad, to Eneroys very near, and by far too nuuj^
i
•
72
roiis ami ))0\veiful (or us ; and tiiat the many succours wliich your Majesty has
been graciously [ileased ("rom time (o time to give us, and what we, weak as
we are, have been able to do for ourselves, conies lar short of your Majesty's
Koyal Intention and Expectations from thence.
It is with great re:i=on, we apprehend, tJiat That part of our Calamifys, pro-
ceeding from the frecjiient attempts of our Slaves, arises from the designs and
intrignesof our Enemys, the Spaniards in St. Angn.-tiue and Florida, who have
had the rnin and desli'iiction of these your Majesty's Colmiys of South-Caro-
lina and Georgia long in vie\v. Witness the great preparations made at the
Havanna, and ;5f. Atign^tine, about three years ago, for a powerful descent on
these Provinces : and since tliat, in tirrn.' of profound peace also, a i)roclamation
published at St. .4ngU;tirie, in his Catholic Majesty's name, promising; freedom
(I lid ot/ier f:iirourr(s:fineiit to alt xiarcs that fhould desert from your Majcslj^'s snb-
jeetsofthis Province and join them. Inconsequence of which Proclamation,
many have already deserted, and t>therseticouraged daily to do the same ; and
even those vhohnve rommilled the most inliii.mnn mnrdcrs arc there harboured,
e III rrlaine.d and caressed. Such, may it please your Majesty, was the situation
of this Piovince when Getu'i-al Oglethorpe fipjdied to us to assist your MajeS'
ty's Forces in attacking St. Augustine. Induced by the assurances we had from
that G<?neral, and the Commodore of your Majesty's Shijis of War, mi-t toge-
ther in tiie Harbour of Charleston, of the grent |)robabili(y there was of success,
and by the advantage, we were sensil)!e would tiieieby accrue to your Ma-
ji'sty's subjects of this Province and Georgia, and for the Glory of your Majesty's
arms, in reducing a Fortress which stands an Eye-sore to the Britisli Dominions
in North America; and as such has been before attempted by this Province,
but without success, we exerted ourselves and clieartully voted sucli a supply
of Forces as tliat General thought sutficient to succeed in that expedition ;
together with a great ijuantity of Provision.^, Artillery, Warlike Stores, Vessels
for transportation, .Arms and Presents for 500 Indians, and many other neces-
sarys: But considering the uncertainty of Warlike F.vents, and that the Ene-
my might be stronger tlian the (jeneral iiad re])resenled tiiem to be, w-e added
200 men more : Tiie whole expence amounting to a greater sum than our present
Circumstance could well bear. With this additional reinforcenif nt, we had
tiie greatest reason to hope for success ; and mdre especially, as to all this, was
afterwards added, your .Majesty's great supply sent to the General, of Warlike
Stores proper for such an undertaking. But so it has fallen out. that with heai"ts
full of sorrow and anxietv, are we now obliged to repi-p-ient to your Majesty,
that this attempt |)rove(l altogether unsucc"ssful, and the Troops sent from this
Province, by express orders (iated the -tth instint, trom General OglHthro|ie to
their Commanding Olhcer, ordered to withdraw from before St Augustine, and
to carry ofi" or destroy the Cannon made use of by them against (he Eue:iiy.
Whether the bad succes'^ of this expeililion proceeds fi-om .MisC'Uiduct, or trom
any other cause, we shall not presume tojinlge. But, may it ph-ase your .Ma-
jesty, sui;h being the issue and event of this unhappy Exjindilion, in wiiich all
oin- hopes were ])laced, w<' are now exposed to a pou erlul I'^iiemy, roused with
resentment, and encouraged by our disappoininieiit, are become more (onui-
dable tirui ever, and if not speedily pievent(>d by a superior force, may somi
lin-n their Arms against us. And \vhat a Tiagical scene an nttack from a
Foreign Enemy must produce, when at the same time our whole force uill be
srarcc sufficient to gurtw/agw///.?/ Iliat wUhiii .v.s-, is but ion apparent.
Expo.sed as «■(! are to present danger from the Sp.Miiards, Conse(iuenccs
more fatal to us, as well as to the whole of yfuu" Maie^ty'.s Dominions in
America, are to be a|i|in'huided in case of a rupture with France, from Jie
wonderful Progress made in lhe.se few years by that .Nation in (heir grand and
iiMig projected sciien.e, of ojiening a communii alion betni-en th'i;- Canada
and (Quebec ScKlcnn.nl < and those on the great liiver Messi-Mppi to the Bay of
â– Me>;ic<). A Scheme, gre;i( to them, but daugerdiis lo llu; lintiNli Dominions,
a> lia-. becii iierelolore .-,e( torth by two .severed Pvepresentations nnnle to your
.Vlajesly from (his rro\iiira; since ihe year 1731. This communication being
now opened, by that means, they havfi an Army of between 3, iV, ^,0(iO men on
our backs; and have of late built new F(h(s and Reinforced (hose formerly
built ; by which there is great reason (o apprtdiend. that they are able not only
(o pievent the progress and e\(eM(iou of the Krilish Seltltjnents in Aorth
Arnericn. but ''> in\ ade .some ol w !i!i| is aii'ead) •;e(ilvd.
t
73
As we have heretofore humbly represented to your Majesty, this Province and
that of Georgia have the most to fear, not only on account of their being the
weakest andniost exposed to their Knemys, but on account of their situation,
and the great advantage which the French must consequently have by becom-
ine Masters of them. The Country between these Colonys and the French
Settlements and Garrisons on the Rivers Messisip|)i and Moville. being plain,
flat and opei', not intersected by ihe large Ap[iala(cliian Mountains; we have
therefore no other Barrier but a few Nations of Indians, far inferior in number
to theirs. Next to them are the ("hickesaws ; a Bold and Brave People. Strict
friends to your Majesty's subjects of this Province; but not now in number
abovp400men; with tliem the French have lately made an insidious peace ;
And in their security thereu|)on, many of them ha%'e been cut otf by the
Choctaw Iiulians. 'J'hese Choctaws are very numerous, and under the im-
mediate influence and direction of the French. This together with the many
former attacks upon that brave Nation of the Chickesaws, leave no room to
doul)t of their intention to exterpate Ili»t People, as they have already done
the Notchces, with a view manifestly to make their next atlempt on the Creek.s
the only remaining Barrier, in that case, between us and the French. In that
Nation the French have long had a Fort,' called the Alabama Fort; which they
have latelv reinforced ; and by repeated intelligence from our Traders, are
now using" th^ir utmost endeavour.-;, by oftVrs of great Presents as well as
threats, to witlnlraw our People from our Interest, and (o engage them to
destroy our Traders now amongst them. In which, were they to succeed,
terrible must be the fate of these vour Majesty's Provinces of South-Carolina
and G.^or^ia ; who unless supported must fall a Prey to them and their numerous
Indians, whose devastations and crueltys this Province has heretofore tataily
experienced: and they in that case become Masters of what they have had
long in view, to wit a settlement and Ports on I his Eastern part of the American
Continent, so absolutely necessary for tlie support and advantage of their back
Settlements, and of gnat usi; to tlicir Sugar Islands in Am.irica, which at
present d?i)end almost wholly upon the Englisii Colonys for Lumber and
Provisions: But as they are now situated have no other opening but trom the
Rivers Moville and Messrssippi, at the extremity of the Bay Appaiatciiee, in
the Entrance of the Gulf of Alexiro, which renders tlieir traffic from these
Colony- not only tedious but dangerous; and then once having secured a
setllemeot on this shore, and a communication opened to their settlements on
th.se Rivers; we have reason to apprehend they may become Masters ot all
Florida and its Coa.sts quite down to these great Rivers, including St Augustine
itself, if i( remains unconquered by your Majesty, and that large tract ot
fertile and rich soil called the Appalatchees, formerly conquered by the Inhabi-
tants of this Province fn.m the Spaniards. Such, May it please your Majesty,
seems to be the great sclieines of the French, part of which are already executed
and performed ; and what are to come, we can easily foresee, but are of too
hii'h an-' extensive a nature for us to ])revent. ...
ExnprtatioiiPand hopes arising at (iist from the settlement of Georgia being
now vani-hed and gone by, the drooping and languid condition ot the few
Inhabitants which still remain there, our own Inhabitants and fortunes greatly
reduced and impoverished by a long Series of Calamitys and Misfortunes
heretofore unknown, we have nothing lelt but to fly to your Majesty for pro-
tection. And full of gratitude for the many favours heretofore conlerred m
this Province, and confiding in that glorious disposition and spirit so lately
evidenced and made appear to us by your Majesty in the early care taken ot
these your remotest subjects in America, by the assistance of so many ot your
Majesty's Ships of War, the good effects of which we have already, in many
insia\ices, experienced. » d i i
We most humbly and earnestly implore your Majesty's most Royal and
paternal protection and assistance against our Enemys by Land, and particu-
larly those in St. Augustine; who, no doubt, by our disa[ii)ointinent now bid
defiance to the power and force of this Province: and from whence we have
sustained so manv losses and injur vs, bi/ the reccflion from time lo time of our
ihserttd Slaves, and even of those who have committed Ihe must bnrl)anms and
cruel Murders of their Masfcrs. And we most humbly pray your Majesty that
ill case this Fortress should remain unconquered, then in any future Peace to
10
•
74
be concluded, befwern your M ijesty and tlic King of Spain, provision tnay
be made for the reslor^tion of our Slaves already deserted, and for our security
against such Evils for the future, as also for the great expence which has
attended this Province in consequence thereof.
All which we most hun.bly and earnestly submit to your Majesty's Roya!
Consideration."
In the Upper Hoise of Assembly the 26 day of July 1740
JOHN FENVVICKE.
In the Commons House of Assembly the 26 day of July 1740
By Order of the House
WILLM. BULL, Junr. Speaker.
In consequence of these repeated effervescences
among our slaves, it was found expedient to the' safety
of the Colony, to circumscribe their privile'ges, and to
adopt such measures as would prevent' any possibility
of concert among them. The Negro Act of the year
1740, (still in the Statute Book, though not actually
in force) passed with a view of avoiding the dangers
inseparably connected with the institution of slavery
among us, was actively and efficiently enforced, and
all its penalties and provisions carried into full effect.
The rigid policy of the Act, when faithfully pursued,
corrected the evil for many years, and, by visiting
with prompt and exemplary punishment every act
of insubordination, preserved the tranquility of the
public mind and quieted all its apprehensions. As
soon as this security and cowfidence were restored,
however, a general relaxation in the execution of the
salutary provisions of the Act took place, and the
Negroes, progressively, step by step, regained that
confidence and concert among themselves that always
follow the absence of j)roper discipline. They reco-
vered the ground they had lost — re-assumed the
privileges of which they had been hitherto deprived —
corresponded more intimately with each other, both
in their public and private associations — and finalJy
«r
75
projected the plan of another Insurrection, in Cam-
den and its vicinity. This was, periiaps, plotted with
more secrecy and ingenuity of design than even
that of the late intended Insurrection in Charleston ;
and w^as to have been attended with a correspond-
ing result. Part of the Town was to have been
set on fire — all the male white inhabitants indiscrimi-
nately massacred, and the iemales reserved for a
destiny still more horrible and revolting.
We have been unable to procure a copy of the
minutes of the Town Council of Camden, in rela-
tion to this event; but we have been obligingly favor-
ed with the following Narrative, by Francis G. De-
LiESSELiNE, £sQ. wlio was in Camden at the time.
Some {aw particulars may have faded in his recol-
lection, but the important features of the transaction
are presented with ])erfect accuracy. The memory
clings with too great a tenacity to these to allow any
possibility of a want of fidelity.
" In compliance with your request I send you a Narrative of the pro-
jected conspiracy of the blacks in Camden, and its neighborhood,
in the year I8I6 — the professed design of which, was to murder all
the whites, and free themselves. A long lapse of -tiaie has erased
from my memory many of the particulars, but I am enabled to give
you the following outline :
" About the middle of June, I8I6, Col. Chesnut, a citizen of
Camden, and an aid-de-camp to Gov. Williams, was informed by
a favorite and confidential slave, that pro])ositions of a dangerous
character had been made to him, in relation to a projected insurrection
among the blacks — and that the time and place of rendezvous had
been already appointed His master, placing the most unreserved
confidence in his fidelity, directed him to attend the meetings of the
conspirators, previous to the developement of the plot, and, at the
same time, to conduct himself with the most guarded discretion. —
A communication was immediately had with Governor Williams^
and Colonel Chesnut received the necessary instructions with re*
i
76
^ard to the defeat of the conspiracy. These were communicated f
none otlier than the Town Council ; anci such was the secrecy icith
which the ichole affair ims conducted, that on the morning of the
1st or 2nd of July, the young men chosen to arrest the ringleaders
of the conspiracy were assembled under the pretence of a fox chase,
and despatched under the command of leaders, who were enjoined to
the utmost secrecy. They were perfectly ignorant of the natuie of
the service they were on, until the moment they were ordered to ar-
rest the conspirators, most of whom were at work in the fields, many
miles apart. Their movements were so secret and simultaneous,
that the arrests were made aluiost at the same instant of time, and
without any intimation on the part of those respectively arrested, of
the fate of their confederates. The same caution was subsequently
used, at their trial, to conceal the name of the informer, who was
likewise in custody. The most satisfactory testimony, independent
of that of the informer, and regulated by the most rigid rules of
evidence, sufficiently established their guilt ; and the first gang who
were executed died ignorant of the informer. They all confessed
their crimes, and the most intelligent of them acknowledged that
they had no causes of complaint against their individual masters, and
advised their surviving brethren of the futility of any further
attempt. They expressed themselves surprised with the mild and
humane manner of the proceedings instituted against them, and free-
ly acknowledged that they had anticipated immediate death in case
of a discovery. Two brothers engaged in this rebellion could read
and write, and were hitherto of unexcejitional characters. They
were religious, and had always been regarded in the light of
faithful servants. A few appeared to have been actuated
solely by the instinct of the most brutal licentiousness, and
by the lust of plunder — but most of them by wild and frantic ideas
of the rights of man, and the misconceived injunctions and examples
of Holy lorit.
" The scheme had for its object the conflagration of a part of the
town — the massacre of all tlie white male inhabitants, and the more
brutal sacrifice of the female. Their plan was entrusted to a ievr
only, and they left its developement and consummation to chance ;
relying on the presumed disposition to rebellion on the part of the
blacks of every description.
" The night of the 4th of July was appointed for the explosion. —
Great anxiety had been exhibited among the younger and more ar-
77
dent associates in the revolt, in the different meetings that were held, t<y
precipitate the period of attack, and begin the work of desolation and
slaughter sometime before. But the cautious and calculating judgment
of the more cunning and elder urged as reasons for deferring it, that there
was a scarcity of provisions — that the crops not yet made would be
lost in the confusion that would ensue, and that famine would ac-
complish what force might not be able to effect. They confidently
relied, also, upon the usual mdulgences among us on a day celebrated
as a great national jubilee ; and it was finally determined, that the
night of the 4th of July should be appointed as the time for the re-
enaction of the horrors of the Scicilian Vespers. The different
commands had been regularly assigned 'to particular leaders, and all
had been allotted, except that of Commander-in-Chief. This was
reserved for him who should first force the gates of the Arsenal. To
strengthen the possibility of success, the Negroes from the circum-
jacent country were invited, under various pretences, to Camden that
night. The fidelity of a favorite domestic, as I have already stated,
defeated tlieir flagitious scheme, and consined the ring-leaders of the
revolt to a premature and ignominious grave. The Legislature of
the State purchased the freedom of the informer, and settled a