CHAPTER XXII.

St. Helena's Parish, Beaufort..

THE first settlement of Carolina was attempted at this place. A colony from Virginia landed at Port Royal, April 19, 1660, accompanied by the Rev. Morgan Jones, of the Church of England. The enterprize was soon abandoned, and Mr. Jones, subsequently, settled in New-York. The second attempt was likewise made at this place in 1670, by a Colony from England, and after remaining here a short time, they removed to the western bank of Ashley river.

Granville County was erected into a Parish by an Act of Assembly, June 7, 1712, by the name of St. Helena. The Act recites that, "Whereas several persons are settled to the southward of Colleton County on Port-Royal Island, St. Helena Island, and on several adjacent Islands, which together are commonly called by the name of Granville County, which persons are not only out of the bounds, but are also so far distant from either of the Parishes in Colleton County, that they can receive no benefit by any of those Churches, and several of the said Inhabitants being desirous to have divine Worship established amongst them, according to the Church of England, are willing to contribute towards the building a Church, and afterwards for the building a Rector's or Minister's House, without any charge to the public,

provided that the said Granville County may be erected into a Parish, and the Rector or Minister of the said Parish, may have the same salary paid him out of the public Treasury, as is given to other Rectors or Ministers of the other Country Parishes belonging to this Province. Therefore for the gratifying so reasonable a repuest," &c. "the said Granville County shall be a distinct Parish by itself, and shall be called St. Helena, and the said Parish shall be, and is hereby bounded to the N. E. by Combahee River and St. Helena Sound, to the N. W. by a line drawn from the head of Combahee River to the Savannah River, and to the S. E. on the Ocean. The Church and Parsonage-House to be built on Port Royal Island. The Rector or Minister to be chosen as other Rectors or Ministers, be allowed £100 per ann. enjoy the same privileges, and be under the same rules and laws as other Rectors or Ministers.

In 1712, the Inhabitants of this Parish determined upon having a settled Clergyman. With the consent of the Rector of St Philip's, Commissary Johnson, they invited the Rev. William Guy, the Assistant Minister of that Church. They wrote to the Bishop of London, and to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, informing them of this appointment, and requesting the Society to place him on their list of Missionaries. They likewise stated that St. Helena was the most remote Parish in the country, that they were not even then well settled, and had never had a resident Clergyman. The Rev. Mr. Guy went to England the next year, to receive Priest's Orders, and was appointed by the Society, their Missionary in this Parish. He soon after returned and entered upon the duties of his cure.

The Parish of St. Helena was very extensive. It included the lands occupied by the Yamassee Indians, now forming St. Luke's Parish. There had been some Anabaptist and Presbyterian Ministers in the

Parish, but none were settled there when Mr. Guy took charge of the Cure. Public Worship had not been held in the Parish for some time, but the inhabitants were orderly, well disposed, and desirous of religious instruction. No Church had, as yet, been built, and Mr. Guy performed Divine Service at the houses of the Planters, in various parts of the Parish. He informed the Society of the kindness of his Parishioners, and of the favours he had received from them. Mr. Guy was diligent in the discharge of his duties; and had instructed and baptised several adults, besides children.

The Yamassee War broke out April 15, 1715, as before stated, and the Missionary with his people fled before the Savages. The irruption was so sudden and unexpected, that many families were massacred, and others with difficulty escaped to Charles-Town, on board of a ship which most providentially was lying in the river. After the Indians had been subdued, the Inhabitants returned to their desolate plantations. The Rev. Mr. Guy was removed to the Mission in NewEngland, but afterwards returned to Carolina, and took charge of St. Andrew's Parish.

An Act of Assembly was passed Dec. 11, 1717, authorizing the Commissioners appointed by the Church Act, to take a Grant of Land from the Lords Proprietors, not exceeding fifty acres of the land belonging to Beaufort, for a "Glebe for the use of the Rector, or Minister of the Parish of St. Helena, and his successors for ever." Persons neglecting to build

on the Town lots, within the time required by law, were subject to certain penalties, which were to be applied towards building the Church and Parsonage of St. Helena's Parish.

Port-Royal Island, on which the town of Beaufort is built, being eligibly situated for trade, having a capacious harbour, and surrounded by a productive country, the population was soon restored after the

peace. It consisted of about 70 families, and the nearest Parish Church was at least 40 miles distant. The Inhabitants determined to build their own Church, and for this purpose many subscriptions were received in addition to the sum allowed by the Government. It was not, however, until 1724, that the Church was erected. It was of brick, 40 feet by 30, with a Chancel 10 feet square. The Inhabitants having again applied for a Missionary, the Rev. Lewis Jones, A. M. was sent in 1725, and his piety and assiduity soon gained the affection of his Parishioners. In 1730, the Society transferred him to the Mission at GooseCreek, but this Gentleman having earnestly recommended the infant Church of St. Helena's to their care, they determined to continue him where he was so acceptable and useful.

Mr. Jones informed the Society, Dec. 9, 1735, that, since his last letter, he had baptised 20 children, and an adult who had been brought up a Quaker. He lamented that, his communicants had not increased so much as he wished, and complained greatly, of the want of schools. He further stated that, his duty was very laborious, as his Parish consisted of several Islands, and he was frequently obliged to perform Divine Service remote from his residence. Notwithstanding he had been in this Mission upwards of ten years, yet no Parsonage-House had been built, nor any improvement made upon the Glebe, but he concluded by saying that, he hoped better things for the future.

An Act was passed May 29, 1736, for erecting and building a Chapel for Divine Service on the South side of Combahee River, near Hoospa Neck, in the Parish of St. Helena, and Messrs. Stephen Bull, Joseph Izard, John Mulrain, Hugh Bryan, and Jonathan Bryan, were appointed Commissioners. They

In 1819, St Helena's Parish contained 787 White Inhabitants.

were authorized to receive Benefactions; and Donations of Land, not exceeding 500 acres; and the Rector was required to perform Divine Service in the Chapel, once in six weeks.

The Rev. Mr. Jones died Feb. 1745, and left a Legacy of £100 Stg. to be placed at Interest for the support of a Free-School at Beaufort. This was established in 1749, and Mr. William Gough was appointed Master, and received the interest for many years.

The Vestry having applied to the Society for another Missionary, the Rev. Mr. Orr was removed in 1746, from St. Paul's to this Parish, where he remained about twelve months, and then returned to his former residence.

The Rev. Richard St. John, A. M. was removed by the Society from the Mission at the Bahama Islands to this Parish, where he arrived Dec. 7, 1747. The next year he informed the Society, that he was pleased with his situation and the people, many of whom had serious impressions of religion, and were desirous of spiritual instruction. In 1750, he left the Province for the reestablishment of his health.

At the Annual Meeting of the Clergy, April 17, 1751, the Rev. Mr. Chiffelle, was appointed to officiate in this Parish, as often as convenient, until a Missionary should arrive from England. In that year, the Rev. William Peasely, A. M. was removed by the Society from New-Foundland, where he had been a resident Missionary for seven years, to the Cure of St. Helena. In a Letter to the Society, Jan. 25, 1754, Mr. Peasely stated, that his Parish was very flourishing, and the town of Beaufort increasing in size every day. He performed Divine Service twice on every Sunday. His Church, generally, was well filled, and the people orderly in their behaviour. At this time he was the only Minister in the Parish. It was not long, however, before his conduct became so repre