The Proprietors and their Problems

1. The Proprietors and their Problems Chapter 3 Notes

2. Settling the Albemarle Sound • Necks are peninsulas located only in the northeastern corner of the state. These peninsulas are where the land is surrounded by water on three sides. • Most are found on the Albemarle Sound and here is where the colony of Carolina has it orgins.

3. Settling the Albemarle Sound • These neighborhoods were the first European-based communities in what became North Carolina. • During this time, the Carolina colony was owned by English aristocrats called the Lords Proprietors. • The Proprietors and their colonists seldom got along.

4. Settling the Albemarle Sound • The Durants were among the first whites to settle what would become North Carolina • George Durant was a partner in exploring the land with two other Virginians, Richard and Nathaniel Batts • In 1629, King Charles I gave a vast tract of land south of the Dismal to his attorney general Sir Robert Heath.

5. Settling the Albemarle Sound • What brought George Durant and others to the Albemarle was the chance to grow more tobacco with less effort and expense. • Durant and his neighbors were also speculating on land. • Speculate is buying something in the hope that prices will later rises.

6. Settling the Albemarle Sound • There was another reason for people to settle in the Albemarle. • Tobacco taxes, collected as customs duties had become a way that England could afford the expense of its colonies in the new world • Custom duties are fees paid when a good was shipped out of a port.

7. Settling the Albemarle Sound • Virginia was watch to make sure their duties were paid. • In the necks of North Carolina people became known as rogues which means cheater. • That was because they often shipped their tobacco and other products through back channels without paying the tax collector.

8. Settling the Albemarle Sound • For several years, the Durants and their neighbors did well. • Their ability to succeed was helped by the fact that the status of their property was uncertain.

9. The Chartering of Carolina • Everyone of the Great Britain’s American colonies was eventually organized by a charter • A charter was a contract granted by the king to individuals of groups who were to be in charge of settlement and then govern the settlers • Virginia was granted to a group called the London Company

10. The Chartering of Carolina • These people ran the colony to make a profit • Virginia did not do very well, so the company sold it back to the king in 1622 • When the Durants and others moved south of the Dismal Swamp, they still lived in Virginia • Everything changed in 1663, when the king of England at that time, Charles II, created the new Carolina colony

11. The Chartering of Carolina • Charles II owned favors to those who had put him back in charge. So, he gave a group of English aristocrats the southern part of Virginia • On March 24, 1663, eight Lords Proprietors received the Carolina charter • In 1665, the king expanded their charter to include all the territory that is North Carolina

12. The Chartering of Carolina • The Proprietors were also given claim to all territory west to “the South Seas” another name for the Pacific Ocean • The Lords Proprietors were some of the most powerful men in England • These men did not want to go over there, they just wanted to make money • Quit-rent is when the owner actually held title to his land, but he had to pay an annual land tax to the Proprietors

13. The Chartering of Carolina • The Proprietors saw the arrangement as a good deal for all concerned • The Proprietors were obligated to govern the colony fairly for everyone • They also had to protect the colonists from invasion and attack • This was put into place by “the Concessions of 1665

14. The Chartering of Carolina • To ensure that this would work they put in the Fundamental Constitutions in 1669 • This document established a form of government run by men with an elaborate series of titles and ranks • This document was also called the Grand Model • The Fundamental Constitutions gave people titles so that they would know what their social class

15. The Chartering of Carolina • Most of the Albemarle settlers were not nearly as wealthy as their counterparts in Virginia • Most Carolina settlers lived in wood framed huts • They used the main room for work and play

16. The Chartering of Carolina • Farming was by no means advanced, even for that day • Most of the farmers that day did not own a plow • Most of the early Albemarle families did the work themselves • Only about one in ten settles was an African slave

17. The Chartering of Carolina • More than one prosperous Virginian who came to the region called the people “lubbers” which refers to a lazy person • There was no schools or churches in the Albemarle area • The people worshiped in their homes • A new faith came about in the area called the Quakers

18. The Chartering of Carolina • The same Albemarle “lubbers” who seemed lazy most days reacted energetically to any effect by the Proprietors to impose order on them • The Albemarle settles were very assertive of their independence from the start

19. Culpeper’s Rebellion • Albemarle settles from the start showed their independence in political matters • When the Proprietors convened the first General Assembly one of the first laws it passed was a declaration that land deeds already held by the inhabitants be respected • In 1673 the Proprietors decided to enforce the Navigation Act

20. Culpeper’s Rebellion • They listed which colonial goods-such as tobacco, dried fish, flour, or shingles- would be subject to customs duties • The collection of those “duties” meant that many Albemarle residents who sold to New England shippers could no longer avoid the duties • Most of the Albemarle residents wouldn’t pay

21. Culpeper’s Rebellion • Some residents of the Albemarle, however, sided with the Proprietors. • One of these residents was Thomas Miller • Miller and Eastchurch brought about Culpeper’s Rebellion • In 1676, Miller and Eastchurch went to England to tell the Lords Proprietors of “the deplorable situation” in the colony

22. Culpeper’s Rebellion • George Durant set sail for England and presented the other side of the argument • Since the Proprietors wanted to please the tax-loving king, so they appointed Eastchurch governor of the colony and made Miller the tax collector • Miller sailed into Albemarle Sound in 1677 with a small ship he had armed to help collect the duties

23. Culpeper’s Rebellion • When George Durant returned from London, Miller tried to arrest him • Eastchurch finally arrived and since he could legally claim the Proprietors had put him in charge, the rebels faced being charged with treason • Treason is the act of trying to overthrow the government

24. Culpeper’s Rebellion • Eastchurch got sick and died, and the fighting resumed • The proprietors were afraid that the king would think they could not manage the situation and take the colony back. • They sent one of their own, Seth Sothel, to be governor. • But Seth Sothel did not make it to Carolina due to pirates taking over the ship

25. Culpeper’s Rebellion • Now they make John Harvey governor because he was respected by almost everyone. • He sent some quit-rent and customs duties back to England for the first time in six years. • Shortly after that John Harvey died

26. Settling the Pamlico Sound • The Lords Proprietors were always looking for a source of new quit-rent • The Governor John Archdale convinced the General Assembly to divide the Albemarle into two counties • County is an old English jurisdiction that allowed for local government • The two counties were the Albemarle and Bath

27. Settling the Pamlico Sound • So many Virginians tried to leave for the Pamlico that Virginia tried to pass a law that would not allow them to move • The Pamlico grew so fast that some of the newcomers stared the first town in Carolina, called Bath • Bath started with about 12 houses • Soon more people moved in about 30 miles south of Bath.

28. Settling the Pamlico Sound • In 1711, the proprietors approved the establishment of New Bern, the colonies second town • Refugees are people fleeing danger or persecution • The settlement of the Pamlico caused a new round of troubles for the North Carolina colony

29. Settling the Pamlico Sound • At this time, the Proprietors turned to religion as a way to organize the colony • North Carolina was notable for its lack of churches. • There was many people at this time that did not have religion • In 1701 and 1703, the General Assembly passed laws “establishing” the Anglican Church in the colony

30. Settling the Pamlico Sound • Establishment meant that all colonist offcially belonged to the Anglican faith, whether they wanted to or not. • This meant all citizens were expected to pay church taxes in addition to the hated quit-rents

31. Settling the Pamlico Sound • In 1704, the General Assembly passed the Test Act • The Test Act said that anyone who held public office had to take “the test.” He had to put his hand on a Bible and swear to uphold the principles of the Anglican Church. • This was the beginning of the Cary’s Rebellion. • The Cary’s Rebellion was fought between the Quakers and the Anglicans

32. Settling the Pamlico Sound • As Cary’s Rebellion kept the colony in an uproar, the Tuscarora Indians attempted to destroy the Pamlico settlements • In 1711, they attacked when the colonist were tried and had their guard down • Several hundred colonist were murdered • The most notable victim was John Lawson • The Tuscarora torture and execute Lawson

33. Settling the Pamlico Sound • This war was not just about the lost of land • The whites were evil people according to the Indians • The Pamlico was “totally wasted and ruined.” • Virginia would not send troops to help because they were still mad over the land that North Carolina had taken

34. Settling the Pamlico Sound • The Pamlico had to call on South Carolina for help • The South Carolinians defeated the Tuscarora in a series of battles • But, like most things in the early history of the colony, the struggle did not end • The colonist angered the Tuscarora and they attacked the Pamlico again

35. Settling the Pamlico Sound • This time the Indians had an advantage because many whites were sick with yellow fever • Again South Carolina had to come in and help defeat the Tuscarora • This time the peace terms were not as generous, and what Indians were not forced into slavery generally decided to leave the region

36. Settling the Pamlico Sound • By the summer of 1714, the colony had its first “peace and quietness” since 1700

37. Settling the Cape Fear • After the defeat of the Tuscarora more land came open for settlement • The land of the Cape Fear was the greatest of all this land • It became the most prosperous of all the land in the colony • Most settlers turned to the production of naval stores

38. Settling the Cape Fear • The potential profits from naval stores soon drew settlers to the Cape Fear • The Lords Proprietors considered the Cape Fear to be apart of South Carolina • After some negotiation, the Crown brought back its interest in the lands that had become the colonies of North Carolina and South Carolina

39. Settling the Cape Fear • In 1729, North Carolina went from being a proprietary colony to a royal colony • This means that it belongs to the king • Just because it became a royal colony did not mean that things got better