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Discussion on Carolina Lords Proprietors

Started by Susanne Floyd on Thursday, July 25, 2024
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A continuation of https://www.geni.com/discussions/185827?msg=1712224. Date 24-25 July 2024

Please post information on the Lords Proprietors or "Landgraves" of the Carolinas, British Colonial America here.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_proprietor#:~:text=This%20charte....

In 1629, King Charles I granted Sir Robert Heath (the attorney general) the southern half of the English land in the New World between 36 degrees and 31 degrees north latitude from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The land was named "Province of Carolina" or land of Charles. Sir Robert's attempts at settlement failed and in 1645, during the English Civil War, he was stripped of all of his possessions as a Royalist supporter of the King. In 1663, eight members of the English nobility received a charter from King Charles II to establish the colony of Carolina.[7] The eight Lords Proprietors were:

Duke of Albemarle (1608–1670)
Earl of Clarendon (1609–1674)
Baron Berkeley of Stratton (1602–1678)
Earl of Craven (1608–1697)
Sir George Carteret (c. 1610–1680)
Sir William Berkeley (1605–1677)
Sir John Colleton (1608–1666)
Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–1683).
The Lords Proprietors were anxious to secure Carolina against Spanish attacks from San Agustín in Florida, and to do so, they needed to attract more colonists. The Lords Proprietors offered English settlers inducements consisting of religious toleration, political representation in an assembly that had power over public taxes, exemption from quitrents, and large grants of land. The Lords allowed settlers of any religion except atheists. The Lords also had a generous headright system whereby they granted 150 acres of land to each member of a family. An indentured male servant who served his term received his freedom dues from his master and a grant of one hundred acres from the Lords Proprietors. To attract planters with capital to invest, the Lords Proprietors also gave the owner and master the 150-acre headright for every slave imported to the Colony. These incentives drew 6,600 colonists to the colony by 1700 compared with only 1,500 in the Spanish colony of Florida. Carolina attracted English settlers, French Protestants (Huguenots) and other colonists from Barbados and the West Indies.

The first government in Carolina began in Albemarle County in 1664, when William Sayle was appointed as the governor. Proprietary authority was weaker near the Virginia border. The Lords Proprietors established a North Carolina with its own assembly and deputy governor. In 1712, the division of Carolina into North and South was completed with the elevation of the deputy governor to governor of North Carolina.[8]

The Lords Proprietors failed to protect the settlers when enemies attacked or threatened the colony. For example, during Queen Anne's War (1702–1713), the colonists drove French and Spanish forces away from Charlestown. Again, between 1715 and 1718, the colonists defended themselves against attacks by the Yamasee Indians and pirates. During these times of conflict, the colonists received little or no help from the proprietors. The elite group of settlers in Carolina, former West Indians known as the Goose Creek Men, grew increasingly frustrated with the Lords Proprietors because they meddled in politics but failed to defend the colony against Spanish and Native American attacks.[9]

In 1719, the South Carolina assembly sent a petition to England and requested the proprietors to be replaced with Crown administration. King George I appointed royal governors for North and South Carolina and converted the colony's status to that of a royal colony (Britain ruled the colony but allowed the people self-government). In 1729, the Crown bought out seven of the eight of the Lords Proprietors for £22,500, approximately the amount that they had spent on the colony. The eighth proprietor, John Carteret, Lord Granville, refused to sell and retained title to the lands and quitrents in the northern third of North Carolina.[10]

When the Crown purchased the proprietors' interests in 1729 the successors of the eight proprietors proved to be:

Albemarle: in trust for Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort (1707–1745) and his brother, then Lord Charles Somerset (1709–1756)
Clarendon: James Bertie (1674–1735)
Berkeley: Joseph Blake, a planter of the province of South Carolina (1700–1751)
Craven: William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven (1700–1739)
Carteret: John Carteret, Baron Carteret (1690–1763), governor of the kingdom of Ireland, who retained his interest
William Berkeley: Henry Bertie (1675–1735) and Mary Danson, widow, of St Andrews Holborn, and Elizabeth Moor, widow, of London
Colleton: Sir John Colleton, 3rd Baronet of Exmouth, Devon (1669-1754)
Shaftesbury: in trust for John Cotton of East Barnet, Middlesex
Some of the 1729 interests had been acquired not by inheritance but by purchase. The Carteret interest continued until independence, when the Crown paid compensation for the Carteret loss.

Project located here

https://www.geni.com/projects/Carolina-Nobility-The-Lords-Proprieto...

Invitations sent to some people. Just message me if interested in working on this.

From https://www.carolana.com/Carolina/Proprietors/home.html

Another key section of the Fundamental Constitutions provided that each of the Lords Proprietors were to select a "Deputy" to serve and act on their behalf in the colony of Carolina. Of course, since there were two separate governments starting in 1670 with the settling of Charles Town, each of the Lords Proprietors were to select a Deputy for Albemarle County and another Deputy for Charles Town. In the beginning, these deputies had various duties, but these duties quickly evolved into these appointees becoming the "Executive Council" appointed to advise the governor, and to serve as the "Upper House" in a somewhat-bicameral General Assembly for each section of Carolina. The "Executive Council" was required to meet at least monthly when the General Assembly was not in session, and to serve as a "Court of Chancery" at least monthly. These "Executive Council" members also evolved into the "high court" for each colony - first known as the "Palatine's Court," then becoming the "General Court." Later, real judges/justices were appointed to these higher courts.

Also included in the Fundamental Constitutions, the Lords Proprietors agreed that the "eldest living of the Lords Proprietors" would be styled and titled as "Palatine," that is, the leader of the group of eight (8) Lords Proprietors. He would be succeeded, only upon his death, by the next eldest of the Lords Proprietors. On March 1, 1669, the first Palatine named was George Monck, Duke of Albemarle.

On October 21, 1669, six (6) of the eight (8) Lords Proprietors met at "the Cockpitt" and assigned titles/duties to themselves:

- George Monck, Duke of Albemarle - Palatine
- William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven - High Constable
- John Berkeley, 1st Baron of Stratton - Chancellor
- Anthony Ashley Cooper, Lord Ashley - Chief Justice
- Sir George Carteret, Baronet - Admiral
- Sir Peter Colleton, 2nd Baronet - High Steward

Upon the death of George Monck, Duke of Albemarle on January 3, 1670, John Berkeley, 1st Baron of Stratton was named as the second Palatine. Sir Peter Colleton resigned as High Steward and was elected as Chancellor, in room of Berkeley. Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle inherited his father's share of Carolina.

In early 1672, there were talks among the Lords Proprietors that Sir William Berkeley, governor of Virginia, would consider accepting all of Albemarle County as his portion of Carolina and relinquish his title to the remainder of the colony. This potential agreement was discussed and negotiated for several years and in 1674 it almost happened, but by October of 1676 it was completely dismissed. The citizens of Albemarle County soon learned of this as well as rumors that the King wanted Albemarle County to revert back to Virginia - and they were very upset of these rumors.

On December 9, 1674, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his eldest son, Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon.

On July 9, 1677, Sir William Berkeley died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his wife, Lady Frances Berkeley.

On August 28, 1678, John Berkeley, 1st Baron of Stratton died, and his share of Carolina was purchased by John Archdale on behalf of his son, Thomas Archdale. Sir George Carteret, Baronet was named as the third Palatine.

In 1679, Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon sold his share of Carolina to Seth Sothel, who later came to Carolina as Governor of Albemarle, then Governor of Charles Town. He was kicked out of the government of both colonies.

On January 14, 1680, Sir George Carteret, Baronet died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his eldest son, Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet Carteret. William Craven, 1st Baron Craven was named as the fourth Palatine.

On January 21, 1683, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his eldest son, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 2nd Earl of Shaftesbury.

In December of 1683, Lady Frances Berkeley sold her share of Carolina to four current Lords Proprietors - Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet Carteret, Sir Peter Colleton, 2nd Baronet, and William Craven, 1st Baron Craven - and they put this share in a trust, which was managed by Thomas Amy. Many historians seem to omit the fact that Thomas Amy was only the manager and not one of the official Lords Proprietors.

On October 6, 1688, Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle died in Jamaica, leaving no heir. After a lengthly court battle, his share of Carolina was given to a kinsman, John Grenville, 1st Earl of Bath, in 1694 (see below).

On March 24, 1694, Sir Peter Colleton, 2nd Baronet died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his eldest son, Sir John Colleton, 3rd Baronet. This son was a very wealthy businessman and he hired William Thornburgh to represent his Carolina interests in London from 1694 to at least 1701, and perhaps longer.

In 1694 (sometime after August 31st - he signed a letter on that date), Seth Sothel died in North Carolina. His heirs sold his share of Carolina to James Bertie and Henry Bertie, both minors, and their share was held in trust and managed by Hugh Watson until they reached maturity. In the mid-1720s, this share was assigned to James Bertie as the sole owner (Henry was given another share that was acquired later).

It was in 1694 that John Grenville, 1st Earl of Bath, won his court battle and became the owner of Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle's share of Carolina.

On September 22, 1695, Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet Carteret died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his eldest son, John Carteret, 2nd Baronet Carteret (and later 2nd Earl of Granville).

In 1696, Thomas Archdale sold his share of Carolina to Joseph Blake, a wealthy South Carolina landholder.

On April 9, 1697, William Craven, 1st Baron Craven died as a bachelor, the longest-living of the original Lords Proprietors and Palatine. His share of Carolina was inherited by his grand-nephew, William Craven, 2nd Baron Craven. John Grenville, 1st Earl of Bath was named the fifth Palatine.

Sometime during 1697, the Lords Proprietors decided that Seth Sothel's share of Carolina was theirs and the sale of that share to James Bertie and Henry Bertie, held in trust by Hugh Watson, was not proper, so they decided to assign Sothel's share to themselves, again in a trust to be managed by Thomas Amy. This was contested by the Bertie brothers and was not resolved at the time the Crown purchased Carolina in 1728/1729.

On November 2, 1699, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 2nd Earl of Shaftesbury died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his eldest son, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury. Since this heir was a very sickly man, he authorized his brother, Maurice Ashley, to represent him at all meetings with the Lords Proprietors on Carolina business until his death in 1713.

In 1700, Thomas Amy gave his share of Carolina (the Edward Hyde, Henry Hyde, Seth Sothel share) to his daughter Ann Amy, who was married to Nicholas Trott. This share was contested by the Lords Proprietors who claimed that Thomas Amy was merely a "trustee" for them and he had no right to give or sell this share to anyone. This share's ownership was not resolved at the time the Crown purchased Carolina in 1728/1729.

On September 7, 1700, Joseph Blake died in South Carolina, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his infant son, Joseph Blake, Jr. His mother, Elizabeth Blake, managed this share until he reached maturity. She also authorized Maurice Ashley in London to sign key documents on his behalf.

On August 22, 1701, John Grenville, 1st Earl of Bath died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his second son, John Grenville, 1st Baron of Granville of Potheridge, who also became the sixth Palatine.

In 1704, Thomas Amy died and his alleged share of Carolina (the William Berkeley, Lady Frances Berkeley share) was inherited by his son, Thomas Amy, Jr.

In 1705, the Lords Proprietors decided that Thomas Amy's claim for the Berkeley share was incorrect since he was merely a "trustee" for them and he had no right to give or sell this share to anyone. The Lords Proprietors then sold this share to John Archdale (his second purchase). This share's ownership was not resolved at the time the Crown purchased Carolina in 1728/1729.

In 1707, Thomas Amy, Jr. died, and his alleged share of Carolina (the William Berkeley, Lady Frances Berkeley share) was inherited by his two sisters, Elizabeth Amy Moore and Ann Amy who was married to Nicholas Trott. This share's ownership was not resolved at the time the Crown purchased Carolina in 1728/1729.

On December 3, 1707, John Grenville, 1st Baron Granville of Potheridge died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his wife's son by her first marriage, Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort. William Craven, 2nd Baron Craven was named the seventh Palatine.

In 1708, John Archdale gave his second share of Carolina (the William Berkeley, Lady Frances Berkeley share) to his daughter Mary Archdale and her husband John Danson.

On October 9, 1711, William Craven, 2nd Baron Craven died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his eldest son, William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven. Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort was named the eighth Palatine.

On February 4, 1713, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury died, and his infant son, Anthony Ashley Cooper, 4th Earl of Shaftesbury inherited his share of Carolina. Very soon thereafter, the infant's mother sold this share outright to the child's uncle and her deceased husband's younger brother, Maurice Ashley, who had already been managing this share for his sickly brother.

On May 24, 1714, Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort died, and his share of Carolina was inherited by his two minor sons - Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort, and Charles Noel Somerset (later 4th Duke of Beaufort). This share was held in trust and managed by Doddington Greville until they reached maturity. Sir John Carteret, 2nd Baronet Carteret, later the 2nd Earl of Granville, became the ninth and final Palatine.

In 1724, John Danson died, and his wife, Mary Archdale Danson sold their share of Carolina (the William Berkeley, Lady Frances Berkeley, Thomas Amy, trustee share) to James Bertie and Henry Bertie, held in trust by Hugh Watson. Sometime not long afterwards, this share was assigned to Henry Bertie as the sole owner.

In 1725, Maurice Ashley sold his share of Carolina to Sir John Tyrrell.

In 1727, Sir John Tyrrell gave his share of Carolina to his father-in-law, John Cotton, and this share was placed in a trust that was managed by Archibald Hutcheson.

In 1728, James Bertie gave his share of Carolina (the Edward Hyde, Henry Hyde, Seth Sothel share) to four young men in hopes that their stature would help to increase the potential selling price to the Crown. These four young men included his own son - Edward Bertie, Alexius Clayton, Samuel Horsey, and Henry White.

In 1728 and 1729, seven of the eight Lords Proprietors gave in to increasing pressure to sell their rights to Carolina to the Crown. John Carteret, 2nd Baronet Carteret & 1st Earl of Granville chose not to sell his share and he demanded that the Crown survey a large tract of land and give him clear deed to millions of acres in North Carolina. He appointed several "land agents" to live in his territory and to sell it off piece-by-piece until his death in 1763.

At the time that the Crown purchased Carolina, which took several years to negotiate and obtain all requisite approvals, the following names were included as "owners" - and therefore, Lords Proprietors - even though some of their claims were not necessarily appropriate:

- Sir John Colleton, 3rd Baronet
- Henry Somerset, 3rd Duke of Beaufort, Charles Noel Somerset (later 4th Duke of Beaufort), by Doddington Greville, trustee
- Mary Archdale Danson
- Edward Bertie
- Alexius Clayton
- Samuel Horsey
- Henry Smith
- Ann Amy Trott / Nicholas Trott
- Elizabeth Amy Moore
- James Bertie
- Henry Bertie
- Joseph Blake, Jr., by Samuel Wragg, his attorney
- John Cotton, by Archibald Hutcheson, trustee
- William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven

By an Act of Parliament in 1729, North Carolina and South Carolina were now owned and managed by the Crown - King George II - and therefore managed by his Privy Council and the Board of Trade.

_______________________

Most of the persons above should be included in the project. It will take a while to build.

So the end of the "lords proprietor" was about 1729 and the Carolinas were replaced as Crown Colonies? Were they active administrators or just took their profilts?

A few actually came to the colonies. It has been a fascinating rainy day read. Col. Joseph Blake, Jr. was born in SC and his father was a colonial governor. He was one of the last ones. Could you MP him, Erica Howton? I did some more work on him today. Need to work on his children so don't lock him.

Thanks.

MP made.

Yes, its fascinating. Sad to say I had no real idea what a landgrave was, and what they were up to in Neo Feudal America.

Feudalism and Nobility in the New World: The Lords Proprietors and Landgrave Master Portal

https://www.geni.com/projects/Feudalism-and-Nobility-in-the-New-World-The-Lords-Proprietors-and-Landgrave-Master-Portal/4500752

Perfect! Thank you so much.

From Oxford Dictionary
land·grave
/ˈlan(d)ˌɡrāv/

nounHISTORICAL
1. a count having jurisdiction over a territory.

2. the title of certain German princes.

Merriman also mentions the use of the title as "below the Carolina Proprietor."

It's looking great! Added New Jersey and Maryland.

https://www.geni.com/projects/New-Jersey-Nobility-The-Lords-Proprie...

Maryland Nobility: The Lords Proprietors and the Landgrave Feudal System of the Colonial Era

It is so interesting to see the motivation behind the settlements in each of the proprietary groups. Wow.

Found a good document in the New Jersey archives on the proprietors of East and West Jersey

https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/pdf/proprietors.pdf.

I am going to attach it to the project.

https://www.geni.com/path/Cynthia-Curtis-A183502-US7875087+is+relat...

Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore is your 10th great uncle.
You → Viet Nam War Veteran, SFC Freddie Ralph Hicks, Sr (your father) → Viola Isabelle Hicks (Webber) (his mother) → John Thomas Edgar Webber (her father) → John Richard Carter Webber (his father) → Samuel Webber (his father) → Seth Ward Webber, Sr. (his father) → Phillip Webber (his father) → Annis Webber (Pasley) (his mother) → Robert Pasley (Peasley) (her father) → William Peaslay (his father) → Anne Peasley (Calvert) (his mother) → Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (her brother)

https://www.geni.com/path/Cynthia-Curtis-A183502-US7875087+is+relat...
Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore is your third cousin 11 times removed's husband.
You → Geneive Melba Hicks (Emerson) (your mother) → Ossie Mae Emerson (Pratt) (her mother) → Maudie May Pratt (Crawshaw) (her mother) → Margaret Frances Crawshaw (Brown) (her mother) → Benjamin Franklin Brown (her father) → Margaret Brown (Dempsey) (his mother) → Nancy Dempsey (Thompson) (her mother) → Charles W Thompson (her father) → Elizabeth Thompson (Nelson) (his mother) → Edward Nelson, Sr., (her father) → Mary Nelson (Temple) (his mother) → Sir John Temple, Kt., of Biddlesden and Stantonbarry (her father) → Hester Temple (Sandys) (his mother) → Miles Sandys, MP (her father) → William Sandys (his brother) → Barbara Phillipson (Sandys) (his daughter) → Anne Arundell (Philipson) (her daughter) → Anne Calvert (Arundell) (her daughter) → Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (her husband)

:-)

We still have Jersey Proprietors!

https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/pdf/proprietors.pdf

In 1998, the East Jersey Proprietors—reportedly New Jersey’s oldest corporation—dissolved and sold their rights to unappropriated land to the state’s Green Acres program. At that time, the East Jersey records were transferred from Perth Amboy to the State Archives in Trenton. In December 2005, the West Jersey Proprietors deposited their records with the State Archives as well, thus uniting all of New Jersey’s colonial land records under one roof.

The West Jersey Proprietors continue as an active corporation based in Burlington, N.J., and retain legal ownership of their original records.

I think they have given their records over to the State now. It's a weird thing.

Also, can you check these profiles:

Mary Archdale

John Archdale, Colonial Governor of South Carolina

Mother and son who have multiple tree matches from the same person. I just wish they would go away. Not sure why they are there. Maybe need isolating if possible. Thanks.

I had just curated John Archdale, Colonial Governor of South Carolina a few days ago as I was establishing the colonial governor projects. I saw those 2 tree matches but did not merge since they did not seem to add any value.

PS: I'm happy to give another curator the profile so it has someone more familiar with that era as caretaker.

I agree that the matches add no value, Andrea Rogers-Valen I also think they add a whole lot of work to merge so many profiles. Thanks for your efforts on the Colonial Governors project. I must check it out.

I tend to try ink it is best to MERGE rather than NOT or DELETE an obvious or flawed duplicate profile BECAUSE even though it may add NOTHING, it still has a manager who may be connected and the provenance may add clues

Think not they ink ugh
Autocorrect fail
And yet I still don’t DISABLE it
;)

I think the person who put them on this week needs to come back on and merge all those profiles. That is my only issue. When people put in trees or profiles and don't do the merging, that is inconsiderate of other people's time who try to clean things up. I say "isolate" and move it out if they can't clean up their mess. Just me being my blunt self too late at night. :-)

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