Stephen Duke

1730 King George II ordered Royal Governor Robert Johnson to establish townships in South Carolina

1731 Governor Johnson issued orders to survey eleven townships including Fredericksburg (later known as Pine Tree Hill, renamed Camden in 1768)

1733 James St. Julian hired by resolution from Royal Council to survey township on Wateree River (will become Pine Tree Hill, renamed Camden in 1768)

1750 Arrival of Irish Quakers under Samuel Wyly, 1750-1751

1756 State begins appropriating money to make the Wateree River navigable

1757 St. Mark's Parish established in northern portion of Craven County; includes what is now Camden plus radius of approx. 50 miles

1758 Arrival of Joseph Kershaw from Charleston; establishment of a town at Pine Tree Hill (later Camden)

1760 Birth of first white person in Camden -- Samuel Mathis born March 22, 1760

1763 King Haiglar slain by raiding Shawnee Indians (August 30)

1768 Area of town known as "Log Town" granted to Joseph Kershaw (area on both sides of Broad Street, between DeKalb and Chesnut)

1768 Pine Tree Hill name changed to Camden to honor Lord Camden, champion of colonial rights

1768 Statute created Camden District; included Clarendon, Sumter, Lee, Richland, Fairfield, Chester, York, Lancaster, and Kershaw Co.

1769 Circuit Court established in Camden (one of seven in South Carolina) -- to serve all counties in this area

1771 Courthouse completed in Camden (corner of Broad and King Streets)--burned in 1779

1771 Jail completed in Camden (corner of Broad and King Streets, opposite Courthouse)--damaged by fire in 1779

1772 First session of Court for Camden District held

1772 Beaver Creek Meeting House built in Liberty Hill (later torn down and rebuilt on Lancaster stage road)

1774 Citizens receive permission to hold bi-annual fairs at Camden; first fairs in S.C. (held on east side of Fair St., near Bull and Meeting)

1774 Presbyterian Church building constructed near present-day Quaker Cemetery; demolished by British to build barracks

1775 Baptist services held for first time at Camden; Rev. Richard Furman, Sr. presided

1777 Powder Magazine constructed on grounds of present-day Historic Camden; destroyed by British in 1781

1779 Fire damages Courthouse and Jail

1780 Agnes of Glasgow died (February 12)

1780 Battle of Camden; Baron DeKalb mortally wounded (August 16)

1780 British forces occupy Camden (June 1, 1780--May 10, 1781)

1780 Joseph Kershaw builds Arsenal on Mulberry Street (just below Wateree Street); dismantled in 1794

1781 Battle of Hobkirk Hill and subsequent withdrawal of British troops from Camden (April 25)

1781 Andrew Jackson held prisoner by British in Camden jail

1781 Much of the town, including courthouse and jail, destroyed by fire as Lord Francis Rawdon and British troops leave town (May 9)

1785 Camden District subdivided into Lancaster, York, Chester, Fairfield, Richland, Claremont, and Clarendon Counties

1785 First form of municipal government created in Camden--Commissioners of Streets and Market

1785 Presbyterian Church building constructed, near present-day Quaker Cemetery (ca. 1785); building destroyed before 1804

1785 First known recorded temperature, kept by Richard Lloyd Champion in June-July; 91 degrees on July 7 and 64 degrees on July 1

1786 Camden Orphan Society organized (July 4); incorporated February 27, 1788

1787 First Methodist services held in Camden; Bishop Francis Asbury presided (April 4)

1788 Camden Orphan Society acquires 8 lots facing Campbell, York, and Gordon Streets, to build Orphan Houses and Academy

1789 Earliest recorded duel, between Jacob Brown and Thomas Baker

1791 Richard Champion, well-known English potter, dies in Camden

1791 Charter issued to incorporate the Town of Camden--Town Council form of government created, with intendant and 4 wardens

1791 Kershaw County created from Camden District; Camden named county seat

1791 President George Washington visits Camden on his Southern tour (May 25-26)

1791 Joseph Kershaw dies at his home (December 28)

1791 Camden Orphan Society opens its first school in Camden (located on land on Campbell, York, and Gordon Streets); used until 1805

1791 Jail rebuilt at corner of Broad and King Streets (destroyed by fire in 1812)

1792 Town lottery introduced, to raise funds to construct a church in Camden

1792 Courthouse in Camden rebuilt--corner of Broad and King Streets; torn down to build Mills Courthouse

1793 French Minister Edmond Charles Genet visits Camden (April 24)

1794 Joseph Kershaw moved Arsenal from Mulberry Street to corner of Fair and Bull Streets--destroyed after 1830

1798 County courts abolished; Circuit Courts established in each county, thereafter termed Districts

1798 Earliest known ordinance regarding fire prevention; property owners required to have well, good bucket, and ladder