The World of Thomas Jeremiah: Charles Town on the Eve of the American Revolution
William R. Ryan
Published:
2010
Online ISBN:
9780199775774
Print ISBN:
9780195387285
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The World of Thomas Jeremiah: Charles Town on the Eve of the American Revolution
William R. Ryan
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William R. Ryan
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April 2010
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Ryan, William R., 'Introduction: A Different Port of Entry', The World of Thomas Jeremiah: Charles Town on the Eve of the American Revolution (
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In the 1770s, sailing into Charles Town by way of the Atlantic was menacing proposition. No one knew that better than Henry Laurens. On blustery winter's eve, as he made his way home from Falmouth, the merchant planter nearly perished when a pilot in his employ panicked and dashed their packet boat into the rocks. Stranded for hours at the mouth of Charles Town Harbor, the statesman reportedly resigned himself to a grim death at sea. Much to his surprise, he and his crewmembers narrowly escaped when a favorable tide and a second pilot intervened, bringing their vessel, Le Despenser safely to port. Undoubtedly, this near brush with fatality left an indelible imprint on merchant planter's mind as he nestled into his sprawling Ansonborough residence at Rattray Green ready to seize the reigns of a long-standing struggle that was about to cascade into outright war.1Close
As part of Charles Town's Pilotage Commission, the de facto head of South Carolina's patriot movement, like all city residents, understood the strategic importance of the profession and that the port would cease to function without the critical labor of these individuals. There were no exceptions. All oceanic vessels coming into or departing from the Carolina capital required a licensed harbor pilot. There was virtually no other way to negotiate the ever shifting barrier of sand and stone treacherously guarding the mouth of the harbor. Pilots stationed off of their base of operations at Sullivan's Island would race toward incoming ships in the hopes of procuring a fee. The first pilot boat to reach the approaching vessel would secure imbursem*nt as well as the opportunity to bring the ship across the bar. Such was the method by which all seafaring craft entered the haven of Charles Town (see map 1).2Close
Subject
Civil War and Reconstruction US History Southern US History US Colonial and Revolutionary History African American History
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