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The Rev. William Eastwick Graham was invited March 31, 1777, and left the cure Sept. 23, 1778. He was succeeded by the Rev. James Foulis, but we are not informed how long he remained. The Rev. Stephen C. Lewis took charge of the Church Nov. 28, 1784, and died in 1791. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Sylvester J. Gardiner, now Rector of Trinity Church, Boston. The Rev. Matthew Tate was invited Sept. 1, 1792, and continued here until Oct. 7, 1795, when he died. The Rev. Mr. Graham was again invited to the Cure, in which he continued until his death March 4, 1800. The Church remained vacant until Jan. 1, 1804, when the Rev. Galen Hicks was elected, and continued here until Oct. 1811, when he resigned. The Vestry purchased of this gentleman, about 50 volumes as a Parochial Library for the use of the Minister. The present Incumbent, the Rev. John Barnwell Campbell, A. B. of Queen's College, Camb. was elected Rector in April 1812. He was ordained Deacon, June 12, 1808, by Dr. Tomline, Bishop of Lincoln, and Priest, June 9, 1811, by Bishop White, of Pennsylvania.

The Church underwent considerable repairs and alterations in 1817. It is of brick, and was lengthened 20 feet. It has Galleries, with Pews, on the North and South sides; a Chancel; and an excellent Organ. The hangings were provided by the Ladies of the Congregation. The extreme length is 80 feet, and the breadth 374. Its heighth, inside, is 45 feet. There are 31 Pews on the ground floor, and several seats for Negroes. The heighth of the Steeple is 118 feet. The Communion Plate, consisting of a Chalice, Paten and Alms Plate, was a donation from Capt. John Bull, in 1734. There is a small Glebe, and a few lots of land, of inconsiderable value, belonging to the Church. The funds are good and increasing.

The Journals of the Vestry are not of an earlier date than 1726, and are incomplete. The Church was Incorporated March 22, 1786.

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CHAPTER XXIII.

Prince William's Parish.

THIS Parish was separated from St. Helena's, and made a distinct Parish, by an Act May 25, 1745. Its bounds were defined to be "the lands which are situated to the north and westward of Coosaw River, as far up Coosaw River until it meets that branch of PortRoyal River, which runs by Col. Barnwell's plantation and Cochran's Point, down the mouth of that branch, and from thence up Port-Royal River to the head of that branch of it which is called Coosawhatchee, and a north-west line run from thence and to the south and westward of Combahee River." The Hon. William Messrs. Bull, Stephen Bull, Robert Thorpe, James Deveaux and John Greene, were appointed Commissioners to build a Church and Parsonage-House, in such part of the Parish as would be agreeable to a majority of the inhabitants, professing the religion of the Church of England. They were authorized to receive subscriptions, and to receive from the Commissioners appointed "for building a Chapel on Hoospa Neck, all moneys, subscriptions and materials, and to apply the same towards the building of this Church." The Rector or Minister was to be elected as in other Parishes, and to receive a salary of £100 Proc. Money. An Act was passed April 21, 1753, authorizing the

Commissioners to sell the Pews, to enable them to finish and adorn the Church.

The Parish having no Incumbent, the Rev. Messrs. Boschi, and St. John, were appointed at a Visitation of the Clergy, April 20, 1748, to perform Divine Service here once a month alternately. In 1752, the Rev. Messrs. Langhorne and Peasely were appointed to supply the vacancy by turns once a month, until a Missionary should arrive from England. In 1753, the Rev. Mr. Peasely was appointed to this duty once in two months, until a Missionary should arrive for the Parish. In 1758 the Rev. Messrs. A. Baron and R. Baron, were appointed for this service. But in this year, the Rev. Robert Cooper came into the Province, and was elected Rector of this Parish. He removed to Charles-Town the next year, to take upon him the duties of Assistant Minister of St. Philip's Church.

The Communion Plate belonging to this Parish, consists of a Tankard and Stand, 3 Chalices, and a Plate. On two of the Chalices is the following inscription: The Gift of Mr. Evans Palmer for the use of the Church in Prince William's Parish. 1753. On the rest of the Plate is the following: Eucharistiæ Celebranda sacrum, dicabat Gulielmus Bull Provinciæ Carolina Australis Proprator Consilium Patris optimi Vita functi exsequitur Gulielmus Bull. MDCCLVI. Prince William's Parish.

An instance of the hospitality of Carolina, connected with the history of the Sheldon Church, has been stated to us by those who knew the fact. Stephen Bull, who lived in its vicinity, usually invited as his guests, on the Sabbath, the more respectable part of the congregation who attended divine service; while his Overseer, by his direction, and at his expense, liberally entertained the rest. At that time, seldom less than 60 or 70 carriages, of various descriptions, were seen at the Church on the Lord's day. But it is now

in ruins. It was burnt in 1780, by the British, under Gen. Prevost, on their March from Savannah to the seige of Charles-Town. No Clergyman has been settled in the Parish, since the Revolution. Divine Service is occasionally performed by such of the Clergy as have been able to visit this interesting spot. Upon one of these occasions, a singular occurrence took place. Permission having been obtained for holding the Episcopal service in the Anabaptist Church, near Sheldon, the three Orders of the Ministry were present: Bishop Dehon; Dr. Mills, a Priest; and Mr. Hanckell, then in Deacon's Orders. Dr. Mills, whose attendance was accidental, read Prayers; Mr. Hanckell, the Communion Service, the Bishop preached to a numerous and respectable congregation, and baptised Mr. Hanckell's child.

The inhabitants leave their plantations during the unhealthy part of the year. In 1819 this Parish contained 1281, white inhabitants. There are no Journals extant.

CHAPTER XXIV.

St. Peter's Parish.

THIS Parish was established by an Act passed Feb. 17, 1746-7, and was formed of "the township of Purysburgh, and all that part of St. Helena's Parish which lies to the westward of a division line to be run due north, from the bridge near the head of the main branch of Day's-Creek, until it meets King-Creek." The Act directed that the Church or Chapel, and the dwelling house wherein the Rev. Mr. Chiffelle had preached and dwelt, should be the Parish Church and Parsonage-House of St. Peter's Parish. The Rector or Minister was to be elected as in other Parishes, and to receive a salary of £100 Proc. Money.

Purysburgh, in 1735, contained near 100 dwellings. It was settled by emigrants from Switzerland, under Col. John Peter Pury, of Neufchatel.* He was a man of enterprize, and had been a Director General of the French East-India Company. The first colony of Switzers arrived in Nov. and Dec. 1732, and con

* The first Swiss known to have emigrated to Carolina, was a man of good family and reputation. In a Letter to the Governor, from the Lords Proprietors, they say: "Mr. Jean Francois de Geuillatt, being the first of his nation that hath made known to us his design of settling in Carolina, and having showed us Testimony of his honorable extraction, and we being willing to encourage more of the Swiss nation to become settlers in our Province, have thought fit, and do hereby require you to order the Surveyor General, to admeasure out for the said Jean Francois de Geuillatt, three thousand acres of land," &c. signed by the Palatine and Lords Proprietors, July 3, 1685. And by their Letter of July 14, 1687, it was declared to be a free gift, paying only "an ear of Indian corn when lawfully demanded."

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