Date
12-19-2023
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
Chair
Troy Kickler
Keywords
Cherokee History, Charleston, SC History, Early Settlers, Indian Trade, Indian Slave Trade, Mercantilism, Capitalism, Piracy, Merchant Mariners, Royal Era, Proprietorship Period, Southern History, South Carolina History, Pinckney History, Diplomacy
Disciplines
History
Recommended Citation
Symonds, Nicola, "The Chiefs of Chota and the Charles Town Merchants: A Vital Alliance That Ensured the Growth and Success of South Carolina, 1692-1760" (2023). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5080.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5080
Abstract
The contributions of three generations of Overhill Cherokee and the Thomas Pinckney family played a significant role in the growth of Charleston, South Carolina, leaving a lasting impact not only on the American nation but also on the survival of their community and the prosperity of South Carolina. These legacies are essential parts of the rich history of the United States. This dissertation provides a unique perspective on the relationship between these men, offering insights that previous historians have yet to uncover. By examining the social, economic, and political histories of the early settlers of Charles Town, as well as the diplomatic and cultural histories of the Cherokee, this research fills a narrow gap left by great scholars like Allen Gallay, Lorri Glover, Marvin Zahniser, and Tom Hatley. It is the first in-depth examination of Thomas and his son William, as well as Cherokee Chief Attakullakulla, revealing a new history of the success of the Carolinas.
The Carolina Proprietorship's founders designed Charles Town to be an international trade port and merchant town, with a robust plantation system supporting its economic activities. They also intended it to serve as a defensive buffer against foreign aggression. Its success was due to the trade of Indian peltry, Indian enslavement, and the sale of goods imported from merchant mariners. The Charles Town merchants' relationship with the Overhill Cherokee made this possible. Despite the outside influences of North Carolina and Virginia encroachers and the French's instigation of disturbances, the Charles Town seafaring merchants and the Overhill Cherokee had a mutually beneficial relationship that lasted a century. However, the influx of frontier families setting up farms and pushing the boundaries set by the English crown broke the ties that bound these men. The downfall was due to greed, but it came from the North Carolina and Virginia encroachers who disobeyed laws.
It took fifty years for the region to become a leading producer of indigo and rice and grow into two influential states. Although the settlers of Charles Town had to deal with frequent aggression from the French and Spanish, they successfully set up trade relationships with the native population, despite ongoing conflicts with neighboring tribes that presented a constant threat. Eventually, the offspring of the early settlers and Cherokee ended their relationships with the English crown, and the newly formed United Colonies began a new form of dealing with the natives. Three generations of Overhill Cherokee and the Thomas Pinckney family actively contributed to the undeniable growth of Charleston, South Carolina. Their lasting impact not only shaped the American nation but also secured the survival of their community and significantly contributed to South Carolina's prosperity. Their legacies play an essential role in the rich history of the United States.
