1706-1906. 



(jcntltincn of A(jricultarul ISock'ty of iSt. James: 



\Vliile 1 was on the cars going to Is'ew Orleans some years 

 ago, just before entering the city, a ueAVsboy walked through 

 the train, ottering the morning newspapers for sale, cry- 

 ing: "Buy one, please, it will tell you where you come from 

 and where you are going." Now'while I cannot tell you where 

 many of you came from, nor would I hazard a guess where 

 you are going, I can tell you a few facts of this section of 

 ours, which nuiy be new at least, to some of you. ^ 



Go back with me, then, in imagination, to over two hun- 

 dred years, and let us take a glimpse of our I'arish in the 

 l>ast, and of the peoi)le who dwelt here before us, and see 

 for ourselves the change and chances of this mortal life, 

 and note the difference between theirs and our time. 



Bear, with me, please a little while I try to do faithfully 

 the task I have undertaken, at the re(]uest of one or two of 

 our mem[l)ers. 



As you all know, this Parish was settled chiefly by French 

 refugees, who came to this country after the Revocation of 

 the Edict of Nantz, 1085. We do not know exactly when 

 they did come to Santee and surrounding country, but we 

 do know that it was sometime between that date and 17()'>. 

 ^oi' in this year we find them on the coast, along the river 

 and on the bank of the Santee, about 25 miles from here, 

 in a Mttle settlement called "James-town," (now, or v^hat 

 used to be. Col. Palmjer's plantation. Mount Moriah.) with 

 church, etc., ])etitioning the Assembly to be made a Parish. 



There was at this period in the Parish, which included 

 St. Stephens, about 100 families, from France, likewise CA) 

 families from England, who were scattered from the «'oast 

 ui» to St John's. We know very little of their manner of 

 living, customs, etc., until just previous to the Revolution, 

 but we do know that they were peaceable, industrious 

 folks, serving their God faithfully in the wilderness, far 

 away from the strife, from which they had fled for con- 

 science sake. 



As showinff son-rwhat how these Deoole lived. T will quote 

 from Mr. John Lawson, who went up the Santee River and 



