16 History of Methodism 



been declared void, the Province of Carolina, extending 

 from the thirty-first to the thirty-sixth degree of north 

 latitude, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean 

 was granted by charter of Charles II., bearing date of 

 March 24, 1663, to Edward, Earl of Clarendon; George, 

 Duke of Albemarle ; William Lord Craven, John Lord 

 Berkeley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, 

 Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colleton. At 

 their first meeting, held in May, 1663, in order to 

 agree on measures for executing the chief objects of 

 the patent, the proprietaries formed a joint-stock by 

 general contribution for the transporting of colonists, 

 and at the desire of the New England people — some 

 of whom had settled on the south bank of the Cape 

 Fear Biver — published proposals to all who would 

 plant in Carolina. It was declared that emigrants 

 would be allowed to nominate their governor and 

 council, to have an assembly composed of the gover- 

 nor and council, and delegates of freemen chosen by 

 themselves to make the laws, and in particular every 

 one should enjoy the most perfect freedom in religion. 

 (Chalmers.) In subsequent instructions it was espe- 

 cially enjoined to make every thing easy " to the people 

 of New England, from which the greatest emigrations 

 were expected, as the southern colonies were already 

 drained." 



In 1662 George Durant obtained from the Yeopin 

 Indians the neck of land to which he gave name in 

 North Carolina, and in the following year George 

 Cathmaid obtained a large grant of land upon the 

 Sound, as a reward from Sir William Berkeley, who 

 was Governor of Virginia, and joint proprietary of 

 Carolina, for having established sixty-seven persons 

 chiefly on the north-east bank of the Chowan Biver. 



