WILLIAM L.CLEMENTS
LIBRARY OF
AMERICAN HISTORY
UNIVERSITY of MICHIGAN





AN
ACCOUNT
OF THE
SUFFERINGS and PERSECUTION
0
JOHN CHAMPNEYS,
A NATIVE OF
CHARLES-TOWN, SOUTH-CAROLINA;
INFLICTED BY ORDER OF
CONGRESS,
For his Refufal to take up Arms in Defence of the arbitra-
ry Proceedings carried on by the Rulers of faid Place.
TOGETHER WITH HIS
PROTEST,
LONDON.
&c.
PRINTED
in the YEAR 1778.

20ZEEITH02 LEKEPCALION
CO

PREFACE.
bo
PoiIA .au
FACTS and dates are ftubborn things.
The following pages are a true and genuine
account of the fufferings and perfecution
of the Subfcriber, by a part of the Ameri-
can bunch of kings, thofe pretenders to
Liberty; but at the fame time exercifing
fuch tyrannical and oppreffive actions, as
ought to make thofe people who here ftile
themſelves their friends, afhamed. Two of
the members of their privy council declared
to myſelf and fellow fufferers, that the
Habeas Corpus Act was laid afide, and a
trial by our equals we were alfo not allow-
ed; both of which, on the cafe of Pember-
ton and others, the Congrefs now acknow-
ledge.-I, like them, have been imprisoned
near

(ii)
near ten months, without any thing alledg-
ed against me, after cruelly ranfacking even
our papers for fomething criminal against
us. All of their Commitments only mention
perfons who may be dangerous to the Rights
and Liberties of America.
ban suit a 016
noitus-hoq bas against
-inom od log
Chelsea 1 Janey fr
John Champneys.
bs
bne obile biel egy Ag
daid
words won alvo od: rádio, Ban not
tongmi nood ey

(4)
anibbidiol bus sibi oris fining
A N
ACCOUNT
THE
SUFFERINGS and PERSECUTION
OF
JOHN CHAMPNEYS.
I JOHN CHAMPNEYS, a native of
Charles-Town, South-Carolina, a true and
loyal fubject of his Majefty, King George
the Third, did refufe, from the 15th day of
November, 1775, ever to take up arms in
defence of the arbitrary proceedings carried
on by the Rulers of faid place; for which
refufal, had a fine of an hundred pounds
impofed and levied on me by a feizure and
fale of a chaife, my property, on the 2d
day of May, 1776, notwithstanding my
proteſting
B

(2)
proteſting against the feizure, and forbidding
the fale thereof.
PROTEST.
MA
Charles-Town, South Carolina,
May, 2, 1776.
A feizure being made fix days before of a
chaife, my property; and that time ex-
pofed to fale, being for a fine of Ninety-
nine Pounds currency, for non-atten-
dance on guard days, I made the follow-
ing Proteft, and gave my reafons for fo
doing.
66
66
66
CC
66
66
"I
I protest against the feizure of this
chaite, and forbid the fale thereof, it be-
ing my property, unjustly and unlawful-
ly taken from me.
The militia law re-
quiring me to turn out fix times in a
year; I have turned out fince July laft
fixty.
"Becauſe I don't find a fingle paragraph
" in the Militia law that requires even the
" inhabitants of Charles-Town, to be un-
"der arms the whole day and night, much
lefs myfelf, who live in the country, and
"have no white man living at my place,
"to protect my family in my abience, I
being
gdiflatong
66

( 3 )
"
85
mercy
being determined never to leave my wife
and three young children expofed to the
of murderers and robbers.
"Becauſe the Congrefs pofitively declar-
"ed we fhould be tried by the Militia law,
* and no other; and as I have muftered
" ten times oftener than the faid law re-
"quires, I cannot fee how I can, in regard
to that law, be fined.
"Becauſe Captain M'Queen never fent
*me a warrant to attend but once, and de-
"clared that the Militia law muft not now
"be minded. For my part, I never will
fubmit to any other.
"Becauſe, if I fubmit to the impofition
" of this fine, I give my confent to be under
the arbitrary controul of officers, who
may, as often as they think proper, in-
*flict the fame fine on me.
beredinim
86
"JOHN CHAMPNEYS."
The Sale went on, notwithstanding the
above declaration, and fold to the higheſt
bidder, and the fum of Ninety-nine Pounds
paid to Serjeant Smith of the Charles-Town
Rangers, the chaife being purchaſed for the
account of Mrs. Champneys.
After which, I was often threatened to
be brought down from my place on Charles-
Town
B 2

(4)
Town neck, five miles diftant from the
town, in order to join their rebellious mi-
litia, which I as often refufed; but on the
29th of June, (the day after the engage-
ment at Sullivan's ifland) was brought down
as a common malefactor, by Serjeant John
Bird, and four privates, of James Skirring's
company of militia, with their guns load-
ed, and bayonets fixed, and conducted to
William Skirring, as Captain of the day to
the ftate houfe, where I was much infulted
by Charles Elliott, who faid he would glo-
ry to ftand hangman for me, and all fuch
fcoundrels who would not take up arms in
defence of their liberty; for faying which,
he was reprimanded by Colonel James Par-
fons, who told me I was his prifoner, and
carrying me out, advifed me to do as they
did, and to take the oath at that time ad-
miniftered, and that I fhould then be dif-
charged, but upon my declaring I never
would, and that I utterly abhorred their ar-
bitrary proceedings, he delivered me to
Captain Alexander Moultrie, who convey-
aled me to the guard houfe into a room,
where Meffrs. James Brifbane, Robert Row-
stand, James Carfan, and John Tunno, were
confined. In the fame place were feventeen
others in different rooms. We were here
threatened, in cafe the fleet made another
AWOT
attack,

( 5 )
attack, that it was determined, pitch,tar,
turpentine, and gunpowder, fhould be
placed under us to be blown up. On the
morning of the 30th, we were guarded to
an empty houfe, together with the other
feventeen, where we received many infults
and bad ufage, often guarded by one, two,
and fometimes three negroes. After ftay-
ing here a few days, we received the cruel
orders to be in readiness to march; one half
to George Town, and the other half to
Cheeran gaols, giving us only a few hours
notice to provide ourſelves with neceffaries,
which occafioned five of us to fend a Peti-
tion, the other prifoners agreeing to the
fame if allowed us.
an betaisuposomit on a ni gniautot bac
2007 20 110 N
P. ETITION.
To his Excellency JOHN RUTLEDGE, Efq;
30 Prefident; HENRY LAURENS, Efq; Vice-
Prefident, and the honourable the Mem-
bers of the Privy Council.
yas Sheweth,
od That we, the fubfcribers, being order-
ed, on Friday laft, by his Excellency the
Prefident, to get ourfelves in readinefs to be
marched off to feveral country gaols, at a
great

(6)
great diftance from Charles-town on the next
morning, where we would have been ex-
pofed to all the dangers of a fickly feafon,
to the want of neceffaries to remove or al-
leviate diforders incident thereto, befides the
hardships we are told we must have, with-
out doubt, fubmitted to, marching 25 miles
daily, without carriages or horfes provided
for us, and a great fcarcity of provifions,
with bad water, on the road. On receiving
the above information, we were confidering
of an addrefs, but the time being fhort, and
providentially a gentleman of the honoura-
ble Council being feen from a window, was
requested to come to us, and informed of
particulars: he waited on his Excellency,
and returning in a fhort time, acquainted us
the order was recalled.
"As it is not from any principle of op-
pofition, or fentiments inimical to the
rights and liberties of this our country, but
from principles facred and confcientious that
our conduct has been regulated;
"And as our numbers are fo few, there
can be no apprehenfion of our doing any
injury, were we ever fo inclined, having
been fo long held up to the notice of the
Publick by our confinement, that we fhall
be objects of obfervation and attention in
our moft fecret conduct and behaviour by
all about us.
* As

(( 78 ))
"As many of our fellow fubjects in this
and feveral adjoining Colonies have been
called on to take an oath of neutrality, we
would wish the fame indulgence extended
to us, and that we may be permitted to re-
turn to our feveral families and concerns:
or if this be too great a favour, we hope
we will not be fent out of town for con-
finement, but permitted to provide accom-
modations and conveniences in town for
ourfelves, under fecurity, for our peaceable
behaviour. We fubmit our cafe to your far-
ther confideration, and wait your determi-
nation, earneftly praying for the profperity
of South Carolina.
We are, your Excellency's honour's
moft obedient fervants,
JAMES BRISBANE,
ROBERT ROWAND,
JAMES CARSAN,
JOHN CHAMPNEYS,
JOHN TUNNO.
During our ftay at that houfe, we had a
bullet fired through one of our windows,
which went over the bodies of three men
afleep, and lodged about a foot above the
head of another. This leaden meffenger
occafioned

((8)
occafioned the converfion of fix of the pri-
foners, who took the oath of allegiance to
their government the fame day.
About ten days after fending the petiti-
on, we again received the fame orders as
before: upon receiving which, and on con-
fulting with the remaining prifoners, now
ten in number, we agreed, rather than be
fent to the country gaols at fuch a fickly
feafon of the year, to be feparated from our
families and friends, and all that we held
dear or valuable in the world; and each of
us looking on our being fent at that time
to be certain death, we agreed to take the
oath of allegiance to their faid arbitrary go-
vernment. Having informed one of the
members of the council of cur determina-
tion, we were, on the 21ft of July, 1777,
feparately examined before the Prefident and
Privy Council, when eight of us were cal-
led in, and informed, that our answers
were fatisfactory, but that we muſt fhew
the reafons of our converfion in writing,
which occafioned the fecond Petition; the
other two agreeing to the fame, if we were
diſcharged.
SECOND

( 9 )
9)
SECOND
PETITION,
To his Excellency JOHN RUTLEDGE, Efq;
Prefident, HENRY LAURENS, Efq; Vice-
Prefident, and the honourable the Mem-
bers of the Privy Council.
Sheweth,
"That on the 15th inftant we prefent-
ed an Addrefs, requefting to be admitted
to take an oath of neutrality, or be con-
fined in Charles-town, giving fecurity for our
peaceable behaviour. Our reafons for
making the application were, having been
taken up and confined clofe prifoners, and
hearing we were deemed enemies to our
country, and as fuch to be fent to Cheeraws
for further fecurity, without any particular
charge made against us. Not obtaining ei-
ther, on the 20th, we made application to
take the oath, as framed by his Excellency,
the Prefident, and the honourable the Pri-
vy Council; and being feverally examined,
we were informed by the Prefident, that the
Council had authorized him to ſay they
were fatisfied with the feveral reafons which
had been given by us feparately; but hav-
ing been taken up as perfons deemed dan-
gerous to the community, and as fuch fe-
cured, it would be neceffary that fome-
thing fhould appear on the council books,
and defired we would draw up fome writ-
C
ing

((10)
ing that fhould be judged fatisfactory, to be
prefented as this day, fhewing why we de-
fired to take the teft oath. nobil
"As protection and allegiance are infe-
parable, we are defirous to enjoy the pro-
tection of our country, and are fatisfied to
take the teft of allegiance.
We think, as by the prefent conftitu-
tion of Britain, the reprefentatives of the
people at large are the only givers of their
conftituents money; the reprefentatives of
the people of America ought to enjoy an
equal right; and that any act made in
Great Britain, to take the properties of
their fellow fubjects in America, (internal-
ly) without their confent, to be unjuft; and
that any force ufed to compel a compli-
ance thereto, oppreffive and dangerous.
01 We requeſt we may be reftored to our
families and properties, our rights and liber-
ties, and as in duty bound, fhall ever pray
for the profperity of Carolina.
July 22, 1776.
David Swanfon,
วา
James Wier,
James Brisbane,
Robert Rowand,
John Turnbull,
25
James Carfan,
John Champneys.
John Ofborn,
Thefe four not being figners
to the first Petition, was the
reafon of figning in this man-
ner.
bluod gridf
Upon

( II )
Upon fending this Petition, four of the
figners were diſcharged; and the fame day
the other four, together with the remaining
two, received orders to prepare for Chee-
raws, to march on the 24th, which orders
founded in our ears the fame as prepare
for death.
Seeing nothing now would
alter their hard hearts, we were determined,
without doing any more, to fubmit, trufting
in God for our prefervation and deliverance.
We accordingly fet off under the guard of
Lieutenant Hext Prioleau, and fixteen men
of the light infantry company, and by him
delivered to Captain Anthony Bonneau and
his men, returning to George-Town, viz.
James Brisbane, Robert Rowand, James
Carfan, John Tunno, Henry Michie and
felf, who delivered us unto Edward Martin,
the fheriff of George-Town, according to
his order, as by our commitment.
sd
COMMITMENT.VA
"The prifoners are to be conveyed and
delivered, together with this order, to the
"fheriff of George-town, who is to confine
"them (and have great care taken that they
"do not efcape) in the gaol at that town,
till further orders from the prefident and
commander in chief of this colony, they
being perfons whofe going at large may
EC
66
C 2
"be

( 12 )
"be dangerous to the liberties of Ameri-
66 ca, and the fafety of this colony.
July 24, 1776.
JOHN RUTLEDGE."
Here we remained fourteen days as con-
tendedly as our hard fate and cruel ufage
would permit, not being allowed to have a
candle, or to be from under the lock and
iron bars. We then received orders for
three of us to be marched to Cheeraws.
ORDER to Captain GEORGE KING.
"Captain George King, you are com-
"manded to take the bodies of James Car-
"fan, John Champneys, and Harry Michie,
"to carry to the Cheeraws Long Bluff
gaol: in the mean time you are to uſe
"thofe gentlemen as ftate prifoners; you
fhall keep a true copy of your orders and
"behaviour to the faid parties.
Aug. 2, 1776.
JOHN RUTLEDGE."
The faid King conducted us from faid gaol,
agreeable to his orders, having with him a
ferjeant and fixteen privates. We arrived
in four days at our deftined place, and were
delivered to William Henry Harrington,
the fheriff, agreeable to two Commitments,
as follows:
FIRST

( 14 )
FIRST COMMITMENT.
"The fheriff for Cheeraws diftrict will
"receive and detain, in the gaol of faid dif-
"trict, Harry Michie, John Champneys,
"and James Carfan, perfons whofe going
at large is dangerous to the liberties of
"America, and the fafety of this colony.
Aug. 2, 1776. JOHN RUTLEDGE."
66
SECOND COMMITMENT.
"The ftate prifoners fent to Cheraws
"gaol are to be treated with humanity, and
kept only under the reſtraint neceffary to
"prevent their efcape, their confinement
being intended only to fecure them, and
"prevent their efcape, and prevent their
going at large. Yo
66
Aug. 6, 1776.
"JOHN RUTLEDGE."
The latter end of October I had the mis-
fortune of lofing a fon about fix years old;
and being deprived of the gloomy fatisfac-
tion of paying the laft fad offices of a fond
father to a much-loved fon; and my family
being at the fame time in great diftrefs, oc-
cafioned my writing the following letter to
the prefident:
"May it pleaſe your Excellency,
"I am informed that the General Af
fembly of this Province have entered into
Jonas
the

( 14 )
the following Refolutions refpecting ſtate
prifoners, viz.
ift. To be releafed on taking the oath.
2d. To have liberty to depart this ftate.
3d. To enlarge them, as far as your Ex-
cellency and the Privy Council think con-
A
fiftent with the fafety of the ftate.m
A
"In regard to the firft, I cannot take it;
I offered once to do it, rather than be fent
up to the country gaols at fuch a fickly fea-
fon of the year as we were fent, and to be
deprived of the fatisfaction of being with
my family. I was not then believed to be
fincere, much lefs would I be now.
"The fecond Refolution I cannot com-
ply with, as I have many creditors to fatis-
fy; and if my whole eftate (which was
once a good one) was at this time to be fold,
it would not pay my principal creditor;
therefore, in order to do juftice to all of
them, I would choofe to ftay; and if I was
to go at this time, I fhould have nothing
left for my family to fubfift on.
"The third Refolution, if agreeable to
you, and I am allowed only the bounds of
my own place on Charles-town neck, either
on my own parole, or on giving fecurity for
a quiet and peaceable behaviour, my family
and bufinefs requiring my prefence there,
having lately loft one of my fons; and as I
cannot

( 15 )
cannot take an active part in the caufe of
America, I will engage to do nothing con-
trary to it.
"I am your Excellency's
Cheraw gaol," most humble fervant,
Od. 29, 1776.
To His Excellency
John Rutledge, Efq.
91
e
JOHN CHAMPNEYS."
as beno ed o: "
long wos
I received no answer to this letter, only
a verbal one by the fheriff, that myſelf and
my two fellow prifoners might be releaſed
on taking the teft oath, which had been of-
fered to us by him a few days before, and
then refufed. On the 23d of December, at
Weight o'clock at night, the theriff, attended
by Captain Abel Kolb, with cutteaus, and
three privates, with guns loaded, fearched
our perfons and baggage, and took from us
all our letters and papers, moft of which
were wrote by our families, acquaintances,
and fellow prifoners at George-town gaol,
it being imagined fome perfons held a trea-
fonable correfpondence with us, and that
we had poifoned the minds of the people in
that diftrict. He immediately, after taking
the papers and letters from us, ordered us
up ftairs to the criminals rooms, to be cloſe-
ly confined, and no permiffion to come
down, although the weather was extreme-
26
SI
ly
as

(
16 )
ly cold, and no fire. Here we remained un-
til the 15th day of January 1777, and were
then conducted to Charles-town gaol as per
commitment.
mai
COMMITMENT.
Meffrs. Carfan, Champneys, and Michie,
"to be confined as ftate prifoners in Charles-
" town gaol.
To
CC
JOHN RUTLEDGE."
The Keeper of Charles-town gaol.
On the 24th of February, the oath of
allegiance and abjuration was tendered to us
and refufed; by which refufal we were
compelled to leave the province in fixty
days, not permitting me to go beyond the
threshold of the door, although I had ma-
ny out-ftanding debts, above three thouſand
pounds fterling on my books, and had much
other bufinefs to fettle; and alfo had a large
fale of part of my eftate, at which I was
not allowed to attend, which occafioned the
following
GR PROTEST.
"Although I have advertifed my whole
eftate to be fold, part on the 25th day of
this month, and partly on the 9th of April
next,

( 17 )
next; yet ftill it is against my inclination, and
muft therefore make this my Proteft; and I
do accordingly proteft against the Prefident,
the Privy Council, Legiflative Council, and
General Affembly of the State of South
Carolina, who oblige me to faid fale, as their
very law fays that all my debts must first be
paid, before I can carry any thing with me;
and as I have many large debts to pay,
which cannot be done without felling my
faid eftate, though to a manifeft difadvan-
tage; therefore, whatever damage do ac-
crue to me on faid fale, I do folemnly alledge.
it to the above powers, who oblige me to
it.
"I alfo proteft against the above powers,
against all militia officers, who have had
any charge over me, in particular againft
Colonel James Parfons, who was Colonel of
the day of the 29th of June laft, againſt
William Skirving, who was the Captain
that fent to my houfe for me, and againft
Alexander Moultrie, who was the Captain
that carried me to the guard-houfe, againft
all Sheriffs, who have had me in their pof-
feffion, and againft their gaolers. In parti-
cular, against William Henry Harrington
and Abel Kolb, who feized, and by force
of arms, robbed me of my papers at Chee-
raw-Long-Bluff gaol, and againft all and
D
every

( 18 )
every perfon concerned in my cruel, wan-
ton, unjuft, and unlawful impriſonment.
"I proteft againft the faid powers for all
my loffes in my property, in my business, in
my outstanding debts, and for my total
ftagnation of bufinefs.
"I proteft alfo against the act lately paf-
fed, and the propofers, aiders, or abettors of
faid act, for defiring an oath of abjuration
and allegiance, to be tendered to particular
perfons, one of whom I am, by refufing of
which I am compelled to the above fales, to
be banished from this my native country,
and to leave my outstanding debts uncollect-
ed, not even being permitted to fet my foot
out of the threshold of the door, although
that very act declared we fhould have full
liberty of fettling our affairs, which was
impoffible to be done while in gaol. 24th
of March, 1777.
Witneffes, JOHN CHAMPNEYS. (L. S.)
WILLIAM STACEY,
JAMES CARSAN,
ALEX. PORTERFIELD,
HARRY MICHIE.
This proteft, as no notary publick could be
had to make it, was obliged to have it
wrote and witneffed by fome of my fellow
prifoners in Charles-Town, whofe hand-
writing can be proved in England.
On

( 19 )
On the 17th of April I was difcharged
from Charles-Town gaol, having, previous
to that date, taken my paffage for France,
for myfelf, my wife, two children, a negroe
boy, my family pictures, and wearing appa-
rel, and only about fixteen pounds ſterling,
leaving behind me, if I had juftice done me,
about ten thousand pounds fterling more
than will pay all my debts.
This is a juft and true account of my fuffer-
ings, endured for my fidelity to my lawful fo-
vereign, and the beft of governments; to
which, although I never took an oath of alle-
giance, yet being born under, and protected by
it, I have done my duty, being formerly bleft,
with living under a conftitution, where no
man was afraid or imprifoned, except for
the tranfgreffion of his country's laws, for
the due obfervance of which I have had
my property deftroyed, even the very found-
ations and pavements of my cellars carried
away, my bufinefs loft, my family fubjected
to many infults, inconveniencies, and hard
ufage, during my feparation from them; my
perfon imprifoned, and dragged about from
gaol to gaol, without any form of trial, or
any particular charge made against me, and
at laft banished, under the fevere penalty of
being guilty of treafon, and fuffering death
I
as

( 20 )
as a traitor, upon returning to my native
country.
JOHN CHAMPNEYS.
Charles-Town harbour,2
24th of April, 1777. S
ERRATA.-In Page 4, lines 7 and 10, inflead of Skir
ring, read Skirving.




C
1778
Champneys, John

Ch