Biography of captain william hilton

Hilton was born on June 22,at Northwich, Cheshire, England. His father came to the New England colonies inwith William Jr and his mother following two years later on the ship Anne. It is the oldest settlement in the state of New Hampshire as William Jr. He traded biography of captain william hilton the Indians in his father's employment.

His expeditions took him all over the east coast of America and to the Caribbean. In AugustHilton sailed from Massachusetts Bay Colony on the ship Adventurerreturning in October of that year with enough information to map the Cape Fear coast. In he was commander of the ship Adventureand his Relation of a Discovery lately made on the Coast of Florida was published in London the following year.

On August 10,he sailed from Barbados and the expedition was "set forth by several Gentlemen and Merchants of the Island of Barbadoes. In he commanded the Amity and transported several enslaved people from Barbados to Boston. Helena Island, a large and fertile island that has played no in conspicuous part in the history of South Carolina.

Ina parish an Eclesiastical and legislative subivision of the province of South Carolina was laid off contiguous thereto and inclusive there of and named St. Helena's Parish. By the constitution of the parishes were abolished as political subdivisions of South Carolina and St. Helena's passed out of existence. A large sound extending from the mouth of the Coosaw to the mouth of the Combahee also name St.

On Sunday the sixth, several Indians came on Board us, and said they were of St. Ellens; being very bold and familiar; speaking many Spanish words, as, Cappitan, Commarado and adeus. They know the use of Guns, and are as little startled firing of a Peece of Ordnance, as he that hath been at them many years: they told us the nearest Spanyards St.

Augustins, and several of them had been there, as they said was but ten days journey; and that the Spanyards used to come to them at Saint Ellens, sometimes within Land, at other times in small Vessels by Sea, the Indians describe to have but two Masts. They invited us to come to St. Ellens with our Ship, which they told us we might do within Land.

Munday the 14 September, our Boat went with twelve hands within Land to St. On Wednesday the 16th, came five Indians on board us: one of them pointing to another, said, "he was the grand Captain of Edistow, whereupon we took especial notice of him and entertained him accordingly, giving him several beads and other trade that pleased him well: He invited us to bring up our Ship into a branch on the N.

The Indian name for the river shore? Pon Pon. These rivers unite about seventy five miles above the sea. About fifteen or twenty miles from the sea the river forks again, the south fork being known as South Edisto and the North fork as Dawhoo River. Dawhoo merged with the Widmalaw River and forms the North Edisto. The island formed by of the sea is known as Edisto Island, and is noted for producing the fine grade of long staple cotton known to the cotton trade.

The main river for about twenty miles of its course through Colleton County is still called Pon Pon. The North Edisto of the sea forks was called Grandy in Hilton's time. Hereupon we wrote a few lines to the said English, fearing it to be a Spanish delusion to entrap us. In the dark of the same evening came a Canoa with nine or ten Indians in her with their Bowes and Arrowes, and were close on board before we did discern them: We haled them, but they made us no answer, which increased our jealousie: So we commanded them on board, and disarmed them, detaining two of them prisoners, and sending away the rest to fetch the English; which if they brought, they should have theirs again.

At length they delivered us a Note written with a coal, which seemed the more to continue our jealousie, because in all this time we had no news of our long-boat from St. Ellens, which we feared was surprized by the Indians and Spanyards. But to satisfie us that there biography of captain william hilton English on shoar, they sent. On the 24th of July past, being thirteen persons that came on shoar, whereof three of them were kill'd by the Indians.

On Thursday the 17th of September the Long-boat returned from St. Ellens, which presently we sent on shoar to fetch the other English, the Indians delivering us three more; and coming aboard themselves, we delivered them their two men. Then we demanded of the chief Commander where the rest of our English were: he answered, Five were carried to St.

Ellens, three were killed by the Stonohs, and the other man we should have within two dayes. Wee replyed to him again, That we would keep him and two more of his chief men, till we had our English that were yet living; and promised them their liberty, with satisfaction for bringing us the English. The name of the Stono tribe has also been preserved in the name of a river, which separates James Island and John's Island, two of the coastal islands near Charleston.

These Indians were Shadoo and Alush and one who Hilton took. The first two to Barbados with him, but they subsequently returned to their homes. Now to return to the businesse of our Design; the entertainment we had at S. Ellens put us in great fear of the Indians treachery; for we observed their continual gathering together, and at last began with stern look'd countenances to speak roughly to us, and came to search our mens Bandileers and pockets; yet inviting us to stay that night with them: but we made a sudden retreat to our Boat, which caused the Indian King to be in a great rage, speaking loud and angry to his men; the drift of which discourse we understood not That which we noted there, was a fair house builded in the shape of a Dovehouse, round, two hundred foot at least, compleatly covered with Palmeta leaves, the walplate being twelve foot high, or thereabouts, and within lodging Rooms and forms; two pillars at the entrance of a high Seat above all the rest: Also another house like a Sentinel house, floored ten foot high with planks, fastened with Spikes and Nayls, standing upon substantial Posts, with several other small houses round about.

Also we saw many planks, to the quantity of three thousand foot or thereabouts, with other Timber squared and a Cross before the great house. Likewise we saw the Ruines of an old Fort, compassing more than half an acre of land within the Trenches, which we supposed to be Charles's Fort, built, and so called by the French inetc. On Monday, September 21, one English youth was brought from St.

Please submit permission requests for other use directly to the publisher. He arrived in New Plymouth with his mother in to join his father, William, who had crossed on the Fortune in and eventually settled at the Piscataqua. Hilton evidently went to sea at a fairly early age and led a busy life, as there are references to his having been to Surinam, London, and Barbados in addition to Carolina.

Inhe was chosen as captain of the ship Adventure on a voyage to explore the area then known as Florida, which included the eastern coast apparently as far north as the Carolinas.

Biography of captain william hilton

The expedition sailed from Charlestown, Mass. The Adventure reached the Cape Fear area on 3 September but was blown off course, probably by a hurricane, before she could enter the mouth of the river. Hilton finally guided the ship up the river mouth on 3 October and set about exploring the waterway and the land on either side. The group scouted the river area for several weeks, sailing as far as the present Northeast Cape Fear River—a distance of some 35 miles from the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

The earliest known map of the Cape Fear area was prepared by Nicholas Shapely from information written down in chronicle form in November when the expedition returned to New England. The chronicle of this first voyage was not known to have existed for some time; it was published in the April issue of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register in an article by Louise Hall.

The chronicle, which was most likely written by John Greene, praises the beautiful land, abundant land and water wildlife, bountiful forests, and wild fruits, especially grapes, that the explorers found. He married Sarah Greenleaf of Newbury. On August 14,Hilton set sail from Charlestown, Massachusetts on his first voyage to explore the Carolinas, commanding the Adventurer.

He returned in November with enough information for Nicholas Shapley, a Charlestown navigator, to draw a detailed map of the Cape Fear area. Engaged by a group of businessmen from New England, London, and Barbados, Hilton embarked on a second exploration of the southeastern coast.