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Thomas Broughton , Governor of South Carolina These notes are transcribed from Shirley C. (Power) Frain's original notes. Parenthetical notes are hers, made for her own memory-jog; they were not meant to be read by others before she finished her research. "scf" are Shirley's initials. Unfortunately, Shirley died before she could finish her research. Square brackets are my notes; my initials are ghp. Guy H. Power
THOMAS BROUGHTON
Thomas Broughton was the second son of Andrew and Ann Overton Broughton. The Broughton Family lived in Seaton, England. However in at least two sources researched, these sources indicate that Thomas Broughton was not born in England [she does not cite the sources, ghp]. Where he was born I have not been able to determine as of 7 August 1982. Not all of the Broughton family emigrated to south Carolina, some of the family remained in England, two of his sisters (Mrs.) Christiana and Lydia are mentioned in his will dated 22 July 1725 as residing in England. One sister Constantia Broughton did emigrate to South Carolina and married John Ashby, 2nd Cacique [??, ghp], who died in 1716. Constantia Broughton Ashby died in 1729-1721. Many of her descendants are located in Charleston, South Carolina. Thomas Broughton emigrated to South Carolina from the West Indies (footnote 1. Biographical directory of The South Carolina House of Representatives, Vol II, Commons House of Assembly 1692-1775, pp. 103-105). He possibly emigrated from the Leeward Islands where his father-in-law Sir Nathaniel Johnson was Governor from 1686-1689. South Carolina was not settled until 1670-1680. The list of passengers aboard the ships bringing colonists to South Carolina did not survive according to the South Carolina Archives. The first record of Thomas Broughton in South Carolina was in 1692 when he pledged allegiance to the King and Queen of England. Trying to determine his character from information that is available is very difficult. He appears to be a very complex individual. He is alternately portrayed as a plain, honest, family man, and very generous in donations to the church. On the other hand, his political life appears to have been dishonest or at the very least questionable. It must be understood that this period for the colonists was very difficult. The political climate during these early years was filled with dissention in every section. There was continuing conflicts with the Indians, the Spanish in St. Augustine, Florida, and later with James Oglethorpe in the colony of Georgia. There was also great concern about the slave population, which greatly outnumbered the white population. In the 1720s there was a slave uprising. During his military career he rose from Captain (1696), to Major (1697), to Colonel (1700), to Major General (1706). Although he held the rank of Major General, he was usually referred to as Colonel Broughton. (Footnote 2, Ibid). He served South Carolina in the following offices: 1695. Capt. Thomas Broughton, for a Committee for "Caryed for a Tax upon Skinns and furns" [sic possibly "furrs," ghp] (#3, see B-Misc File). 1696-1703. Member of Assembly Berkeley and Craven Counties. 18 June1702. Appointed a deputy for John Lord Carteret one of the Lords Proprietor. (#4 Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Vol. II, Commons House of Assembly 1692-1775, pp 103-105). 1703. Commissioner, Under the Wild Cattle Act. (#5, ibid). 1704-1706. Commissioner, Church Acts. 1707. Surveyor General (1709?) (check on this scf) 1707-1708, 1710, 1716. Commissioner to Sign Bills of Credit (#6, ibid). 1708. Controller and collector of customs. 1710, 1712. Commissioner of Free School at Charleston (Charles Towne). 1715. In Yamassee Indian War. 1717, 1719. Commissioner, under Several Revenue Acts (#7, ibid). 1716, 1717, 1720. Named as an Assistant to Judge of Admiralty to try men accused of Piracy (#8, ibid). 1716-1717. Speaker of 15th Assembly (#9, ibid). 1717. Member of the Council. 1718-1719. One of the Commissioners to regulate Indian Trade. This act among others was ratified on 20 March 1718/1719 and " were the last attempted legislation under the Proprietary Government" (#10, The History of South Carolina Under Proprietary Government 1670-1719, p. 406). 1719. Commissioner to receive taxes (#11, Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Vol II, Commons House of Assembly 1692-1775, pp. 103-105). 1721. Collector of the Port of Charleston (#12, ibid). 1721. Commissioner of the High Roads for St. Johns Berkeley (#13, ibid). 1721, 1734. Justice of the Peace for Berkeley County (#14, ibid). 1725-1717 [sic, "1727"? ghp]. Speaker of the Assembly. 1730. Member of Council (#15, ibid). 1731-1735. Lt. Governor of south Carolina by Commission of the King of England. 1733. Commissioner of the Free School at Childsbury (#16, ibid). 1735-1737. Acting Governor of South Carolina. Col. Thomas Broughton served twice on the South Carolina Jury in 1720, once as Grand Juror and another as Petit Juror. The district or area he represented is not given (#17, SC Jury Lists, 1718-1783, by: Mary B. Warren, p. 35). 4 May 1704. Introduction of Church Act Bill. "Its title, for the more effectual preservation of the government of this province by requiring all persons that hereafter be chosen members of the Commons House of Assembly, and sit in the same to take the oaths and subscribe the declaration appointed by the act and to conform to the religious worship in this province according to the Church of England, and to receive the sacrement of the Lord's supper according to the rite of said church." It bears the date 6th of May, and was signed by (Governor and Council) Sir Nathaniel Johnson, and Colonel Thomas Broughton, Col. James Moore, Robert Gibbes, Esq., Henry Noble, Esq., and Nicholas Trott, Esq., of the council." ["]Later passed in the Assembly by a majority of one, twelve voting for it and eleven against it. Seven members were absent" (#18, The History of South Carolina Under the Proprietary Government 1670-1719, by: Edward McCrady, p. 406). Thomas Broughton was one of the signers of this celebrated Church Act Bill. This was a civil conflict turned into a religious one by Thomas Broughton's father-in-law and governor of the colony, Sir Nathaniel Johnson. "One of the Proprietors lord Grainville was a bigot and since the Charter and the Fundamental Constitution of the colony state according to the Church of England which being the true and Orthodox and the only national religion, of all the king's dominions is also of Carolina and therefore it alone shall be allowed to receive public maintenance by grant of Parliament" (#19 Charleston, Mrs. Julien Ravenel, pp 42-43). Lord Grainville's argument was "If a man holds a false and illegal religion, he cannot be fit to sit in Parliament and legislate for people who know the truth" (#20, ibid). "There was dissention especially Collecton County. There were also a large group of French Hugenotes who had been naturalized some years before and had the right to vote" (#21, ibid). "An appeal to the Proprietors and finally Queen Anne, declared these laws null and void in the colony" (#22, ibid). In 1708 Thomas Broughton being prevented from enslaving free Indians by the Indian Agent Nairne hatched a plot with some of his men and accused Nairne of "seeking to dethrone Queen Anne in favor of the Pretender." Bail was not allowed in the charge of high treason and Nairne lay in jail for five months. He was never tried. Nairne's complaints to the Proprietors may have helped to remove Gov. Nathaniel Johnson (#23, The History of South Carolina, by: David Wallace, Vol. I, p. 185). In 1710, Thomas Broughton came close to starting a civil war in South Carolina. "Gov. Johnson's successor Col. Edward Tynte died after a seven-month administration and the three deputies in the colony proceeded to choose a governor. At the morning session Robert Gibbes and Thomas Broughton each voted for himself. Turbeville voted for Broughton but in the afternoon changed his vote to Gibbes, who was thus declared elected. But wen Turbeville was found to have been bribed, a battle between the town militia was barely averted " (#24, South Carolina, A Short History 1520-1948, by: David Duncan Wallace, p. 80). Several sources have indicated that Turbeville died of apoplexy (stroke) the dame day. An excellent account of this incident is given in The Early History of the Southern States, Virginia, North and South Carolina, by Lambert Lilly, Schoolmaster, 1833, pages 138-142 (#25) Upon the death of Governor Tynte, in 1710, a civil war was on the point of breaking out. It seems that a Mr. Gibbes was chosen to succeed Tynte; but he received only one vote more than Mr. Broughton; and this one vote, as Broughton said, was obtained by bribery. He insisted, therefore, on his own claim to act as governor. But Gibbes insisted on his with the same perseverance, and the greater part of the people took sides with him. Broughton, however, collected a number of armed men at his plantation, for the defence of his own supposed rights, and marched to Charleston. Gibbes, who resided in that town, soon got intelligence of his approach. He immediately caused a general alarm to be fired, and the militia to be called together. Broughton, by this time, had approached the walls and gates of Charleston. Gibbes ordered the drawbridge, standing near the intersection of Broad and Meeting streets, to be hauled up. After a short parley, Broughton's party who had now come up, the latter demanded admittance. Gibbes called out to them from within the walls, and asked why they came armed in such numbers, and whether they would acknowledge himself their rightful governor. "We have understood," answered they, "That there is an alarm about something or other in the town, and have come to see what is the matter. As for Gibbes, they said they would not won him for their governor." "Gibbbes now denied them entrance. Before this, many of them began to gallop round the walls, towards Craven's bastion," so called, to get entrance there; being prevented, however, they soon returned to the drawbridge. But by this time, some of the people of the town, and quite a number of sailors, appeared to be mustering together from vessels then in the harbor, in favor of the Broughton party. The latter undertook, therefore, to force down the drawbridge, and effect a passage. Gibbes' party opposed, but were not allowed to fire upon them. Several blows and wounds, however, were given and received on both sides. The sailors, who were within, and Broughton's own party without, finally prevailed so far as to lower the drawbridge. They entered it and proceeded to the watch-house in Broad Street. There the two town companies of militia were posted, under arms, and with colors flying. Broughton's party approached them and halted. One of them drew a paper from his pocket. It was probably some proclamation of Broughton's. The man undertook to read it; but the militia made such a tremendous uproar with their drums, and all other means in their power, that the poor fellow stretched his voice to its utmost compass in vain. Not a syllable of the proclamation could be heard. Broughton's party now marched off towards "Granville's bastion," being escorted by the sailors on foot, who were ready for any mischief. As the party passed the front of the militia, whose guns levelled, loaded and cocked, some of Broughton's sailors catched at the colors, and tore them from the staff. On this provocation, a few of the militia, without any orders, fired their pieces; but nobody was hurt. One Capt. Brewton resolutely drew his sword, at this moment, stepped up to the sailor who had committed the outrage, and demanded the torn ensign. Capt. Evans, one of Broughton's best men, alighted, and prudently obliged the sailor to return it. Broughton's party continued their march about the town for sometime. They then proclaimed Broughton governor. After hurraing as loudly as they were able, and making various other noises, they approached the gate of the town fort, and made a show of forcing it. Here, however, they observed Capt. Pawley with his pistol cocked, and many other gentlemen with their guns presented, who forbade them, at their peril, to attempt the gate. This attempt seemed to have a salutary effect in cooling down these hot headed people. They soon withdrew a tavern on the bay, where their proclamation was read a second time. After much altercation and several messages and answers between the Parties, the dispute was referred to the decision of the lords proprietors; the later decided in favor of neither Gibbes or Broughton, though the former acted as Governor. Meanwhile, Charles Craven was soon appointed to take the place of Gibbes; and thus ended all this mighty noise and smoke. Such, generally, is the result of hot-headed quarrels. The proprietors declared Gibbes election illegal because of bribery. He was allowed to continue in office for practically a year and made an excellent governor (#26 South Carolina A Short History 1520-1948, By: David Duncan Wallace, p. 80). After the Proprietary Government, south Carolina was made a Royal Colony. "The Crown appoints the Governor, (Constitutional, Judicial, Executive, etc.) all these powers, as they exist in the Crown. The Council was appointed by the King. The Assembly consists of the representatives of the people and are elected by them as the House of Commons in Great Britain" (#27, The History of South Carolina, by: Alexander Hewatt, p.2). Under the Royal Government, "It was one of the grievances of the colonists that none of them could ever hope to receive the highest appointments in the province. These were reserved for placement from England. Broughton and the Bulls, however well they might administer the government in the absence of a governor, could never aspire to be more than Lieutenant Governor" (#28, The History of South Carolina Under the Proprietary Government 1670-1719, by: Edward McCrady, p. 36). Thomas Broughton was Speaker of the Assembly 1725-1727. At a joint meeting of the two houses held on December 18, 1727, for purposes of ratifying the Governor's thirty-fifth instructions. The Speaker of the Assembly, Thomas Broughton, "advanced a very ingenious interpretation of the bill. It allowed the Council an equal power with the Assembly in framing, altering, and amending money bills and enjoined the Governor not to allow the assembly or any of its members any power or privilege which was not permitted by the King to the House of Commons or the Members thereof in England. By a process of negative reasoning, Broughton argued that the Assembly in South Carolina possessed all the powers and privileges of the House of Commons. As the Commons in England had the sole right of framing, altering, and amending money bills, the representative assembly of South Carolina had the same right. He went on to say that the term money bills used in the instructions must mean paper money bills and not pure tax measures." "This was the greatest victory yet achieved by the Assembly. It was the first time that they had definitely denied the right of the Council to amend money bills. Although there were numerous other disputes over the question, the advantage thus gained was never given up" (#29, South Carolina as a Royal Province 1719-1776, by: W. Roy Smith, pp. 294-295). Thomas Broughton was appointed by the King of England in 1731 as Lt. Governor of South Carolina, along with his brother-in-law, Robert Johnson who was appointed Governor of the colony. Robert Johnson died in 1735, and Lt. Governor Thomas Broughton became Acting Governor of the colony until his death in 1737. His term as Acting Governor was "more remarkable for another Constitutional struggle. This time it was between the Commons House of Assembly on one side and himself as Governor with his Council on the other." The Assembly refused to acknowledge any right of the Council as to it being the same as the House of Lords in England, the Assembly maintained it was an advisory board to the Governor" (#30, This History of South Carolina Under the Royal Government 1719-1776, by: Edward McCrady, p. 169). There are conflicting reports on the governing abilities of Thomas Broughton. In some references he is referred to as a "plain, honest, but little distinguished, says Hewatt, for qualities suited to the position to which he was called; and it was charged that during his brief administration many leading men acquired large possessions without many scruples in the way in which they were obtained. The Lt. Gov. without suspicion, freely granting warrants for the lands they desired" (#31, ibid). "On another occasion Gov. Broughton and the Council voted to each of themselves 6,000 acres apiece, on the theory, perhaps, that their public labors deserved it" (#32, South Carolina, A Short History 1520-1948, by: David Duncan Wallace, p. 145). Indian trade was very serious business in Charleston, SC. When James Oglethorpe founded the colony of Georgia, he began to require that the South Carolina Traders have Georgia permits. This led to serious conflicts which almost started a war with South Carolina. Thomas Broughton was primarily responsible for this. Oglethorpe did not actually have the authority regarding the Indian Trade at the time he was enforcing it. Relations became so severe that Gov. Broughton let it be known that South Carolina would back up its position with armed troops. About the same time the Spanish in Florida were threatening the Georgia colony. In case of war with the Spanish, Oglethorpe knew he would have to have support from South Carolina. A compromise was worked out, although Oglethorpe never conceded that he did not have the rights to the Indian Trade. Relations between South Carolina and Georgia remained strained and were never the same. It was during Gov. Broughton's administration in July 1736, that the two Wesley brothers -- John the elder, the founder of Methodism, and Charles, better known as the hymn writer made their first visit to Charles Town (Charleston). "John Wesley brought letters to Gov. Broughton regarding the respective rights of Georgia and South Carolina in the Indian Trade from General Oglethorpe. John Wesley's second and third (last) visits to Charleston were also made during the Broughton Administration, both in 1737" (#33, History of South Carolina, edited by Snowmen Yates, LLD, pp. 227-228). Thomas Broughton died 22 November 1737, apparently in South Carolina. The notice of his death the weekly issue of the Gazette is missing, but the following week's issue mentions the great loss that the province had sustained by the death of the Lt. Gov. Where he is buried remains a mystery. There is no evidence today of a cemetery at his home, Mulberry Plantation. No one seems to know and in my research there is no mention of his burial plot. Compiled By: Shirley C. Frain |