Northerners had their prejudices against early South Carolina colonists. It was their belief was that the mild climate which carried malaria and other fevers was unhealthy.
"Yesterday afteroon died, aged 50 years, Thomas Dale, Esq.; esteem'd a man of great virtues, abilities and learning in general, and in his profession of physic in particular, in which he took his Doctors Degrees at Leyden in the year 1724 or 25: In his public character (for he has been a Judge in the supreme courts of this province about 16 years past) he always acted with great integrity and honor; and in his private life exhibited a truly amiable character, being possessed of many virtues and qualifications which made him valuable and agreeable to his friends and acquaintance, and without envy, malice or resentment to his enemies, for such he, like many other good men, undeservedly had: He was open, generous and free in his sentiments; and from his great and extensive reading had a great fund to entertain in conversation; He was a loving, tender and affectionate husband, a kind neighbour, a humane master, and a sincere and hearty friend, a lover of true religion, and a practiser of the rules and precepts of it; and has died as sincerely lamented, by all who had the happiness of an intimate acquaintance with him, as any man ever did." Monday, September 17, 1750. Death Notices in the South Carolina Gazette 1732-1775 by Salley.
There were other proofs. Peter Fillieux died in January of 1741 at the age of 86 years. Captain Anthony Mathews, a merchant who arrived in Charleston in 1680, lived to be 73 years and Thomas Lamboll lived to 81 years. And so it goes.
Perhaps the northern colonies were jealous of the growing industries of rice and cotton plantations which was amassing wealth for its planters and the thriving economy. During the colonial period this prosperity attracted emigrants from all over Europe as well as the absorption of run-away malcontents from Georgia. Charleston's thriving merchants and a wide variety of tradesmen caused continuous economic activity. Also it was the south's cultural center for music, dancing instructors, and the arts.
Jeannette Holland Austin, author of over 100 genealogy books
South Carolina Pioneers
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