The Yamasee in Beaufort District

People often wonder about the Native Americans who once lived in this area. 

According to Dr. Chester DePratter, the Yamasee tribe moved into the Port Royal Sound area around 1683 and resided here only for 30 to 35 years. They allied themselves with the English attacking Spanish-allied Indians throughout Florida. Captured Indians were then sold as slaves in Carolina or transported to other British colonies. The Yamasee were critical in a general uprising of Native Americans against the British traders and settlers of the Carolinas beginning with the Good Friday Massacre 1715 at Pocotaligo. For decades the Yamasee were on the run. Many Yamasee survivors eventually relocated to Cuba with the Spaniards in 1763 at the end of the Seven Year’s War.  However, some Yamasee descendants still reside across the Southeast.  [Source: “The Yamasee Indians in South Carolina” by Chester B. DePratter, Legacy, vol. 19, no. 1, July 2015, pp. 14 – 16.]

The Yamasee War is the topic of this year's Archaeology Month poster from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA).  Please drop by any of our library locations to pick up your free copy while supplies last. The verso has lots of delicious information about the conduct of the war. 

I updated our list of Recommended Resources about this area's Native Americans just in time for Archives Month.  Here are the ones most relevant to the topic of the war: 

975.702 MCI Indians’ revenge: including a history of the Yemassee Indian War: 1715-1728 by William McIntosh, III, 2010, c2009. (BDC, HHI, LOB) [Other SCLENDS has copies that can be checked out]

973.25 RAM The Yamasee War: a study of culture, economy, and conflict in the colonial South by William L. Ramsay, c2008. (BDC, BEA, BLU, HHI, LOB) [Other SCLENDS has copies that can be checked out]

SC 975.7 HIS “An Account of the Breaking Out of the Yamassee War, in South Carolina extracted from the Boston News, of the 13 ^th of June, 1715,” Historical Collections of South Carolina; embracing many rare and valuable pamphlets, and other documents, relating to the History of that State, from its first discovery to its independence, in the year 1776. Compiled, with various notes, and an introduction, by B. R. Carroll. In two volumes. Vol. ii. New York: Published by Harper & Brothers, 1836, pp. 569 -572. (BDC) http://bit.ly/1O53EDJ

Beaufort County Historical Society Paper #14.“John Barnwell and the Tuscaroras” by Rebecca DesChamps McDowell. Presented before the Beaufort County Historical Society on June 29, 1954.

Beaufort County Historical Society Paper #59.“The Yamassee War in the Beaufort and Port Royal Area, 1601-1715” by Larry Ivers. Presented before the Beaufort County Historical Society, no date.

Take a look at digital images of Yamasee artifacts from the Altamaha archaeological site.  

October is Archaeology Month

During October each year we observe Archaeology Month, Archives Month, and Family History Month: three themes that the BDC has traditionally commemorated. Over the course of October, Connections will touch on each of these themes. Today's theme is Archaeology Month.

To be frank, Archaeology Month 2015 is different than all the previous Archaeology Months we've celebrated here at Beaufort County Library. For more than a decade, Ian Hill, Historic Preservationist in the Beaufort County Planning Department, and I coordinated Archaeology Month programs but he retired in June. His retirement along with a jam-packed October schedule of events, including the Centennial Celebration at Parris Island, the Arkhaois Film Festival, “Pat Conroy at 70” and a significant family event, took up most of the potential programming dates in October. 

Alas not all is lost. The Beaufort Chapter, Archaeology Society of South Carolina is still partnering with the BDC. Join us on Saturday, October 3^rd for the Third Annual “What the Heck Is It?” session. Bring your artifacts for identification by renowned South Carolina archaeologists, Dr. Jon Leader and Dr. Eric Poplin. The program begins at 10 am and ends at 1 pm. 

Our South of the Broad River colleagues in the Hilton Head Chapter, ASSC is holding their "What the Heck Is It?" session on Saturday, October 17th from 1 pm to 4 pm at Coastal Discovery Museum.


As mentioned above, the annual Arkhaois Cultural and Archaeology Film Festival gets underway at the Coligny Theatre on Hilton Head Island, Oct. 22 – Oct. 24. Among the films set for screening are ones about Beaufort County archaeology, Fort Frederick and Sea Island Secrets.    

All of these Archaeology Month events are free and open to the general public.

Drop by the BDC Research Room or one of our branch libraries to pick up a copy of the 2015 Archaeology Month poster, “Yemasee War: 1715-1717” while supplies last.  

Heads up: We have some adjustments to our customary public service schedule during October. The Research Room will be closed Noon to 1 pm Monday, Oct. 5; Friday, Oct. 9; and Monday, Oct. 12 for hourly staff to get lunch.  The Library system is closed all day Wed., Oct. 7th for Staff Development.  (10/01/2015 4:00pm - The SCAA Un-Conference originally scheduled for October 2nd has been postponed due to inclement weather. The Research Room will be open 10 am - 5 pm on Friday, Oct. 2nd after all).