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Life of Marion。
Wambaw Creek。 *2* Gendron。 *3* Gaillard's。 *4* Near this place the
French laid out a town； and called it Jamestown； whence the name St。
James'； Santee。 *5* After leaving the house of Bartholomew Gaillard； jun。
on the east side of Santee； Mr。 Lawson saw no more settlements of the
whites。 He visited the Santee Indians； who； from his description of the
country； must have lived about Nelson's ferry and Scott's lake。 In passing
up the river； the Indian path led over a hill； where he saw； as he says； 〃the
most amazing prospect I had seen since I had been in Carolina。 We
travelled by a swamp side； which swamp； I believe to be no less than
twenty miles over； the other side being； as far as I could well discern；
there appearing great ridges of mountains bearing from us W。N。W。 One
Alp； with a top like a sugar loaf； advanced its head above the rest very
considerably； the day was very serene； which gave us the advantage of
seeing a long way； these mountains were clothed all over with trees； which
seemed to us to be very large timbers。 At the sight of this fair prospect we
stayed all night； our Indian going before half an hour； provided three fat
turkeys e'er we got up to him。〃 The prospect he describes is evidently the
one seen from the Santee Hills； the old Indian path passed over a point of
one of these at Captain Baker's plantation； from which the prospect
extends more than twenty miles； and the Alp； which was so conspicuous；
must have been Cook's Mount； opposite Stateburgh。 Our traveller
afterwards visited the Congaree； the Wateree； and Waxhaw Indians； in
South Carolina； and divers tribes in North Carolina； as far as Roanoke； and
it is melancholy to think； that all of these appear to be now extinct。 They
treated him with their best； such as bear meat and oil； venison； turkeys；
maize； cow peas； chinquepins； hickory nuts and acorns。 The Kings and
Queens of the different tribes always took charge of him as their guest。 –
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Life of Marion。
Chapter I。
FRANCIS MARION was born at Winyaw；* near Georgetown； South
Carolina； in the year 1732； memorable for giving birth to many
distinguished American patriots。 Marion was of French extraction； his
grandfather； Gabriel； left France soon after the revocation of the edict of
Nantz； in 1685； on account of his being a protestant； and retired from
persecution to this new world； then a wilderness； no doubt under many
distresses and dangers； and with few of the facilities with which emigrants
settle new； but rich countries； at the present day。 His son； also called
Gabriel； was the father of five sons； Isaac； Gabriel； Benjamin； Francis； and
Job； and of two daughters； grandmothers of the families of the Mitchells；
of Georgetown； and of the Dwights； formerly of the same place； but now
of St。 Stephen's parish。
* This is in error The Marion family moved to Winyaw when
Francis was six or seven years old。 Francis was probably born either at St。
John's Parish； Berkeley； or St。 James's Parish； Goose Creek； the respective
homes of his father's and mother's families。 1732 is probably correct as the
year of Francis's birth； but is not absolutely certain。 Despite beginning
with this error； the author's remoteness from this event is not continued
with the events mentioned later in the book； to which he was a witness。
Those remarks should be given their proper weight。 A。 L。； 1997。
Of the education of FRANCIS MARION； we have no account； but
from the internal evidence afforded by his original letters； it appears to
have been no more than a plain English one； for the Huguenots seem to
have already so far assimilated themselves to the country as to have
forgotten their French。 It was indeed a rare thing； in this early state of our
country； to receive any more than the rudiments of an English education；
since men were too much employed in the clearing and tilth of barren
lands； to attend much to science。
Such an education seemed to dispose Marion to be modest and
reserved in conversation； to think； if not to read much； and； above all； not
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Life of Marion。
to be communicative。 An early friend of his； the late Captain John Palmer；
has stated； that his first inclination was for a seafaring life； and that at the
age of sixteen he made a voyage to the West Indies。 The vessel in which
he embarked foundered at sea； and the crew； consisting of six persons；
took to an open boat； without water or provisions： but； providentially； a
dog swam to them from the ship； whose blood served them for drink； and
his raw flesh for food； for six days； on the seventh； Francis Marion； and
three of the crew； reached land； but the other two perished at sea。 Things
which appear accidental at the time； often sway the destinies of human life。
Thus it was； that from the effect of this narrow escape； and the entreaties
of a tender mother； Francis Marion was induced to abandon the sea； for an
element； on which he was to become singularly useful。 His mother's
maiden name was Cordes； and she also was of French extraction。 Engaged
in cultivating the soil； we hear no more of Marion for ten years。 Mr。 Henry
Ravenel； of Pineville； now more than 70 years of age； knew him in the
year 1758； he had then lost his father； and； removing with his mother and
brother Gabriel from Georgetown； they settled for one year near Frierson's
lock； on the present Santee canal。 The next year Gabriel removed to Belle
Isle； in St。 Stephen's parish； late the residence of his son； the Hon。 Robert
Marion。 Francis settled himself in St。 John's； at a place called Pond Bluff；
from the circumstance of there being a pond at the bottom of a bluff；
fronting the river low grounds。 This place is situated about four miles
below Eutaw； on the Santee； and he continued to