The First and Second Provincial Congress

When the break was taking; place between South Carolina leaders and the British government, a General Committee was elected by a general meeting in Charleston to coordinate activities. They set up the mechanics for the election of delegates from all sections of South Carolina, elected by freeholders and payers of taxes of twenty shillings currency (about 65 cents) to consider and act on the recommendation of the Continental Congress and take needed action.

The authority of Lieutenant Governor Bull was lessening and this General Committee was daily becoming more important. When the group of 184 elected delegates met in Charles Town on Jan. 11, 1775, it declared itself to be the Provincial Congress.

The General Committee was becoming the real executive branch of government and the Provincial Congress was emerging as the real legislative body of the "Province in rebellion." The first session met in Charles Town from Jan. 11, 1775 to Jan. 17, 1775 and the second session from June l, 1775 to June 22, 1775.

The following list of members is taken from Vol. 2,  Appendix V of McCrady's History of South Carolina with additional names added as found in The Biographical Directory of The South Carolina House of Representatives, Vol. I, Session Lists, 1692-1973.

For St. John's, Berkeley: James Ravenel, Daniel Ravenel, Job Marion, John Frierson, Esqs., Mr. Gabriel Gignilliat, Mr. Francis Marion.

For St. Thomas and St. Denis: James Akin, Isaac Harleston, John Huger, John Moore, William Parker, John Syme, Esqs.

For St. James, Goose Creek: Thomas Smith, Sr., Esq., Colonel Benjamin Singleton, John Parker, Benjamin Smith, John Izard, John Wright, Esqs.

For St. Stephen's: John Gaillard, Philip Porcher, Esq., Pete Sinkler, Charles Cantey, Gabriel Marion, Esqs., Mr. James Sinkler.

For St. James, Santee: Col. Daniel Horry, Paul Douxsaint, Esq., Thomas Horry, Edward Jermain (Jerman), Thomas Lynch, Jr., Capers Boone, Esq.

The members of the Second Provincial Congress were elected in August of 1775 and met from Nov. 1, 1775 through March 26, 1776.  The South Carolina Gazette carried a list of those elected. It was later reprinted in The South Carolina Historical Magazine along with a list of replacements. The Biographical Directory of The South Carolina House of Representatives also carries the list along with replacements, deaths, and other information.

Those serving for St. John's, Berkeley were: Job Marion, Elias Ball, Jr., Capt. Maurice Simons, James Cordes, Jr., John Cordes. Edward Harleston was elected but died before seated. John Harleston was elected to replace Edward but declined, and James Ravenel was elected but declined.

For St. Thomas and St. Denis: Captain Thomas Shubrick, James Akin, John Huger, William Parker, Rev. Robert Smith was elected but did not take his seat and was replaced by Isaac Harleston, John Moore was elected but declined and was replaced by Joseph Fogartie. Isaac Harleston was then a Captain.

For St. James, Goose Creek: Thomas Middleton (son of Henry), Col. Benjamin Singleton, John Parker, Captain Benjamin Smith, John Izard, John Wright.

For St. Stephen's: Captain Hezekiah Maham and Mr. Joseph Palmer were new, Peter Sinkler was now Captain, John Gaillard, Philip Porcher, Charles Cantey.

For St. James, Santee: Colonel Daniel Horry, Paul Douxsaint, Thomas Horry, Thomas Lynch, Capers Boone, Edward Jerman and Jacob Motte received equal votes and Motte was elected in a new election.

These men from our section shared in the responsibilities of preparing South Carolina to come to the defense of what they conceived to be the rights of Englishmen.

Information and Article from "Historic Ramblin's Through Berkeley"  written by and used with permission of Mr. J. Russell Cross