Charter of Carolina (March 24, 1663) was granted by King Charles II to Sir William Berkeley and the seven other lord proprietors. Named "Carolana" or "Charles'land," after King Charles I of England, it had initially been granted by Charles I to Sir Robert Heath, 1629.
English colonists began to settle the area permanently in the in the 1650's. The first governor, William Sayle, was a Nonconformist and allowed religious toleration to all denominations: Calvinists and Baptists from England and parts of New England, Huguenot Protestants from France, Episcopalians, Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, Lutherans, German Reformed, Moravians, etc. Many Christians began to settle in North Carolina beginning in 1653, with some of the most notable being the Quaker missionaries.
Even George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, preached there. At a later date, the Quaker family of Daniel Boone, along with others, pioneered the Yadkin River Valley along the North Carolina frontier. The first Baptist congregation was formed there in 1727, followed later by the Methodist congregations, who recognized Negro ministers and preached strongly against slavery.
The Charter of Carolina, March 24, 1663, stated:
<Whereas our right trusty, and right well beloved cousins and counselors, Edward Earl of Clarendon... George Duke of Albemarle...William Lord Craven, John Lord Berkley...Anthony Lord Ashley...Sir George Carteret...Sir William Berkley...and Sir John Colleton...being excited with a laudable and pious zeal for the propagation of the Christian faith, and the enlargement of our empire and dominions, have humbly besought leave of us, by their industry and charge, to transport and make an ample colony of our subjects, natives of our kingdom of England, and elsewhere within our dominions, unto a certain country hereafter described, in the parts of America not yet cultivated or planted, and only inhabited by some barbarous people, who have no knowledge of Almighty God...
3. And furthermore, the patronage and advowsons of all the Churches and chapels, which as Christian religion shall increase within the country, isles, islets and limits aforesaid, shall happen hereafter to be erected, together with license and power to build and found Churches, chapels and oratories, in convenient and fit places, within the said bounds and limits, and to cause them to be dedicated and consecrated according to the ecclesiastical laws of our kingdom of England...
4. To have...in as ample manner as any Bishop of Durham in our kingdom of England, ever heretofore have held...paying yearly to us...the yearly rent of twenty marks of lawful money of England, at the feast of All Saints, yearly forever, the first payment thereof to begin and to be made on the feast of All Saints, which shall be in the Year of Our Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty-five...
9. We...grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, William Lord Craven, John Lord Berkley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley and Sir John Colleton...authority, at any time or times, from and after the feast of St. Michael the archangel, which shall be in the Year of Our Lord Christ, one thousand six hundred sixty and seven...to import...goods and commodities...
15. And because that in so remote a country...among so many barbarous nations, and the invasions as well of savages as of other enemies, pirates and robbers, may probably be feared; therefore we have given...power...to...muster and train all sorts of men...to make war and pursue the enemies aforesaid, as well by sea as by land, yea, even without the limits of the said province, and by God's assistance to vanquish and take them...
16. By this our charter we give...power...in case of rebellion, tumult or sedition, (if any should happen,) which God forbid, either upon the land within the province aforesaid, or upon the main sea...to exercise martial law...
18. And because it may happen that some of the people and inhabitants of the said province, cannot in their private opinions, conform to the public exercise of religion, according to the liturgy, form and ceremonies of the Church of England, or take and subscribe the oaths and articles, made and established in that behalf, and for that the same, by reason of the remote distances of these places, will, we hope be no breach of the unity and uniformity established in this nation...
We do by these presents...grant...to... such...persons, inhabiting and being within the said province...who really in their judgments, and for conscience sake, cannot or shall not conform to the said liturgy and ceremonies, and take and subscribe the oaths and articles aforesaid, or any of them, such indulgencies and dispensations in that behalf, for and during such time and times, and with such limitations and restrictions as they, the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, William Lord Craven, John Lord Berkley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley, and Sir John Colleton...shall in their discretion think fit and reasonable;
And...that such...persons, to whom such indulgencies and dispensations shall be granted as aforesaid, do and shall from time to time declare and continue, all fidelity, loyalty and obedience to us...and be subject and obedient to all other the laws, ordinances, and constitutions of the said province, in all matters whatsoever, as well ecclesiastical as civil, and do not in any wise disturb the peace and safety thereof, or scandalize or reproach the said liturgy, forms and ceremonies, or anything relating thereunto.> 1663CC001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1663CC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Charter of Carolina, March 24, 1663, issued by King Charles II to Sir William Berkeley and the seven other lord proprietors, (initially granted by King Charles I to Sir Robert Heath in 1629). (see also 1727). Frances Newton Thorpe, ed., Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies now or heretofore forming the United States, 7 vols. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1905; 1909; St. Clair Shores, MI: Scholarly Press, 1968), Vol. 5, p. 2743. Hugh Talmage Lefler, editor, North Carolina History (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1934, 1956), pp. 16, 26. Pat Robertson, America's Dates With Destiny (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), p. 32. The World Book Encyclopedia, 18 vols. (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957; W.F. Quarrie and Company, 8 vols., 1917; World Book, Inc., 22 vols., 1989), Vol. 15, p. 7587; Vol. 12, p. 5732.