EARLY EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS OF AMERICA

ARTICLE  BY W. L. PINKERTON AND PUBLISHED IN THE LEWIS COUNTY HERALD - 1909  It is not known if this was his original material but is believed to have come from Goodspeeds Tennessee History.  A copy is in the State Library/archives. 

Most everyone is more or less familiar with the early explorations made on the American continent, and the subsequent attempts at colonization, before any permanent settlements had in fact been made.  There is scarcely a school boy or girl, who is not now conversant with the discovery of America, and who cannot give the many details of these original discoveries, upon which the claims of the various nations to American soil were based.  While these are important facts, and lay at the foundation of all American history, still it is impossible to treat them at length in a work like this.  But since they bear indirectly upon the history of Tennessee, and therefore, in a degree affect the history of the respective counties of the state, they will be briefly noticed.

The first nation to lay claim to that portion of America, including the present territory of Tennessee, was Spain.   This claim was not alone based upon the discovery made by Columbus who landed at San Salvador in 1492; but more especially upon the explorations of the great Spanish explorer, Ferdinand De Soto, who landing in Florida, May 1593 began his famous exploration through that section of the country which comprises the present states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and which resulted in the discovery of the Mississippi River.  DeSoto's expedition was fitted out at his own expense, he being desirous to out rival the exploits of Cortez, in Mexico, and that of his former commander, Pizzarre, of Peru.  He had an army of six hundred soldiers but many of them were killed in the fights with the Indians, and others sickened and died of disease.  During this expedition, the Northern parts of what is now the state of Georgia were explored in the search of gold, and some historians claim that a small portion of eastern Tennessee was traversed by the party.  At any rate, after many encounters with hostile Indians, he on April 25, 1541 passed through the Southwest corner of the state of Tennessee near the site of Memphis; thus being the first white man to tread the soil of Tennessee. 

Crossing the Mississippi River near the Indian village, Chisca, portions of Arkansas were explored also.  Soon afterwards, however, this great and brave hero became sick with fever and on Sunday morning, April 17, 1542, died and was buried in the river which he had discovered.  Only about two hundred of the party ever again reached the Spanish towns in Mexico.

In 1862 a French explorer, Rovert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, built a French fort which named Prud Homme, on the banks of the Mississippi, near the Chickasaw bluffs or the present site of Memphis.  As yet, Tennessee was inhabited only by savages, and the Spanish had done little toward perfecting their claims.  In 1714 M. Charleville, a French trader from New Orleans also invaded the present limits of Tennessee and opened a trading post on the banks of the Cumberland river, afterwards known as French Lick, near the present site of Nashville.

Not only the Spanish, but the French and also the English looked upon their fertile soil of America with covetous eyes.  But not until the power of Spain had been weakened and completely broken by the reformation, and by the defeat of the Spanish Armada, did either the French or English make any special attempt to plant any colonies here.  Thus, it is plain to see that the rival claims of the three nations had an important bearing upon the history of Tennessee, at least indirectly.  Even the pretty story of Elizabeth, Queen of England, and her Knightly Raleigh has a remote bearing upon the history of our state, since until 1790 it was a part of North Carolina, the scene of Raleigh's fruitless expeditions.

Queen Elizabeth, yielding to the solicitations of her favorite Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1583, issued a patent to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Raleigh's half brother empowering him to explore and colonize the American territory which she claimed by virtue of the discoveries of the Cabots in 1497-8.  Thus the great struggle for the possession of American territory began.  Gilbert, sailing from America, was lost on the homeward voyage.  Raleigh then obtained another patent from the Queen, granting him certain lands in America, lying between the 33rd and 40th latitude and extending to the west indefinitely.  This included what is today the state of Tennessee. 

Expeditions were sent out under the command of Phillip Armadas and Arthur Barlow.  They landed at Roanoke Island July 16, 1584 and were the first white people to visit Virginia, afterwards, North Carolina, from which the state of Tennessee was finally taken, and from where most early Tennessee settlers came.  This expedition met with failure, however, and then another attempt was made to plant a permanent colony at Roanoke.  This was made in 1585, by Raleigh with John write as governor.  Here Virginia Dare was born August 15, 1537 the first white child of English parentage born in America.  But this colony also met with disaster, and for that reason has since been characterized as the Lost Colony.  The first permanent English settlement to be made in America was the noted Jamestown colony made in 1507. 

A permanent settlement was not made in North Carolina until 1663 when the Grand Model was prepared for the colonist by the celebrated philosopher, John Locke.  This plan of government divided the country into provinces with Lords over them provided for nobility,  Knighthood distinct orders in society, etc.  But the Grand Model was soon set aside as impractical for a wilderness like the Carolinas at that time.  This settlement was made by virtue of a grant issued by Charles 11 King of England to eight of his courtiers, giving them all the country between the present states of Florida and Virginia extending westward to the Pacific Ocean.  So, Tennessee was also included in this grant.  Governor Berkley of Virginia, one of the eight parties to whom the grant was given, made William Drummond its Governor.  But after a partial attempt to govern the colony by the terms of the Grand Model, it fell into disuse, and North Carolina became a Royal Province.  In 1729, this colony was settled by a mixed people. 

Many whites were already in the northeastern portion of the Province, and besides the European immigrants, Puritans from New England, settled along the Cape Fear River, while many exiles from Virginia and other places made settlements along the Albermarle sound after the use of the Grand Model had been discontinued the freemen made laws for themselves such as were adapted to their needs.  They held out inducements to new settlers, at the same time vigilantly guarding all their civil rights.  Those who were oppressed in other colonies found a refuge here, and after having sought safety with the Carolinas, that spirit of American liberty fostered among, grew until finally culminated in the overthrow of Governor Seth Sothel who had undertaken to tyrannize the colonists.