Comprehensive Charleston Tour Guide
Questions and Answers
When was South Carolina's first slave legislation enacted? - Correct answer-1696.
It was strongly influenced by Barbadian slave codes
Who made the production of rice, indigo, and cotton that contributed to Charles
Town's enormous wealth? - Correct answer-the thousands of enslaved people taken
from Africa. About 40% of the slaves brought to British North America in the
eighteenth century came to Charles Town.
In what year did the population of South Carolina become majority black? -
Correct answer-1708. By 1730 the colony's population had reached 30,000, more
than ⅔ of which were black slaves.
What is Gullah? - Correct answer-a creole language derived from English and a
variety of West and Central African languages
Who was Thomas Jeremiah? - Correct answer-a free black pilot, fisherman,
landowner, and slaveholder. He was accused by two slaves of stirring up a slave
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,insurrection to the benefit of Britain. He had already openly agreed to assist British
ships in navigating the Charlestown harbor. He was executed in 1775.
What was a major reason why many Europeans came to Charles Town? - Correct
answer-the promise of religious freedom
What group was the only one excluded from religious freedom in the Fundamental
Constitution? - Correct answer-Catholics
In the 1704 survey presented in the Crisp map, what churches are depicted and
their denominations? (Hint: They're all Protestant) - Correct answer-St. Philip's
(Anglican, present-day site of St. Michael's), Anabaptist (Baptist, south end of
Church St.), French (Huguenot, north end of Church St.), Independent Meeting
House (Presbyterian, now known as the Circular or Congregational Church, on
Meeting House St.- now Meeting St.), Quaker Meeting House (outside the walls;
now a parking garage on King St.)
When was the Church Act passed and what did it do? - Correct answer-1706.
Established the Anglican Church in Carolina and allocated public funds to the
creation of ten parishes.
Who was the first Jewish settler in Charles Town? - Correct answer-an unnamed
Sephardic Jewish man from Spain. He arrived in 1695 and served as an interpreter
for the governor.
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,To what ethnic division did most of the first Jewish settlers to Charles Town
belong? - Correct answer-Sephardic (Portuguese and Spanish descent),
immigrating from all over Europe and the West Indies. Ashkenazim began arriving
by the end of the eighteenth century.
What was the "two-bitt society"? - Correct answer-A French Huguenot named
Elisha Poinsett owned a tavern in the 1730s, but business was poor. His friends
helped out by visiting the tavern and drumming up business. The group of friends
grew and soon they were donating two bitts (roughly equal to US $0.25) a week to
a fund to assist the group's members. The group was incorporated as the French
Society in 1751, then later changed the name to the South Carolina Society to open
itself to non-French members.
When was the first Reform Jewish congregation organized and by whom? - Correct
answer-1824, by 47 members of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue
In what year did a fire destroy St. Philip's? - Correct answer-1835
What are Charleston's three Jewish congregations? - Correct answer-Kahal Kadosh
Beth Elohim (Reform), Brith Sholom Beth Israel (Orthodox), and Emanu-El
(Conservative)
What is the purpose of "societies"? - Correct answer-to aid members, usually
financially, and to preserve and celebrate cultural, religious, and/or ethnic heritage
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, What is the Hibernian Society? - Correct answer-formed in 1799 by merchant
James Adger. Its founding members were primarily Protestant but membership was
open to Catholics as well.
When did Catholicism come to Charles Town? - Correct answer-c. 1786, when an
Italian priest arrived in the port and celebrated Mass in the home of an Irish
Catholic along with eleven others. Catholicism wasn't officially accepted until after
the revolution. The first Catholic church in the Carolinas was St. Mary of the
Annunciation in 1789.
What religious/regional groups made up the original congregation of the Circular
Church? - Correct answer-Scottish Presbyterians, French Huguenots, English
Congregationalists, and other Protestants from Ireland
What is the St. Andrews Society? - Correct answer-formed in 1729 by a number of
Scots, named after the patron saint of Scotland who is also associated with
unconditional charity. It is the oldest St. Andrew's Society in the United States.
What is the German Friendly Society? - Correct answer-founded in 1766 by
members of St. John's Lutheran Church. Membership is not restricted to people of
German descent
©C0PYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Questions and Answers
When was South Carolina's first slave legislation enacted? - Correct answer-1696.
It was strongly influenced by Barbadian slave codes
Who made the production of rice, indigo, and cotton that contributed to Charles
Town's enormous wealth? - Correct answer-the thousands of enslaved people taken
from Africa. About 40% of the slaves brought to British North America in the
eighteenth century came to Charles Town.
In what year did the population of South Carolina become majority black? -
Correct answer-1708. By 1730 the colony's population had reached 30,000, more
than ⅔ of which were black slaves.
What is Gullah? - Correct answer-a creole language derived from English and a
variety of West and Central African languages
Who was Thomas Jeremiah? - Correct answer-a free black pilot, fisherman,
landowner, and slaveholder. He was accused by two slaves of stirring up a slave
©C0PYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,insurrection to the benefit of Britain. He had already openly agreed to assist British
ships in navigating the Charlestown harbor. He was executed in 1775.
What was a major reason why many Europeans came to Charles Town? - Correct
answer-the promise of religious freedom
What group was the only one excluded from religious freedom in the Fundamental
Constitution? - Correct answer-Catholics
In the 1704 survey presented in the Crisp map, what churches are depicted and
their denominations? (Hint: They're all Protestant) - Correct answer-St. Philip's
(Anglican, present-day site of St. Michael's), Anabaptist (Baptist, south end of
Church St.), French (Huguenot, north end of Church St.), Independent Meeting
House (Presbyterian, now known as the Circular or Congregational Church, on
Meeting House St.- now Meeting St.), Quaker Meeting House (outside the walls;
now a parking garage on King St.)
When was the Church Act passed and what did it do? - Correct answer-1706.
Established the Anglican Church in Carolina and allocated public funds to the
creation of ten parishes.
Who was the first Jewish settler in Charles Town? - Correct answer-an unnamed
Sephardic Jewish man from Spain. He arrived in 1695 and served as an interpreter
for the governor.
©C0PYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,To what ethnic division did most of the first Jewish settlers to Charles Town
belong? - Correct answer-Sephardic (Portuguese and Spanish descent),
immigrating from all over Europe and the West Indies. Ashkenazim began arriving
by the end of the eighteenth century.
What was the "two-bitt society"? - Correct answer-A French Huguenot named
Elisha Poinsett owned a tavern in the 1730s, but business was poor. His friends
helped out by visiting the tavern and drumming up business. The group of friends
grew and soon they were donating two bitts (roughly equal to US $0.25) a week to
a fund to assist the group's members. The group was incorporated as the French
Society in 1751, then later changed the name to the South Carolina Society to open
itself to non-French members.
When was the first Reform Jewish congregation organized and by whom? - Correct
answer-1824, by 47 members of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue
In what year did a fire destroy St. Philip's? - Correct answer-1835
What are Charleston's three Jewish congregations? - Correct answer-Kahal Kadosh
Beth Elohim (Reform), Brith Sholom Beth Israel (Orthodox), and Emanu-El
(Conservative)
What is the purpose of "societies"? - Correct answer-to aid members, usually
financially, and to preserve and celebrate cultural, religious, and/or ethnic heritage
©C0PYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, What is the Hibernian Society? - Correct answer-formed in 1799 by merchant
James Adger. Its founding members were primarily Protestant but membership was
open to Catholics as well.
When did Catholicism come to Charles Town? - Correct answer-c. 1786, when an
Italian priest arrived in the port and celebrated Mass in the home of an Irish
Catholic along with eleven others. Catholicism wasn't officially accepted until after
the revolution. The first Catholic church in the Carolinas was St. Mary of the
Annunciation in 1789.
What religious/regional groups made up the original congregation of the Circular
Church? - Correct answer-Scottish Presbyterians, French Huguenots, English
Congregationalists, and other Protestants from Ireland
What is the St. Andrews Society? - Correct answer-formed in 1729 by a number of
Scots, named after the patron saint of Scotland who is also associated with
unconditional charity. It is the oldest St. Andrew's Society in the United States.
What is the German Friendly Society? - Correct answer-founded in 1766 by
members of St. John's Lutheran Church. Membership is not restricted to people of
German descent
©C0PYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
