Joseph West (politician)
| Joseph West | |
|---|---|
| 2nd colonial governor of Proprietary Period of South Carolina | |
|
In office August 13, 1674 – October 1682 |
|
| Preceded by | Joseph Morton |
| Succeeded by | Joseph West |
| 4th colonial governor of Proprietary Period of South Carolina | |
|
In office August 30, 1684 – July 1684 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Kyrle |
| Succeeded by | Robert Quary |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1691 Ashley River (South Carolina)? |
| Spouse(s) | Limp Margaret Berringer |
| Occupation | ship captain and colonial administrator |
Joseph West (born ? died 1691), was an English ship captain, and an early Colonial governor of South Carolina.
Nothing is known of the circumstances of his birth or early years. In 1667 he was commissioned captain of Jersey, seeing service in the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
West was probably attached to the service of one of the eight proprietors of Carolina, chief among whom were the Duke of Albemarle and Lord Shaftesbury. From his correspondence, preserved at the Public Record Office, his relations appear to have been specially close with the latter. On 27 July 1669 he was given the command of a small fleet and ordered by the proprietors to sail from London for Kinsale and thence by way of Barbados to Port Royal, Carolina, in the vicinity of which place he was to settle a new plantation under constitutions drawn up mainly by John Locke, the secretary of the proprietors. West was also appointed to act as storekeeper in the new colony.
West sailed from The Downs in the ship Carolina on 17 August 1669, and the expedition finally reached Port Royal on 17 March 1669/70. A few months later they began to settle Ashley River, as the new plantation was called, and Charles Town, the site of which was subsequently removed (1679–80) to Oyster Point.
West, though he had no experience as a "planter", took a leading part in the conduct of affairs as deputy for the governor, William Sayle, whose health was failing. Sayle died on 4 March 1671, whereupon West was unanimously chosen governor by the colonial council. In the following December Sir John Yeamans claimed the governorship on the ground that he had been made a landgrave by the proprietors. The council expressed themselves so well satisfied with the administration of West that they resolved not to disturb him in his government; but shortly afterwards an express nomination of Yeamans to the post arrived from England, and in this the colonists acquiesced. West was at the same time appointed "register of all writings and documents". But Yeamans proved popular neither with the settlers nor with the proprietors, his health was feeble, he was suspected of avarice in private trading, and early in 1674 he retired to Barbados, leaving the field clear for West, to whom the proprietors on 18 May 1674 sent a patent to be landgrave and a commission to be governor.
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