Chronology of Hilton Head

(Aug. 18) In the name of Lucas Vasquea de Ayllon, Goberner, Pedro de Quexo discovered “Punta de Santa Elena” 

Jean Ribault, representing Gaspard, Comte de Coligny, Admiral of France, leader of the Huguenot party, entered Port Royal Sound, which he then named.

(March) King Charles II, King of England, granted Carolina to eight Lords Proprietors.

(Sept. 28) Captain William Hilton, exploring the Carolina coast at the behest of planters of Barbados, reached the Island, giving his name to the headland, a mariners’ landmark for safely entering Port Royal Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.

Charles Town was settled.

Yamassee Indians occupied Hilton Head Island at the invitation of Henry Erskine, Lord Cardross.

Spanish fleet destroyed Cardross’ settlement on Port Royal Island known as Stuart’s Town

Hilton Head Island, except for land fronting Port Royal Sound, was granted by the Lords Proprietors to Landgrave John Bayley of Ballinclough, County Tipperary, Ireland.

(April) Yamassee Indians expelled by Governor Craven.

(Dec. 10) Colonel John Barnwell was granted 1500 acres which would become Myrtle Bank and Fish Hall Plantations (Proprietary Land Grant).

(May 7) Only Royal Land Grant: to Edmund Ellis and Samuel Green what would become Coggins Point Plantation.

St. Luke’s Parish created by South Carolina General Assembly.

(Oct. 22) Revolutionary War Ambush: Private Charles Davant was killed by British Royal Militia Captain Phillip Martinangele of Daufuskie.

Dr. George Mosse had Bayley holdings on Hilton Head Island surveyed; he divided 14,924 acres into 47 land lots for sale.

Zion Chapel of Ease was built by Captain Jack Stoney and Isaac Fripp.

William Elliott grew the first crop of long-stapled Sea Island cotton on Myrtle Bank Plantation.

(Feb. 27) Captain James Stoney married Elizabeth Mosse.

Captain John Stoney died in a hunting accident at Fish Hall; his son Captain James Stoney inherited 5400 acres of Hilton Head Island.

Captain James Stoney of Otterburn Plantation died; his only son, Dr. George Mosse Stoney (1795-1854), inherited his entire estate except for the 1820-acre Callibogia Plantation (the Island’s only rice plantation) which was inherited by his only daughter, Martha Sarah Stoney who married Thomas Henry Barksdale (1795-1842) of 2600-acre Scull Creek Plantation and (2) 1836 Rev. Joseph A. Lawton of St. Peter’s Parish.

(December) South Carolina seceded from the United States of America.

(Nov. 7) Hilton Head Island was surrendered by Confederate forces following the Battle of Port Royal.

(Nov. 22) Hilton Head Island was renamed Port Royal, South Carolina.

(Nov. 22) Port Royal, SC was designated Headquarters, Department of the South, U.S. Army with General Thomas West Sherman as Commanding General.

(September) General Ormsby McKnight Mitchel succeeded General Sherman in command of the Department of the South. Fort Mitchel on Skull Creek is named for General Mitchel. (The battlements of Fort Mitchel in Hilton Head Plantation next to the Old Fort Pub are open to the public and may be visited.)

The first self-governed, freed-slave community, Mitchelville, was founded on Hilton Head Island.

(Jan. 1) Emancipation Proclamation.

(Jan. 1) U.S. Direct Tax Commission confiscated all Hilton Head Island land and began selling same, mostly to speculators.

(May 15) Confederate President Jefferson Davis was brought to Hilton Head Island for transfer to Fortress Monroe in Virginia.

Redemption Act enabled some planters to reclaim their lands.

Will P. Clyde began buying Island plantations for a hunting preserve.

Landon K. Thorne and Alfred L. Loomis bought two-thirds of the Island for a hunting preserve.

The Hilton Head Company was organized.

S.C. Highway Service ferry service to the Island began.

James F. Byrnes Bridge was opened. Sea Pines Company was organized.

(Oct. 1) Hilton Head Island Historical Society organized.

(Dec. 24) First Service in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Pope Avenue.

(November) First Heritage Classic Golf Tournament was won by Arnold Palmer.

(August) Town of Hilton Head Island was incorporated.