Rare Chart of Hilton Head

"A Plan of the River and Sound of d'Awfoskee, in South Carolina. Survey'd by Captain John Gascoigne", Jefferys & Faden

This rare sea chart is the most detailed chart of Hilton Head and the surrounding South Carolina coastline of its time period, and was likely used in preparation for the many battles that were fought in the area during the Revolutionary War. The map is based on a manuscript map by Captain John Gascoigne, who surveyed the area in 1728 with his brother, James. Francis Swaine created an updated manuscript edition of Gascoigne's map, which is believed to be the map that came to the attention of William Faden, who published an engraved edition in 1776 (according to Cumming, although Stevens & Tree indicate it was as early as 1773). The location of the original Gascoigne map is unknown.

The map was engraved by R. Batley and extends from Port Royal Sound and the southern tip of Parris Island to Tybee Island, Georgia. Hilton Head Island is named Trench's Island, with the nomenclature "Hilton Head" appearing only at the northeastern tip of the island. Also of note are D'Awfoskee Sound, now known as Calibogue Sound, D'Awfoskee Island (now spelled Daufauskie), and the mouths of the Broad, May and Savannah Rivers. The map gives excellent navigational detail, with an abundance of depth soundings, arrows to indicate water flow, safe anchorages, and shoals. Marsh land is identified by tiny tufts of grass, and the notes at left explain that these lands are "overflowed by the common tides."

Hilton Head Island was named by Captain William Hilton, who had sailed from Barbados in in 1663 to explore the region recently claimed by England and named Carolina after Charles II. In 1698, Hilton Head and some surrounding areas were granted to John Bayley by the Lord Proprietors, and for a while the island was renamed Trench's Island after Alexander Trench, who was property agent for the island. The first English settler was John Barnwell, who received a grant of 1,000 acres at the northern end of the island. Barnwell sold a small adjacent island to John Gascoigne, who named it after himself, which can be seen on the map as John's Island.

This area was of great importance during the Revolutionary War. After gaining control of Savannah in 1778, the British conducted numerous raids along the coast and engaged in battles with the rebels in an attempt to take control of Port Royal Sound.

This is the first state of this map, which is rare in all states. Later editions include imprints by Sayer & Bennett (1776) and Laurie & Whittle (1794), and copies of the map were also published by Sartine (1778) and Le Rouge (1778).

References: cf. Cumming #204; Sellers & Van Ee #1525; Stevens & Tree (MCC-39) #16 (a).

Condition: B

A nice impression on a bright sheet with the watermarks of a Strasbourg Lily and the Society of Jesus. There is light offsetting, toning along the centerfold, and a tiny hole in the References cartouche at bottom left. The map was completely separated along the centerfold and has been repaired with archival tape on verso.