The Frontier in the Colonial South

Focusing on the 18th-century Upper Pee Dee region of South Carolina, this study employs the New Social History method to explore community development. It highlights the rise of a landed elite, the role of slavery, and the impact of a mobile population, alongside the disestablishment of the Anglican Church. The Cheraws District's strategic river access facilitated agricultural trade, leading to significant local infrastructure developments. Records from early Baptist churches and land documents reveal insights into settlement patterns, wealth distribution, and ethnic cohesion in the area.