Sir Nathaniel Johnson Kt. (1644-1712)

He was born in County Durham, England. He served with the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War and was rewarded with a knighthood in 1680. He was appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands in 1686 but resigned three years later (1689) to cultivate silk, grapes and rice in Carolina where he had been made a "Cassique" by the Lord Proprietors with rights over 24,000-acres. His family set out from England to join him but were captured by the French and his wife died in captivity. He was appointed Governor of South Carolina in 1702 and in the following year (1703) he was elevated to "Landgrave" with rights over the Seewee Barony. He was removed from office through the influence of the Dissenters in 1709. He lived between his townhouse in Charleston and his plantation, "Silk Hope". He had three children (listed) and left his property to his son, Robert, who also served as Governor of South Carolina.