Colonial America was a beacon for dangerous disasters. One common disaster was fire. Urban colonial cities such as Boston, New York and Charles Town were basically “firetraps,” according to historian Matthew Mulcahy. At times, cities would even have to regulate what materials buildings were constructed out of for fear of fires. Most commonly, though, buildings were constructed of all wood. This—along with the narrow streets and close proximity of the buildings—became a catalyst for fires to occur. Once fires like these started, whether it be from a store, restaurant mishap, arson, or some other cause, it was extremely difficult to prevent them from spreading quickly and causing mass devastation.
When looking at Colonial Carolina, specifically Charles Town, the Great Fire on November 18, 1740 was one of the most destructive and detrimental disasters to ever strike the city. There were a plethora of natural disasters that nearly proved too much for Charleston. It is amazing they survived. In the year 1700 they were hit by a hurricane, a small fire as well a outbreak of smallpox. In 1713, an offshore hurricane also proved disastrous beaching all but one vessel in the Charleston Harbor and creating a hefty death toll. 1728: Another hurricane challenged the city, waves crashing into and destroying homes and buildings. Ten years later in 1739 there was the great Stono Rebellion. This was the largest slave uprising in Britain’s American colonies. In the rebellion, 25 whites and 35 blacks were killed. The concept of blacks uprising, being dangerous and potentially starting fires was a continuous fear in the South Carolina Colony. You can see this fear and apprehension in Robert Pringle’s Letter to his brother attached below. He was worried after the fire of 1740 that blacks would use the post calamity confusion to cause trouble, steal, and possibly worse.
The Great Charleston fire itself was not the fault of any slaves but started in a Hatter’s shop and burned up a significant portion of the merchant district. Unfortunately for Charles Town, there was no official fire department established at the time, although the city did have a few Fire Marshals also known as Fire Wardens. Fire Wardens in Boston and New York in the 1600’s and were appointed for a few specific jobs. They would inspect chimneys and make sure they were not made out of wood as well in the evenings they would walk the streets with rattles. If they discovered a fire they would spin their rattles in order to inform others to create a water bucket brigade. The United States did not have any government-run fire departments until circa the American Civil War. Thus, it goes without saying, the city was in no way prepared for such a calamity.
The following documents reflect the major impact the fire had on the city. The first is a letter by Robert Pringle, a wealthy businessman, to his brother written in the days after the fire. There is also a piece from the Gazette written on November 20th, 1740 by one of those Fire Marshals describing the fire and its devastation.
Author: Unknown. “CHARLES-TOWN.” S. C. Gazette 20 Nov. 1740: No. 352. Print.
Bridenbaugh, Carl. Cities in the Wilderness: The First Century of Urban Life in America, 1625-1742 (New York: Ronald Press Co. 1938)
Mulcahy, Matthew. The “Great Fire” of 1740 and the Politics of Disaster Relief in Colonial Charleston. The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 99, No. 2 (Apr., 1998), pp. 135-157
Pringle, Robert. Robert Pringle Letterbook, Volume II, 1737-1745. Print.
Pringle family. Pringle family papers, 1745 -1897. (1083.00) South Carolina Historical Society.
Sams, Betsy. “.” The News and Courier Magazine Section Charleston, S.C. 13 Nov. 1960: 1-C. Print.