Mr. James Stone

Apr 3rd 1619 - Sept 30th 1691

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Mr. James Samuel Stone was born in London, England on April 3rd, 1619. His father was a wealthy businessman that worked with British Monarch during this time.

Around the 1630’s, when James was in his teens, his father invested in the business of ship building. At a young age, James was always interested in traveling. He dreamed of ships taking him on adventures around the world and discovering new places. So, he started working, and learning the trade from these master craftsmen that his father invested in.

In 1640, at the age of 21, James Stone moved to Peterborough and opened his own factory. He employed men and women from the local community. He was designated by the King as a ship builder for the Royal Fleet.

In 1643, the civil war between King Charles I and Long Parliament reached Peterborough. The loyalist soldiers of Long Parliament attacked Stone’s ship factory and burnt it to the ground. James retreated to London to avoid capture, not knowing the army was not after him, but just to weaken the King.

In 1649, King Charles was charged with treason and was beheaded. James returned to Peterborough.

Over the next decade, he rebuilt his business, and it became more successful than ever. As more adventurers came in contact with James and told him about their travels, this made James itch to travel, even more itchy.

So, in 1659, James Stone sent a request to Parliament to take a couple of ships, and citizens, and resettle in the New World.

In 1660, King Charles I son, King Charles II took the throne. Knowing the relationship that James’s father, had with his father, King Charles II and Parliament approved this request. So in the fall of 1660, James Stone took several ships and headed to the New World.

They arrived on the shores of the New World, which would later be known as South Carolina, in the United States of America, in the winter of 1660. Over the next five years, Mr. Stone established a thriving and diverse town, which was representative of the people that made up the land.

In 1665, the town became known as Stone’s Throw, in honor of its leader, James Stone. Whom they also designated as their mayor.

Mr. Stone was a well admired and respected leader. Even though things were changing around him, with the introduction of African slaves in the south, James refused to enslave another human being. He was a champion of human rights and invited all people to come stay freely in Stone’s Throw.

However, there was opposition from a group of people who thought Mr. Stone was holding the town back from growth because of his refusal to adopt the ways of slavery. His biggest opposition came from Edward C. Hampton, a local farmer, but Mr. Stone held on to these beliefs until his death.

Mr. James Samuel Stone died on September 30th, 1691, at the age of 72. After his death, Edward C. Hampton became the new mayor of Stone’s Throw. As mayor, he oversaw the death certificate which listed Mr. Stone’s death as natural causes. However, rumors swirled around town about Mr. Hampton killing him in his sleep so he could take over.

After the death of Mr. Stone, Mr. Hampton ushered in slavery. Him and his ancestors ran Stone’s Throw for almost two centuries.

Today, Stone’s Throw has returned to the town that Mr. Stone once envisioned. Statues of Mr. Stone can be found throughout the town. April 3rd, Mr. Stone’s birthday, is an official holiday here in Stone's Throw. His memory and legacy are very much alive today.

Some people have even claimed to have seen the ghost of Mr. Stone strolling the streets of Stone’s Throw, looking for his killer, Mr. Hampton.

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