Carolina: Governors: 1692-1712

Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Carolina
11/21 Apr 1692 - c. 15/25 May 1693	Philip Ludwell [1]
c. 15/25 May 1693 - Nov 1694	Thomas Smith [2]
Nov 1694 - 17/27 Aug 1695	Joseph Blake [3]
17/27 Aug 1695 - 1697	John Archdale [4]
One of the True and Absolute Lords and Proprietors of the Province of Carolina and Governor of South Carolina
1697 - 7/18 Sep 1700	Joseph Blake [5]
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Carolina
11/22 Sep 1700 - c. 5/16 Mar 1703	James Moore Sr.
c. 5/16 Mar 1703 - 26 Nov/7 Dec 1709	Sir Nathaniel Johnson [6]
26 Nov/7 Dec 1709 - 26 Jun/7 Jul 1710	Edward Tynte
Jun/Jul 1710 - c. 10/21 Mar 1712	Robert Gibbes

Ludwell was commissioned "Governour of that part of our Province of Carolina that lyes north and east of Cape feare" by the Palatine and Lords Proprietors on 5/15 Dec 1689 and assumed the government probably in May 1690. He sailed for England in Aug/Sep 1690, where he was appointed "Governor and Comander in Cheif of Carolina" on 2/12 Nov 1691. His commission was read and published in Charles Town on 11/21 Apr 1692 and he took the oath of office on 14/24 Apr 1692.
Smith assumed the office of governor (apparently after Ludwell's departure) and addressed the Commons House on 15/25 May 1693. He signed a warrant on 14/24 Nov 1694, but by 17/27 Nov 1694 the witnesses to his will had appeared before a judge and confirmed that they were present when it was made.
Blake succeeded Smith in early November 1694; his first extant warrant was signed on 19/29 Nov 1694.
Archdale commissioned Blake deputy governor of South Carolina on 29 Oct/8 Nov 1696, before his departure for England. As his commission was still valid, Archdale continued in office probably to 12/22 Feb 1697—the date he indicated in his claim for salary addressed to the Proprietors.
Blake purchased a proprietorship from Thomas Archdale, son of John Archdale, by a deed signed on 24 Sep/4 Oct 1696, on condition of payment of £1,500. The formalities were accomplished certainly before 25 Apr/5 May 1697, as evident from a letter addressed to Blake by the Lords Proprietors, stressing that he had "become One of Us."
The commission of Johnson was entered into the Register of Carolina and marked "Entered March 5th: 1702–3." The next commission in the Register is that of Nicolas Trott as Chief Justice, marked "read in Councill and entered March 5th: 1702–3." Therefore, it appears that Johnson’s commission was either proclaimed on the same day as Trott’s or earlier.