The Legacy of Capt. Florence O'Sullivan: From Early Charles Town Settler to Sullivan's Island Namesake

Oct 9, 2024

4 min read

Florence O'Sullivan was a prominent figure among Charles Town’s first settlers and a key player in shaping the early history of South Carolina. As a decorated military veteran and soldier of fortune, Capt. O'Sullivan claimed two of the first lots laid out on the city’s new peninsula on October 8, 1678. Of the 93 passengers who disembarked from the ship Carolina in 1670, O’Sullivan’s name is one of the most remembered today, despite the complex and often controversial legacy he left behind.

From Kinsale to Charles Town: The Journey of Florence O'Sullivan

Before arriving in Charles Town, the Carolina made a crucial stop in Kinsale, Cork County, Ireland in 1699, where it is believed Capt. O’Sullivan joined the voyage. Prior to setting sail, O’Sullivan served in the military and acted as a deputy to Sir Peter Colleton, one of the eight Englishmen known as the Lords Proprietors of Carolina. Impressed by his skills and experience, the Proprietors promised him a generous land grant of 1,900 acres and the prestigious role of the colony’s first Surveyor General.

Capt. O'Sullivan’s Role as Carolina's Surveyor General

Capt. Florence O’Sullivan quickly rose to prominence in the fledgling colony, gaining a seat in the First Provincial Parliament in 1672 and being granted some of the earliest lots on the Charleston peninsula. As the colony’s first surveyor, he played a critical role in laying out land boundaries for settlers and establishing order in the new settlement. His position and early leadership were cemented in his commission letter, which read: “We [are] assured of the wisdom, prudence, and integrity… of our trusty and well-beloved Florence O’Sullivan.”

In addition to his holdings on the peninsula, O’Sullivan also owned property in present-day Mt. Pleasant, making him one of the first landowners in that area.

A Controversial Figure in Early Colonial History

Despite his contributions, Capt. Florence O’Sullivan was not without controversy. According to a 1670 letter written by fellow colonist Maurice Mathews, O’Sullivan was referred to as an “ill-natured buggerer of children.” Other colonists also expressed concerns about his character and work ethic. Stephen Bull, a prominent colonial figure, claimed O’Sullivan “doth acte very strangely” and was “a very disscencious, troublesome mann in all p’ticulers,” further accusing him of engaging in “unjust practices.”

Disputes and Challenges in the New Colony

O’Sullivan’s position as Surveyor General was scrutinized by multiple colonists, who alleged that he lacked formal training and that his surveying work was often inaccurate and slow. In a letter dated September 10, 1670, O’Sullivan himself wrote to Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, voicing his frustrations with the colonists and requesting “an able counselor to end controversies amongst us and put us in the right way.”

Ultimately, these disputes cost him his role as Surveyor General, but O’Sullivan remained active in the Provincial Assembly and continued to play a role in the colony’s military defenses.

Florence O'Sullivan and the Naming of Sullivan's Island

In 1674, O’Sullivan was appointed to man a cannon post on a strategic island at the northern entrance of Charles Town Harbor. His task was to protect the colony from pirates and hostile ships, alerting the settlement by firing a large signal cannon should a threat arise. The island, which became known as O’Sullivan’s Island, later evolved into today’s Sullivan’s Island—a popular coastal community just outside of Charleston.

Despite the island bearing his name, O’Sullivan never owned property there. Historians speculate that the island was named in recognition of his role in protecting the colony. A 1685 provincial government act even referred to the location as “Sullivand’s Island,” though records offer no explanation for the name’s evolution.

The Legacy of Capt. Florence O'Sullivan

Capt. Florence O’Sullivan passed away in 1683, only 13 years after arriving in Carolina. His cause of death and final resting place are unknown, but he left behind a daughter, Katherine, who inherited his lands in the Old Village area of Mt. Pleasant. In 1696, she sold the remaining 330 acres, identifying herself as the “sole daughter and heries of Florentia O Sullivan.”

Today, Capt. Florence O’Sullivan’s name lives on as the namesake of Sullivan’s Island, one of Charleston’s most cherished barrier islands. Though his story is often overshadowed by more popular colonial figures, his influence on the early development of Charleston and its surrounding areas is undeniable.

Capt. Florence O'Sullivan: Key Takeaways

Early Settler: Among the first group to arrive in Charles Town aboard the Carolina in 1670.
Surveyor General: Appointed the first Surveyor General of the new colony, tasked with laying out land boundaries.
Owner of Early Properties: Claimed the first lots on Charleston’s peninsula and owned property in present-day Mt. Pleasant.
Controversial Leader: Faced numerous accusations and criticisms from fellow colonists, ultimately losing his surveying role.
Namesake of Sullivan’s Island: Stationed on a defensive outpost that became known as O’Sullivan’s Island, later evolving into Sullivan’s Island.ivan faded into history. Yet today, his is one of the few original colonists’ names that have survived in common use in the name of Sullivan’s Island.