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The E-Sylum:  Volume 4, Number 15, April 8, 2001, Article 6

CHARLES TOWN SOCIAL CLUB 

   Pete Smith writes: "In recent days I have been fascinated by 
   the Charles Town Social Club medal. 

   My first reaction is that "Charles Town Social Club" is a 
   description rather than a name.  The legend on the medal 
   reads "SOCIAL CLUB / INSTITUTED / CHARLES 
   TOWN / SOUTH CAROLINA / VI OCTOBER / 
   MDCCLXIII."  In a town with at least a dozen other social 
   clubs, the "Social Club" name is pretty generic and an 
   unusual choice for a name. 

   Last night I went to the University of Minnesota Library to 
   attempt some research.  They have "South Carolina Gazette 
   1732-1775" by Honnig Cohen.  It is a review of materials 
   from the paper and includes several pages of first 
   announcements of club meetings.  There is no listing near 
   October of 1763, no reference to "Social Club" and no club 
   without a longer and more specific name. 

   One would think that a club with enough ambition and 
   resources to order a small run of medals from England 
   would leave a better paper trail.  What other explanation 
   is there? 

   The library is supposed to have the South Carolina Gazette 
   on microfilm.  It was not housed where the computer said it 
   should be. Then I discovered that the roll indexed for 1763 
   did not have the 1763 papers.  It was a frustrating search. 

   I also looked at the South Carolina Gazette from 1783.  I 
   hoped I might find a related article like:  "The Charlestown 
   Social Club met on Thursday last at Mr. Backhouse's Pub. 
   Visiting from London was Mr. Thomas Brand-Hollis who 
   presented each member with a small token in commemoration 
   of the club's founding 20 years previous."  However, no such 
   notice was found. 

   The medal is an unusual shape and has an artistic style 
   uncharacteristic for the period. The lack of documentation 
   adds to the intrigue. I would be happy to see another E-Sylum 
   reader provide the whole story but hope that doesn't spoil 
   the fun." 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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