In 1664, John Vassal founded "Charles Town" with the aid of Barbadian backers on the west bank of what is now the Cape Fear river (which Vassal named the "Charles River"). His efforts failed due to his agitation of the native population. He was further dissuaded when and his efforts to become governor of the region, Clarendon County, where subverted and the title was given to John Yeamans. After the settlers abandoned Charles Town and Yeamans nearly lost his life when his boat sank in a maze of sand bars in the mouth of the Charles River. Instead of trying to revive the colony, Yeamans established Charles Town farther south in what is now Charleston, South Carolina.
