The seal of the Lords Proprietor.
The Lords Proprietor of Carolina are a group of eight lords granted a royal charter for the establishment and government of the Province of Carolina.
History[]
Background[]
In 1663, eight members of the English nobility received a charter from King Charles II to establish the colony of Carolina.
In 1670, the Bahamas were added to the domains of the Province of Carolina. However, the Lords had difficulty asserting their control over the independently minded citizens of the Bahamas. The Bahamas even had a governor separate from the mainland Carolina colony.
Lord Proprietor Alfred Hamilton.
Lord Alfred Hamilton, one of the lords proprietor, tasks his son, Thomas, with figuring out how to reverse the severe downward trend in revenue from the Bahamas. Lord Alfred also asks for assistance from the Royal Navy in pacifying New Providence Island, which has become a nest for pirates. The Admiralty sends Lieutenant James McGraw to be the Hamilton’s liaison[1].
They come up with two plans. The first, to use two men of war to launch a targeted raid on the beach, followed by the arrest, trial, and execution of several of the pirate ringleaders. The second plan is to pardon the pirates of New Providence. They bring the latter before Lord Alfred, who vehemently opposes it. This leads to a political campaign in Parliament, with Thomas advocating for the pardon and Alfred against[2].
Season One[]
Eleanor Guthrie reveals that her father, Richard Guthrie, has been bribing the Lords Proprietor for years, and they have agreed to make him the governor of the Bahamas. Thus, she is aghast when she is informed by Captain Flint that her father is a fugitive from the Royal Navy[3]
Richard Guthrie recognizes the portrait in Miranda Barlow’s room as depicting Miranda with Lord Thomas Hamilton, the son of Lord Alfred, one of the Lords Proprietor of the Bahamas. Richard mentions that he has had extensive dealings with Lord Alfred in the past[4].
Season Three[]
The Bahamas are ceded by the Lords Proprietor to the Crown. Woodes Rogers, is then appointed the first Royal Governor of New Providence Island. Rogers is authorized to offer the pirates full pardons, fulfilling the dream of Thomas Hamilton[5].
Quotes[]
"He's been bribing the Lords Proprietor for years. They've agreed to make him governor here." - Eleanor Guthrie in II.