A few months later they began to settle Ashley River, as the new plantation was called, and Charles Town, the site of which was subsequently removed (1679–80) to Oyster Point.
West, though he had no experience as a "planter", took a leading part in the conduct of affairs as deputy for the governor, William Sayle, whose health was failing.
He obtained deeds of transfer of lands from Native American chiefs, made regulations respecting the militia, roads, the status of servants and slaves, and in his last parliament of May 1682 passed "acts for suppressing idleness, drunkenness, and profanity."
In the same year was commenced the building of the English church in Charles Town; but the utmost tolerance was extended to the religious dissenters, who comprised the larger part of the population.
West was removed from the governorship towards the close of 1682, having, it is supposed, incurred the displeasure of the proprietors by permitting the sale and transport of Native American slaves from Carolina into other colonies.