USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 15
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The first meeting of the president and assistants of the County of Savannah was held October 12th, 1741, when all were present, and "the general instructions for the President and Assistants of the County of Savannah were read, and also publick instructions for the President of the said county." John Pye was appointed secretary.
OGLETHORPE'S LAST OFFICIAL APPEARANCE
Oglethorpe apparently had no idea when he left Georgia at that time that he was never again to set his feet upon her soil, and it is a fact worthy to be considered whether the change in the plan of gov- ernment had anything to do with his failure ever again to visit the colony. His last appearance in the meetings of the trustees was on the 19th of May, 1746, though that body continued to meet until May 1, 1752. when "the seal was affixed to a counterpart of an indenture expressing and declaring the surrender and grant of the Trust," and ordering that the seal be defaced, which was done in the presence of the gentlemen present. The last meeting of the common council he attended was on Monday, January 19, 1749. but that body hell meetings until Wednesday, April 29. 1752. when all the business they had on hand was closed np as far as it could be done then. and a committee appointed. of which the Earl of Shaftesbury was chairman, or any three of them.
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"to do all and every necessary act previous to or concerning the sur- render of the trust."
CHANGES IN LAND TENURES
At the time of the defalcation of Thomas Causton, complaints concerning various matters were made by the people, and one in par- ticular related to the tenure of the lands granted to settlers. The first grievance mentioned by the writer of the pamphlet called "A true and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia in America" was "The want of a free title or fee-simple to our lands .; which, if granted. would both induce great numbers of new settlers to come amongst us, and likewise encourage those who remain here cheerfully to proceed in making further improvements, as well as relieve their sunk fortunes as to make provisions for their posterity." To this demand for titles in fee-simple, the trustees, on the 20th of June, 1739, gave an unfavorable reply, but later on, that is to say on August 28th of the same year, they reconsidered their action and made through their com- mon council the following revision of the titles: that lands already granted, as well as to be afterwards granted, should, in case of failure of male issue, descend to daughters of the grantees, and when there should be no issue, the grantees might devise the lands granted to them; but, should the grantees fail to devise, the lands should become the property of the legal heirs of the grantees. No one should hold more than five hundred acres; and widows of original grantees were permitted to hold and enjoy the dwelling-house, garden, and one moiety of the lands held by their husbands at time of death, for and during the term of the natural lives of said widows. This act did not meet the demand made by the petitioners. The resolutions were pub- lished in sections in the Charleston Gazette, as there was then no news- paper published in Georgia. The people found it hard to understand the meaning of those resolutions, and Col. William Stephens under- took to read and explain them in an assembly at the court-house on a day appointed for the purpose. Capt. Hugh MeCall, in his history of Georgia * gives an amusing account of that incident from which we quote this passage: "After he had finished his task, and exerted his utmost abilities in giving an explanation, one of the settlers ludicrously remarked that the whole paper consisted of males and tails; that all the lawyers in London would not be able to bring the meaning down to his comprehension; and that he understood as little of its meaning then as he had when Stephens began. Others wished to know how often those two words had occurred in the resolutions, that the number ought to be preserved as a curiosity, and that the author ought to be lodged in Bedlam for lunacy." Further changes were made in this matter of land tenure at a later time which gave the holders title in fee-simple absolute. It is probable that the grant to Mordecai Sheftall of September, 1762. of a garden lot from which a portion was set apart as a Jewish cemetery was then given to secure
* Vol. I, p. 140. Savannah, 1811 (1st edition).
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him in possession of that land which he previously held on more uncer- tain conditions, and thus the burial place used as such for a number of years before, was formally passed over to trustees for a sacred purpose.
WILLIAM STEPHENS, COLONIAL PRESIDENT
After the division of the province into two counties it was deemed unnecessary to appoint a president for the southern county of Fred- erica as Oglethorpe himself was on the spot and could take care of that office, and the magistrates then acted as the assistants, as contemplated in the act making the change in the form of government. Pres. Wil- liam Stephens acted as president of the County of Savannah from 1741 until 1743, when he was made president of all the colony. He was born on the 28th of January, 1671, old style, and was the son of Sir Wm. Stephens, Bart., lieutenant-governor of the Isle-of-Wight where his son was born. When he was twenty-five years old the young man married a daughter of Sir Richard Newdigate, and a little later in life he entered parliament, representing the town of Newport. He held several offices in England before coming to America, and, accept- ing an offer from Colonel Hersey of South Carolina to make a survey of a barony of land there, he formed the acquaintance of General Ogle- thorpe upon whose recommendation he received the appointment of secretary to the trustees, which required him "to take a general over- sight of affairs." When he became president of the colony he was well advanced in years, being over seventy, and his age, combined with misfortunes and family troubles rendered him in a few years incapable of performing properly the duties of his office. In 1750 his assistants made known to him the fact that his condition made it necessary for him to take a rest, and he told them to manage the affairs of the province without his aid, and that he would "soon retire into the country, where he would be at liberty to mind the more weighty things of a future state; not doubting but the Trustees would enable him to end his few remaining days without care and anxieties." He did not live long after his retirement from office, and died in 1753. It was said of him in an obituary notice. . "For many years he had made a considerable figure in the polite world ; had sat twenty-six years in the British House of Commons, and to his great honor, in every change, behaved with great address and truth to his constituents."
The country place to which William Stephens retired, and where it is presumed that he died. was Beaulieu, on the Vernon river, now one of the most attractive resorts adjacent to the city of Savannah, and on that account, as well as on others to be mentioned, deserving some notice here. Shortly after his arrival in the colony he secured a grant to that traet of land of five hundred aeres. The grant to it was confirmed by Oglethorpe. April 19, 1738. In the interesting and rare "Journal of the Proceedings in Georgia," by the owner of the place, the author, on the 21st of March, 1739, wrote "I was now called upon to give the Place a Name; and therefore naturally revolving in my Thoughts divers Places in my native Country, to try if I could find any that had a resemblance to this; I faneied that Bewhie, a Manor of
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his Grace the Duke of Montague in the New Forest, was not unlike it much as to its situation, and being on the skirts of that Forest, had Plenty of large Timber growing everywhere near: moreover a fine Arm of the Sea running close by, which parts the Isle of Wight from the main Land, and make a beautiful Prospect; from all which Tradition tells us it took its Name and was antiently called Beaulieu, though now vulgarly Bewlie; only by leaving out the a in the first Syllable, and the u in the end of the last." *
BEAULIEU (BEWLIE) FOUNDED BY STEPHENS
It was at this place that the French allies landed in the War of the Revolution, on the 11th of September, 1779, pressing on from that point to take part in the siege of the city in the month of October. When that point is reached in the history, the place will then be further considered. In connection with the description of the place from which Stephens bestowed the name, as given in his own words. the following more recent account fits in with what has just been quoted : "Beaulieu, a liberty in the union of New Forest, Southamp- ton and S. division of the County of Southampton, on the road to Hythe, containing, with an extra-parochial distriet within its limits, 1,339 inhabitants. This place is situated on a river of the same name, which rises in the New Forest, at the foot of a hill about a mile and a half to the north-east of Lyndhurst, and is navigable for vessels of fifty tons' burthen to the Isle of Wight channel which bounds the parish on the south. On reaching the village, the river spreads into a wide surface covering several acres, on the eastern side of which stood .Beaulieu Abbey, founded in 1204, by King John, for thrifty monks of the Benedictine order, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary; its revenue at the dissolution in 1540 was $428.6.6. It had the privilege of sanctuary, and afforded an asylum to Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, after the battle of Barnet, and to Perkin Warbeck, in the reign of Henry VII. Beaulieu has long been noted for the manufac- ture of coarse sacking: near the village of Sowley, within the liberty, were formerly two large mills belonging to some iron-works; and at Buckler's Hard, another populous village in the liberty, situated on the Beaulieu river, and inhabited principally by workmen employed in ship-building, many vessels of war have been built. At Sowley is a fine sheet of water, abounding with pike, some of which are of very large size, weighing nearly 28 lbs. Fairs for horses and horned cattle are held on April 15th and September 4th." t
The title to this property passed from one owner to another until April, 1854, when Mr. John Schley purchased the entire tract. He divided it into lots of convenient size and sokl many of them mainly to citizens of Savannah from about 1868 until his death ; and the place is now a settlement of some importance.
* Vol. II, pp. 166, 318, 319. London, 1742.
. t A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, London, 1848, 49 Vol. I.
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THE CREEK-BOSOMWORTH IMBROGLIO
It was during the administration of Governor Stephens that an affair of considerable importance occurred in the city of Savannah, attended with existing scenes and incidents the like of which had never before been known there. and, it is reasonable to believe. never since. It was the trouble known as the Bosomworth affair. During all the time Oglethorpe had the reins of government in his hands, he easily and quietly held in check everything that seemed like opposition to his plans, and he was certainly understood and held in the highest esteem by the Indians who not only granted him all his desires but were even willing to bestow upon him and those under him more than they felt they should accept. With his continued absence came the first real trouble with them, and this exciting incident probably would have been averted if he had remained on the spot. When he first landed at Yamacraw bluff he engaged the services of a half breed woman named Mary, as an interpreter, as she spoke both the Creek and the English languages. Her Indian name was Consaponakeeso. Born at the Coweta town, on the Ocmulgee, she was carried, when seven years old, to Ponpon, South Carolina, where she was baptized and edu- cated in a Christian way. The government of South Carolina, in 1716, tried to make a treaty with the Creeks, sending to them for that pur- pose Col. John Musgrove. and then that gentleman's son, John Mus- grove, Jr., fell in love with this Indian girl, who, through the ma- ternal line, was a descendant of a Creek emperor. and married her. In 1723, the couple returned to South Carolina, and shortly before the landing of the English at Yamacraw established a trading house there. Finding that she would be useful in his transactions with the Indians, Oglethorpe secured her friendship which remained firm as long as he remained in this country, and upon the death of Musgrove, about three years after his landing, by his advice she opened a trading station somewhere south of the Alatamaha where she married Capt. Jacob Matthews. Matthews died in 1742, and she afterwards was united in marriage with the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth, employed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Until her last marriage her conduct toward the English people was all that could have been desired. and it is a fair presumption that in marrying her Rev. Mr. Bosomworth contemplated the scheme for the betterment of his financial affairs which before long he developed. At the end of the first year of his married life he went to England. informing the trustees that he did not expect to return to Georgia. Changing his mind two years thereafter he re-appeared in the colony and began to put in action the deep-laid plot for making himself rich and which kept Georgia stirred up with disturbance and strife for some years. He claimed that a large amount was due his wife for her valuable services, and aimed to get control and title to the lands which in the treaties with the Indians had been reserved to them, namely, Ossabaw. St. Catherine's and Sapelo islands, together with a tract above Pipemaker's creek, on the Savannah river. He induced Colonel Heron, of Oglethorpe's regi- ment, and others, to enter into the plot with him and with their assist-
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anee a meeting was arranged with a body of Indians, led by Malatchce, at Frederica, where that chief made a speech relating the services of Mr. Bosomworth, advising that Bosomworth's brother Adam be sent to England to inform the king that he, Malatchee, was emperor of the Creeks, and that his sister Mary had the confidence of the Creek Nation, all the people of which had determined to stand by her in her intention. Thomas Bosomworth proposed that Malatehee should have himself crowned, and a document was written in which he was clothed with all the authority claimed for him by Bosomworth. This being done, a deed was made by the newly created emperor to the husband and wife of St. Catherine's, Ossabaw and Sapelo. islands. the con- sideration being ten pieces of stroud, twelve pieces of duffles, two hun- dred weight of powder, two hundred pounds of lead, twenty guns, twelve pairs of pistols and one hundred pounds of vermilion. Thomas Bosomworth bought on eredit from some South Carolina planters a number of heads of cattle with which to stoek the islands so acquired, but the increase did not meet his expectation, and he was so involved in debt that he induced his wife to declare herself an independent empress, which she did at a council of the Creeks called for the pur- pose, when they excitedly pledged their allegiance to her, declaring they would protect her rights at all hazards. Under the protection of those people she went to Savannah to demand of the president of the province a complete surrender of the lands granted to her. Her arrival there followed the announcement of her coming through a special messenger who gave information of all that had been done at the meeting. This so alarmed the president and couneil that they resolved to make a pretense of trying to be friendly towards her plans until they could find an opportunity of seizing her and sending her to England, at the same time informing the commanding offieers of the provincial militia to be ready to march to Savannah at a moment's notiee.
The town was at once placed in the best position of defense consider- ing the small number of men within its limits capable of bearing arms, not amounting, all told, to two hundred. When within a few miles of the town Mary was met by a messenger of the council desiring to be in- formed whether she was really in earnest as to her claim and advising her to be more reasonable in her demands, urging her, in fact, to drop them entirely. She could not be moved, however, and it was decided to show her, on her arrival, that she must give up her wild ideas. Captain Jones, at the head of the militia, met the advancing party as they entered Savannah, and demanded an explanation of their intention. An evasive reply was made, whereupon they were ordered to lay down their arms, which command they reluctantly obeyed. Then Thomas Bosomworth, with his wife and the chiefs. entered the town in state, he being clothed in his priestly robes, their appearanee frightening the inhabitants, not- withstanding the militia were formed in ranks with their guus tightly grasped. They were saluted with fifteen cannon, and were escorted to the president's house where Bosomworth and his brother Adam were denied admittance, and the chiefs were permitted to make known the reason of their appearance in force without having been invited. These
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Indians declared that Mrs. Bosomworth had been chosen to speak to the authorities, and that they were at her command; that learning the faet that their queen was to be sent as a captive across the ocean, they wanted to know why it was so desired. Protesting that they came with no hostile intention, they asked that their arms be given back to them, and, after an interview with Mary and Thomas Bosomworth, they would again report and come to an agreement as to the matter complained of. Foolishly, their arms were restored to them, but, wisely, no ammunition was given them, delay in that matter being considered proper until the real purpose of their visit eould be aseertained.
The next day, after talking with Mrs. Bosomworth, they showed plainly that their intention was not as peaceable as they had declared, and their actions showed a turbulent spirit. The town was indeed in a most excited state. The men were all under military orders, and the women were afraid to stay in their homes without protection. In the midst of the turmoil it was stated that the Indians had beheaded the president, and the officers could hardly be persuaded not to open fire on the enemy. It was considered wise to secure the person of Bosom- worth who was aeeordingly arrested and placed in confinement, and that so exasperated his wife that she became like an insane person. threatening everyone who opposed her, and ordering the magistrates to leave her dominion, at the same time eursing General Oglethorpe and the treaties which she said he had fraudulently obtained. and asserted that the ground on which she stood was hers. Fearing that her leaders would yield to offers of bribery, she kept them near her at all times, forbidding them to talk to others except within her hearing.
No other plan sufficing to quell the tumult, Mary was herself taken into custody, when the president, through interpreters, informed the warriors, at an entertainment provided for them, of the real purpose of the two Bosomworthis, and asserted their own desire to treat fairly the Indians who had theretofore been their friends. Setting the matter squarely before them, this speech of the president was eonvineing in its effect, and the warriors began to see through the design of Mary and her husband. Malatchee himself then appeared to be satisfied, and in answer to the question why he, who was really the chief of the nation. to whom the president and couneil were about to give gifts for himself and his companions for their services to the colony, acknowledged the woman Mary as their empress, said that the whole nation recognized her as such, and that the presents could be distributed by none but one of her family. This answer showed how far the Bosomworths had influ- enced the Indians, and, in order to lessen the expenses and the hardship to the people in keeping guard during the period of this trouble, desired to distribute the gifts himself and to dismiss these men ; but Malatchee, gaining consent to visit the Bosomworths, again promised allegiance to them, and the trouble was renewed. He went among his people while they were awaiting the distribution of the gifts and spoke in a way caleulated to put them at once in an attitude of strife. He claimed that Mary was the possessor of the land before Oglethorpe arrived, and that she possessed it as their queen, and declared to the inhabitants that the three thousand warriors under her command would rush to her in
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defense of her rights, ending with the production of a paper which he handed to the president containing in effect what he had just spoken. Internal evidence showed that the paper was the work of Bosomworth. In the preamble the names of all the Indians known as kings of the two divisions of Creeks appeared, but of all mentioned only two were present, and the whole paper was substantially what was said by Malatchee. In it the woman was recognized as the real chief of the tribe, and called their princess, with all authority to dispose of their affairs, as she might see fit, with the king of England and his appointees at home and in the province. Malatehee perceiving that the council did not attach to the claims the importance he expected them to show, asked that it be re- turned to him, pretending he did not know it was as severe in its lan- guage as he had found it to be, and declared he would return it to the sender. Then the president spoke to the Indians, assembled at his re- quest, telling of the condition in which Mary was living when Oglethorpe came ; of the fact that because of her knowledge of both languages he had employed her as an interpreter, paying her well for her services and mak- ing her condition so much better than it would ever have become under other circumstances : of her good character and the respeet in which she had been held until her marriage to Bosomworth; of the fact that she was not a kinswoman of Malatchee, but only the daughter of an Indian woman of no virtnous repute by a white man; and of her not owning the lands she claimed as her own; that the lands of the Indians formerly were lying waste and that they were glad when the white men came among them and gave them articles to help them live more comfortably : that all the present bad feeling had come about through the desire of Thomas Bosomworth to get money, as he owed a large sum in South Carolina; that it was his real purpose to take from the Indians their rights; and that all this was, if continued, bound to cause them to lose their best friends who really were willing and able to assist them in their living and to help them in their troubles with their enemies.
RENEWED FRIENDSHIP ALMOST SEVERED
He was allowed to proceed no farther, and the Indians, convinced of the truth, confessed that they now could see the matter in its true light, and were determined to stand by their real friends. Desiring to smoke the pipe of peace, their wish was granted and, in addition to pipes and tobacco, they were supplied with rum, when professions of friendship were made and received, and presents were distributed to the Indians who freely accepted them, Malatchee himself showing that he was satisfied with his portion. Just then Mary appeared on the scene, very much under the influence of fire-water, denouncing the pres- ident, and telling him that he would shortly see that he had no control over the people she claimed as her own. Good advice was given her by the president, but it was unheeded, and she informed Malatchee in her own way of what had been said to her. That man, unmindful of his promise just made, held the arms of the president, and appealed to his men to follow him, daring anyone to touch their queen. Uproar and confusion followed, and the Indians swung their tomahawks, threatening Vol. 1-8
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the president and his couneil who were in great danger. To the courage of Captain Jones, then commander of the guard, the Indians, ordered by him to surrender their arms. had to submit, and that courage was shown just in the moment when all hope seemed to be abandoned. Disarmed, the companions of Mary were helpless, and she was imprisoned and guarded, so that she could hold no intereourse with any of her people. Then her husband was summoned and was reasoned with, but he only abused the authorities, and would not yield to the good adviee given by them, so that his person also was secured, and the Indians were persuaded to leave the town. when the place beeame quiet. Adam Bosomworth, a brother of Thomas. who was agent of Indian affairs in South Carolina, became acquainted with the circumstances up to this point, and made his way to Savannah, and. ashamed of his brother's aetion, interposed, and brought to an end all the disturbanee and uneasiness. Thomas was made to see his folly, and became penitent, and apologized to the authorities, who freely forgave him. Thus was peaee restored, and no further trouble came from that source just then.#
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