USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 31
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"Augusta, January 1st, 1782: Being the time appointed by the con- stitution of this State for the meeting of the General Assembly
"January 4th, 1782 : The House met according to adjournment
"Ordered, That the Speaker be requested to write to his Excellency General Nathaniel Greene, informing him of the Honorable John Martin, Esquire, being elected Governor of this State, which was as follows: House of Assembly, 4th January, 1782 .- Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Honorable Jolin Martin, Esquire, has been elected Governor of this State for the ensuing year, agreeable to the Constitution. I have the Honor to be Your Excellency's
"Most obedient, humble Servant.
To His Excellency,
"Majr. General Greene."
"Wednesday, May. 1st, 1782. The House met according to adjourn- ment.
"Whereas, the Honorable Major-General Nathaniel Greene hath since his taking the Command of the Southern Army rendered high important services to these Southern States by wresting them from the hands of British oppression, and establishing the foundation of their independence and prosperity
"And Whereas, services so glorious and honorable to the United States in general and this State in particular, services which at once characterize the able and judieious General as well as the intrepid asser- tion of American freedom, call for the distinguished approbation of the Legislature of this State,
"Be it therefore Resolved, That the sum of Five Thousand guineas be granted to three Commissioners to be appointed by this House for the purpose of purchasing an Estate for Major-General Nathaniel Greene, in sueh part or parts of this State as he shall appoint.
"Resolved, That the said Commissioners be empowered and author- ized to draw on and receive the said sum of five thousand guineas from the public treasury of this State.
. "Ordered, That a committee be appointed to write to Major-General Greene, and Brigadier-General Wayne, on the substance of the Resolve in their favour. And that Mr. Howly, Mr. Clay, and Mr. Baker be that Committee."
"Saturday, May 4th, 1782 .- The House met according to adjourn- ment * *
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"Ordered, That Mr. Howley, Mr. Clay, and Mr. O'Bryan be a com- mittee to purchase Estates for Generals Greene and Wayne." * * .
"Wednesday, July 31st, 1782 .- The House met according to adjourn- ment. * ** *
"The Committee appointed to purchase lands for the Generals Wayne and Greene, agreeable to the Resolve of this House of the 1st day of May last, report. * That they have purchased another traet of land for the Honorable Major-General Greene, formerly the property of Graham, Esqr., supposed to contain two thousand one hundred seven- ty-one acres. Amount of purchase, seven thousand Ninety-seven pounds, nineteen Shillings. The Committee request if the House approves of the same that this House will give directions to the Commissioners for the forfeited estates to execute titles for the above tracts of land to Gen- erals Greene and Wayne." *
"Monday, January 13th, 1783 .- The House met according to ad- journment
"Motion being made and seconded that a committee be appointed to prepare and report an address, to be printed, to the Honorable Major- General Greene, Commander-in-Chief in the Southern Department.
"Ordered, that Mr. William Houstoun, Mr. Telfair, and Mr. Jack- son be that Committee.
"To the Honorable Nathaniel Greene, Esquire, Major-General. and Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Department, etc., etc .: The ad- dress of the Representatives of the Freemen of the State of Georgia- The Legislature of the State of Georgia wish to assure you of the real happiness your presence in their Capital has given them-words are too inexpressible to convey their sentiments of the difficulties you have surmounted during your command in the Southern Department, not only your well directed exertions, and the virtuous struggles of your victorious army, but your views of ease to the Citizens. in drawing your resources through a Seattered Country, will be ever gratefully remem- bered by a State which has felt so particularly the happy consequences of them.
"They congratulate you, Sir, on the Signal success wherewith the arms of the United States under your Command with the blessings of Divine Providence has been erowned by the total expulsion of the enemy from the southern States-an annal in the history of our Country which must endear the name of Greene as long as the remembrance of British tyranny shall be handed to posterity.
"They beg you to accept their unfeigned thanks for your deeided and intrepid conduct and to believe their ardent desire your future days may meet that care and happiness a glorious and serviceable life through this grand revolution most deservedly entitle you to.
"By order, etc.,
"Tuesday, January 14th, 1783-The House met according to ad- journment. * *
"A letter from the Hon'rable Major-General Greene was read.
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"Ordered, that the said letter be inserted in the minutes: and is as follows : 'Sir :- Your polite and obliging address to welcome me to this State afford me the most singular satisfaction : Nor are your liberal acknowledgments for my small services and generous wishes for my future care less pleasing. It affords me the most agreeable sensations to Contemplate the happy change in the affairs of this Country, and it is among the first of iny wishes that you may long, long enjoy the blessings of freedom and independence-free from further alarms: But should it be your misfortune to have the flame of war rekindled in this quarter, my early endeavors shall not be wanting to check its progress-and I can not but hope by the smiles of Providence the virtue and spirit of the Army, joined by the genious of the Country we shall triumph over our enemies. I beg the Legislature to believe I am highly Sensible of the honor they have done me, and take the liberty to assure you of my ready disposition to serve them.
" 'I have the honor to be, etc.'"
"Saturday, January 18th, 1783-Resolved, that the persons ap- pointed to purchase lands for the Honorable Major-General Greene be desired to report a full state of their proceedings thereon and in what stage the business stands. * * *
"The Committee having received Satisfactory information that Major-General Greene had declined the purchase made by the Commis- sioners appointed by the State to purchase certain lands on the condi- tions therein contained. therefore
"Resolved, That the Commissioners appointed to sell and dispose of the Confiscated property do make titles to Major-General Greene, for a tract or tracts of land formerly the property of John Graham, Esquire -containing, as it is said, Two Thousand. one hundred and Seventy-one acres-Known by the name of Mulberry Grove, and the New [ Place] in lieu of a grant of five thousand [ guineas as passed in his favor by the Legislature]# of this State of the thirteenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, if the same be agreeable to him."
CONFISCATED BRITISH ESTATES
On the 4th of May, 1782, the legislature passed an act entitled "An Act for Inflicting Penalties on, and Confiscating the Estates of such . Persons as are Therein Declared Guilty of Treason, and for other Pur- poses Therein Mentioned." Naturally Sir James Wright's was the first named on the list of persons against whom the legislation was in- voked, and his lieutenant-governor, John Graham was the second. Gra- ham's property was to be used in the remuneration of General Greene. The third name was Alexander Wright whose property was specially set aside for the benefit of General Wayne; and Josiah Tattnall's name came sixth, and his house, as we have seen, was appropriated to the use
* The words here inserted in brackets are not now legible in the original, and have consequently been left out of copies made for use in the several histories bear- ing on this subject; but the missing words are fortunately preserved in the deed from the Commissioners of Confiscated Estates to General Greene, hereinafter tran- scribed, and are now supplied from that document.
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of Col. James Jaekson. Under said aet the house of assembly appointed a connmission composed of two persons from each eounty, exeept Camden and Glynn which should each have only one, to take possession of and sell the property of the loyalists, and the commission so appointed began the work assigned to them on the 13th of June. From an imperfect record of that body we take the following, from its first transaction, and before it was deeided to make titles to Generals Greene and Wayne of the lands confiscated :
"At a Board of Commissioners held at the town of Ebenezer in the County of Effingham. for the Sales of Confiscated Estates in the County of Chatham on the 13th of June, 1782.
"Present :
"JOHN BAKER,
"JOSIAHI POWELL,
"CHARLES ODINGSELL'S, " THOMAS WASHINGTON,
THOMAS LEWIS, PETER PARIS, JAMES MARTIN, DANIEL COLEMAN. "
"JOHN McLEAN, * * * * *
"MULBERRY GROVE" MADE OVER TO GREENE
"'Messrs. Clay, O'Bryen & Howley for Generals Greene & Wayne. Dr. £ S
1782, June 13th-To
d Dr. £ S d
1,000 Acres of Land
late the property of . Alexander Wright on Savannah River @ £3 8/ pr. Aere .. £ 3,400
To 847 Aeres Land late the property of John Graham and known by the Name of New Settlement
@ £3 5/ pr. Aere ..
2,752 15 0
To 1,224 Acres of Land late the prop- erty of John Gra- ham known by the name of Mulberry Grove @ £3 11/ pr. Acre
4,345
To 300 Aeres of Land late the property of Sir James Wright on Great Ogeechee known by the Name of Mulberry Grove 4 0 @ £15 1/ pr. Aere .. 4,515 0 0
*£15,512 19 0
Per Contra Cr.
€
S d 1782-By a resolve of the House of Assembly General Greene was voted £5,000 and Gen'l Wayne £4,000 ..... ₺ 9,000 0 0
* £15,012.19.0 is the correct amount, but the above is given in the record.
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At last, to give General Greene absolute title to the Mulberry Grove place, the Commissioners of Confiseation made the following deed of eonveyanee :
"STATE OF GEORGIA-This Indenture, made the fifthi day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five and in the ninth year of the independence of the United States of Amer- iea, Between Hugh Lawson, Hepworth Carter and Abraham Ravot, Esquires, Commissioners of Confiscated Estates in the said State, of the one part, and the Honorable Nathanael Greene, Esquire, Major-General of the army of the said United States, of the other part. Whereas in and by a certain Act of Assembly, made and passed at Augusta in the said State, on the fourth day of May which was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, entitled: 'An Act for inflieting Penalties on and Confiscating the Estates of such persons as were therein declared guilty of treason,' and for other purposes therein mentioned, John Graham, late of the County of Chatham, Esquire, being named in the said Act, was and is thereby declared guilty of treason and banished from the State forever, and all his estate, both real and personal, confiscated to and for the use of the said State; and whereas the said John Graham was, at the time of the passing of the said Act, or on the nineteenth day of April which was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, seized in fee simple of, in, and to all and singular the lands and hereditaments herein after par- tieularly mentioned and deseribed, which said lands and hereditaments being forfeited and confiscated by the said Act, the same thereby became vested in the good people of the said State; and whereas the Honorable the General Assembly of the said State did, on the eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, resolve as followeth (that is to say) 'That the Commis- sioners appointed to sell and dispose of the eonfiseated property do inake titles to Major-General Greene for a traet or tracts of land for- merly the property of John Graham, Esquire, containing, as it is said, two thousand one hundred and seventy-one acres known by the name of Mulberry Grove and the New Place, in lieu of a grant of five thousand guineas as passed in his favor by the Legislature of this State of the thirteenth day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, if the same be agreeable to him'; and whereas the said Hugh Lawson, Hepworth Carter and Abraham Ravot, parties to these presents. are three of the Commissioners authorized and appointed by the Honorable the General Assembly of the said State for carrying into execution the Aet aforesaid: Now Therefore, This Indenture Witnesseth that the said Hugh Lawson, Hepworth Carter and Abraham Ravot, parties to these presents and three of the Commissioners authorized and appointed by the Honorable General Assembly of the said State for carrying into execution the Act aforesaid-as Commissioners as aforesaid, in pursu- ance and execution of the said Aet of attainder and confiscation and of the above recited resolve of the General Assembly and by virtue of the power and authority to them thereby given, and for and in con -. sideration of the sum of ten shillings to them in hand well and truly
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paid by the said Nathanael Greene at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, they, the said Hugh Lawson, Hepworth Carter and Abraham Ravot, as Com- missioners aforesaid, have granted, bargained, sold, conveyed and con- firmed, and, by these presents. do grant, bargain, sell. convey and eon- firm into the said Nathanael Greene, his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of land known by the name of Mulberry Grove Plantation, situated and being in the County of Chatham at Joseph's Town on the River Savannah, containing by re-survey eight hundred and thirty- three acres to the same more or less originally granted to Ann Graham, widow, bounded on the east by the said River Savannah, on the north by land then of Patrick Maekay. and south by land formerly of David Cuthbert, and west on land lately vacant ; and also that other traet of land containing two hundred and seventy-four acres by resurveying ad- joining the above tract, bounded eastwardly partly on the land before mentioned and partly on land formerly of Henry Kennan and lately of James Parsons, southerly by land late of John Joachim Znbly, westerly by land of Joseph Wood and John Dodd, and northerly on land heretofore of John Ross; and also all that other traet of land containing one hundred and seventeen acres, part and pareel of a traet adjoining the above mentioned traet of eight hundred and thirty- three acres originally granted to Patrick Maekay, easterly by the River Savannah, southerly by the first mentioned traet of eight hundred and thirty-three aeres, northerly by the remainder of the tract, and westerly by Andrew Lord's tract which he purchased of John Joachim Zubly ; and also all that other tract of land called and known by the name of New Settlement adjoining Mulberry Grove tract containing six hundred acres, bounded on the northeast by the River Savannah, northerly on land formerly of Patrick Mackay and sold by him to David Douglass, and on the south by land formerly of Ann Graham, widow, with the surplus contained in the said traet, the same having been re-surveyed by John Douglass and including River Savannah, part of Morton Hall tract, making together eight hundred and forty-seven aeres, more or less, which said several traets of land above mentioned were late the absolute property of the said John Graham, named in the said aet of attainder and confiscation, and eontain in the whole two thousand and seventy-one acres, and are the same tracts mentioned and intended by the resolve aforesaid to be granted to the said Nathanael Greene: To- gether with all and singular the houses, out-houses, edifiees, buildings, improvements, trees, woods, underwoods, ways, paths, passages, waters, water courses, lights, easements, profits, commodities, privileges, advan- tages, emoluments, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever on the said several tracts of land standing and being, or thereunto in any wise belonging or appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rent, issues and profits thereof and of every part and pareel thereof; and all the estate, right, title interest, inheritance, prop- erty, profits, benefit, elaim and demand whatsoever either at law or in equity of the said John Graham, his heirs and assigns, of, in and to the said several traets of land and every part and parcel thereof; and also all the estate, right, title and interest of the people of the State of
1
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Georgia and of them the said Hugh Lawson, Hepworth Carter and Abraham Ravot, as commissioners as aforesaid, and their suecessors in office, of in and to the same and every part and pareel thereof: To Have and To Hold the said several tracts of land and all and singular other the premises above mentioned and hereby intended to be bargained and sold with their and every of their rights, members and appurte- nanees unto the said Nathanael Greene, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Nathanael Greene, his heirs and assigns forever for such estate as the said John Graham had or which he, his heirs or assigns, might or could have had, held, or enjoyed in the same, had he the said John Graham not been attained as aforesaid and these presents not been made. And the said Hugh Lawson, Hepworth Carter and Abraham Ravot and their successors in office the said several traets of land above mentioned hereby bargained and sold, or intended so to be, with their and every of their appurtenanees unto the said Nathanael Greene his heirs and assigns against the said John Graham his heirs and assigns and all and every other person and persons claim- ing or to elaim by, from or under him. them, or any of them, and against the good people of the State of Georgia under the Act and resolve afore- said shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
"In Witness Whereof the said Hugh Lawson, Hepworth Carter, and Abraham Ravot, commissioners aforesaid, have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
"HUGH LAWSON, [L. S.] "HEPWORTH CARTER, [L. S.]
"Sealed and delivered in presence of Peter Taarling, Sam'l Stirk.'
ANTHONY WAYNE AND HIS SERVICES
Having shown how highly esteemed were the services of General Greene, we will turn our attention to the similar aetion in the ease of Anthony Wayne.
On Wednesday, May 1, 1782, the Georgia House of Assembly, in addi- tion to the action appropriating 5.000 guineas to General Greene, passed the following: "Whereas Brigadier General Wayne hath, sinee his com- manding the foree of the United States within this state, rendered great and meritorious services to the country by driving in the posts of the enemy, and with a very inferior force keeping them confined to Savannah : and whereas the gallant and judicious eondnet of the said General highly merits the generous attention and approbation of the Legislature of this state :
"Resolved that a high sense of the great merits and services rendered by the Honorable Brigadier General Anthony Wayne is entertained by this House. and that the same be acknowledged in a letter from the speaker to the said General.
"Resolved that the sum of four thousand guineas be granted to three Commissioners to be appointed by this House for the purpose of pur- chasing an estate for Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, in such part or parts of the State as he shall appoint.
"And be it further resolved that the said commissioners be em-
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powered and authorized to draw on and receive the said sum of four thousand guineas from the public treasury of this State."
On the fourth of May : "Ordered that Mr. Howley, Mr. Clay and Mr. O'Bryan be a Committee to purchase estates for Generals Greene and Wayne" JJuly 13. "A letter from the Hon'rable Brigadier General Wayne was read.
"Ordered that a committee be appointed to take the same into con- sideration and that Mr. Clay, Mr. Wereat, and Mr. MeNeil be that eom- mittee to report on Monday next."
July 22d. "The Committee appointed to take into consideration Gen- eral Wayne's letter of the thirteenth July reported.
"That it is their opinion that the terms offered by Gen'l Wayne to said persons as were within the British lines at the time they were made were proper and for the interest of this State, and ought to be eonfined to all such whose names are not mentioned in the Aet for inflieting penal- ties in and eonfiseating the estates of such persons as are therein deelared guilty of treason, and for other purposes therein mentioned, and shall faithfully and strictly comply with the conditions required. That is to say, who shall bona fide enlist in the Georgia Regiment of Infantry, and there for the term of two years, or during the war, faithfully serve and discharge their duty, and no other.
"And that all offenses committed by any of the persons under the above deseription before the time of their enlistment as aforesaid (murder excepted) ought to be buried in oblivion.
"Nothing in this resolve is intended to interfere with the right of individuals to eivil aetions who may suppose themselves aggrieved by persons under the above description."
July 31. "The Committee appointed to purchase lands for the Gen- erals Greene and Wayne, agreeable to a resolve of this House of the first day of May last. report.
"That they have purchased another traet of land for the Hon'orable Brigadier Gen'l Wayne formerly the property of Alexander Wright, Esq., supposed to contain eight hundred forty seven aeres. Amount of purchase three thousand nine hundred pounds. *
"The Committee request if the House approve of the same that this House will give directions to the Commissioners for the Forfeited Estates to execute titles for the above."
When the honse adjourned on Saturday, August 3, 1782, it was to meet the next day, (Sunday) the 4th, when "The Committee to whom was referred the letter and several enclosures from General Wayne report.
"That they recommend a committee be appointed to wait on General Wayne, and express the high sense this Honse entertains of his important serviees already rendered the State; and the full assurance they have that all his plans and operations will have for their object the welfare of this and the other confederated States. And that the said Committee do further inform the General that no exertions on their part have been spared, or shall in future be spared, to complete their quota of troops. That the House have already ordered two galleys and two gun boats to be built for the protection of the rivers in the State, and that their best
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endeavour shall - be exerted to complete this very necessary piece of business.
"Ordered that Mr. Le Conte and Mr. Houstonn be that Committee."
GREENE VISITS MULBERRY GROVE
The deed to General Greene was executed on the 5th of March, 1785; but it is to be presumed that he had looked over the place before that time. A news item in the Georgia Gazette of August 12, 1784. copied from a Charleston. South Carolina. paper of the 4th, said that "last Sun- day evening the sloop Charleston Parker, William. Cornell, master, arrived here from Rhode Island. with whom came passengers the Honor- able Major General Greene. Sir Peyton Skipwith, and several others." General Greene's daughter Cornelia married Peyton Skipwith who was the second son of this gentleman. # Doubtless the General visited Savan- nah while on that southern trip and saw the place which even at that early date had been selected as his future home. Again on the 28th of January, 1785. according to a statement of the Savannah newspaper. on the authority of a Charleston paper. the general arrived at the latter place in the evening, and from Charleston he proceeded to Savannah, as the Georgia Gazette of Thursday, February 24th, said: "The Honorable Major General Greene arrived here on Saturday from Charleston." He probably went to his plantation then and spent some time there, as he did not hasten his departure from Savannah, from which place Governor Samuel Elbert wrote on the 8th of March.
"To his Excellency. the Governor of East Florida :- Sir :- I was honored by the receipt of your Excellency's letter * The Hon- orable Major General Greene, who does me the honour to be the bearer of this letter, I beg leave to introduce to your Exeellency. This gen- tleman's character is so well known to you that it is unnecessary for me to say anything to induce your excellency to pay that attention to him which would be done to a person of his distinguished mind.
"The General has a valuable estate on the Island of Cumberland which he goes to take a view of, and intends visiting your provinee before his return.
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