USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 9
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BOTH PROGRESSIVE AND PATRIOTIC
Among the most progressive citizens Savannah has had during all the periods of her history, the Jews have always taken a prominent stand. No class of people has done more for her advancement and none has done better work in advaneing the city's interests and to promote her increase in all that is implied in the word "progress" than that people. It is well to remember that among the many who from first to last deserted the cause of American independence during the struggle which lasted from 1776 to 1783, and whose names are mentioned in the several aets passed by the Georgia legislature in reference to the person and property of those misguided ones who, fearing the coercion of the colonies by England, abandoned the canse which they deemed hopeless, there cannot be found a single Israelite; while it is equally true that many of that race valiantly fought for independence and contributed
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liberally of their means to the support of that cause. It is true also that in the war between the states, from 1861 to 1865, many of that race did their full duty in standing by the seceding states until all hope of suc- cess was finally abandoned. Of the commendable conduct of many of them in time of action, particular mention will be made in situ; but, as proof of the patriotism of this people, we note just here that, when Gen- eral Washington visited Savannah in May, 1791, a special address was made to him by the Congregation Mickva Israel.
CHAPTER VI
SALZBURG AND SILK
ACCESSION OF SALZBURG (GERMAN PROTESTANT) COLONISTS-ENCOURAG- ING THE SILK INDUSTRY-THE FILATURE BUILDINGS-DRAWBACKS IN- SURMOUNTABLE.
The attention of the trustees was called, at a very early date after receiving the charter, to the needs of foreign Protestants seeking a home ' where they could be free to worship God after the manner of their an- cestors and as conscience led them. Thus, at a meeting held July 27, 1732, the minutes show that they "drew up a Proposal for trans- porting a number of the Salzburg Exiles, and desired Mr. Vernon to lay the same before the Gentlemen now concerned in collecting benefactions for their Relief. Next month, August 3d, Mr. Vernon reported that he had followed the instructions given him, and that matter met with the approval of the persons before whom he had laid it. Still later in the month, August 31st,-"Jacob Winekler, Theobald Kupper, Ludwig Koel, Henric Croneberger, George Menglesdorff, Andereas Winekler and Nicolas Rizer, German Swiss, being labourers and vine dressers, at- tended, and received from Lord Carpenter, Mr. Vernon and Mr. Ogle- thorpe three guineas towards furnishing them with working tools; they, with their familys being the first Germans that are to establish the town of Purisburgh." Again, on the 12th of October of the same year, the minutes record that "Mr. Vernon and Dr. Bundy acquainted the Trus- tees that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge were desirous that the persecuted Salzburghers should have an asylum provided for them in Georgia."
ACCESSION OF SALZBURG (GERMAN PROTESTANT) COLONISTS
Willing though they were to provide at an early period homes in Georgia for those good people, the trustees were forced to put them off for a while because the funds collected for the support of the colony were well-nigh exhausted. As soon, however, as the means were pro- vided for the purpose the good intention was brought to a delightful realization which added not only a substantial increase to the population of the colony but gave an impulse to the upbuilding of the design of its founders which could hardly have been looked for elsewhere. It is not positively stated how the trustees became possessed of an interest in cer-
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tain lands in the Island of St. Christopher, but we do have the record that by an aet of parliament the money paid for said lands was put at the disposal of the trustees to be by them applied "towards defraying the charges of the carrying over and settling foreign and other Protestants in said colony." Through this means the band of Salzburghers came to Georgia, and settled, in Mareh, 1734, in that portion of the colony now known as Effingham county, at a place they named Ebenezer. Descend- . ants of these people now live in the city of Savannah, and most of them are among the truly good and exemplary citizens. The leaders of them were Baron Philip George Frederick Von Reck, the Rev. John Martin Bolzius and Israel Christian Gronau. In his diary, the first named of these wrote an account of their arrival in Georgia, from which we make the following extracts :
"Mareh 7-At nine there came from Charlestown a pilot on board our ship. We immediately cast anehor, and at ten the captain, the Rev- erend divines and I, went into the pilot's boat. At one in the after- noon, we came to Charlestown, where I immediately waited on his exeelleney, Robert Johnson, Esq., and Mr. Oglethorpe. They were glad to hear that the Salzburgers were eome within six leagues, all safe and in good health, without the loss of any one person. Mr. Oglethorpe showed me a plan of Georgia, and gave me liberty to choose a settle- ment for the Salzburgers, either near the sea or further in the eonti- nent. I accordingly aeeepted his favour and chose a place 21 miles from the town of Savannah, and 30 miles from the sea, where there are rivers, little hills, clear brooks, cool springs, a fertile soil, and a plenty of grass. Mr. Oglethorpe sent on board our ship, by the Pilot's Sloop, a large quantity of fresh beef, two butts of Wine, two tun of Spring - Water, Cabbage, Turnips. Radishes, Fruit, ete., as a present from the Trustees, to refresh the Salzburgers.
"Mareh 9-We beg'd of God that he would permit us to go to our Georgia. We went away this morning at ten, and got on board our ship at two in the afternoon.
"Mareh 10-God blessed us this day with the sight of our country, our wished-for Georgia, which we saw at ten in the morning, and brought us unto the Savannah River, and eaused us to remember the vows we had made unto Him, if he did, through His infinite Goodness. bring us hither. We were today very much edified with the 32d chapter of Genesis, and the 26th of Levitieus. At noon we cast anehor. because of the Tide; at night, during the Evening Prayers, we entered the river of Savannah.
"March 12-The magistrates of the town sent on board our ship an experienced Pilot, and we were carried up to the town of Savannah by eleven in the Forenoon. They returned our salute of five guns, with three, and all the Magistrates, the citizens and the Indians, were come to the river sides. The two Divines, Mr. Dunbar, some others and myself, went ashore in a boat. We were received with all possible demonstra- tions of Joy, Friendship, and civility. The Indians reached their hands to me, as a testimony of their joy also for our arrival. The Salzburgers eame on shore after ns, and we immediately pitched a tent for them in the Square of the Town.
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"March 13-I went to see the Indians, and their King, Tomo-Chachi. I caused some raisins, of which they are very fond, to be distributed amongst them.
"March 14-Mr. Oglethorpe had given orders for three horses to be ready for my service, to take a view of the country, and to ride to the place where the Salzburgers were to settle. I went this morning at nine of the clock, with a Constable and a Guide; but after we had gone a mile or two, we entered some thick . woods, divided by deep brooks of water, and though we could with great difficulty pass over some, yet there were others we could not pass; wherefore we returned back to the town.
"Mr. Oglethorpe, and Mr. Jenys, Speaker of the Assembly of Carolina, arrived at Savannah from Charlestown; the first having, out of love to our Salzburgers, put off his Journey to England, being resolved to see them settled before he went. Having informed him that the floods had made it impossible for me to pass the woods by land, he said he would go himself, to show me the country and see what place I would choose. The speaker desired to accompany him, and I did myself the honour to make one of the company. He sent to the Indian King to desire two Indians to hunt for him in the Journey; who not only granted them, but his chief War Captain, Tuskeneoi, out of civility to Mr. Oglethorpe, came along with them to accompany us. We went on board a ten-oared boat to the place where a house was building by Mr. Musgrove, six miles up the Savannah river.
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"March 16-Having slept well 'in a tent, which we pitched under the shade of a tree by the river side; last night, I accompanied Mr. Ogle. thorpe ou horseback, and the speaker and others went by water. If you ask how a country that is covered with wood, and cut with rivers and morasses, is passable, I must acquaint you that since the colony was set- tled, the ways were marked by barking off the trees, to show where the roads should go, and where the rivers were passable. After passing through a morass covered with cancs, we came to an unfordable river, through which the Indians swam the horses, and we crossed over upon a great tree, cut down for that purpose. The tree was cut down so as to lie across the river and serve for a bridge. And after riding some leagues in the woods, we passed another river. Night overtaking us. we were obliged to take up our quarters upon a little hill, round a fire with the Indians, who brought us a wild turkey for our supper.
"March 17-We continued our journey, and set out by break of day, and at nine arrived at the place where the Salzburgers were afterward settled. From hence I returned to the town of Savannah, through Abercorn, a village newly settled by order of the trustees, upon the Savannah river, near where Ebenezer falls into it."
The Reverend Mr. Bolzius described their arrival in his journal in these words: "Savannah. Tuesday, March 12-At the place of our land- ing almost all the inhabitants of the town of Savannah were gathered together; they fired off some Cannons and cried, huzzah! which was answered by onr sailors and other English people in our ship, in the same manner. A good dinner was prepared for us. We, the commis- sary, and Mr. Zwedler, the physician. were lodged in the house of the Reverend Mr. Quiney, the English minister here.
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"March 14-Last night we prayed on shore for the first time in the English chapel, made of boards, and used for divine worship till a church can be built ; the use of which is allowed us during our stay here. The inhabitants join with us, and show much devotion. The Jews. likewise, of which there are twelve families here, come to church, and seemed to be very devout,
"March 15-This day, Mr. Oglethorpe arrived here, and received our Salzburgers and us in a friendly manner, and we dined with him. He being very solicitous that these poor Indians should be brought to the knowledge of God, has desired us to learn their language, and we, with the blessing of God. will joyfully undertake the task. Tuesday, March 26-It is a great pleasure to us that Mr. Oglethorpe approved of our calling the river, and the place where our houses are to be built, Ebenezer.'
ENCOURAGING THE SILK INDUSTRY
From the knowledge previously obtained of the climate of the country just south of the colony of South Carolina, which was to become the Colony .of Georgia, it was considered, as already noted, inost favorable to the breeding of silk worms and the making of silk. In this work it was thought that women and children, as well as old persons, would be use- ful, as not a great deal of care and little labor were required in the feeding of the wormns. Oglethorpe himself considered it of great im- portance in the advancement of the colony. Pursuant to this generally accepted belief, coupled with the recently invented machinery by Mr. John Lombe for increased facility in the winding and reeling processes, the trustees early took steps to provide for the fostering of this industry. The fact that they held this opinion brought to them applications from persons skilled in that business for passage to Georgia. At their meeting on the 14th of February, 1732-3-"Mr. Nicolas Amatis attended the board, and acquainted them that he and Signor Giocomo Ottone, a man of experience in making the silk machines, Jacques Camuse and his wife (both winders of silk) and Camuse's three boys of the following ages-thirteen, four and three, were lately arrived in England, and ready to enter into agreement with the trustees to go and settle in Georgia." Mr. Amatis was one of the cmigrants embarking in the Ann galley, November 16, 1732, and reaching Savannah February 1, 1733.
The production of raw silk in Georgia was apparently prosperous for a while, and the business was carried on for many years with fluctuat- ing degrees of success so that on the whole, it did not approach the im- portance for which its promoters prayed and earnestly desired. Dr. T. M. Harris, in an appendix to his "Biographical Memorials of James Oglethorpe," pages 391-413. gives an exhaustive account of this matter, prepared by W. B. Stevens, in which he says: "In June, 1734, General Oglethorpe carried eight pounds of raw silk, the first produced in Georgia, to England, which was fol- lowed by a small trunk full of the same article, on the 2d of April, 1735, and after being made into orgazine, by the engine of Sir Thomas Lombe, at Derby, who said that it 'proved exceedingly good through all the oper-
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ations,' was seut up to London on the 13th of August, 1735, when the trustees, together with Sir Thomas Lombe, waited on her majesty, Queen Caroline, and exhibited to her the elegant specimin of Georgia silk. The queen selected a portion of the parcel to be wove into a pattern, and being again waited on by these gentlemen and Mr. Booth, the silk weaver, on the 21st of September, she expressed 'a great satisfaction for the beauty and fineness of the silk, the richness of the pattern, and at seeing so early produet from that colony,' and to express her pleasure at such a favourable result, a complete court-dress was made from it, and on his majesty's next birthday she appeared at the levee in a full robe of Georgia silk."
Mr. Samuel Augspourger carried to England, in 1739, some of the silk which he obtained from the trustees' store-keeper, Mr. Jones, and it was classed by judges as "equal to any Italian silk, and worth full twenty shillings per pound." During some years a considerable quan- tity was produced, while at other times the production was, for various reasons, much reduced. In 1746 the president of the Salzburgers wrote to Mr. Martyn, secretary of the trustees: "The fundamental cause of its stagnation is the unaccountable baekwardness of some of our dames and damsels to employ themselves in attending to the worms during the time of feeding;" at one time the falling off was attributed to the fact that "so few were disposed to this culture" to which it was added that "one reason for this reluctance is ascribed to the circumstance that, by ordi- nary labor, about two shillings may be obtained per day, whereas scarcely a shilling could be earned in the same time by the silk concern." One season "nearly half of the silk worms died at Savannah, owing as was then supposed, either to poisoned dew or warm weather," and in 1748 "small trees were destroyed, and some of the larger ones injured, by the late frost." In 1766 the small amount of silk made was said to be on account of "the badness of the sced, and consequent inferiority of the worins. ''
THE FILATURE BUILDINGS
On the 4th of March, 1751, Mr. James Habersham and Mr. Pickering Robinson, commissioners to promote more effectually the eulture of silk, began the erection of a filature in the city of Savannah, and work pro- gressed on it so rapidly that on the Sth of May reeling began. This building stood on the lot bounded by Abereorn, St. Julian, Lincoln and Bryan streets, and was used for the purposes for which it was built until 1774, in which year, on the 19th of January, Sir James Wright, governor of the province of Georgia. sent a message to the commnon house of assembly in which he said: "The filature buildings seem to be going to decay and ruin : may it not, therefore, be expedient to consider what other service or use they may be put to?" and the assembly an- swered, "We shall not fail to consider how it may be expedient to apply the Filature to some public use." From that time it was used as a public hall, in which balls were given, and as a place for politieal gatherings and meetings of all sorts, including those for religions purposes. F'in- ally, it was used as a dwelling-place, when, as sneh. it was destroyed by fire during the afternoon of March 25, 1839. Numerous advertisements
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in the old Georgia Gazette announced that meetings would be heid "at the Filature."
DRAWBACKS INSURMOUNTABLE
The business of silk-making in Georgia, though started with the general expectation that it would be the chief industry in the province, failed to reach the point which might have placed it on a paving basis. and it is not at all to be concluded that, if it had been given an absolutely fair trial under the most favorable conditions, it would never have be- come remunerative. From its inception until it was finally abandoned it was, at all points, hampered by unfortunate circumstances which had a tendency to retard the work and to discourage those who had the matter most at heart. Much was expected, in the very beginning, from the man Camuse, who seemed to know the business thoroughly and from whom so much was expected in the development of the business; but he proved to be quarrelsome, and could not be depended on, and the dis- appointment at that point was great. Again, persons who at first took hold with the very highest zeal. soon became despondent, and left off all desire to continue the work. Thus we are told that "though Oglethorpe gave Mr. Bolzius trees, silk worms, and a book of instructions, yet he confesses that he felt no interest in the business, nor inclination to pur- sue it." *
* Memorials of James Oglethorpe, by T. M. Harris, p. 395.
CHAPTER VII
ORIGINAL SAVANNAH DESCRIBED
FEEDING AND HOUSING OF FIRST COLONISTS-FATHER OGLETHORPE- GORDON'S FIRST TOWN PLAT-PIONEER POINTS OF INTEREST-NAMES OF FIRST STREETS-THE TRUSTEES' GARDEN.
Returning now to the colonists and their first efforts in making them. selves secure and free to enjoy home-life in their new abiding-place, let us look upon them as they employ themselves daily under their respee. ted leader. Pursuing the course he had from the very first mapped out, Oglethorpe treated his people more as members of his own family than as subordinates, advising and admonishing them as a father would advise and warn his children. He told them, among other things, "It is my hope that through your good example the settlement of Georgia may prove a blessing, and not a eurse, to the native inhabitants." He set them to work felling trees, putting up a erane for hauling up the bluff the material brought in the Ann, unloading that vessel, and hewing the stuff to be used in stoekading the town. The people not only assisted in the building of edifices to be used for public purposes, but they erected homes for themselves into which they moved, discarding the tents, as soon as the houses could be made habitable. Besides this they labored in the building of the fort which was to occupy a place at the extreme eastern end of the settlement, on the bluff. So busy were they from the first moment of their landing that Oglethorpe in his letter to the trustees, announcing their safe arrival, said: "I am so taken up in looking after a hundred necessary things, that I write now short, but shall give you a more particular account hereafter."
FEEDING AND HOUSING OF FIRST COLONISTS
Of course, the people had to be fed, and it is a pleasure to observe that, in addition to the help rendered by the good people of South Carolina in the way of contributing negro laborers and personally assisting Oglethorpe in every possible way, donations of food were liberally made by them, Mr. Whitaker and some friends alone, at one time, as we are told, adding to the store one hundred head of cattle, and the people of Edisto sixteen sheep.
On the 12th of March, 1733, a little more than a month after landing, General Oglethorpe wrote to the trustees: "Our people still live in tents,
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OLD VIEW OF SAVANNAH
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there being only two elap-board houses built and three small houses framed. Our erane. our battery, eannon and magazine are finished. This is all that we have been able to do by reason of the smallness of our number, of which many have been siek and others unused to labor; though I thank God they are now pretty well, and we have not lost one sinee our arrival here.'
FATHER OGLETHORPE
Showing that every precaution was used to avoid attaeks by enemies from outside, an aeeount of the visit of some South Carolina gentlemen. published in the Gazette of that provinee, March 22d, 1733, contained this statement : "Some time before we eame to the Landing the Sentinel challenged us, and understanding who we were, admitted us ashore," and, in praise of Oglethorpe, eontinned, "Mr. Oglethorpe is indefatig- able, takes a great deal of Pains: his fare is but indifferent, having little else at present but salt Provisions. He is extremely well beloved by all his People; the general Title they give him is Father. If any of them is siek he immediately visits them and takes a great deal of eare of them. If any difference arises. he is the Person that Deeides it. Two happened while I was there, and in my presence; and all the Parties went away, to outward Appearance, satisfied and contented with his Determination. He keeps a striet Diseipline; I neither saw one of his People drunk, nor heard one swear all the time I was there; he does not allow them rum, but in lien gives them English beer. It is surprising to see how eheer- fully the men go to work, considering they have not been bred to it; there are no idlers there; even the boys and girls do their Parts."
GORDON'S FIRST TOWN PLAN
The first plan of the town of Savannah was made by Peter Gordon, of whom our knowledge is not very extensive. This plan was made a little more than a year after the landing of Oglethorpe's colonists, and bears this dedieatory inscription : "To the IIonorable, the Trustees, for establishing the Colony of Georgia in America this View of the Town of Savannah is humbly dedicated by their Honours Obliged and most Obedi- ent Servant, Peter Gordon." We have seen that the eomnon eouneil made "a deed dated the 7th of November, 1732, appointing Peter Gordon. William Waterland, and Thomas Christie, bailiff's of Savannah," and that at the same time Peter Gordon and six others were appointed "eon- servators to keep the peace in the said town." For some reason not mentioned. action as to him was re-considered and George Symes named in his place. By the aetion alloting lands to the colonists, Peter Gordon drew as his share garden lot 10E and farm lot 7 in Frederiek tything. Derby ward. Whether he was employed to make the plan there is no way for us to aseertain, as the minutes of both the trustees and the com- mon council are silent on this point; but we do find the entry in the latter, under date. April 6. 1734: "Ordered that sixteen guineas be paid to Mr. Peter Gordon as a consideration for his Draught of Savan- nah." On May 10, 1735, he appeared before the common council and
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"delivered in a Memorial to the Trustees with several Letters and Papers from several of the Inhabitants of Savannah." And that is about the substance of all the information we have of the man. The plan gives us this information: At that time stairs had been built leading from the margin of the river up to the top of the bluff, and slightly to the east of the place where General Oglethorpe pitched his tent which is shown under the four pine trees near the edge of the bluff.
PIONEER POINTS OF INTEREST
If this plan is accurate, then the stone seat lately ereeted by the Georgia Society of Colonial Dames of America to mark the place where Oglethorpe's tent was placed is much too far westward of the true spot. In truth it is located too far from Bull street and too near to Whitaker street. The crane and bell were placed just midway between those two streets. The tabernacle and courthouse were at the corner of Bull street and Bay street lane; the public hall was in the center of the lot facing Bryan street, from Bull to Whitaker, and oceupied that lot entirely through to St. Julian street ; south of that hall, on the north side of St. Julian and precisely opposite was the house for strangers, while the public oven was built at the southeast corner of Whitaker and Congress streets. The draw well was in the center of Bull street just where Congress street lane intersects Bull, and the lot for the chureh just where Christ church stands, bounded by Bull, Congress, Drayton and St. Julian streets. Facing Johnson square on Bull street, and extending north and south from Bryan to St. Julian, stood the pub- lic stores, but occupying only about one-fifth of the lot which runs baek to Drayton. The fort was built on the northeast corner of South Broad and Drayton streets, and the parsonage was directly opposite the church, on the southeast corner of Drayton and St. Julian. On a line with the eastern side of Drayton street, extending from Bay southward to Bryan street, the palisades were located. At the foot of Drayton, on Bay street north, were placed the guardhouse and battery of eannon. By this plan it seems that in the course of a little over one year the number of houses erected for the people exclusive of public buildings, was about eighty.
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