Georgia's landmarks, memorials and legends, Volume II, Part 47

Author: Knight, Lucian Lamar, 1868-1933
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga. : Byrd Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1274

USA > Georgia > Georgia's landmarks, memorials and legends, Volume II > Part 47

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"On one occasion he suffered from an attack of' 'St. Anthony's fire,' which 'smarted much,' He was also attacked by 'shocking headaches,' intermittent fever, violent and protracted nausea, dysentery, and boils. He was also occasionally deprived of sleep by the attacks of nocturnal insects. He had often to take 'physick,' and was frequently 'in pain' or 'sick.' The only robust exercise he took was 'walking' or 'felling trees,' or 'nailing pales.' References are made to different places about Savannalı, such as Frederica and Thunderbolt, and to the different people whom he chanced to meet. He speaks of Tomo-chi-chi and the Indians. While in Savannah, Mr. Wesley acquired German, Spanish and Italian. He pre- pared while there a small volume of seventy-four pages, with the title- page: 'A Collection of Psalms and Hymns. Charles-town: printed by Lewis Timothy.' This was the first Methodist hymn-book ever published."*

Wormsloe.

Brampton.

Volume I, Pages 87-90. Volume I, Pages 93-97.

Georgia's First Se- "Memorable in the political annals cession Convention. of the colony were the proceedings of the Provincial Congress, which assembled at Savannah on the 4th of July, 1775. Every parish was represented, and the delegates were fitting

*James W. Lee, D. D., in Illustrated History of Methodism, Appendix A.

638

GEORGIA'S LANDMARKS, MEMORIALS AND LEGENDS

exponents of the intelligence, the dominant hopes, and the material interests of the communities from which they respectively came. This was Georgia's first secession convention. It placed the province in active sympathy and confederated alliance with the other twelve Amer- ican colonies, practically annulled within her limits the operation of the obnoxious acts of Parliament, questioned the supremacy of the realm, and inangurated measures calculated to accomplish the independence of the plan- tation and its erection into the dignity of Statehood."

The following members submitted proper credentials and came together at Tondee's Long Room :

TOWN AND DISTRICT OF SAVANNAH .- Archibald Bulloch, Noble Wym- berley Jones, Joseph Habersham, Jonathan Bryan, Ambrose Wright, William Young, John Glen, Samuel Elbert, John Houstoun, Oliver Bowen, John Mc- Clure, Edward Telfair, Thomas Lee, George Houstoun, Joseph Reynolds, John Smith, William Ewen, John Martin, Dr. Zubly, William Bryan, Philip Box, Philip Allman, William O'Bryan, Joseph Clay, Seth John Cuthbert.

DISTRICT OF VERNONBURGH .- Joseph Butler [declined to take his seat], Andrew Elton Wells, Matthew Roche, Jr.

DISTRICT OF ACTON-David Zubly, Basil Cowper, William Gibbons.

SEA ISLAND DISTRICT .- Colonel Deveaugh, Colonel Delegall, James Bul- loch, John Morel, John Bohun Girardeau, John Barnard, Robert Gibson.

DISTRICT OF LITTLE OGEECHEE .- Francis Henry Harris, Joseph Gibbons, James Robertson [declined to take his seat].

PARISH OF ST. MATTHEW .- John Stirk, John Adam Treutlen, George Walton, Edward Jones, Jacob Wauldhauer, Philip Howell, Isaac Young, Jenkin Davis, John Morel, John Flert, Charles McCay, Christopher Cramer.

PARISH OF ST. PHILIP .- Colonel Butler, William LeConte, William Max- well, James Maxwell, Stephen Drayton, Adam Fowler Brisbane, Luke Mann, Hugh Bryan.

PARISH OF ST. GEORGE .- Henry Jones, John Green, Thomas Burton, William Lord, David Lewis, James Pugh, John Fulton.

PARISH OF ST. ANDREW .- Jonathan Cochran, William Jones, Peter Tar- lin, Lachlan McIntosh, William McIntosh, George Threadcraft, John Wereat, Roderick McIntosh, John Witherspoon, George McIntosh, Allan Stewart, John McIntosh, Raymond Demere.

PARISH OF ST. DAVID Jolin Cuthbert Seth, William Williams, Sr.

PARISH OF ST. MARY .- Daniel Ryan.

PARISH OF ST. THOMAS .- John Roberts.

PARISH OF ST. PAUL .- John Walton, Joseph Maddock [declined to take his seat], Andrew Burns, Robert Rae, James Rae, Andrew Moore, Andrew Burney, Leonard Marbury.

639

CHATHAM

PARISH OF ST. JOHN .- James Sereven, Nathan Brownson, Daniel Roberts, John Baker, Sr., John Bacon, Sr., James Maxwell, Edward Ball, William Baker, Sr., William Bacon, Jr., John Stevens, John Winn, Sr.

The congress was organized by the election of Archi- bald Bulloch as president and of George Walton as sec- retary. Both these officers were unanimously chosen. Its organization having been perfected, the body ad- journed to the meeting-house of the Rev. John J. Zubly, who preached a sermon on the alarming state of Amer- ican affairs .*

Bonaventure. Volume I, Pages 90-93; also Volume II, Historic Church-Yards, etc.

Georgia's First Among other important changes made General Assembly. by the Trustees, a Colonial Assembly was authorized, consisting of sixteen members, proportioned to the population of the different parishes or districts, writs of election were issued, and the members were required to convene at Savannah, on the 15th of January, 1751. The Assembly met on the day appointed. Francis Harris was chosen speaker, and Noble Jones and Pickering Robinson were appointed a committee to prepare a report on the state of the colony, said report to furnish the basis of discussion. Oaths of allegiance and abjuration were administered to members on the day following. The gentlemen who constituted the first General Assembly of Georgia were :

SAVANNAH DISTRICT .- Francis Harris, Speaker; John Milledge, William Francis, William Russell.

AUGUSTA DISTRICT .- George Catogan, David Douglass.

EBENEZER DISTRICT .- Christian Reidlesperger, Theobald Keiffer. ABERCORN AND GOSHEN DISTRICTS .- William Ewen.

JOSEPH TOWN DISTRICT .- Charles Watson.

VEGNONBOURGH DISTRICT .- Patriek Hountoun.

*Charles C. Jones, Jr., in History of Georgia, Vol. 2.

640

GEORGIA'S LANDMARKS, MEMORIALS AND LEGENDS

ACTON DISTRICT .- Peter Morell.

LITTLE OGEECHEE DISTRICT .- Joseph Summers.

SKIDAWAY DISTRICT .- John Barnard.

MIDWAY DISTRICT .- Audley Maxwell.

DARIEN DISTRICT .- John Mackintosh, B.

It appears that the powers of the Assembly amounted to little more than those of a grand jury, in making a presentment of grievances to be redressed. Several articles were laid before the president, but the members were powerless to enact laws, and the business of the Assembly being finished, the house adjourned, after a session of twenty-two days.1

According to the basis of representation fixed by the Trustees, every town or distriet, which numbered ten families, was entitled to one deputy ; and wherever thirty families were settled. they were entitled to two dep- uties. Savannah, being much the largest town in the province, was allowed a representation of four deputies ; but Ebenezer and Augusta were restricted to two. For some reason, Frederica was not represented in the first general assembly at Savannah. Doubtless the town had commenced to deeline; but two delegates were apportioned to Frederica, provided the settlement at this place could muster thirty families.

Some of the qualifications for future membership in the assembly posses's an amusing interest. In the first place, it was provided that after June 24, 1751, no person could be chosen a deputy who had not one hun- dred mulberry trees planted and feneed upon every fifty acres he possessed ; and in the next place, it was provided that after June 24, 1753, no person could be chosen a deputy who owned an excess of negro slaves ibeyond the fixed proportion, who had not at least one female in the family who was well instructed in the art of reeling silk, and who did not produce fifteen pounds of silk upon every acre of land.2

One of the recommendations of the first General Assembly was that the militia be organized, and President Parker, immediately after his ap- pointment. proceeded to carry out this recommendation. General Ogle- thorpe's regiment having disbanded, the colony was left almost without protection against the Indians, whose friendship was uneertain. Those citizens' who owned as many as three hundred aeres of land were ordered to appear at Savannah at a certain time on horseback, to be organized as cavalry, and all who owned less land were to be organized as infantry. The first general muster or gathering of the militia was held in Savannah in

1 Capt. Hugh McCall, in History of Georgia, Vol. I.

2 Condensed from History of Georgia, by Wm. Bacon Stevens, M. D., D. D.

641

CHATHAM

June, 1751, when about two hundred and twenty men paraded under Captain Noble Jones .*

First Rally On July 14, 1774, there appeared in the of Patriots. Georgia Gazette, a card calling upon the friends of liberty to meet at Tondee's Tav- ern on the 27th day of the same month. It was signed by Noble Wymberley Jones, Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun, and John Walton, the last a brother of the signer. At the appointed time and place a number of patriots assembled, but some of the parishes were not represented. Another meeting was, therefore, set for August 10, and, notwithstanding the Governor's procla- mation of warning, it was well attended. Strong resolu- tions were passed; and, though it was thought best not to send delegates to the Continental Congress, the action of the assemblage was unequivocal. Thus the youngest of the original thirteen colonies and the most loyal to Eng- land of the entire sisterhood was at last aroused; and nothing save the most strenuous activities of Governor Wright prevented the most radical steps from being taken.

Some of the more radical members, in protest against the conservative action of the body, met and chose Noble Wymberley Jones, Archibald Bulloch and John Hous- toun to represent the province in the Continental Con- gress. However, since they lacked the proper creden- tials they did not repair to Philadelphia; they simply addressed a letter to John Hancock, expressing the sym- pathetic attitude of Georgia. The Puritans of the Mid- way settlement alone went to the full limit of protest. They dispatched Lyman Hall to Philadelphia, single- handed and alone, to represent the Parish of St. John. It was not until after the battle of Lexington, in 1775, that the tie of allegiance to England was formally sev- ered by a famous convocation held at Tondee's Tavern.

*Lawton B. Evans, in School History of Georgia.

642

GEORGIA'S LANDMARKS, MEMORIALS AND LEGENDS

Tondee's Tavern.

Volume I, Pages 385-386.

Georgia's First Twelve years prior to the battle of Lex-

Newspaper : ington, the earliest printing-press was

"The Gazette." installed in Savannah; and on April 7, 1763, appeared the initial number of the Georgia Gazette, edited by James Johnson. It was the eighth newspaper to be published in the colonies. Beyond the announcement of vital statistics, the arrival and departure of vessels in the harbor, and items relating to traffic, the little weekly sheet contained no local news. According to one authority, Savannah and Charleston exchanged brieflets in regard to each other: the Charles- ton editor would gather information about Savannah from visitors who came to trade in Charleston; and this he would publish in the Charleston paper. Two weeks later it would appear in the Georgia Gazette, and vice versa.

But the local column was soon developed. The spirit of resistance to the oppressive measures of the British Parliament bore fruit in news items, which were pub- lished at first hand. The earliest bugle call for the patriots to assemble in Savannah was sounded through the columns of the Georgia Gazette, on July 14, 1774. They were requested to meet at the Liberty Pole, in front of Tondee's Tavern, on July 27 following, and the card was signed by the famous quartette of liberty : Noble Wymberley Jones, Archibald Bulloch, John Hous- toun and John Walton, the brother of the signer. Though a large number responded at the appointed time, the Province at large was not represented, and another call was issued for August 10, 1774. At this time, in spite of the Governor's solemn edict of warning, also pub- lished in the Gazette, they met together and took con- servative but firm action. The strong influence of the Governor and the effective opposition of such pro- nounced Loyalists as James Habersham and Noble Jones

643

CHATHAM

alone kept the assemblage from sending delegates at this time to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Among the patriots who responded to the earliest summons were: John Glen, Joseph Clay, Noble Wym- berley Jones, John Houstoun, Lyman Hall, John Smith, William Young, Edward Telfair, Samuel Farley, John Walton, George Walton, Joseph Habersham, Jonathan Bryan, Jonathan Cochrane, George McIntosh, William Gibbons, Benjamin Andrew, John Winn, John Stirk, David Zoubly, H. L. Bourquin, Elisha Butler, William Baker, Parmenus Way, John Baker, John Stacy, John Morel and others.

Other Historic Sheets In 1796, some three years before the of Savannah. suspension of the Georgia Gazette, arose the Columbian Museum and Savannah Advertiser, a periodical which appeared semi- weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. It finally merged into the Museum and Gazette. On January 1, 1802, appeared the first number of the Georgia Republican, also a semi- weekly, owned and edited by John F. Everett. Later it became a tri-weekly, appeared in the afternoon, and also underwent a change of name, styling itself the Georgia Republican and Savannah Evening Ledger." On Octo- ber 17, 1817, it became a daily during the fall and winter months. Espousing the Whig principles, it adopted, in 1840, this motto: "The Union of the Whigs for the Sake of the Union." Among the men of talent who were. associated with the editorial columns of this influential paper were P. W. Alexander and James R. Sneed. It ran for seventy years, covering twenty-four changes of management.

With the advent of the Christmas holidays of 1818 appeared the first issue of the Georgian, edited by John M. Harney, an erratic genius, whose "Farewell to Sa- vannah" still abides among the local traditions. Written in clever verse, it calls down the direst maledictions of

644

GEORGIA'S LANDMARKS, MEMORIALS AND LEGENDS

heaven upon the city, whose dust he was preparing to shake from his shoes. One of his earliest successors was Israel K. Tafft, a name fragrant in Savannah. Later R. D. Arnold and William H. Bulloch became joint edi- tors and proprietors, and, in 1849, Henry R. Jackson, fresh from the fields of Mexico, brought martial honors, as well as literary gifts, to the editorial helm. Succes- sive changes occurred; and finally, in 1859, on the eve of the Civil War, it ceased to exist. The gifted Albert R. Lamar also at one time edited the Georgian. In 1852 came the Evening Journal, founded by J. B. Cubbege, and from time to time other sheets appeared.

But the newspaper most conspicuously and brilliantly identified with Savannah entered the lists in 1850: the Savannah Morning News. It was founded in 1850 by John M. Cooper, in association with the famous humor- ist, William T. Thompson. The latter's pen for more than thirty years flashed from the editorial page. Under him the paper became one of the most powerful dailies of the State; and, though proprietors came and went, he remained steadfastly at his post. Joel Chandler Harris was also at one time on the editorial staff.

Upon the Federal occupation of Savannah, S. W. Mason took possession of the. plant, and began the pub- lication of the Savannah Herald, subsequently settling the claims of the former proprietors, which were sub- mitted to arbitration. It then became the Savannah News and Herald, but in 1867 Mr. John H. Estill pur- chased an interest in the paper, and, buying his part- ner's stock some time later, he resumed the original name: the Savannah Morning News. The business sa- gacity of Colonel Estill, who was one of Georgia's ablest financiers, soon retrieved the disasters of the paper, en- larged its area of circulation and made its influence felt more potentially than ever upon the political life of the Commonwealth.

645

CHATHAM

Gazaway Hartridge, one of the most brilliant young men of his day in Georgia, edited an afternoon paper .in Savannah at one time; but accepting a position in New York he removed to the metropolis, where he soon after- wards died. On Novemebr 19, 1891, under the manage- ment of Pleasant A. Stovall, proprietor and editor, was launched the Savannah Evening Press, one of the most powerful and popular dailies of the State. In the recent election for United States Senator, Mr. Stovall was one of the strongest minority candidates .* Since the election of Woodrow Wilson, whose nomination he was among the first to advocate, Mr. Stovall has been appointed U. S. Minister to Switzerland.

Mulberry Grove. Volume I, Pages 108-113.

Savannah's Revolu- tionary Monuments.

Volume I, Pages 103-108.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Sa- vannah: Cathedral of St. John.

Right Reverend Benjamin J. Keiley, Bishop of Savannah, contributes the following outline sketch of the Roman Catholic Church in Georgia. Says Bishop Keiley :

"The present diocese of Savannah, embracing the entire State of Geor- gia, was, at first, subject to the spiritual jurisdiction of the Bishop of Bal- timore, Rt. Rev. John Carroll, who was appointed in 1790. The impossibil- ity of caring for such an extended territory was soon evident, and thirty years afterwards the three States of North' Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia were separated from the jurisdiction of Baltimore and a See established in Charleston, to which Rev. John England, an Irish priest, was appointed. Bishop England was consecrated in Cork, in September, 1820, and, sailing from Belfast, arrived in Charleston December 30 of the same year. He labored in his diocese for twenty-two years. He was in all probability the ablest man that the hierarchy in these States has pro-

*Authorities: History of Georgia, 1850-1881, by Isaac W. Avery; His- toric and Picturesque Savannah, by Adelaide Wilson.

646

GEORGIA'S LANDMARKS, MEMORIALS AND LEGENDS

duced. A man of great learning, untiring zeal, and striking force, he wielded a great influence outside his fold. Bishop England found about 1,000 Catholics in his diocese, and left more than 12,000, besides 16 churches, 21 priests and 2 convents. He was the founder of the institution of the Sisters of Mercy, to which Savannah and Charleston are indebted for devoted work during the yellow fever epidemics.

" The great obstacle which confronted Bishop England was the unrea- .

soning and un-Christian prejudice against Catholics. It was during his episcopate that North Carolina repealed her Constitutional enactment, whereby civil rights were denied Catholics. Nor was the feeling in Georgia less decided. One of the striking anomalies of human nature is shown when men who ostensibly leave home to escape persecution for religion 's sake, no sooner establish themselves under new conditions, than they set up a system of exclusion and persecution. It was not confined to the meddlesome and intolerant Puritans to justify the accusation of 'falling first on their knees and then on the aborigines.'

"Reasons similar to those which induced the creation of the See of Charleston demanded the erection of the See of Savannah, and on November 10, 1850, Rev. F. X. Gartland, V. G., of Philadelphia, was consecrated the first bishop of the See of Savannah. Bishop Gartland had as priests in his new diocese Fathers Whelan, Barry, Jerry O'Neill, Sr., Jerry O'Neill, Jr., Kirby, Duggar, Quigley and James O'Neill. He died of the fever in 1854, and his successor, Father Barry, was not consecrated until August, 1857. After Bishop Barry came Bishop Verot, who died Bishop of St. Augustine, having been transferred in 1870. Bishop Persico came next in succession, but his health failing he resigned, and Bishop W. H. Gross became the fifth bishop of Savannah. The latter was transferred to Ore- gon, and Bishop Becker, of Wilmington, Del., was selected by the Holy See as' the sixth incumbent of the Savannah diocese. Bishop Becker died July 29, 1899, and the present bishop was appointed as his successor and consecrated at Richmond, Va., June 3, 1900.

"The records of the church in Georgia, however, antedate the coming of Bishop England.

"From the records of our Cathedral, I find, under the date of Satur- day, October 15. 1796, the following entry: 'Today the funeral service was supplied in the cemetery of Savannah, at the grave of the venerable and zealous man, John Le Moyne, parish priest of the city of Marly le Roi, in France, who died on the 16th. day of November 1794; by me, a priest and canon regular of the Order of St. Augustine in France, in the pres- ence of Messrs. Charles Pardeilles, M. D. and Thomas Decheneaux, a mer- chant of Savannah, who have attested this with their signatures.

" 'LE MERCIER, Canon Regular.

" 'CHARLES PARDEILLES, M. D.

"' 'THOMAS DECHENEAUX.'

"Father Le Mercier appears to have served the few Catholics in Savannah (mostly from San Domingo and Ireland) until 1804, when Rev.

647

CHATHAM

Anthony Carle seems to have been the pastor of the Church of St. John the Baptist; a small chapel having been built near where St. Patrick's school-house now stands. Father Carle's name continues as rector until December, 1819, when a vacancy existed for some time. During the period of these two rectors there are found entries signed by Rev. Felix McCarthy. Father Le Mercier was here in 1806. but his name appears as rector of the church in Charleston.

"On the 21st of January, 1821, our records contain the following notice, in the well-known hand of Bishop England :

" 'The See of Charleston has been created on the 11th. of July 1820, and I having been consecrated first bishop thereof, on the 19th. day of January 1821, I visited this city and appointed the Rev. Robert Brown, of the Order of Hermits, of St. Augustine, to discharge the pastoral duties - therein.

" 'JOHN, Bishop of Charleston. '

"Bishop England' found only one resident pastor when he came, viz., the one at Augusta."

"Father Brown remained as rector of the Church of St. John the Bap- tist until 1825, when he was succeeded by Rev. Francis Boland, whose name does not occur on the record after August 15, 1826. There are found the names' of Rev. J. W. McEncroe during the rest of 1826 and of Rev. John McGinnis until December, 1827. After that date Rev. Joseph Stokes is signed to the records as pastor of Savannah. During a portion of his incumbency, Father McGinnis seems to have acted as assistant. The last entry made by Father Stokes is under date of October 22, 1833, and on November 23, there is' the record of a baptism performed by Rev. John Barry, and on November 21, there is a marriage performed by J. F. O'Neill (Father Jerry O'Neill, whose memory and name are held in benediction in Georgia wherever his ministry called him), who for nearly forty years lived in Savannah. Father Jerry was a devoted friend of the South. His death took place some twenty years ago. He brought the Sisters of Mercy to Savannah in 1845, where they yet carry on institutions of education and charity. One of the original colony, Mother Agnes, only died a few years ago. During Father O'Neill's pastorate a new church was erected in Savan- nah, as the number of Catholics had increased. Other names, dear to the older Catholics, are found on our registers: Fathers Peter Whelan, J. F. Kirby, P. J. Kirby, Edward Quigley, C. C. Prendergast, P. Dufau, V. Van Roosbroeck, W. J. Hamilton, Patrick, Aloysius, John (the last three being companions of Bishop Persico), J. B. Langlois and M. Cullinan.

In 1877, I find the first entry of a baptism performed by the late re- vered Father Cafferty. Savannah now has three churches for white and one for colored Catholics, an infirmary, a home for the aged poor, under the charge of the Little Sisters of the Poor, an orphan asylum for the white and one for the colored children, and a Catholic population of about

648

GEORGIA'S LANDMARKS, MEMORIALS AND LEGENDS

7,000. The Sacred Heart Church has been recently erected, with a fine college for boys, in charge of the Benedictine Fathers.

The magnificent cathedral of St. John the Baptist, in Savannah, was destroyed by fire on Sunday night, February 6, 1898. On the following Tuesday, the bishop called a meeting of prominent Catholic gentlemen of the parish, and it was unanimously resolved to build the cathedral in a handsome and more substantial manner than before. The first contribution received for the rebuilding fund was from Master Fitzhugh White, son of Rev. Robb White, then rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church (Christ's); who of his own accord gave $5 in gold. Tenders of temporary quarters came from the Savannah Guards, the Young Men's Hebrew Association and Rev. Charles H. Strong, of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, who at once offered the parish hall. Letters of sympathy also came from the ses- sion of the Independent Presbyterian Church and the wardens and ves- trymen of Christ Church, as well as from the rector of St. Stephen 's Prot- estant Episcopal Church (colored). Rev. Isaac P. Mendes, the respected rabbi of Temple Mickva Israel, was one of the earliest contributors to the cathedral fund."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Georgia's landmarks, memorials and legends, Volume II, Part 47

Author: Knight, Lucian Lamar, 1868-1933 Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga. : Byrd Printing Co. Number of Pages: 1274

Author: Knight, Lucian Lamar, 1868-1933
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga. : Byrd Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1274