USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia, Volume I > Part 16
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As a protection against hostile approach by the way of St. Augustine Creek, a small fort was constructed at Thunderbolt. To several families were homes here granted. So frail was this defensive structure that it fell into decay as early as 1737. On the northeast end of Skidoway Island ten families were located in 1734, and a fort was built for their protection. This attempt at early colonization at this exposed point proved so unsuccess- ful that within four years the village disappeared and the fortifi- cation fell into a deserted and dilapidated condition.
148
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
Joseph's-Town, situated on the Savannah River opposite Ons- low and Argyle islands, was another of the early outlying towns. It was occupied by colonists from Scotland, but malarial fevers and a failure of crops brought about its speedy abandonment.
On a creek or branch of the Savannah, distant some three miles from its confluence with that river, and about fifteen miles above the town of Savannah, the village of Abercorn was laid out in 1733. The plan of the town embraced twelve lots, with a trust lot in addition at either extremity. Four miles below the mouth of Abercorn Creek was Joseph's-Town where Scotch gen- tlemen had selected plantations. Journeying from this place towards Savannah in the early days of the colony the visitor would pass, in succession, Sir Francis Bathurst's plantation, Wal- ter Augustin's settlement, Captain Williams' plantation, Mrs. Matthews' place, the Indian school-house Irene, the Horse Quar- ter, and the lands reserved by the Indians just west of Yama- craw. A strange fatality attended all these early attempts at colonization in the swamp region of the lower Savannah. Born of the subjugation of the forests and the exhalations from the rich, dank soil were miasmatic fevers and fluxes which engen- dered lassitude and death. Short-lived were these little settle- ments, and it was only after the introduction of slave labor that these plantations bordering upon the Savannah River became permanent and productive. The Europeans who strove to bring them into a state of cultivation failed in the effort and quickly passed away. Others who endeavored to complete their labors experienced similar misfortune and disappointment.
Of the ten families assigned to Abercorn in 1733, all were gone within a period of four years. Mr. John Brodie, with twelve servants, then occupied the settlement, but, after an ex- periment of three years, he abandoned the place, leaving. its im- provements to fall down piecemeal. Many of the servants who cultivated the lands of the Scotch gentlemen at Joseph's-Town died, and that plantation for a while reverted to the dominion of nature.
For the defense of Skidoway Narrows, a Manchecolas Fort was erected, and it was garrisoned by detachments from Captain Noble Jones' company of marines quartered near his residence, called Wormsloe, on the Isle of Hope.
A light-house, to rise ninety feet above the ground, was com- menced near the northern end of Great Tybee Island, and here a guard was posted.
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149
WARDS AND TITIIINGS NAMED.
As the number of immigrants multiplied, plantations were formed on Augustine Creek, on Wilmington Island, on the Isle of Hope, on the Little Ogeechee, at Bewlie, and even as far south as the Great Ogeechee River.
Several accessions to its population having occurred, and suffi- cient progress having been made in clearing the bay, the square, and the streets, in erecting a crane, in planting a battery of can- non, in palisading the town, in the preparation of a commodious garden, and in uncovering the general outlines of Savannah, Oglethorpe, on the 7th of July, 1733, convened the colonists that they might be definitely advised of the precise plan of the vil- lage, learn the names which he proposed to bestow upon the square, streets, wards, and tithings, and participate in the assign- ment of town lots, gardens, and farms. The convocation oc- curred early in the morning, and the business of the day was pre- ceded by an invocation of the Divine blessing.
Four wards, each containing four tithings, were marked and named, viz. : Percival Ward, so named in honor of John, Lord Percival, the first Earl of Egmont, and president of the trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America ; Heathcote Ward, so named in honor of George Heathcote, M. P., an alder- man of London and one of the most active and influential mem- bers of the board of trustees ; Derby Ward, so called in compli- ment to the Earl of Derby, who was one of the most generous patrons of the colonization ; and Decker Ward, so named in honor of Sir Matthew Decker, whose benefactions to the charitable de- sign had been conspicuous. The tithings embraced in Percival Ward were called, respectively, Moore, Hucks, Holland, and Stoper, in honor of Robert Moore, Robert Hucks, Roger Holland, and William Sloper, members of Parliament all, and influential trustees. Heathcote Ward was composed of Eyles, Laroche, Ver- non, and Belitha tithings, so named to perpetuate the pleasant memories of Sir Francis Eyles, Bart., one of the commissioners of the navy and a member of Parliament, John Laroche, also a mem- ber of Parliament, James Vernon, Esqr., and William Belitha, all members of the trust. The four tithings constituting Derby Ward were Wilmington, Jekyll, Tyrconnel, and Frederick. These were named in compliment to the Earl of Wilmington, Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls, who, with his lady, had contributed six hundred pounds in furtherance of the laudable design of the trustees, Lord John Tyrconnel, and Thomas Frederick, M. P., both members of the board of trustees. The tithings into which
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150
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
Decker Ward was divided were named Digby, Carpenter, Tower, and Heathcote, in honor of Edward Digby, George, Lord Carpen- ter, Thomas Tower, M. P., and George Heathcote, M. P., trus- tees all.
The first and only public square then designated, and which was to serve as a model for all others which should be called into existence by the expansion of the town, was Johnson Square. It was so named in compliment to his excellency Robert Johnson, governor of South Carolina, who cordially welcomed Oglethorpe and his companions upon their advent, and contributed gener- ously to the comfort and advancement of the colony.
The streets then laid out were Abercorn, Drayton, Bull, and Whitaker, running north and south, and the Bay, Bryan, and St. Julian streets, intersecting them at right angles. In naming these also Oglethorpe sought, in an enduring manner, to express the gratitude of the colony and its founder. Thus, the principal street bore the name of Colonel William Bull, who accompanied Oglethorpe when he selected Yamacraw Bluff as a suitable site for Savannah, and on various occasions rendered the plantation services disinterested and valuable. The liberality of Mr. Joseph Bryan, of Mr. St. Julian, of Mrs. Ann Drayton, of Mr. Whitaker of South Carolina, and of the Earl of Abercorn was in this manner publicly acknowledged.
In the middle of Johnson Square a large sun-dial was erected for the convenience of the inhabitants. It perished long ago, and the spot where it stood is now dignified by a shaft dedicated to the memory of General Nathanael Greene, which testifies to the ages the enduring gratitude cherished for him who, in the primal struggle for independence, next to Washington engaged the af- fections and excited the admiration of the Georgia patriots.
Christ Church occupies to-day the trust lot then designated as a site for a honse of worship, and the general plan of the lots, streets, and square, established at this time, served for a guide in the subsequent years. The wisdom of Oglethorpe in conserving open spaces, at regular and near intervals, that free ventilation might be enjoyed in this warm latitude, was manifest ; and the town lots, which the luxurious demands of the present may pro- nounce too small, then amply sufficed for the needs of the colo- nists. It will not be forgotten that these lots were intended simply as sites for private dwellings. Appurtenant to them were gardens and farms, situated on the outskirts of the town, so that each male inhabitant of full age participating in the al-
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151
MAGISTRATES APPOINTED, ETC.
lotment, became possessed of a town lot containing sixty feet in front and ninety feet in depth, a garden lot embracing five acres, and a farm containing forty-four acres and one hundred and forty-one poles. The grant, therefore, aggregated fifty acres, thus conforming to the instructions of the trustees and supply- ing land sufficient for the support of the colonist who came at the charge of the trust and brought no servants with him. The entire plan of Savannah having been fully shown, there followed an allotment, to each inhabitant, of his town lot, garden lot, and farm. This done, at noon all the colonists partook of a boun- teous dinner provided by Oglethorpe. Fresh beef, turkeys, ven- ison, and vegetables from the public garden were supplemented by a liberal supply of English beer.
" Hitherto," says Mr. Wright,1 " Mr. Oglethorpe had retained to himself undivided authority over his people, but finding, from their increasing numbers, that the task of disposing the new set- tlers to the reciprocal offices of a social state and of keeping the troublesome in subordination was more than he could longer in- dividually accomplish, he now determined to delegate to others a portion of the powers with which he was invested." Accord- ingly, in the afternoon a town court for the determination of causes both civil and criminal was established. Magistrates, a recorder, constables, and tithing-men 2 were appointed and in- dueted into office. A jury was drawn and empaneled, and a case tried. " Conservators to keep the peace " & were named, and Thomas Causton was selected as the keeper of the public stores.
Shortly after the conclusion of this important business a ves-
1 Memoir of General James Oglethorpe, p. 73. London. 1867.
2 On the 8th of November, 1732, the trustees had commissioned George Symes, Richard Hodges, and Francis Scott as bailiffs, Noble Jones as recorder, Richard Caunon and Joseph Coles as constables, and Fraucis Magridge and Thomas Young as tithing-men, for the then un- located town of Savannah.
The following persons composed the first jury empaneled in Georgia : Samuel Parker, Thomas Young, Joseph Cole, John Wright, John West, Timothy Bow- ling, Johu Millidge, Henry Close, Walter Fox, John Grady, James Carwell, und Richard Cannon.
3 The persons named as such by the trustees on the 8th of November, 1732,
were Peter Gordon, William Waterland, Thomas Causton, Thomas Christie, George Symes, Richard Hodges, Francis Scott, and Noble Jones.
For the village of Thorpe, which was included within the precincts of Savau- nah, the trustees commissioned, on the 18th of October, 1733, Robert Parker, Sen., as chief constable, George Buekmar and William Johnson as constables, and Arthur Ogle Edgecombe and William Riley as tithing-men.
Two days before they had sealed a commission for Thomas Causton as sec- ond bailiff of the town of Savannah, in the room of Richard Hodges, deceased, and had selected Henry Parker as third bailiff.
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152
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
sel arrived from England having on board forty Hebrew colo- nists. They came to Savannah without the sanction of the trus- tees, althoughi the expenses incident to their transportation had been defrayed with moneys collected under commissions granted by the common council. It appears from the journal of the trustees that among the commissions empowering the holders to solicit and receipt for contributions in aid of the colonization were three in favor of Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador, Jr., and Anthony Da Costa.
It was understood that all moneys which they might collect were to be transmitted to the trustees, to be by them applied in furtherance of the objects specified in the charter. Acting under their commissions Messrs. Suasso, Salvador, and Da Costa did secure benefactions to a considerable amount. Instead, however, of paying these funds over to the trustees, or lodging them in the Bank of England to the credit of the trust, as they should have done, they busied themselves with collecting Hebrew colo- nists to the number of forty and, without the permission of the common council, appropriated the moneys which they had col- lected to chartering a vessel and defraying the expenses requi- site for the conveyance of these Israelites to Savannah. Receiv- ing an intimation that Messrs. Suasso, Salvador, and Da Costa were exceeding their authority and acting in violation of the in- structions which accompanied the delivery of the commissions, and apprehending that the purposes of these individuals, if con- summated, would prove prejudicial to the best interests both of the trust and of the colony, the trustees, as early as the 31st of January, 1733, instructed their secretary, Mr. Martyn, to wait upon them and demand a surrender of the commissions which they held. With this demand Messrs. Suasso, Salvador, and Da Costa refused to comply and, as we have stated, persisted in appropriating the funds they had collected in the manner in- dicated.
Mr. Oglethorpe had not been advised of the coming of these colonists, and was somewhat at a loss to determine what disposi- tion should be made of them. As the charter guaranteed freedom of religious opinion and observance to all, save Papists, he wisely concluded to receive them, and in due course notified the trus- tees of their arrival and of his action in the premises. Those gentlemen did not hesitate to avow their disapproval of the whole affair. They declared that such irregular and unauthorized conduct on the part of Messrs. Suasso, Salvador, and Da Costa
153
ISRAELITES AT SAVANNAH.
was prejudicial to the good order and scheme of the colonization, and that the sending over of these people had turned aside many intended benefactions. A committee was appointed to prepare for publication a statement of the matter, and to assure the public that they did not propose " to make a Jew's colony of Georgia." To Mr. Oglethorpe they wrote that they had heard with grave apprehension of the arrival of these Israelites in Georgia, and that they hoped "they would meet with no sort of encourage- ment." They counseled him to "use his best endeavors that they be allowed no kind of settlement with any of the grantees," and expressed the fear that their presence in Savannah would prove injurious to the trade and welfare of the colony.
The following extracts from the journal of the trustees evi- dence their feeling and action in a matter which for some time attracted no little attention both in England and in Georgia : -
"PALACE COURT. Saturday, December 22, 1733.
" At a meeting of Trustees, assembled by summons, Ordered That the Secretary do wait on Messrs Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador Jun' and Anthony Da Costa with the following message in writing :
"Whereas a message, dated Jany 31. 1732-3, was sent for the redelivery of their Commissions with which they did not think proper to comply, and which on the said Refusal were vacated by the Trustees : And Whereas the Trustees are inform'd that by monies rais'd by virtue of their commissions (which monies ouglit to have been transmitted to the Trustees) certain Jews have been sent to Georgia contrary to the intentions of the Trustees, and which may be of ill consequence to the Colony : the Trus- tees do hereby require the said Messrs Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Fran- cis Salvador Jun', and Anthony Da Costa immediately to rede- liver to M' Martyn, their Secretary, the said Commissions and to render an account in writing to the Trustees of what monies have been raised by virtue thereof ; and if they refuse to comply with this demand that then the Trustees will think themselves obliged not only to advertize the world of the demand and refusal of the said Commissions and Account, and of the misapplication before mentioned, in order to prevent any further impositions on his Majesty's Subjects under pretence of an authority granted by those vacated Commissions ; but likewise to recover those com- missions and demand an account of the monies collected in such manner as their Counsel shall advise."
154
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
" PALACE COURT. Saturday Jan'y 5th, 1733-4.
" Ordered. That the Secretary do wait on Messrs Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador Jun and Anthony Da Costa with the following Message in writing :
" The Trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia in America having receiv'd a letter from Messrs Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador Jun, and Anthony Da Costa, in answer to a message sent for their Commissions, which letter does not appear satisfactory to the said Trustees, they think themselves oblig'd not only to insist on the redelivery of their Commissions, but as they conceive the settling of Jews in Georgia will be pre- judicial to the Colony, and as some have been sent without the knowledge of the Trustees, the Trustees do likewise require that the said Messrs Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador Jr. and Anthony Da Costa, or whoever else may have been concerned in sending them over, do use their endeavours that the said Jews be removed from the Colony of' Georgia, as the best and only satisfaction they can give to the Trustees for such an indignity offer'd to Gentlemen acting under his Majesty's Charter."
" PALACE COURT. Saturday Jun"" 19th, 1733-4.
" The Secretary acquainted the Board that pursuant to their order of Jan'y 5th instant he had waited on Mess's Alvaro Lopez Suasso, Francis Salvador Jun", and Anthony Da Costa, and left with them the message of the Trustees in writing, and that he had receiv'd the Commissions formerly given to them ; and then he delivered the said Commissions to the Board.
" Resolved that the said Commissions be laid by, and the further consideration of this affair be postponed till Mr Ogle- thorpe comes home."
There the record ends ; and, so far as we can learn, no further action was taken. Ignoring the suggestions of the trustees, Ogle- thorpe furnished ample accommodation and encouragement for these Hebrew colonists, who by their peaceable behavior, orderly conduct, and industry commended themselves to the favorable consideration of the governor. In communicating with the trus- tees he took occasion to express the opinion that this accession had not proved a detriment to the colony. He specially invites the attention of his associates to the good offices of Dr. Nunis. In acknowledging his kindness, the trustees request Mr. Ogle- thorpe to offer him a gratuity for his medical services, but insist that all grants of land within the limits of the province should
155
HEBREWS IN SAVANNAII.
be withheld from these Israelites. With these instructions, how- ever, as we shall presently see, the founder of the colony of Georgia did not comply. In the general conveyance of town lots, gardens, and farms, executed on the 21st of December, 1733, some of these Hebrews are mentioned as grantees.
That the trustees were justified in condemning and rebuking the irregularity, disobedience, and contumacy of Messrs. Suasso, Salvador, and Da Costa, cannot be questioned. That it was en- tirely prudent and proper in them to claim and exercise the right of selecting colonists for the plantation is equally certain. That they alone possessed the power of determining who should seek homes in Georgia, and of binding applicants in advance to a due observance of prescribed rules, was a privilege conferred by the terms of the charter. That they should, under the cir- cumistances, have entertained some apprehension of the effect which would be produced upon the public mind by this unau- thorized introduction, within the limits of the colony, of this con- siderable body of Hebrews, excites no surprise. That they were fully justified in recalling the commissions sealed in favor of Messrs. Suasso, Salvador, and Da Costa, all will admit. And yet Oglethorpe was right in receiving these people and accord- ing them homes in Savannah. The excitement, in the end, en- tirely subsided. These Hebrews proved orderly and useful citi- zens. Many of them removed to South Carolina, but others remained in Savannah, and their descendants may this day be found in the city of Oglethorpe.
Although the formal allotment of lands within the confines of Savannah was made in July, the requisite deed assuring the ces- sions then specified was not executed until several months after- wards. It will be remembered that prior to the embarkation of the first colonists the trustees conveyed to three of their number, viz., Thomas Christie, William Calvert, and Joseph Hughes, five thousand acres of land to be utilized in parceling out homes for the early settlers in Georgia. Out of this tract were the Savannah lands carved, and the original deed carrying into effect and confirming the allotments made on the 7th of July, 1733,1 may now be seen in the office of the Secretary of State of Geor-
1 Other allotments, made subsequently to this date, are also included in this decd. Additional colonists had arrived, among whom may be mentioned one hundred and thirty-two persons conveyed in the
Savannah, which sailed from England ou the 12th of September, 1733.
See Gentleman's Magazine for 1733, p. 493.
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156
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
gia. It is an instrument of the highest interest and value, and has withstood in a remarkable degree the obliterating influences of time and dust which, in the case of many contemporaneons documents, have " eaten out the letters," and " made a paren- thesis betwixt every syllable." Unfortunately, the " Plan of Savannah " which accompanied it, and to which reference is therein made, has been lost. All efforts for its recovery have thus far proved futile.
Preserving as it does the names of many of the earliest colo- nists, indicating the estates granted, and designating the parcels then conveyed, we make no apology for introducing the following abstract of that important document : -
" To all to whom these Presents shall come; We, Thomas Christie and William Calvert, send greeting. Whereas by In- dentures of Lease and Release made between the Trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia in America on the one part ; and us the said Thomas Christie and William Calvert and Joseph Hughes, deceased, on the other part, bearing date the twenty- fifth day of October Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred thirty and two, under the common seal of the said Trustees, they the said Trustees did for the considerations therein mentioned Grant and convey unto us the said Thomas Christie and William Calvert and the said Joseph Hughes, deceased, and to the Sur- vivors of us and our Assigns, Five Thousand Acres of Land lying and being in the Province of Georgia in America, being part and parcel of the Land which his Majesty graciously granted to the said Trustees by his Letters Patent bearing date the Ninth day of June Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred thirty and two, to be set out in such parts of the said Province as should be thought convenient and proper by such Person as should be appointed by the Common Council for that purpose, under such limitations and in trust for such uses and purposes as are therein mentioned, as in and by the said Inden- tures, relation being to them had, may more fully appear : And Whereas the said Common Council did by deed, under the Com- mon Seal of the said Trustees, bearing Date the Twenty Sixth day of October Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred thirty and two authorize and appoint James Oglethorpe Esquire, of Westbrook Place in the County of Surry, to set out and limit the said Five Thousand Acres in such part of the said Province as he should think most convenient ; And Whereas the said James Oglethorpe hath set out and limited the said Five thousand
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DEED TO LOTS IN SAVANNAH.
Acres in such a regular manner as is most convenient for the sup- port of a Town and the Inhabitants thereof, and hath set out part of the said Five Thousand Acres for a Town called Savan- nah, with Lotts for Houses, and left a Common round the Town for convenience of Air ; And, adjoining to the Common, hath set out Garden Lotts of Five Acres each, and beyond such Gar- den Lotts hath set out Farms of Forty Four Acres and One hundred forty and one Pole each, and hath drawn a Plan of the Town, and Plot of the Garden Lots and Farms respectively, with proper Numbers, References, and Explanations for the more easy understanding thereof, which Plan and Plot are hereunto an- nexed and set forth in Folio One and Folio Nine of this Book :
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