USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia, Volume I > Part 39
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1 Vol. i. p. 48. London. MDCCXLIL
379
GRAPE CULTURE.
for it into a Vineyard: though he complains of his present Ina- bility to be at such an Expence as to employ Servants for Hire. From hence I could not but reflect on the small Progress that has been made hitherto in propagating vines in the publick Garden where, the Soil being the same, it must be owing to the Unskil- fulness or Negligence of those who had undertaken that Charge."
CHAPTER XXIV.
OGLETHORPE'S INTERCOURSE WITHI AND INFLUENCE OVER THE INDIAN NA- TIONS. - PLOT OF CHRISTIAN PRIBER. - EXPLOSION OF TIIE BOMB-MAG- AZINE AT FREDERICA. - MARY MUSGROVE. - THOMAS BOSOMWORTII. - MEMORIAL OF MARY BOSOMWORTHI. - MALATCHE OPIYA PROCLAIMED KING. - HOSTILE DEMONSTRATION ON THE PART OF MARY BOSOMWORTH, HER HUSBAND, AND A LARGE RETINUE OF INDIANS. - ADJUSTMENT OF THE BOSOMWORTH CLAIM.
DURING General Oglethorpe's residence in Georgia amicable relations were maintained between the colonists and the Indians. Traffic was conducted upon an equitable basis, and all complaints were patiently considered and satisfactorily adjusted. Wherever cessions of territory occurred, the rights of the natives to reserved lands were duly respected. Any assistance rendered by the ab- origines was acknowledged, and generous compensation allowed for their services, whether in war or in peace. Most potent was the influence exerted by General Oglethorpe over the Creeks, the Cherokees, and neighboring nations. So upright and liberal was he in all his intercourse with them, so far removed from deceit, injustice, and cruelty, so frank, manly, and confiding in his condnet and utterances, so opposed to everything savoring of meanness or duplicity, that these primitive peoples regarded him with respect and affection. To his expressed wishics they responded promptly, whether they related to a grant of land, the transmission of intelligence, or a detail of warriors to aid him in his operations against the Spaniards in Florida. The friendship of these Indians was readily won, and at that early day they were observant of plighted faith. Invaluable were they to the general in keeping him advised of the secret machinations of the Spaniards and French, and in assisting him to subvert the plans of his adversaries. "We love him," responded the Creek chief Similly to the Spaniards, as they endeavored to seduce him from his alliance with Oglethorpe, " because he gives us everything we want that he has. He has given me the coat off his back and the blanket from under him." Beyond doubt a liberal dis- tribution of presents and a constant care exercised in relieving
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PLOT OF CHRISTIAN PRIBER.
their wants, contributed in no small degree to the acquisition and retention of the friendship of these sons of the forest. However much we may be inclined to criticise the conduct of this native race when demoralized by contact with the vices of Europeans, cheated by traders, despoiled of their ancient domains, and in- flamed by outrage, robbery, and murder, it must be admitted that in the beginning the Indians were hospitable, kind, and generous. In an hour of feebleness and want they were stanch friends of the colony of Georgia. During all the early years of its existence the province suffered no violence at the hands of the original proprietors of the soil. Let this fact be remembered with gratitude, and let it not be forgotten that General Ogle- thorpe, by his wisdom, justice, moderation, and liberality, was largely instrumental in bringing about and maintaining this for- tunate state of affairs.
While he was engaged in warding off the heavy blow deliv- ered by the Spaniards against St. Simon's Island, a dangerous plot was discovered which seriously menaced the security of the Southern provinces.
In 1736 a German Jesuit, named Christian Priber, was em- ployed by the French to alienate the Cherokees from their affil- iation with the English. Proceeding to the chief town of the nation he there assumed the garb of an Indian, acquired the Cherokee language, familiarized himself with the customs of that people, and by his superior address and intelligence succeeded in winning general favor. Rendering himself eminently useful in the employments both of peace and war, he acquired an ascen- dency over the minds of the Cherokees and neighboring tribes which amounted almost to absolute sway. Then it was that he revealed his dire hatred of the English, and strove to bring about an open rupture between the Indians and the provinces of South Carolina and Georgia. Acting upon his suggestion, the chief of the Cherokees was crowned king of the confederated towns. Pompous titles were conferred upon the head men and distin- guislied warriors, and Priber himself was appointed royal secre- tary to the king of the Cherokees. Under this official title he corresponded with the Indian agents and the colonial authorities. His communications were insulting and dictatorial. They spoke of the native rights of the Indians and of their resolution to repossess themselves of ceded territory. They breathed love for the French and hatred of the English. Warned of the career of this strange person, and of the prejudicial influence he was ex-
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382
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
erting upon the Cherokee nation, the authorities of South Car- olina dispatched Colonel Fox to demand him of the Cherokees. This officer was courteously received and led into the great square where stood the council house of the tribe. There, to his surprise and regret, he perceived that the person whom he had come to arrest was treated on all sides with the greatest respect, and was surrounded by a strong body-guard. His errand having been announced, with his demand the Indians refused to com- ply, and Colonel Fox was ordered to withdraw himself from the Cherokee territory, Priber offering a detail from his body-guard to insure the safe conduct of the English officer. In 1743, how- ever, while journeying toward Mobile, unarmed and attended by only a few warriors, he was arrested at Tallipoose Town by some traders, and sent down, with all his papers, under strong Indian guard, to Frederica, to be examined and disposed of by General Oglethorpe.
In his Indian guise Priber was brought before the general upon his return from Florida. Not a little was he surprised to find, under this coarse attire of deer-skins, a man of polished ad- dress, great abilities, and extensive learning. He was versed in the Cherokee language, of which he had prepared a vocabulary. Latin, French, German, Spanish, and English he spoke fluently. When interrogated, lie hesitated not to admit that he was a member of the Society of Jesus, and that he had been deputed by his superior to bring about a confederation of all the Southern In- dians, to inspire them with industry, to instruct them in the use- ful arts, and to induce them to throw off their allegiance to the British Crown. He proposed to form a settlement at Cusseta, where all disaffected English, French, and German colonists, and all runaway negro slaves, might find a refuge. There criminals were to be sheltered. This place was designed as an asylum for fugitives from justice, and for the cattle and effects they might bring with them. All crimes and licentiousnesses were to be tol- erated, except murder and idleness. Among his manuscripts was found a well-digested plan of government for the Indian confed- eracy which he hoped to establish. So firmly persuaded was he of the ultimate success of his scheme, he boldly stated to his in- terrogators his belief that before the lapse of the current century " Europeans would have a very small footing on the American continent." Upon his person was a private journal revealing in part his designs, and containing various memoranda relating to his project. In it he mentions that he had a secret treasurer
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383
PRIBER IN CONFINEMENT.
in Charlestown, and that he expected great assistance from the French and from another nation, whose name is left blank. Let- ters addressed to French and Spanish governors, demanding protection for the bearer, Mr. Priber, and referring to him for further particulars, were also in his possession. Among the priv- ileges to be accorded to the citizens of his town were a commu- nity of women, the right to dissolve marriage at pleasure, and freedom to indulge every appetite.
When it was suggested to him that his plan of government was lawless, dangerous, and difficult, and that it would require long years for its establishment, he replied : "Proceeding prop- erly, many of these evils may be avoided ; and, as to length of time, we have a succession of agents to take up the work as fast as others leave it. We never lose sight of a favorite point ; nor are we bound by strict rules of morality in the employment of means when the end we pursue is laudable. If we err, our gen- eral is to blame, and we have a merciful God to pardon us." He hinted that there were other Jesuits laboring among the In- dians for the accomplishment of a like result.
Regarded as a dangerous enemy to Georgia, Priber was con- fined in the barracks at Frederica. His captivity he bore with stoical indifference. Conversing freely, and conducting himself with extreme politeness, he attracted the notice of many of the citizens of the town and was the recipient of favors at their hands. While thus a prisoner, a fire occurred in the bomb-mag- azine which was very near his quarters. Several thousand shells were exploded. General was the alarm. It was confidently believed that Priber had perished, - slain by fragments of the exploded projectiles. By those who ventured first into his apart- ment he was found unhurt, calmly reading a favorite Greck an- thor. When asked why he had not endeavored to make his escape from so dangerous a locality, he coolly responded that in his opinion the safest place was just by exploding shells, as few, if any, would return to the precise spot whence they were expelled, and therefore he quietly remained where he was and passed unharmed through the disaster.
Fortunately for the peace of the Southern provinces Priber died suddenly during his captivity, and thus was his nefarious design frustrated.1
1 See inclosure in General Ogle- Stevens' History of Georgia, vol. i. p. 164. thorpe's letter of the 22d of April, 1743, New York. MDCCCXLVII. Romance addressed to the Duke of Newcastle.
of American Ilistory, p. 22. New York.
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384
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
We turn now to another Indian trouble instigated and con- ducted by an avaricious, designing, and unscrupulous white man, which seriously imperiled, and almost compassed the destruction of, the colony.
It will be remembered that Oglethorpe, in his earliest inter- view with Tomo-chi-chi and his tribe, secured the services of Mary Musgrove, the wife of an Indian trader, as an interpreter. Finding that she possessed considerable influence with the Creek nation, and that her inclinations towards the English were very friendly, he retained her in that capacity, allowing her, as com- pensation for her services, one hundred pounds sterling per an- num. Her assistance was invaluable, and her aid, not only in concluding treaties but also in securing warriors from the Creek confederacy during the conflict between Georgia and Florida, in- dispensable. Promptly did she respond on all occasions to any request made of her, and for her General Oglethorpe entertained and expressed a sincere regard. She was certainly of great use to him and to the colony. Had he remained, the trouble which will now be mentioned would probably have been avoided.
Mary Musgrove afterwards became Mary Matthews, and sub- sequently married Thomas Bosomworth, at one time chaplain to Oglethorpe's regiment. On the 4th of July, 1743, he was com- missioned by the trustees "to perform all religious and ecclesi- astical affairs in Georgia." He had accepted a grant of lands from the common council and taken up his residence in the colony. "Hitherto," in the language of Stevens, "the career of Mary had been one of generous self-denial and of unremitted la- bours for the good of the Colony. She had not indeed received the full reward of her services, but she rested on the faith of the government and was, until her marriage with Bosomworth, quiet in her conduct and moderate in her demands. But, from 1744, her whole character was changed, and the Colony which her ser- vices had kept in peace and security was now, through her mis- directed influence, to feel the dreadful horrors of expected mas- sacre and extermination."
The year after his marriage, Bosomworth returned to England and informed the trustees that he did not purpose residing any longer in Georgia. In 1746, he came again to Savannah and indicated his contempt for the regulations of the trustees by in-
1872. Compare Logan's History of the documents in the office of the Secretary Upper Country of South Carolina, vol. i. of State, Columbia, S. C. pp. 400 et seq. Charleston 1859. MS.
385
MEMORIAL OF MARY BOSOMWORTH.
troducing six negro slaves on the plantation of his wife on tlie south side of the forks of the Alatamaha River, known as Mount Venture. This affront the trustees promptly resented, and in- structed President Stephens and his assistants to cause the im- mediate removal of those slaves. The execution of this order provoked the wrath of Bosomworth. He resolved upon revenge. Having first conciliated the Indians, with much cunning and caution he began to develop his plans, which embraced not only compensation from the general government for the losses sus- tained and the services rendered by his wife, but also absolute possession of Ossabaw, St. Catherine, and Sapelo islands, and of a tract of land near Savannah which the Indians had reserved for themselves in former treaties with the colonists.
Placing his demand at the exorbitant sum of £5,000, and casting aside every restraint which might have been expected from one of his profession, he " put on the iron features of the extortioner, determined rather to light up through the nation the fires of the war-dance than cancel one claim or relinquish one acre." That something more was due to Mrs. Bosomworth for losses sustained and labors performed in the service of the colony could not be doubted ; but, moved by her avaricious and un- scrupulous husband, her claim was magnified beyond measure. By his address he secured the sympathy of several of the officers of Oglethorpe's regiment resident at Frederica, and prepared the following memorial which he induced his wife to sign : -
" To the Honorable Lieut : Col Heron, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's forces in the Province of Georgia.
" The Memorial and representation of Mary Bosomworthi 1 of the said Province, humbly sheweth:
" That your Memorialist was born at the Coweta Town on the Oakmulgee River, which is a branch of the Alatamaba, and the chief-town of the Creek Indian nation.
"That she is by descent on the Mother's side (who was sister to the old Emperor) of the same blood with the present Micos and chiefs now in that nation, and by their laws and the voice of the whole people is esteemed their rightful and natural Princess.
" That her ancestors tho' under the appellation of savages, were a brave and free-born people who never owed allegiance to, or acknowledged the sovereignty of, any crowned head whatever, but have always maintained their own possessions and indepen- dence against all opposers by war at the expense of their blood ;
1 Her Indian name was Cowsaponckesa. 25
386
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
as they can shew by the many trophies of victory and relicts of their enemies slain in defence of their natural riglits.
" That they have entered into several treaties of Peace, Friend- ship, and Commerce with persons properly empowered in behalf of the Crown of Great Britain.
" That they have made several concessions of land, their nat- ural right, in behalf of his Majesty, and have for several years past, on their parts strictly and faithfully observed the treaty of friendship and alliance entered into with hon : Maj. Gen. Ogle- thorpe in behalf of his Brittanick Majesty, and have on all oc- casions been ready to fight against his Majesty's enemies, which they have much annoyed.
" That both the French and Spaniards well know, by dear ex- perience, how terrible they are to their enemies in war. They are so highly sensible of the vast importance of the friendship and alliance of the Creek Nation to the British interest that they have for some time past and are at this juncture laboring by all the artifices imaginable to seduce that nation from their alliance with his Majesty's subjects ; which will be certainly a great ad- dition of strength and power to his Majesty's enemies : and the dangerous consequence may be the hazard of the safety of his Majesty's Southern Frontier.
" That your Memorialist hath by her interest since the first settlement of the Colony of Georgia, for the space of 14 years, continued that important nation steady and steadfast in their alliance with the English at the expense of her own private for- tune, to the ruin of herself and family, as will appear by a plain narrative of matters of fact.
" That whereas your Memorialist by the laws of Great Britain is a subject of that Crown, and has given many signal proofs of her zeal and loyalty as such ; amongst the many blessings she hopes to enjoy under his Majesty's government is a right of com- plaining of the grievances which she at present labors under, which are now become too great for her any longer to bear; and the hopes of redress she esteems none of the least.
" Your Memorialist therefore humbly begs leave to represent unto you a state of her deplorable case which she hopes will ap- pear to be such that the justice of a British Parliament will be extended to her relief.
" That your Memorialist about the age of 7 years was brought down by her father from the Indian Nation to Pomponne in South Carolina, and there baptized, educated, and bred up in the principles of Christianity.
387
MEMORIAL OF MARY BOSOMWORTH.
" That she was in South Carolina when the Indian war broke out in the year 1715: that the cause thereof was the acts of in- justice which the Indians had received from the Traders as she has been informed by old Chichilli, her mother's brother, who, at the head of the Creek Indians, at that time advanced as far as Stono River.
" That in the year 1716 Col. John Musgrove, your Memori- alist's father-in-law, was sent into the Nation as Agent of South Carolina, who entered into a treaty of alliance with the Creek Na- tion in behalf of that Government, the conditions of which were that traders should be sent up among them &c., and that none of his Majesty's subjects should live, hold any lands, or claim any right or title to any cattle &c. to the South of the River Savannah, which was to be the boundary between the Creeks and his Majesty's subjects.
" That after she was married to Mr. John Musgrove she was settled in Carolina upwards of 7 years, till June 1732, at which time she and her husband, at the request of the Creek Nation and by the consent of Governor Johnson, moved all their goods, cattle, &c. to the South of the river Savannah and settled a trad- ing-house at Yamacraw, near the place where Savannah now stands, where they took from the Indians very large quantities of deer-skins, and had large credit and supplies of goods to carry on that traffic from Merchants in Charlestown.
" That upon the arrival of James Oglethorpe with the first em- barkation of the settlement of the Colony of Georgia, the Indians that were then settled at Yamacraw were very uneasy and threat- ened to take up arms against them, which they certainly would have done as they looked upon all white people settling here as a breach of the treaty with Carolina, had not your Memorialist used the utmost of her influence to bring about a treaty between Mr Oglethorpe and the Indians that were then there ; which treaty was provisionary till the consent of the Nation could be obtained, which was effected with difficulty by your Memorial- ist's influence.
"That her husband, John Musgrove, carried considerable ef- fects into Georgia ; that as there was at that time no other house in the Colony, they supplied the first settlers with every neces- sary their plantation afforded, or that they could purchase on credit from Charlestown.
" That she and her husband having then little experience of the world and the designs of bad people, have greatly suffered by
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388
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
giving large credit to sundry persons in public service in Georgia, and out of mere compassion relieving their necessities, most of whom have either left the Colony, or are not able to pay her.
" She further declareth that in the years 1733 and 1734 she took from the Indians near 1200 weight of deer-skins each year, as she can make appear by remittances made to Charlestown, and that the trade would have very much increased, as great numbers of Indians were daily coming from the Nation to trade with her; by which trade alone she could soon have made a very large fortune, had she pursued the same methods that the rest of the traders did in persuading the Indians to constantly go out hunting, which she had influence enough to have done.
"But as at that time there was no other defence for this Infant Colony and the Southern parts of Carolina which lay exposed to the incursions of the Spanish and Indians in amity with them, but the alliance of the Creeks, she so far preferred the lives and property of the Colonists to her own interests that she not only used her influence to keep the Creeks steady in their alliance with his Majesty's subjects, but constantly supported at her own expence numbers of her friends and other war Indians who were · always ready to go against his Majesty's enemies ; by which means her trade daily decreased and almost went to ruin : the Indians, who were her hunters, being almost daily employed in some expedition for the British service, and thereby rendered unable to pay their debts to her, which amounted to several thousand weight of leather, which remains unpaid to this day, some being dead, and others killed in his Majesty's service, par- ticularly her own brother and other near relatives at the Siege of Augustine in the year 1740.
" That in the years 1736 and 1737 when Mr. Oglethorpe thought proper to strengthen the southern parts of the Province by a settlement at the Island of Simon and on the Alatamaha, the assistance of the Creek Indians became more necessary, as there were advices that the Spaniards were then making prepa- rations to dislodge this Colony.
" That she was then sent for on all occasions to Frederica when- ever any Indians came there, as they did not choose to talk of affairs of consequence unless she was there ; which has often occasioned her absence from home for several months at a time, by which means her own affairs daily went to ruin, being, in her absence on public affairs, entirely left to the care of servants.
"That as these frontiers lay exposed to the ravages of the ene-
389
MEMORIAL OF MARY BOSOMWORTH.
mies Indians, buoyed up by the extensive promises and rewards which so signal a service would merit, at the request of Gen. Oglethorpe, she settled a trading house on the south side of the Alatamaha River, about 60 miles up in the country : the inten- tion of which was that the Creek Indians that would be constantly with them there, would be an outgard to prevent any incursion of Indians in friendship with the Spaniards, and be always ready when his Majesty's service required, which answered the intention of the Public, but was a heavy burden upon your Memorialist.
"That after the war with Spain, the services of the Indians were so constantly needed, that no advantage could be made by the trade there ; that she constantly employed her interest to bring down her friends from the nation to fight against his Majesty's enemies, which, since the war they have so annoyed, that they have been a strong barrier against the designs of the Spaniards, as must be allowed by every person.
" That by her, and her then husband's absence at their settle- ment on the Alatamaha, all their affairs at Savannah, which were very considerable, went to ruin.
" That in the year 1742 her then husband, Jacob Matthews, being taken sick, was bronght from the Alatamaha to Savannah and there soon after died : that her affairs being in great confu- sion occasioned her stay there longer than she expected : that the Indians at her settlement on the Alatamaha being uneasy that she did not return left the place, which the Yamassees tak- ing advantage of, came in a party, committed several murders, and entirely destroyed her settlement.
"That in the year 1743 when his Excellency General Ogle- thorpe returned to England he then paid her £180 which, with £20 before received, made £200, which was all she received for her services from 1732 to that time, whereas, notwithstanding the fatigue she has undergone in frequently travelling several hundred miles by water in open boats, exposed to both heat and cold, and no covering but the canopy of the heavens, the losses sustained in her own private affairs by the neglect thereof on his Majesty's service from the settlement of the Colony will, upon moderate computation, amount to £5,714, 17 shillings and eleven pence sterling.
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