Georgia a Part of
Carolina.
THE land which, in 1732,
was granted to the "Trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia in
America" was originally granted to the Lords Proprietors of Carolina; but
as no act of settlement beyond the right shore of the Savannah River was
exercised by the proprietors, Sir Robert Montgomery obtained from them, in
1717, the right to the use of the territory between the Savannah and the
Altamaha rivers for a settlement to be called the Margravate of Azilia. It
was expected that the Montgomery colony would at once take steps to
improve the land so secured, and that the prosperity of the new
undertaking would be assured. Such was the prediction of those who were
directly interested in the project, but their efforts were not properly
guided, and it remained for a man of greater ability and of more decided
energy to carry to a successful issue the scheme proposed by Sir Robert
Montgomery. James Oglethorpe was the man who was to be the leader in this
great work, and the circumstances which led to his taking charge of it may
be said to be providential.
Georgia a Distinct
Proprietary-Oglethorpe's Settlement.
The story of the
investigation by a committee of Parliament, headed by General Oglethorpe,
of the methods pursued in the matter of the imprisonment of unfortunate
Englishmen, has been so often told that it need not be here fully
rehearsed. The result of the investigation brought about the needed reform
in the prison system, but the most far-reaching and fruitful result was
the founding of the Colony of Georgia. Oglethorpe, who had been the chief
instrument in bringing about the great change, was chosen as the leader of
the band to prepare the way for departure to the new country which they
were to develop and change into a great state among a sisterhood of states
forming the grand Union which is one of the world's powers. For an
accurate and true account of the reasons for establishing the colony,
succinctly stated, no better can be found than that given by Gov. Robert
Johnson, of South Carolina, in the preamble to a proclamation issued by
him Jan. 13, 1733, calling on his people to assist their new neighbors in
Georgia. In it occurs this statement : "I have lately received a power
from the Trustees for establishing a colony in that part of Carolina
between the rivers Altamaha and Savannah, now granted by his Majesty's
charter to the said Trustees, by the name of the Province of Georgia,
authorizing me to take and receive all such voluntary contributions as any
of his Majesty's good subjects of this province shall voluntarily
contribute towards so good and charitable a work as the relieving of poor
and insolvent debtors, and settIing, establishing and assisting poor
Protestants of what nation so ever as shall be willing to settle in the
said Colony." It maybe well for our readers to have before them also the
words of the charter granted by George IL, giving the reasons as follows:
"Many of our poor subjects are, through misfortune and want of employment,
reduced to great necessity, insomuch as by their labor they are not able
to provide a maintenance for themselves and their families; and, if they
had means to defray their charges of passage and the expenses incident to
new settlements, they would be glad to settle in any of our provinces in
America, where, by cultivating the lands at present waste and desolate,
they might not only gain a comfortable subsistence for themselves and
families, but also strengthen our colonies and increase trade, navigation
and wealth of these, our realms."
James Oglethorpe, the
philanthropist and Christian gentleman, was also by choice a soldier,
leaving college to take up arms in defense of a cause which he considered
right. His character was right in every respect, and in undertaking the
establishment of a colony under such circumstances he was literally
carrying out the noble sentiment expressed in the motto adopted for the
seal of the Province: Non sibi, sed alliis. Whether he foresaw the success
of his scheme, or not, cannot be determined, but certainly true was the
statement made by a newspaper not long before his death: "General
Oglethorpe can say more than can be said by the subject of any prince in
Europe, or perhaps that ever reigned; he founded the Province of Georgia
in America, he has lived to see it flourish and become of consequence to
the commerce of Great Britain ; he has seen it in a state of rebellion,
and he now beholds it independent of the mother country, and of great
political importance in one quarter of the globe."
The first company of the
colonists, comprising 130 individuals, or thirty-five families, came over
in the latter part of the year 1732, in the ship Anne, which set sail on
November 17. Oglethorpe was one of the party. They reached Charleston, S.
C., Jan. 13, 1733, and were there cordially welcomed by Governor Johnson,
who assisted them in getting to the place where the first settlement was
to be made - Savannah. Leaving the others at Beaufort, on the way, the
General, guided by some of his Carolina friends, proceeded on his way in
order to select a spot for the permanent location of his followers. He
found what he sought, and a better selection than the site of the present
prosperous and flourishing city of Savannah could not have been made.
Indeed, no one would now wish for a change. On the spot he found a village
inhabited by Indians, of whom Tomochichi was the chief, and who soon
discerned the true character of Oglethorpe. The two men at once became
friends and the Indians and Englishmen remained friendly as long as the
General lived in Georgia. A treaty was afterwards made which was strictly
observed, and the Colony of Georgia had scarcely any troubles with the
aborigines. The plan of the city of Savannah has been greatly admired, and
it would seem that it had been carefully prepared before the colonists
ever set foot upon the soil. Oglethorpe, having chosen the spot, went back
for his followers, reaching Yamacraw Bluff Feb. 1 (old style), 1733 (Feb.
12, new style), and, after landing, they united in a prayer of
thanksgiving and praise to God, lodging that night in tents. The work of
building houses for the people began the next day, and the settlement was
called Savannah. In the work of making homes for themselves the colonists
were greatly assisted by their neighbors of Carolina, who even then
exhibited that social spirit for which they have ever since been noted.
Other Settlements.
Before the end of the first
year of the colony's history the population was increased by the arrival
of a vessel with forty Israelites who, while not under the care of the
Trustees or coming with their consent, proved to be thrifty and
industrious people and were allowed to remain. Following these came a band
of religious exiles, called Salzburgers, who were warmly welcomed and who
made their settlement at a place they named Ebenezer, up the Savannah
River, about twenty-five miles from Oglethorpe's town.
In a little more than a
year the following places, in addition to Savannah, were settled: Highgate,
Hampstead, Abercorn and Fort Argyle. In the meantime other ships, with
emigrants, arrived at Savannah, one of them, commanded by Captain Yoakley,
bringing supplies of tools, clothing and provisions, winning the prize of
a gold cup offered by the Trustees to the first vessel to enter the river
and unload a cargo at the public dock. She was followed by one bringing
the large addition of 150 souls to the population of the colony.
At the time the charter was
obtained it was thought that the production of silk would be the chief
industry of the people, and it was stipulated that each settler should
plant a certain number of mulberry trees. Indeed, so important was this
matter considered that the seal of the colony was of a design planned in
conformity with that purpose. It represented on one side a group of
silk-worms at work surrounded by the motto Non sibi, sed alliis. This
industry, however, was not a success, and the principal exports were
skins, rice, tar and pitch.
Having led the colonists to
their new home, set them to work and put them in the way of supporting
themselves, Oglethorpe, after spending fifteen months with them, returned
to England, taking with him that faithful friend Tomochichi, his wife and
his nephew and a number of chiefs, who were presented to the King and were
pleasantly entertained by those who appreciated their kindness to the
colonists. These Indians remained in England four months, but Oglethorpe
did not return to Georgia until 1735. A colony of Swiss and Moravian
emigrants, sent out by him in January, 1735, settled near Fort Argyle, and
a party of Scotch Highlanders who desired to come over left their native
land in January, 1736, and founded the town of New Inverness on the
Altamaha River.
When Oglethorpe made his
second visit to Georgia, in 1736, lie brought two ships loaded with
supplies needed by the people, and he was accompanied by 225 emigrants who
formed an important addition to the population. Among them were 125
Germans and twenty-five Moravians. The latter joined the settlement on the
Ogeechee River called Fort Argyle. He also brought with him the noted
brothers John and Charles Wesley, who did not remain a great while in this
country, but their experiences while here were both interesting and
exciting.
In February, 1736, a
settlement was made near the mouth of the Altamaha River, on the island
called St. Simon's, and the name Frederica was given to it. This place was
really the home of Oglethorpe from that time until his final return to
England. Before this, in 1735, in accordance with his directions, a
military post was fixed at a point high up on the Savannah River and
called Augusta. This was the starting-point of the prosperous city of
Augusta.
Trouble with Spaniards.
During all this time the
Spaniards, who claimed the land granted by Parliament to the Trustees of
Georgia, were apparently inactive and seemed to be satisfied with the
condition of affairs, but with the growth of the colony they became
troublesome and seemed determined to put a stop to her progress. The
Spanish government warned England that the building of fortifications and
the quartering of troops in Georgia would not be submitted to by them.
When the message was received the Duke of Argyle, a member of the King's
Council, asserted: "This should be answered, but not in the usual way; the
reply should be a fleet of battleships on the coast of Spain." So much
trouble was stirred up by the Spaniards that war was declared by England
in October, 1739.
At all times Oglethorpe
kept in mind the importance of securing and retaining the goodwill and
friendship of the Indians. The wisdom of this policy was manifested in the
long period of hostility between the colonists and the Spaniards in
Florida. With this purpose in view, the General decided to attend an
impressive and large gathering of warriors at Coweta Town, leaving
Savannah in July, 1739, and traveling 300 miles. At that meeting the
Indians became firmly convinced of his sincerity, and learned to
appreciate his friendly intentions, and willingly entered into treaties of
peace and goodwill with him.
Hostilities between the
Georgians and Spaniards began with the landing of a party of the latter on
Amelia Island on Georgia soil and the killing of two unarmed men. With a
considerable force Oglethorpe pursued the enemy until they sought refuge
in the city of St. Augustine. He then collected a force of friendly
Indians to co-operate with his troops, and captured two forts on the St.
John's River, cutting off the Spaniards from their Indian allies. He then
planned an attack on St. Augustine, and, with that end in view, left
Frederica in May, 1740, with a force of 900 of his own men and 1,100
Indians. His first capture was Fort St. Diego, nine miles from the point
of siege, and next he caused the Spaniards to abandon Fort Moosa, only two
miles from St. Augustine. The attack was made both by land and sea, but it
was found that the ships could not get near enough to the town to assist
the land forces. The siege lasted until July, and several incidents of a
disadvantageous character occurred, and the disappointed Oglethorpe
abandoned the attack and returned to Frederica. His loss was only fifty
men, while that of the enemy was 450, besides four forts.
The next move in the war
was made by the Spaniards, who were slow to act. They collected at St.
Augustine a fleet of fifty-six vessels with 7,000 troops from Havana, and
when Oglethorpe received information of their preparation to attack him he
gathered together all his available force, with all the arms and
ammunition in the province, and called to his aid his regiment of
Highlanders and his Indian allies. During the month of June two minor
attacks by the Spaniards on Amelia Island were repulsed. On the 28th
thirty-six of their ships, with troops numbering 5,000, approached St.
Simon's Island, but made no offensive demonstration until the 5th of the
next month, when they raised the red flag and landed their forces on the
south end, where they stationed a battery of eighteen guns. Oglethorpe
evacuated Fort St. Simon, spiked the guns, destroyed the powder and
retired to Frederica, where he strengthened his position for the coming
attack, his little band amounting to no more than 650 men. Learning from a
scout on the 7th that a division of the Spanish invaders was only two
miles from Frederica, Oglethorpe surprised them in the thick woods and
killed and captured nearly all of them. He went forward a few miles, and
in ambush awaited the approach of the main body of the enemy,
whose coming was not long delayed. Not suspecting danger, the Spaniards
halted near the ambush, stacked their arms and failed to set a proper
watch. The first intimation of danger was given by a horse which became
frightened at the sight of a soldier in the bushes. The command to attack
was given by Oglethorpe, and the enemy, taken by surprise, was completely
routed with the loss of 259 men. The site of this encounter received the
name of Bloody Marsh, the name it still bears. Oglethorpe next planned a
night attack upon the Spaniards, thinking to surprise them, but a
Frenchman who, unknown to the General, had joined himself to the
volunteers, fired his gun and rushed into the enemy's camp. He was pursued
by the Indians, who could not overtake him. This caused Oglethorpe to
retreat. Knowing that the deserter would divulge the weakness of his
force, he conceived a plan to bring his treason to naught. This is his
account of the affair:
"The next day I prevailed
with a prisoner and gave him a sum of money to carry a letter privately
and deliver it to that Frenchman who had deserted. This letter was written
in French as if from a friend of his, telling him he had received the
money that he should strive to make the Spaniards believe the English were
weak. That he should undertake to pilot up their boats and galleys and
then bring them under the woods where he knew the hidden batteries were,
that if he could bring that about he should have double the reward he had
already received. That the French deserters should have all that had been
promised to them. The Spanish prisoner got into their camp and was
immediately carried before their General, Don Manuel de Montiano. He was
asked how he escaped and whether he had any letters, but denying his
having any was strictly searched and the letter found; and he, upon being
pardoned, confessed that he had received money to deliver it to the
Frenchman, for the letter was not directed. The Frenchman denied his
knowing anything of the contents of the letter or having received any
money or correspondence with me, notwithstanding which a Council of War
was held and they deemed the Frenchman to be a double spy, but General
Montiano would not suffer him to be executed, having been employed by him;
however, they embarked all their troops and halted under Jekyl; they also
confined all the French on board and embarked with such precipitation that
they left behind them cannon, etc., and those dead of their wounds
unburied."
John Wesley.
During the short stay of
John Wesley in Georgia, his mind was filled with the importance of the
work of religious instruction of the Indians and the settlers, and he
decided that George Whitefield was just the man for that work.
Accordingly, he wrote so strong an appeal to him that Whitefield came over
in the next ship. A portion of the letter reads thus : "What if thou art
the man, Mr. Whitefield ? Do you ask me what you shall have? Food to eat
and raiment to put on; a house to lay your head in such as your Lord had
not, and a crown of glory that fadeth not away." Whitefield's chief work
in Georgia was the founding of the orphan asylum, which he named Bethesda,
or house of mercy. It opened with forty inmates, and the number ran up to
150. This noble charity still exists, and its good work cannot be
overestimated.
Internal Affairs.
A change in the government
of the colony was made two years before Oglethorpe's departure, by its
division into two counties, each governed by a president and four
assistants. These counties were Savannah and Frederica, the former
including the territory extending southward to Darien, and the latter
including Darien and all the territory to the southern limit of the
colony. William Stephens was made president of the county of Savannah, but
no appointment was made for Frederica, as Oglethorpe's home was on St.
Simon's Island and his authority as governor extended over the whole
colony. In 1743, on Oglethorpe's return to England, the plan was modified,
and the Trustees made Mr. Stephens president of Georgia. He governed the
colony six years, but his administration was not marked by any special act
of progress, and the degree of prosperity was inappreciable. Moreover, the
colonists became dissatisfied on account of certain regulations of the
Trustees which did not exist in the other colonies. Among these were the
prohibition of the use of negro slaves and the sale of rum. In June, 1735,
and in December, 1738, petitions were sent to the Trustees asking that the
use of negro slaves be permitted. Such men as the Rev. George Whitefield
and the Rev. Mr. Bolzius, pastor of the Salzburgers, urged the repeal of
the restriction in regard to slavery. Finally, yielding to the pressure,
the Trustees repealed the regulation against the sale of distilled liquor
and allowed the use of slaves under certain conditions.
Another cause of
dissatisfaction among the colonists was the restriction which prevented a
settler from either mortgaging or selling his lands. This restriction was
not removed until May 25, 1750.
Trouble arose in 1749
through fear that the Indians might become hostile. This state of affairs
was brought on by a woman. This woman was an Indian, and could speak
English. When the colonists landed at Savannah Oglethorpe used her as an
interpreter. Her first husband was named Musgrove, and the second
Matthews. She afterwards married the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth, a priest of
the Church of England, who induced her to make a demand on the colony for
£5,000 as compensation for her services and for damages to the property of
her first husband. She claimed to be an Indian princess and empress of the
Creek Indians. She laid claim to the islands of Ossabaw, Sapelo and St.
Catherine's, as well as certain lands just across the river from Savannah,
but President Stephens opposed all of her claims and would not agree to
anything that she urged. She excited the Indians and marched a large
number of them to Savannah, escorted by her husband in his priest's garb,
the Indian chiefs and warriors appearing in their feathers and war paint.
Notwithstanding the fears of his people, Mr. Stephens assembled the
soldiers and declared that the Indians must give up their arms before
entering the town. This they did, and the Bosomworths were arrested and
locked up. The president addressed the Indians and convinced them that the
woman was no princess and that the land claimed by her belonged to the
Creek Nation. This brought about peace and quiet. The Bosomworths went to
England and tried to persuade the King and the Trustees to comply with
their demands, and invoked the aid of the courts. They gave trouble many
years and were finally given about £2,000 and a title to St. Catherine's
Island, where both of them died and where they are buried.
A change for the better
occurred in the year 1750, as at that time the Honorable James Habersham
described the condition of the province in these words: "My present
thoughts are that the colony never had a better appearance of thriving
than now. There have been more vessels loaded here within these ten months
than have been since the colony was settled." At that time the population
had grown to 1,500. In that year the Trustees resolved that a Provincial
Assembly should be established which should be composed of delegates
elected by the people, who would then look after the interests of the
inhabitants and to suggest to the Trustees those measures which might be
considered to be for the good of the colony. It was to meet once a year in
Savannah, and each session was not to continue beyond one month. The first
session was held Jan. 15, 1751, and was composed of sixteen delegates
elected the year before. It lasted twenty-two days, and Francis Harris was
elected speaker. That year William Stephens, who had become infirm and
aged, resigned the office of president, and on April 8 the Trustees
appointed Henry Parker as his successor. James Habersham was made
secretary of the colony. The assembly recommended the organization of the
militia, and President Parker proceeded to carry out their wishes. The
first muster was held in June, 1751, in Savannah, when 220 men appeared
under the command of Capt. Noble Jones.
The next year, 1752, a body
of people, Congregationalists in religion, under a grant of land situated
on the Midway River, moved into Georgia from Dorchester, S. C., and made a
valuable addition to the population. From this body have descended some of
Georgia's most illustrious citizens.
Georgia a Royal Province.
The end of the period of
twenty-one years named in the charter granted to the Trustees was now
approaching, and that corporation did not desire a renewal. They
accordingly expressed to the Lords of the Council their wish to surrender
the trust.
Their wish was granted, and
the last meeting of the Trustees was held June 23, 1752, and the colony of
Georgia was placed in charge of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and
Plantations. At that time only six of the original body were living.
By command of the King the
regulations of the Trustees were kept in force and all officers in charge
were retained until a new form of government should be adopted. No change
was made for more than two years, and Mr. Parker died in office as
president. Patrick Graham, of Augusta, was chosen as his successor. The
King approved the recommendation of the Lords of the Council that Georgia
should be made a royal province, and appointed Capt. John Reynolds of the
Royal Navy as the first governor. In place of the old seal which had been
defaced when the charter was surrendered, a great seal for the province
was designed. The obverse shows a female figure representing the province,
kneeling before the King in token of submission, and presenting him with a
skein of silk under which is the motto, "Hinc laudem sperate Coloni." The
motto engraved around the edge is "Sigillum Provinciae Nostrae Georgiae in
America." The reverse bears the coat-of-arms of the King.
The official title of the
governor was "CaptainGeneral and Governor-in-Chief of his Majesty's
Province of Georgia, and Vice-Admiral of the same." He landed on Georgia
soil Oct. 29, 1754, and received a most hearty welcome from the people.
The legislature was composed of the upper house of Assembly in which sat
twelve members, appointed by the King, and they were also the Governor's
council, and the commons house of Assembly, representatives elected by the
people from the several districts of the province. No bill could become a
law until it passed both houses and was signed by the governor.
Under the new regime the
first legislature met Jan. 7, 1755, when only twelve acts were passed and
became laws.
The province of Georgia was
not in the prosperous condition that Governor Reynolds was led to believe
existed at the time of his appointment, and he did not do anything during
his administration to make it a success. He laid off the town of Hardwicke
on the Ogeechee River, which never developed into importance. He did give
up much of his time to the improvement of the defenses of the province. He
endeavored to make a treaty with the Indians at Augusta, but failed to
awaken any interest on their part, and was called back to Savannah by the
arrival of two vessels with 400 Acadians on board. Under the Georgia laws
no Catholics were permitted to land, and Governor Reynolds did not know
how to act in this case. They were allowed to remain and were protected
during that winter, but nearly all of them went away as soon as they were
able to do so. The governor did not remain on good terms with his council
or the legislature. Complaint was made to the Lords Commissioners of the
Board of Trade and Plantations, and on Aug. 3, 1756, they summoned him to
appear before them. They appointed Henry Ellis lieutenant-governor of the
province, to take charge during the absence of Reynolds, and he landed at
Savannah on Feb. 16, 1757. Reynolds departed the same day.
In taking control
Lieutenant-Governor Ellis perceived that he had undertaken a most
important work, and that many necessary changes in the methods then
employed would require his special attention. He immediately set to work
to place the province in a good condition to guard it against invasion.
It was his wish that the
seat of government should be changed, and that Hardwicke should be the
capital. He entered into an agreement of peace and friendship with the
Creeks, which was a matter of great importance because of the war then in
progress between England and France.
The legislature met in
June, four months after his arrival, at which time he delivered his
inaugural address in which he said: "I can, with unfeigned sincerity,
declare that I enter upon this station with the most disinterested views,
without prejudice to any man or body of men, or retrospect to past
transactions or disputes, but animated with warmest zeal for whatever
concerns your happiness or the public utility, sincerely inclined to
concur with you in every just and necessary measure, and fully resolved
that if, unfortunately, my wishes and endeavors prove fruitless, to be the
first to solicit my recall."
The next year, 1758, was
marked by the first move towards the founding of a town which, for a time,
was almost as important in the matter of trade as was Savannah, and which
seemed destined to surpass her in the amount of business carried on there.
It was on June 20 that a grant of 300 acres of land was made to five
trustees for the purpose of laying out a town to be called Sunbury. It was
situated in the district known as Midway, in which the settlers from
Dorchester, S. C., had located. Its prosperity was not long-lived.
It was in this year that
the province was divided into parishes. There were eight of them: Christ
Church, which included Savannah; St. Matthew's, in which was Ebenezer; St.
Paul's, of which Augusta was the chief town; St. George's, with Halifax as
the most important place; St. Philip's, which was the great Ogeechee
district; St. John's, peopled by the Dorchester settlers; St. Andrew's,
with Darien as its principal point of interest; and the Frederica
district, which was the parish of St. James. Four new parishes were
created in 1765, known as St. Patrick's, St. David's, St. Thomas's and St.
Mary's.
The administration of
Governor Reynolds officially ended by his removal from office in 1758,
when Henry Ellis became actual governor and administered the affairs of
Georgia until 1760, when he was relieved by the arrival of
Lieutenant-Governor James Wright, who was appointed to that office on the
application of Governor Ellis in 1759 for leave of absence. The growth of
the province under Governor Ellis, in commerce as well as in population,
was remarkable. The trust committed to him was executed with much care,
and he showed his ability for governing to a marked degree. His dealings
with the Creek Indians made them the friends of Georgia, and in
consequence the troubles which arose in other provinces in America between
the whites and the Indians were averted.
Governor Wright - Steps
to Independence.
Governor Wright, as already
stated, reached Georgia on Oct. 11, 1760, and, though his office then was
lieutenant-governor, he was really the governor until his official
appointment as such with the title of "Captain-General, Governor and
Commander-inChief of the Province of Georgia," by virtue of a commission
bearing date March 20, 1761. The commission, however, was not received by
him until nearly ten months after its date. Like his predecessor, his
first object of care was that of looking after the defenses of the
province, and he sent a message to the Assembly, calling the attention of
that body to the necessity for prompt action in that matter. He decided
that it would be unwise to remove the seat of government from Savannah to
Hardwicke, a step which both Reynolds and Ellis had advocated.
George IL, who had granted
the charter and after whom the colony was named, died in October, 1760,
just about the time that Wright arrived at Savannah, but the news was not
received in the province until February, 1761, causing the adjournment of
the Assembly and the holding of services in memory of the dead King.
By the provisions of the
Treaty of Paris the territory of Florida was ceded to England, and George
III. changed the boundary between that territory and Georgia by which all
the land between Florida's northern line and the Altamaha River was added
to Governor Wright's jurisdiction, and a new commission was issued to him
in which the limits of the province were fixed. One of the matters treated
of in the proclamation of George Ill., concerning the territory acquired
by the Treaty of Paris, related to the Indian tribes to whom he allotted
the lands lying between the Mississippi and the head waters of the streams
flowing into the Atlantic. From these lands the white people were for the
time being excluded. He desired that friendly relations should exist
between the Indians and the whites, and issued orders to the governors of
Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia to hold a conference with the Indian
chiefs. The conference, so ordered, was held at Augusta, and was attended
by 700 Indians. It lasted five days and Governor Wright was the presiding
officer. It resulted in a very satisfactory treaty, which was signed by
all of the parties interested. The convention opened on Nov. 5, 1763.
Until the adoption of the
Stamp Act, Governor Wright's conduct appears to have been satisfactory to
the people; but after that time his life in Georgia was, if we may take
his own letters as evidence, very miserable. When the Massachusetts
proposition of a congress was received, Alexander Wylly, the speaker of
the commons house of Assembly, summoned that body to a meeting, and about
two-thirds of the members, sixteen in number, attended. The meeting was
held Sept. 2, 1765, and the delegates pledged "their hearty cooperation in
every measure for the support of their common rights." Governor Wright,
however, succeeded in preventing the appointment of representatives of the
province in the proposed congress. In October he ordered the troops to
attend a muster in honor of the King, whose ascension to the throne
happened five years before, on the 26th day of that month; but although a
large number assembled, they took no part in the programme prepared and
marched through the streets, denouncing the Stamp Act and even uttering
threats against Governor Wright. William Knox, the Assembly's agent in
England, defended the act, and the Assembly, on Nov. 15, 1765, "resolved
to give instructions to the committee of correspondence to acquaint
William Knox, agent for this province, that the province has no further
occasion for his services."
December 5 of the same
year, a little more than a month after the Stamp Act was to take effect,
His Majesty's ship Speedwell arrived at Savannah with the first stamps,
but from the first of November until their arrival the governor had
stopped the issue of all grants and warrants and gave passes to vessels in
which it was certified that neither the stamped paper nor the distributing
officer had arrived. The officer, Mr. Angus, arrived Jan. 3, 1766, and
landed secretly, as the governor had received information that 200 Liberty
Boys had organized and threatened to break into the fort and destroy the
papers. Governor Wright had previously caused the stamps to be placed in
Fort Halifax in care of the commissary. Excitement ran high. Mr. Angus was
forced to seek refuge in the house of the governor, with a guard set
around it, where he remained a fortnight and then left the city.
Threatening letters were sent to Governor Wright, and James Habersham,
president of the council, was waylaid and forced to take refuge under the
roof of the governor, as the stamp distributor had done. Finally the
stamps were, on February 3, deposited on board the man-of-war which had
brought them over. The only use to which any of them had been put was to
clear out between sixty and seventy vessels collected in the port of
Savannah and which could not sail without them.
With the repeal of the
Stamp Act quiet settled upon Georgia, but, as the governor well said, it
was "but a temporary calm."
On Jan. 20, 1767, the
governor, under the terms of the "Mutiny Act," called upon the Assembly
for the supplies for the King's soldiers on duty in the province. In
reply, on February 18, they sent him word that "they humbly conceived
their complying with the requisition would be a violation of the trust
reposed in them by their constituents, and founding a precedent they by no
means think themselves justifiable in introducing." The governor found it
prudent to let the matter rest there, and could only send the proceedings
of the Assembly to the King's ministers.
When Mr. Knox was deposed
from his office of agent the governor desired the appointment of Mr.
Cumberland, but the Assembly disregarded his wish and appointed Mr. Samuel
Garth, who represented South Carolina in the same way. This did not
satisfy the governor and council, and no agent was employed from that time
until 1768, when Benjamin Franklin became agent and served until the War
of the Revolution.
The Stamp Act having
failed, another measure was adopted by Parliament which was calculated to
call forth a strong protest from the colony. This was a bill to tax
certain articles of commerce, and against a compliance with it the
Massachusetts House of Representatives urged the other provinces to take
united action. Another letter came from Virginia, and, when the Georgia
Assembly met and had transacted its regular business, the house ordered
these letters recorded in the journal and indorsed the action of the other
provinces. This called forth a message of protest from Governor Wright
ordering that the Assembly be dissolved. Dr. Noble Wymberly Jones was the
speaker of the Assembly. He has been styled "one of the morning stars of
liberty in Georgia," and Governor Wright therefore did not hold him in
high esteem. The council was composed of men in favor with the British
government, but the commons house of Assembly held an opposing view of
affairs. When, therefore, Dr. Jones was again elected speaker of the
house, the governor refused to recognize him and ordered that body to
elect another speaker. The house refused to do so and the Assembly was
again dissolved.
In July, 1771, Governor
Wright, having obtained a leave of absence, went to England, and James
Habersham was named by the King to act in his place, with the title of
president. The last Assembly had, by resolution, declared that the
governor had no right to reject a speaker chosen by them, and the King had
virtually ordered Mr. Habersham to refuse to recognize as speaker any one
who should be the first choice of that body. Therefore, when it met on
April 21, 1772, and elected Dr. Jones, Mr. Habersham ordered another
election. Again they elected Dr. Jones, whom the president rejected. When,
for the third time, he was elected Dr. Jones declined to serve, and
Archibald Bulloch was chosen. Him the president accepted. These
proceedings were entered on the journal, and Mr. Habersham ordered that
they be expunged, but the Assembly refused to obey, and he dissolved it.
After an absence of
nineteen months Governor Wright returned in February, 1773, and his first
act was to acquire from the Indians a tract of land containing 2,100,000
acres, in payment of a debt due by the Indians to the traders.
When the Boston Port Bill
was passed a meeting of the patriots in Georgia was held at Savannah to
express their sympathy for the people of that city. The meeting was held
on July 27, 1774, but was not largely attended, and, in order that the
whole colony might be represented and take part in the matter, it was
adjourned to August 10. Among other things, the resolutions declared that
the action of the British Parliament in passing that bill and other
measures acted "contrary to natural justice and the spirit of the English
Constitution." A subscription was taken for the Bostonians, and 600 casks
of rice were sent to them. Jonathan Bryan, the only patriot member of the
Council, was present at the meeting, and when Governor Wright convened
them a motion was made to expel Mr. Bryan, but that gentleman said, "I
will save you that trouble," and handed in his resignation.
A Provisional Congress was
held in Savannah in January, 1775, one of the objects of which was to
elect delegates to the Continental Congress to be held in Philadelphia in
May, and Noble Wymberly Jones, Archibald Bulloch and John Houstoun were
elected, but they did not attend, as only a small number of the parishes
were represented in the body which elected them, and it was thought that
their right to represent the province might be questioned. They sent a
letter to the Continental Congress, and this is an extract from it: "There
are still men in Georgia who, when an occasion shall require, will be
ready to evince a steady, religious and manly attachment to the liberties
of America." Dr. Lyman Hall was sent as a delegate to that Congress from
St. John's parish, and was admitted "subject to such regulations as the
Congress should determine relative to voting."
On the night of May 11,
1775, Joseph Habersham led a party of six men who broke into the powder
magazine and took away all the ammunition it contained. Some of it was
sent to South Carolina and some to Boston, and it is said that some of it
was used at the battle of Bunker Hill. On June 5, 1775, the King's
birthday, the first liberty pole was raised in Georgia. Following the
example of the other colonies the people of Savannah, on June 22, 1775,
elected a Council of Safety, of which William Ewen was made president.
This council called a Provincial Congress to meet in Savannah July 4,
1775. Every parish was represented, and Archibald Bulloch was elected
president. It endorsed all the proceedings of the Continental Congress,
and fell in line with the other colonies so far as they had acted in
regard to the oppressive measures adopted by Great Britain. Five delegates
were elected to the Continental Congress, namely, Archibald Bulloch, John
Houstoun, Rev. John Joachim Zubly, Noble Wymberly Jones and Dr. Lyman
Hall. The Congress established a Council of Safety in place of the council
previously elected by the people, which body was authorized to act while
the Provincial Congress was not in session. During this session of
Congress it was ascertained that a British ship was shortly expected to
arrive with 14,000 pounds of gunpowder. An armed schooner manned by
Commodore Oliver Bowen, Maj. Joseph Habersham and others, under commission
of the Congress, proceeded to Tybee and captured the vessel. Part of her
cargo was retained for use at home, and the rest was sent to General
Washington.
On Jan. 17, 1776, several
British war vessels appeared at the mouth of the Savannah River, and the
Council of Safety ordered the arrest of Governor Wright so as to prevent
his holding communication with them. Maj. Joseph Habersham volunteered, on
the 18th, to carry out this resolve with the aid of some of his young
friends. On the same day he boldly passed the guard at the governor's
residence, made his way into the dining-room, where a dinner party had
assembled, laid his hand upon the governor and said: "Sir James, you are
my prisoner." The party were so astonished at this bold act that they
fled. The governor gave his solemn promise not to make an attempt to
escape, but, disregarding his parole, he did escape on February 11, and
secured safety on board a British ship lying in the river below the city
of Savannah. A new Provincial Congress convened in Savannah on Jan. 22,
1776, and Archibald Bulloch was again elected president. A form of
government was adopted, and the title of chief magistrate was changed from
governor to "President and Commander-in-Chief of Georgia." To this new
office Archibald Bulloch was elected.
The delegates to the
Continental Congress from Georgia, elected in July, 1775, were Archibald
Bulloch, John Houstoun, Dr. J. J. Zubly, Dr. Lyman Hall and Dr. Noble
Wymberly Jones. In January, 1776, Bulloch, Houstoun and Hall were
reelected, but Button Gwinnett and George Walton succeeded Zubly and
Jones. Archibald Bulloch could not attend on account of duties he had to
perform at home as President of Georgia, and John Houstoun was detained at
home. The Declaration of Independence, therefore, was signed only by Hall,
Gwinnett and Walton, and the news of the passage of that most important
measure reached the people of Georgia on Aug. 10, 1776, by whom it was
received with demonstrations of great joy. By it Georgia agreed to stand
with the other twelve colonies in abjuring allegiance to the mother
country, and the thirteen sisters continued to stand together until their
independence was secured, holding fast all the time to the resolve that
progress should mark every step in their history.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. - Jones,
Charles C., Jr.: History of Georgia (2 vols.); McCall, Hugh: History of
Georgia (2 vols.); Harris, T. M.: Memorials of Oglethorpe; Stevens, Wm.
Bacon: History of Georgia (2 vols.); Georgia Colonial Records, published
by the State; Collections of the Georgia Historical Society (6 vols.)
WILLIAM HARDEN,
Librarian, Savannah Public Library. |