S A V A N N A H.

    One hundred and thirty-five years ago a small tribe of Indians occupied the bluff upon which the city of Savannah now stands. Then the indian's canoe, only, ruffled the placid waters of the Savannah; now steam and sail vessels from every clime, attracted by the fruits of Savannah's commerce, plough its bosom, coming and going, with keels deeply sunk in the water. Then the smoke curled lazily upward from a few wigwams; now fiery furnaces belch forth volumes of ruddy flame, and on every hand is heard the din of hammers and bellows, the voices of men echoing from the manufactories, wharves, and places of business where a numerous population are plying the tireless fingers of industry in the creation of substantial wealth. Then the woods resounded with the savage warwhoop; now the no less discordant, but more civilized, steam whistle is heard as the heavily laden trains pass to and fro on the iron arms which have been stretched in every direction, clasping in their embrace some of the choicest regions of the country. On every hand are elegant and luxurious mansions, gardens teeming with flowers of richest and rarest hue; churches and humane institutions; colleges and schools; squares and park thronged with nature and youthful beauty, making the balmy atmosphere vocal with sounds of human life and joy --- all attesting wealth, refinement, piety, benevolence, intelligence, health and happiness.

Origin of the Settlement of Savannah --- Departure of the Colonists --- Their Arrival at Charleston --- Oglethorpe's Visit to Yamacraw --- Arrival of the Colonists on the Bluff --- Friendly Overtures of the Indians --- Oglethorpe's Description of Savannah --- Kindness of South Carolinians --- Treaty with the Indians --- Arrival of the First Ship --- Laying Out of the Town and Naming of the Streets, Squares, Wards and Tithings --- Arrival of Hebrew Settlers --- Alligators become Troublesome --- Arrival of the Salzburgers --- Oglethorpe Goes to England --- Appearance of Savannah in 1734 --- A Judge Acts in a Three-fold Capacity --- Wine and Silk Culture --- Discontentment --- Arrival of Revs. John and Charles Wesley.

    About the year 1729, the sufferings of the poor people of England, especially the debtors who by the laws of the country which gave to the creditor complete control over them, were thrown into prison, there to remain in rags and misery the rest of their days, enlisted the sympathy of a number of influential men of London who visited the debtors' prisons and adopted measures for their relief. But owing to the existing laws very little good was accomplished and they sought other means of relief.

    These gentlemen, John Lord Viscount Percival, Edward Digby, George Carpenter, James Oglethorpe, George Heathcote, John Laroche, James Vernon, William Beletha, Stephen Hales, Thomas Tower, Robert More, Robert Hucks, Roger Holland, William Sloper, Francis Eyles, John Burton, Richard Bandy, Arthur Bradford, Samuel Smith, Adam Anderson and Thomas Coram, petitioned the Throne to grant them a charter for a separate and distinct province from Carolina, between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers, to which they designed sending a number of poor people who had neither lands nor other means of supporting themselves and families.

    On the ninth of June, 1732 his Majesty King George the Second granted the charter, in his letters-patent, reciting among other things, "that many of his poor subjects were, through misfortunes and want of employment, reduced to great necessities and would be glad to be settled in any of his Majesty's provinces in America, where, by cultivating the waste and desolate lands, they might not only gain a comfortable subsistence, but also strengthen his Majesty's colonies and increase the trade, navigation and wealth of his Majesty's realms; and that the province of North America had been frequently ravaged by Indian enemies, more especially that of South Carolina, whose southern frontier continued unsettled and lay open to the neighboring savages; and to relieve the wants of said poor people and to protect his Majesty's subjects in South Carolina, a regular colony of the said poor people should be settled and established on the southern frontiers of Carolina."

    Acting under the authority of their charter, the Trustees held their first meeting in July, 1732 and made arrangements for carrying their designs into execution. Money was collected and persons selected to be sent over and settled in the new colony, which they resolved should be on the Savannah river. James Oglethorpe, who had been foremost in these philanthropic designs, resolved to accompany the colonists and used every effort toward obtaining worthy persons. No lazy or immoral persons, none who would leave families, none who could obtain subsistence in England and none who were in debt and could not obtain the consent of their creditors, were selected. By the 16th of November, 1732, thirty-five families, numbering in all about one hundred and twenty-five "sober, moral and industrious persons," had been selected and embarked on the galley Ann, a vessel of two hundred tons burthen, commanded by Captain John Thomas, then lying in the Thames, a short distance below London. Here the trustees visited them and asked each family if they were satisfied and desired to go, giving them the privilege of remaining behind if they so wished. Only one man, who had left a sick wife at Southwark, declined to go. They then bid the colonists farewell and on the following day, the 17th of November, the vessel sailed from Gravesend. Among the emigrants was Rev. Henry Herbert, D. D. who had volunteered to accompany and aid them without any compensation.

    After a weary voyage, during which one delicate infant died, the vessel arrived in Rebellion Roads, at Charleston, and cast anchor, on the 13th of January, 1733. Oglethorpe immediately landed and was hospitably received by Governor Johnson and the Council of South Carolina by whose order the King's pilot carried the vessel into Port Royal, and on the 20th the Colonists were landed at Beaufort and lodged in the new barracks of his Majesty's Independent Company. The officers of the company and the people of the town bestowed every attention possible upon the newcomers.

    Leaving the Colonists here to rest themselves and recover from the fatigue incident to their long voyage, Oglethorpe, accompanied by Colonel William Bull of South Carolina, sailed in a small vessel to the Savannah river to select a site for the proposed settlement. Arriving in the river, a pine crowned bluff attracted their attention and they landed to inspect it. They found on the western end of the bluff a little Indian village called Yamacraw. The chief of the tribe to which the village belonged was named Tomichichi. In the village was a trading house owned by a white man named John Musgrove, Jr., who had married a half-breed woman named Mary. She could speak both the Indian and English languages.

    The top of the bluff was comparatively free from trees, level and admirably adapted for the establishment of a settlement and Oglethorpe being well pleased with it, appealed to Mary to obtain from the tribe permission for the emigrants to settle there. The tribe at first refused to grant the request and threatened to "dig up the hatchet" if the settlers came. After much persuasion on the part of Mary, a provisional treaty was granted until the whole Creek nation could be consulted. Deeming this satisfactory, Oglethorpe selected the site, about the center of the bluff, named it Savannah after the river which flowed at its foot, secured the services of Mary as interpreter for the whites in subsequent intercourse with the Indians and left for Beaufort, arriving there on the 24th of January. Here he secured a sloop of seventy tons and give plantation boats and on the 30th the colonists embarked for the bluff.

    They arrived here on the first of February and landed on the western end of the bluff, that being the only point from which an ascent could be readily made. The tents and baggage were carried up the bluff and along it to four pine trees, under which the four large tents were pitched, one for each tithing, into which municipal divisions the colonists had been divided before their arrival.

    The tents had scarcely been pitched and the baggage and bedding placed therein before the Indians came to salute the colonists from whose presence they expected to reap many benefits. In front of the king and queen, who were followed by about twenty of the tribe, came the "medicine man", advancing with strange and uncouth antics, having in each hand a spread fan of white feathers fastened to a rod, hung from top to bottom with little bells, with which he approached Oglethorpe (who had advanced a short distance from his tent to meet them), and related the deeds of their ancestors, all the while stroking him on each side with the fan as an expression of the friendship of the tribe. The king and queen then welcomed the General after which the Indians partook of an entertainment prepared for them in the General's tent.

    Work was the "order of the day" for several days after the landing and under the supervision of their leader the men felled trees, hewed timber, cleared the land and erected palisades. On the 9th, Oglethorpe and Colonel Bull marked out a square, the streets, and forty lots for houses and on the same day commenced the first house.

    The following day General Oglethorpe wrote:

FROM THE CAMP NEAR SAVANNAH,
February 10th, 1733

    GENTLEMEN: I gave you an account, in my last, of our arrival at Charleston. The Governor and Assembly have given us all possible encouragement. Our people arrived at Beaufort on the 20th of January where I lodged them in some new barracks, built for the soldiers, while I went myself to view the Savannah river. I fixed upon a healthy situation about ten miles from the sea. The river here forms a half moon along the south side of which the banks are about forty foot high and on the top flat, which they call a bluff. The plain high ground extends into the country five or six miles and along the riverside about a mile. Ships that draw twelve foot water can ride within ten yards of the bank. Upon the riverside in the center of this plain I have laid out the town. Opposite to it is an Island of very rich pasturage, which I think should be kept for the Trustee's cattle. The river is pretty wide, the water fresh, and from the Key of the town you see its whole course to the sea, with the Island of Tybee, which forms the mouth of the river; and the other way, you see the river for about six miles up into the country. The landscape is very agreeable, the stream being wide, and bordered with high woods on both sides. The whole people arrived here on the first of February. At night their tents were got up. Till the seventh we were taken up in unloading and making a crane, which I then could not get finished so took off the hands and set some to the fortification and began to fell the woods. I marked out the town and common; half of the former is already cleared and the first house was begun yesterday in the afternoon. Not being able to get negroes, I have taken ten of the independent company to work for us for which I make them an allowance. I send you a copy of the resolutions of the assembly and the Governor and Council's letter to me. Mr. Whitaker has given us one hundred head of cattle. Colonel Bull, Mr. Barlow, Mr. St. Julian and Mr. Woodward are come up to assist us with some of their own servants. I am so taken up in looking after a hundred necessary things that I write now short but shall give you a more particular account hereafter. A little Indian nation, the only one within fifty miles, is not only at amity, but desires to be subjects of His Majesty, King George, to have lands given them among us and to breed their children at our schools. Their chief, and his beloved man, who is the second man in the nation, desire to be instructed in the Christian religion.

    I am, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

    He wrote on the 12th:

    Our people still lie in tents; there being only two clapboard houses built and three sawed houses framed. Our crane, our battery of cannon, our magazine, are finished. This is all we have been able to do, by reason of the smallness of our number, of which many have been sick, and others unused to labour, though I thank God they are now pretty well and we have not lost one since our arrival.

    During this time the Governor, Council and the people of South Carolina vied with one another in extending aid to the colonists and in proof thereof we cite from the "MSS. Account of benefactions made by South Carolina to the province of Georgia" the record of individual benefactions, the public ones having been already mentioned:

    February --- Colonel Bull came to Savannah with four laborers and assisted the colony for a month, he himself measuring the scantling and setting out the work for the sawyers and giving the proportion of the houses. Mr. Whitaker and his friends sent the colony one hundred head of cattle. Mr. St. Julian came to Savannah and staid a month, directing the people in building their houses and other work. Mr. Hume gave a silver boat and spoon for the first child born in Georgia, which being born of Mrs. Close, were given accordingly. Mr. Joseph Bryan, himself, with four of his sawyers, gave two months work in the colony. The inhabitants of Edisto sent sixteen sheep. Mr. Hammerton gave a drum. Mrs. Ann Drayton sent two pair of sawyers to work in the colony. Colonel Bull and Mr. Bryan came to Savannah with twenty servants whose labor they gave to the colony. His Excellency Robert Johnson gave seven horses, valued at £25. Carolina currency.

    Early in May, General Oglethorpe made a short trip to Charleston, S. C. where he met with a most cordial reception from the Governor and Legislature and from the people of that State. His solicitations for assistance were answered by the Assembly, which voted £10,000 currency, and the citizens of Charleston subscribed £1,000 currency, £500 of which were immediately paid down.

    The General, well pleased with his hospitable reception and the liberal responses to his request for aid, returned to Savannah on the 21st of May, just in time to meet the representatives of the nine tribes of the Creek Indians, who had assembled in solemn council to strengthen the provisional treaty which had been made with Tomichichi.

    After the usual formalities and a distribution of presents by Gen. Oglethorpe, Tomichichi addressed him as follows:

    Here is a little present: I give you a buffalo skin, adorned on the inside with the head and feathers of an eagle which I desire you to accept because the eagle is the emblem of speed and the buffalo of strength; the English are as swift as the bird and strong as the beast; since, like the former, they flew over vast seas to the uttermost parts of the earth; and like the latter, they are so strong that nothing can withstand them; the feathers of the eagle are soft and signify love; the buffalo's skin is warm and signifies protection; therefore, I hope the English will love and protect their little families.

    A treaty was effected, providing that the Indians should permit the Trustees to trade in their towns and that they should make restitution for any injuries done by the colonists to the Indians, who, on their part, further agreed to allow the Trustees' people to make use of and possess all those lands which they had no occasion to use; not to molest nor rob any of the English and finally "to keep the talk in their heads so long as the sun shall shine or the waters run into the rivers."

    By the seventh of July, one hundred and fifty more settlers arrived, a large number of whom came at their own expense; a large tract of land was cleared and a number of houses erected and it was resolved to designate the town, wards, squares and streets with formal ceremonies. Accordingly, on that day the emigrants assembled in front of Oglethorpe's tent and after solemn religious ceremonies they proceeded to name the wards and assign the lots. Four wards were marked off and named: Heathcote, after Sir William Heathcote; Percival, after Lord Percival, the first President of the Trustees; Derby, after Earl of Derby; and Decker, after Sir William Decker. These wards were then divided into sixteen tithings and named Digby, Carpenter, Frederick, Tyrconnel, More, Hucks, Tower, Heathcote, Eyles, Laroche, Vernon, Beletha, Holland, Sloper, Wilmington and Jekyll.¹ The five streets which intersected the wards and tithings at right angles were named in honor of the South Carolinians who aided the colony; Bull, Whitaker, Drayton, St. Julian and Bryan. A square was also laid out, and as a mark of the respect and esteem which the colonists bore to Governor Johnson, of South Carolina, it was named after him. The assignment of the lots was next in order, which after a display of considerable tact on the part of Oglethorpe to settle amicably the differences which arose in regard to the choice of locality, was accomplished by dinner time. A bounteous repast was then partaken of.

    After dinner, a town court of record was established, the bailiffs inducted into office, a jury empanneled, and the first court in Georgia held. This court was composed of three bailiffs, a recorder, acting as clerk and twelve free holders. The members of the court were ordered to wear, while sitting on the bench, majesterial gowns, those of the bailiff being purple edged with fur and that for the recorder being black, tufted. Messrs. Samuel Parker, Thomas Young, Joseph Cole, John Wright, John West, Timothy Bowling, John Milledge, Henry Close, Walter Fox, John Grady, James Carwell and Richard Cannon composed the first grand jury.

    Four days after these ceremonies a colony of Israelites arrived direct from London, named as follows: Dr. Nunis and his mother, Mrs. Nunis; Daniel Moses Nunis, Sipra Nunis, and Shem Noah, their servant; Mr. Henriques and wife, and Shem, their servant; Mr. And Mrs. Barnal; David Olivera; Jacob Olivera, wife and three children, David, Isaac and Leah; Aaron Depivea; Benjamin Gideon, Jacob Costa; David Depass and wife; Vene Real; Molena; David Moranda; Jacob Moranda; David Cohen, wife, and four children, Isaac, Hannah, Abigail and Grace; Abraham Minis and wife with their two daughters, Leah and Ester; Simeon Minis; Jacob Yowall; Benjamin Sheftall and wife; and Abraham DeLyon - all coming at their own expense.

    Some persons in England became offended when the arrival of this party was reported and wrote to the Trustees, stating that they would not contribute money for the support of the colony so long as the Hebrews remained. The Trustees wrote to the commissioners who had sent them over "to use their endeavors that the said Jews be removed from the colony of Georgia". Oglethorpe was also written to by the Trustees who desired him "to use his endeavors to prevent their settling with any of the grantees". In reply, Oglethorpe praised their good conduct and especially commended the skill and kindness of Dr. Nunis, who, since his arrival, had rendered valuable services to the sick colonists. Oglethorpe very wisely refused to move them and time has proven that had he complied with the request of the Trustees, the colony would have lost some of its most moral and industrious citizens. Although Oglethorpe did all he could to make their new found home pleasant and comfortable, yet the civil disabilities under which they labored, the poor condition of the colony and the advantages held out by the Charlestonians, induced all but three of the families, the Minises, DeLyons and Sheftalls, to go to Charleston.

    About this period the alligators, which had at first been frightened away by the bustle and noise made in building houses, felling trees and the like, grew bold and amused themselves by strolling about town at night, much to the annoyance and terror of the inhabitants. And "Mr. Oglethorpe" says the minutes of the Trustees, "to take off the terror which the people had for alligators, having wounded and caught one, twelve feet long, had him brought up to the town and set the boys to beat him with sticks until he was beat to death".

    From this time nothing of particular moment marked the history of Savannah until the 12th of March, 1734. On this day the Purysburgh arrived bringing seventy-eight Salzburgers, who preferred to forsake their homes and seek new ones in a foreign and almost unknown land rather than give up their religion. Oglethorpe established them at a place twenty-four miles from Savannah, which they called Ebenezer.

    After seeing the new colony settled, Oglethorpe left for England carrying with him Tomichichi and one or two other Indian chiefs in order that they might become impressed with the strength and greatness of the English people, to strengthen the friendship of the Indians and also to interest the English in them. The colony was now left in charge of the bailiffs.

    When Oglethorpe departed, there were, including the public buildings, ninety-one houses in the town, and the inhabitants were in a healthy and prosperous condition. The squares, streets, wards, and tithings laid out and named, the lots and houses assigned. A court house, public mill and oven, a house for strangers, public store, parsonage house, and guard house built, a crane for hauling goods up the bluff erected, a fort and palisades to prevent the approach of an enemy by water, established. A map of the town was drawn by Peter Gordon on the 29th of March, 1734 about a month previous to the General's departure which gives an accurate description of the town as it then was. There was then no street between the river and the houses which were on the same line as those now located on the south side of Bay street. The places of note are marked on the map and their sites can be readily pointed out at this time.

    The four pine trees under which the colonists pitched their four tents and slept the first night in Georgia were situated nearly on the edge of the bluff between Bull and Whitaker streets, in front of where Robert Habersham and Co.'s commission house now stands.

    The Stairs going up (1) were located a little east of the trees, about where Major P. H. Behn's commission house now stands.

    Mr. Oglethorpe's Tent (2) was nearly under the cluster of trees.

    The Crane and Bell (3), the first used to haul goods up the bluff and the other to call the colonists together for worship, work and other purposes were situated west of the trees, the crane on the edge of the bluff and the bell just in the rear of the crane; both on the site now occupied by the business house of L. J. Guilmartin and Co.

    The Tabernacle and Court-house (4) was on Bull street, occupying the ground now occupied by the rear portion of the customhouse.

    The Public Mill (5) was located on Bryan street where now stands the establishment of U. Cranston.

    The House for Strangers (6) stood on the site now occupied by the crockery and chinaware establishment of E. D. Smythe & Co. on the south side of St. Julian, second door east of Whitaker street.

    The Public Oven (7) stood on the northeast corner of Congress and Whitaker streets where now stands the extensive jewelry establishment of S. P. Hamilton.

    The Draw-well (8) was situated in the center of Bull street where Congress Street land intersects it.

    The Lot for the church (9) was laid out but no church was built upon it for several years afterward. Christ church occupies the lot now.

    The Public Store (10) was located where the State bank now stands.

    The Fort (11) was situated on what is now the line of President street and near Oglethorpe square.

    The Parsonage-house (12) was situated in the middle of what is now Congress street and on the west side of what is now Reynolds square.

    The Palisades (13) were erected on a line extending from the bluff at a point where now stands the business house of Hunter & Gammell, to the center of what is now the block between Bay lane and Bryan street and Drayton and Abercorn streets.

    The Guard-house (14) and the battery of cannon were situated on the bluff just at the foot of Drayton street.

    Hutchinson's Island (15) is seen on the opposite side of the river.

A VIEW OF SAVANNAH AS IT STOOD THE 29th OF MARCH, 1734

    As has been stated, the colony was left under the charge of the three bailiffs but one of them, John Causton, usurped all authority and made the other two simply his tools. His conduct was so overbearing that the colonists preferred charges against him in which it was stated that he was of low origin and had become intoxicated with the powers vested in him and was proud, haughty and cruel; that he had threatened jurors whose verdicts did not correspond with his inclination or humor; that he had compelled eight freeholders, with an officer, to attend at the door of the courthouse while it was in session with their guns and bayonets, who had orders to rest their fire locks as soon as he appeared; that he had threatened all without distinction who dared to oppose his arbitrary proceedings or claimed their just rights and privileges with the jail stocks and whipping post until he had rendered himself a terror to the people and especially to jurors who were afraid to act according to their consciences; that he had misapplied the public moneys; that everything had gone to ruin; "that the British nation was deceived (by him) with the fame of a happy, flourishing colony and of its being free from that pest and scourge of mankind called lawyers, for the want of whose legal assistance the poor, miserable inhabitants are exposed to be more arbitrary government than ever was exercised in Turkey and Muscovy".

    These representations of Causton's conduct caused his removal by the Trustees and Mr. Gordon was sent over to assume the power and duties of chief magistrate. He possessed considerable ability and soon became a favorite with the people and would have restored order and harmony had not the cunning of old Causton pointed out an expedient to remove him. Causton was keeper of the public stores and refused to allow Gordon either money or provisions. Gordon, having no way to support himself and family, was compelled to return to England six weeks after his arrival. His departure and the death of his successor, Mr. Durn, who died a few days after his appointment, left the field open for Causton to resume his arbitrary rule.

    The impartiality of Judge Causton is shown in the trial of Captain Joseph Watson. Charges had been preferred against this militia officer by Causton to the effect that he has stirred up animosities in the minds of the Indians and for this he was arraigned before the court in which Causton was judge, witness and advocate. The jury brought in a verdict that Watson was not guilty of any crime but that of having used some unguarded expressions. This verdict did not suit Causton, who ordered the jury to find another verdict, but they returned with the same; whereupon Causton again ordered them to retire and find the accused guilty and recommend him to the mercy of court, imagining him to be a lunatic. The jury finally "found the accused guilty of lunacy;" whereupon Causton ordered him to prison where he remained nearly three years without having sentence pronounced upon him.

    During the absence of Oglethorpe attempts were made to cultivate grape vines and mulberry trees - to make wine and silk - in the "Trustees' garden" which had been laid out and enclosed at the east end of the town. The ground there was not adapted for the purpose and those thus employed "found themselves cultivating a poor bit of sand which in the heat of summer would have roasted an egg". The trees did not flourish and the vines were parched with heat. The Trustees were notified of this and another spot was selected. While the gardeners were so unsuccessful, Mr. Abram DeLyon, who had been a vigneron in Portugal, cultivated in his garden several varieties of grape, among which were the Oporto and Malaga, to great perfection.

    The inhabitants of Savannah in common with those of the other settlements became discontented while Oglethorpe was absent and upon his arrival in February, 1736 he experienced considerable difficulty in allaying the dissatisfaction.

    Revs. John and Charles Wesley came over with Oglethorpe and aided him in restoring harmony. On the Sunday after their arrival, Rev. John Wesley² (afterward the founder of Methodism) preached his first sermon in America, his text being from the Epistle of the day - 13th chapter 1st Corinthians - and Christian charity his theme.