On the 29th of October, 1754, there were public and joyous demonstrations of every character in Savannah, caused by the arrival of Governor John Reynolds, who had been appointed Governor of the colony by the English government, to which the Trustees had resigned their charter in 1752. The arrival of the new Governor was totally unexpected. But as he ascended the bluff he was received with every manifestation of joy. At night there were bonfires and illuminations. The following day he was duly installed into office, and his commission as Captain-General and Vice-Admiral of the province was read to the militia, who were under arms before the council chamber.¹ The militia listened with profound attention, and afterward fired several rounds of musketry. A public dinner was then given, at which the new Governor was entertained by the council and principal inhabitants.

    The Governor had formed an exaggerated opinion of the state of the colony, especially of its metropolis, but was soon undeceived, as is shown by his first letter to the Board of Trade in London, in which he spoke of Savannah as follows:

    Savannah is well situated, and contains about one hundred and fifty houses, all wooden ones, very small and mostly old. The biggest was used for the meeting of the president and assistants, and where I sat in council for a few days, but one end fell down whilst we were all there, and obliged us to move to a kind of shed, behind the court-house, which being quite unfit, I have given orders, with the advice of the council, to fit up the shell of a house, which was lately built for laying up the silk but was never made use of, being very ill-calculated for that purpose, but it will make a tolerably good house for the Assembly to meet in and for a few offices besides. The prison, being only a small wooden house, without security, I have also ordered to be mended and some locks and bolts to be put on for the present.

    In 1757 one thousand and fifty pounds of raw silk were received at the filature in Savannah. The following year the filature was burnt. Its contents, a large quantity of silk and seven thousand and forty pounds of cocoons, or silk-balls, were consumed. ²

    In February of 1757 Henry Ellis, who had been appointed Governor of the province, arrived in Savannah. He was appointed as successor to Governor Reynolds, who had been completely ruled by his secretary, William Little. Little made himself very obnoxious to the people, and amid the bonfires, illuminations, and other demonstrations of joy which marked Governor Ellis' arrival, he was burnt in effigy "as a tyrant in himself and a promoter of it in his master." A prominent feature of the occasion was the drill of a company of thirty juvenile soldiers, under command of their schoolmaster. They presented to the Governor the following address:

    Sir - The youngest militia of this province presume, by their captain, to salute your Honor on your arrival. Although we are of too tender years to comprehend the blessing a good Governor is to a province, our parents will doubtless experience it in its utmost extent, and their grateful tale shall fix your name dear in our memories.

    The warm reception and hospitable treatment of the Governor by the people of Savannah was not reciprocated by him. He aimed a deadly blow at her prospects as a commercial town, by endeavoring to have the capital of the colony removed to Hardwicke,³ claiming that it possessed decided advantages over Savannah because of the depth of water there, its more central position, and its greater distance from Charleston; the proximity of which, he urged, restricted the commerce of Savannah. Fortunately for Savannah, his project, which had been suggested by his predecessor, was not carried into effect; but the agitation of the proposed plan injured the town; the inhabitants, thinking that it was shortly to be deserted, neglected to enlarge and beautify it; the public buildings were not repaired; the filature was in a "tumble-down condition"; the church was so decayed that it would have fallen but for the support rendered by props; and the prison "was shocking to humanity".

    The 25th of October, 1757, was another day of note in the history of Savannah. Then a council was held in the town with a large body of chiefs and head men of the Upper and Lower Creek nations for the purpose of defeating the objects of the French, who were intriguing with the Indians and exciting them to hostility against the English, whose military force was quadrupled by that of the Indians. The Governor intended to impress the Indians with ideas of the strength of the English, and previous to their arrival had the guns in all of the batteries about the towns loaded and flags unfurled over them. The regiment of militia, Colonel Noble Jones commanding, was paraded under arms in town. Captain John Milledge, with a company of rangers, met the Indians and acted as an escort for them. When near the town, they were met by Captain Bryan and a large number of citizens, who welcomed them and supplied them with needed refreshment; after which, the inhabitants and guests marched into town, the citizens on horseback in front. At the forts a salute of thirteen guns were fired. Here the citizens paused and allowed the Indians to pass by. They were then received by Colonel Jones at the head of the foot-militia. With drums beating and colors flying, the cavalcade, proceeded to the council chamber, passing by the Governor's house, where a salute was fired by a battery placed in front, which was followed by the guns in the water-battery and on the ships in the river. At the council chamber another salute was fired by the Virginia Blues. The Governor met them here, and with hands extended said:

    MY FRIENDS AND BROTHERS --- Behold my hands and arms. Our common enemies, the French, have told you they are red to the elbows. View them; do they speak the truth? Let your own eyes witness. You see they are white, and could you see my heart you would find it as pure, but very warm and true to you, my friends. The French tell you, whoever shakes my hands will immediately be struck with disease and die. If you believe this lying, foolish talk, don't touch me. If you do not, I am ready to embrace you.

    The indians, before the last words of this most appropriate speech were uttered, rushed forward, and shaking the Governor's hands, declared that they had often been deceived by the French, but would not be so again. Other speeches of a friendly character followed, and the council resulted in establishing the utmost harmony and confidence between the two races.

    Up to this period, twenty-six years after the settlement of Savannah, there was no wharf built. The few vessels that came here sailed as close to land as the depth of water would permit and threw the lighter articles on the bank, landing the heavier ones in small boats. Feeling the necessity of having a wharf, the subject was discussed, and this year one was constructed by Thomas Eaton, under the direction of John G. William DeBrahm, the Surveyor-General of the southern provinces of North America. The builder was advised, which advice he followed, "to drive two rows of piles as far asunder as he desired his wharf to be wide, and as far toward the river as low-water mark; secure their tops with plates and to trunnel planks within on the piles. This done, then to brace the insides with dry walls of stones intermingled with willow twigs. In the same manner to shut up the ends of the two rows with a like front along the stream, to build inside what cellars he had occasion for, then to fill up the remainder with the sand nearest at hand, out of the bluff or high shore of the stream under the bay." This wharf, tradition asserts, was constructed on the river a little west of the steps by which the inhabitants went up and down the bluff - most probably about midway between Bull and Whitaker streets. The plan by which it was constructed was followed several years. The construction of this wharf appears to have benefited the town, for during the following year forty-one vessels were entered - many more than ever before; and during the year 1766, six years after, one hundred and seventy-one were entered.

    Governor Ellis, by his own request, was removed from office, and was succeeded by Sir James Wright, who arrived in Savannah in October, 1760, when he was received with the usual formalities. There were not many manifestations of joy, because of the general distress which prevailed owing to the departure of Governor Ellis, who, by his kind and just administration, had endeared himself not only to the inhabitants of Savannah but to the whole colony. The Union Society presented him an address and a handsome piece of plate "as a token of the public gratitude of the inhabitants of Savannah."

    On the 20th of March, 1761, King George III issued an order conferring upon Governor Wright full executive powers, with the title of Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, but such was the slow transit between the two countries that it did not reach him until the 28th of January, 1762, nearly a year after its issue, on which day it was promulgated and made the occasion of a general holiday. Colonel Noble Jones' regiment of militia was drawn up in Johnson square, and after hearing the order read fired a salute, which was answered by the fort and the ships in the river. At night the Governor gave a ball to the ladies, at which, says a chronicler of the time, "there was the most numerous and brilliant appearance ever known in the town." Altogether, it was a brilliant affair, and "there never was an occasion on which the joy and satisfaction of the people were more apparent."

    A printing press, the first in Georgia, was established here early in 1763, and on the seventh of April the "Georgia Gazette" paper was issued; the following year a post office was also established, and Robert Bolton, Esq., appointed postmaster.

    The obnoxious Stamp act, which received the Royal assent in 1765, excited all of the colonies to a spirit of resistance, and in response to a circular addressed by the Assembly of Massachusetts, showing the importance of union among the aggrieved colonies and soliciting the formation of a general congress, to meet in New York, Alexander Wylly, speaker of the Commons House of Assembly, convened the Assembly here on the second of September, 1765. This body, in reply to the circular, stated that their hearty co-operation in all measures for the support of the rights of the colonies might be relied upon, but that they were unable to send delegates to the proposed congress because of the influence of Governor Wright. From this time forward the people became excited, which was more apparent as the time drew near for the act to go into force. An occasion for the manifestation of this spirit came on the 26th of October, 1765, which was the anniversary of the accession of his Majesty King George III to the throne of England. In honor thereof the Governor ordered a general muster in Savannah. This caused the assembling of a large number of people, who paraded effigies of obnoxious personages through the streets and then burned them.

    The act was to take effect on the first of November, 1765, but the stamps did not arrive until the fifth of December, when they were transferred to Fort Halifax, for fear the "Liberty Boys" would destroy them, as they were pledged to do, and also to force the Agent to resign. The "Liberty Boys", two hundred strong, assembled around Fort Halifax on the second of January, 1766, and threatened to break open the fort and destroy the papers. This demonstration alarmed the Governor, but he determined to save the papers, and mustering the two companies of royal rangers marched to the fort, took out the stamps, and carried them in a cart to the guardhouse. The people looked sullenly on but made no attempt to take the papers. The Governor was so alarmed for his personal safety that he kept a guard of forty men around his house and for four nights did not undress.⁴ The day after the removal of the stamps Mr. Agnus, the stamp distributor, arrived off Tybee, of which, by preconcerted signals, the Governor was notified, and fearing that the citizens would injure Agnus, had him secretly brought up to his garrisoned mansion, where a fortnight's residence convinced Agnus that his person was not safe, and caused him to leave town. Toward the close of January about six hundred armed men, a large number of whom were from Savannah, assembled near the town and sent word to the Governor that if the obnoxious papers were not removed they would come into town and destroy them, if they had to storm his house and the fort to accomplish their purpose. The Governor had the papers removed to Fort George, on Cockspur island. The next day two or three hundred men assembled on the commons and demanded a redress of their grievances. Governor Wright ordered out his marines and rangers, and for a time a conflict was imminent, but the people dispersed after burning an effigy of the Governor.

    At the time of these troubles Savannah consisted of four hundred dwelling houses, a church, an independent meeting house, a council house, a court-house, and a filature. There were twelve streets besides the Bay, six squares, and two suburbs: Yamacraw on the west and the Trustees' garden on the east. The limits of the town on the east was what is now Lincoln street, on the west what is now Jefferson street, and on the south what is now South Broad street. When the stamps arrived there were between sixty and seventy sail in port waiting to be cleared, and the people consented that stamps might be used for this but no other purpose. This was done and the port opened, yet all judicial business was suspended and the courts closed.

    This act gave great offence to the other colonies, and especially to South Carolina, the people of which colony resolved that no "provisions should be shipped to that infamous colony; that whosoever should traffic with them should be put to death; that every vessel trading there should be burnt;" and as a proof that these were not idle threats, two vessels on their way to Savannah, a short time after these threats were made, were seized before clearing Charleston bar and, with their cargoes, destroyed.

    The repeal of the Stamp act, on the 22nd of February, 1766, the announcement of which was received in Savannah on the sixth of July following, restored order and the people resumed their usual avocations and pursuits, which had been interrupted by the recent troubles.

    The acts of the British Parliament in regard to duties upon imported goods, which were found "grievous to be borne", was the topic of the day in Savannah as well as everywhere else in the colonies of North America, and on the 16th of September, 1769, the merchants of Savannah met at the house of Alexander Creighton and resolved that

    Any person or persons whatsoever importing any of the articles subject to such duties, after having it in their power to prevent it, ought not only to be treated with contempt, but deemed as an enemy to their country - it being a circumstance that needs be only mentioned to any person inspired with the least sense of liberty that it may be detested and abhorred.

    Governor Wright strenuously opposed every measure of the people that was in opposition to those of the British government, yet every one felt that he had faithfully discharged his duty to his king, and in such manner as to inspire respect and esteem from those who differed in sentiment; and upon his departure for England, on the tenth of July, 1771, just after dissolving the Assembly, the council, the bench, the merchants, and public officers presented him with addresses expressive of their respect and esteem. After his departure the gubernatorial mantle fell upon the shoulders of Mr. James Habersham, there to remain until the Governor's return, which occurred about the middle of February, 1773. During his absence the duties of the office were faithfully discharged by Mr. Hambersham.

    Governor Wright, on his arrival, found that the spirit of rebellion had increased; that the colony, and especially the people of Savannah, were in common with the rest of the colonists indignant at the closing of the port of Boston and divesting it of all commercial privileges. On the twentieth of July, 1774, those true and tried patriots, Noble Wimberly Jones, Archibald Bullock, John Houston, and George Walton, published a call in the Georgia Gazette for all persons within the limits of the province to attend at Tondee's tavern⁵ on the 27th instant, to take under consideration the acts of the British Parliament, "which are particularly calculated to deprive the American subjects of their constitutional rights and liberties as parts of the British empire." A large number of persons assembled in pursuance of the call, but all of the parishes not being represented it was resolved to meet on the tenth of August, which was done, despite the proclamation of Governor Wright that the people should not assemble, and if they did it would be "at their peril". The meeting adopted resolutions protesting against the oppressive acts of Parliament and agreeing to concur with the sister colonies in every constitutional measure to obtain redress of American grievances. The citizens of Savannah who were most zealous in these acts of patriotism were: John Glenn, John Smith, Joseph Clay, John Houston, N. W. Jones, Lyman Hall, William Young, E. Telfair, Samuel Farley, George Walton, Joseph Habersham, Jonathan Bryan, Jonathan Cochrane, George W. McIntosh, ___ Sutton, William Gibbons, Benjamin Andrew, John Winn, John Stirk, A. Powell, James Beaven, D. Zubly, H. L. Bourquine, Elisha Butler, William Baker, Parmenus Way, John Baker, John Mann, John Bennefield, John Stacy, and John Morell.

    A provincial congress, upon invitation of a committee of citizens of Christ Church parish, assembled in Savannah on the eighteenth of January, 1775, and elected John Glenn chairman. The congress was in session six days, and elected Noble Wimberly Jones, Archibald Bulloch, and John Houston delegates to represent Georgia in the Continental Congress, which assembled in Philadelphia on the 10th of May following. The delegates did not attend, but sent a letter, written on the 8th of April, 1775, stating that they could not call the proceedings of the congress which elected them the voice of the province, as but five out of twelve parishes were represented; that they found the inhabitants of Savannah not likely soon to give matters a favorable turn; that the importers were mostly against any interruption, and the consumers here and elsewhere very much divided; that there were some of the latter virtually for the measures of resistance; others strenuously against them, but more who called themselves neutrals than either; they (the delegates) therefore did not attend, because the inhabitants of the province for which they would have appeared had refused to make any sacrifice to the public cause, and in whose behalf they did not think they could pledge themselves for the execution of any one measure whatsoever.

    Thus undecided and almost in a state of apathy did the major portion of the inhabitants of Savannah stand, while the people of the towns in other colonies were in a state of almost frantic excitement. But this indecision and apathy was of short duration. The tidings of the affray between the colonists and the British troops at Lexington, Massachusetts, reached Savannah on the night of the 10th of May, 1775, and caused great excitement among all classes, and all ideas of submission to British rule vanished. The following night Noble Wimberly Jones, Edward Telfair, Joseph Habersham, John Milledge, William Gibbons, and Joseph Clay seized the king's magazine, located where the gashouse now stands, and took therefrom five hundred pounds of powder and stored it in their cellars and garrets. The next day the Governor missed the powder, and by advice of the Council £150 reward was offered to anyone who would give information which would lead to the arrest of those engaged in the seizure. Though all engaged were well known, no one gave the desired information. A large quantity of this powder was sent North, and it is asserted was used by the militia in the defence of Bunker Hill.

    On Monday, the 5th day of June, the birthday of his Majesty King George III, the citizens, amid great rejoicing, raised a liberty pole (the first one raised in Georgia) in front of Tondee's public house. A Union flag was hoisted upon the pole and two pieces of artillery placed at the foot. A dinner was given immediately after the pole raising, at which the first toast was "The King", and the second "American Liberty".

    A meeting of the citizens was held at the residence of Mrs. Cuyler⁶ on the 13th of June, at which were present John Mullryne, Joseph Clay, James Mossman, Rev. J. J. Zubly, John Simpson, Noble Wimberly Jones, John Jamieson, William Moss, John Glenn, Josiah Tatnall, John Graham, Lewis Johnston, William Young, Richard Wylly, Andrew McLean, Basil Cowper, Phillip Moore, George Houston, Joseph Butler, James Read, Thomas Reid, William Panton, James E. Powell, William Struthers, Alexander McGowan, John C. Lucena, Thomas Sherman, J. N. Faning, Levi S. Sheftall, Charles Hamilton, George Spencer, William Brown, Jr., Francis Courvoizie, and James Anderson. John Mullryne was chosen president, and a number of resolutions adopted expressive of their feelings in regard to the existing troubles, among which were:

    That we will use our utmost endeavors to preserve the peace and good order of this province; that no person behaving himself peaceably and inoffensively shall be molested in his personal property, or even in his private sentiments while he expresses them with decency and without any illiberal reflections upon others; that the interest of this province is inseparable from the mother country and the sister colonies, and that to separate ourselves from the latter would be only throwing difficulties in the way of its own relief and that of the other colonies, and justly increasing the resentment of all those to whose distress our disunion might be an addition; that this province ought, and it is hoped will, forthwith join the other provinces in every just and legal measure to secure and restore the liberties of all America; that these proceedings be laid before the Provincial Congress to meet on the 4th of July.