The Founding of the Colony of Georgia

The idea for the Colony of Georgia grew out of a specific social problem England was experiencing in the early 1700’s: Debtor’s Prison.

England had more people than jobs.

England had more people than jobs. England had harsh laws: if you could not pay back money you owed, you and your entire family could be imprisoned until you did.

England had more people than jobs. England had harsh laws: if you could not pay back money you owed, you and your entire family could be imprisoned until you did. Prison conditions were very poor. In order to receive blankets, medical care, food etc., while in jail, you had to pay for the privilege.

Hello! How are you going to work your way out of poverty and debt if “your tail’s in jail”?

Debtor’s Prison, London, 1700’s.

James Oglethorpe was an Englishman who had been in the army and had risen to the rank of General. When he left the army, he moved back home and ran for office in the House of Commons and won.

One of Oglethorpe’s jobs while in Parliament was to study the problems with Debtor’s Prisons and to help formulate a solution to the problem.

One of Oglethorpe’s jobs while in Parliament was to study the problems with Debtor’s Prisons and to help formulate a solution to the problem. He began to gather a group of investors who planned to start a colony that would provide a new life for these people he called the “Working Poor”.

While Oglethorpe was working on this, one of his very best friends, Robert Castell, was jailed for unpaid debts and died of Smallpox before Oglethorpe could help bail him out.

A group of men who petitioned King George II for land in the New World on which to build a colony became the Trustees of the colony. According to the original charter, Georgia would occupy the land between the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers and extend westward to the Pacific.

King George II of England approved the colony and granted a charter to the Trustees. After 21 years of their management, the colony would become a Royal one and revert to the ownership of the King.

Oglethorpe immediately began to advertise for colonists in all of the major newspapers of England.

Oglethorpe immediately began to advertise for colonists in all of the major newspapers of England. Many people applied, but colonists had to meet strict requirements and have a skill they could bring to the colony. (Artisan)

Oglethorpe immediately began to advertise for colonists in all of the major newspapers of England. Many people applied, but colonists had to meet strict requirements and have a skill they could bring to the colony. (Artisan) Sadly, no debtors met the qualifications the Trustees placed on the applicants and none immigrated to Georgia with the first 116 settlers.

The Ann On February 12, 1733, the first of Georgia’s citizens landed near the site of present-day Savannah, Georgia.

By using an interpreter, Mary Musgrove, Oglethorpe was able to communicate with the local Creek Indian tribe called the Yamacraw.

The chief of the Yamacraw along the Georgia coast was a man named Tomochichi. He and Oglethorpe became lifelong friends.

Oglethorpe negotiated with Tomochichi for land at the top of a high bluff, about 18 miles upriver from the Atlantic Ocean on the Savannah River. On this land, Oglethorpe laid out his vision for a town and the colonists set about building it. He used a city plan developed by his friend, Robert Castell. Oglethorpe was the only Trustee to ever visit or to live in Georgia.

Savannah in 1733

Hardships in the Colony During the first Summer, as many as 40 of the original settlers died from Malaria (a blood-borne disease caused by mosquito bites). Even the doctor died!

Georgia was saved when a boatload of Jewish settlers arrived and asked to join the colony. They had a doctor on board, Dr. Samuel Nunis. His medical knowledge saved the colony from early failure.

The German Salzburgers Other settlers arrived from Germany. These people spoke a different language than the people in Savannah. To avoid a problem, Oglethorpe gave them a separate plot of land and Georgia’s second city, Ebeneezer was soon established.

Political unrest in Scotland during the 1730’s also contributed to the colony of Georgia.

Even early in Georgia’s Colonial period, our state was becoming a very racially and culturally diverse place.

Another of Oglethorpe’s first tasks was to establish three forts along the coast near the town he named “Savannah”.

This one, Fort Frederica, was supposed to be the first line of defense against a Spanish attack from Florida.

Spain had a huge fortified position in Northern Florida at the town of St. Augustine. One of the duties of the Georgia colony was to prevent the Spanish in “Guale” from attacking South Carolina.

The Scottish Highlanders Oglethorpe recruited a large number of settlers from Scotland, mostly due to their aggressive fighting style. They settled Darien, a city nearer to the Spanish in Florida. Their job was to intercept the Spanish if an attack should come from Florida.

The Scottish were extremely good fighters The Scottish were extremely good fighters. Oglethorpe had found himself an army. The Claymore and Mace

1739 England and Spain went to war. Because Spain controlled Florida, and England controlled Georgia, the war came to the colonies.

The War of Jenkins’ Ear This was the name the war was given in Georgia, due to the Spanish cutting off the ear of one Robert Jenkins, a British naval captain who was caught smuggling goods to the Spanish settlers in Florida. The Spanish cut off his ear to serve as a warning to others who would try to do the same.

Oglethorpe used this event as an excuse to begin a series of small battles with Florida. Over the next couple of years, each side gained small footholds, and then lost them.

The Battle of Bloody Marsh, 1742 Oglethorpe planted a note on a soldier and allowed him to be captured. The note said a large group of warships was on its way to attack the Spanish in St. Augustine. There were no warships. The Spanish decided to attack first and wipe out the city of Savannah.

Oglethorpe had anticipated this and had placed a large number of his soldiers along the route the Spanish would have to travel in order to reach Savannah. Georgia’s Highlander forces surprised the Spanish on St. Simon’s Island and defeated them at the Battle of Bloody Marsh.

Spain never again bothered the colony. Oglethorpe had anticipated this and had placed a large number of his soldiers along the route the Spanish would have to travel in order to reach Savannah. Georgia’s Highlander forces surprised the Spanish on St. Simon’s Island and defeated them at the Battle of Bloody Marsh. Spain never again bothered the colony.

Spain never again bothered the colony. HUGE!!!

Why do you suppose they call it Bloody Marsh?

Oglethorpe the Hero? Even though Oglethorpe had ended the Spanish threat to the colony, the settlers were beginning to want him gone as the leader. They considered the rules adopted by the Trustees, and enforced by Oglethorpe, to be too harsh.

Oglethorpe’s Rules : Land could only be passed down through male heirs and owned by men. Adult, unmarried women could not live alone in the colony. No slavery. No trading alcohol with the Natives. No rum.

Oglethorpe Goes Home In 1743, James Edward Oglethorpe packed up and returned to England. A series of managers called “Presidents” governed Georgia until 1752 when it reverted to the ownership of the King of England. Georgia then became a Royal Colony.

Oglethorpe married a wealthy young woman and spent the remainder of his days as a man of leisure.

Georgia Becomes Ordinary Once Oglethorpe left, the strict rules he had insisted the colonists live by were repealed. Slavery was allowed, and within 50 years the number of black and white Georgians was about equal. Georgia became wealthy through agriculture and forced labor.