1. The first settlers sail to Georgia
Between 114 and 125 people left London on Nov. 17, 1732 on the ship Ann. In addition to the families, the ship carried:
Sheep, hogs, ducks, geese, and several dogs.
5 barrels of wine, 10 barrels of beer
Barrels of salted pork and peas, dried beef and sweet pudding
Bread and hard cider
Carrots and onions
The trip took 88 days, from November 17, 1732 to January 14, 1733.
Only two people died on the trip, both infants.

2. After anchoring in Charles Town harbor, the ship stayed one day then sailed south to Port Royal where the ship was unloaded.
While the settlers recovered, Oglethorpe and some rangers sailed to the Savannah River.
18 miles upstream, he found a suitable spot for a colony.

3. The Yamacraws
Just upstream from the site Oglethorpe chose for settlement was a small village of a branch of the Creek Indians called the Yamacraws.
Nearby was a trading post owned and operated by John and Mary Musgrove. Mary’s father was a white trader, and her mother was a Creek Indian, and Mary could speak both English and the Yamacraw language.
Oglethorpe was told that the land he was interested in was called Yamacraw Bluff, and that permission to settle had to come from the Yamacraw chief, Tomochichi.

4. Tomochichi Tomochichi, the elderly chief, knew two things:
The land was old hunting ground that was no longer used.
His people had been trading with Charles Town for some time and came to depend on the English.
He agreed to the new colony!

5. Savannah
Settlers began clearing the pine trees of Yamacraw Bluff for the city of Savannah, named after the nearby river.
They cut trees, sawed logs, and pulled stumps by hand. Oglethorpe even hired some black men from Charles Town to help.

6. Savannah was a planned city
Savannah was a planned city. Oglethorpe, with the help of others, had planned how the city would be set up.
The plan was for Savannah to have 4 squares, which were like neighborhood parks.

7. Facing each square were 4 special lots that were set aside for public buildings like churches and stores.

8. And around each square were 40 housing lots arranged in blocks of ten called tythings. Each lot was 60’ by 90’and held a family home, small garden, and privy.

9. Each square was the center of a ward, and each ward had men assigned to manage the ward.
Savannah was originally planned to have 4 wards.

10. Almost as soon as the settlers got settled in their routines of work, some started dying. Oglethorpe suspected that the settlers’ drinking of rum was causing the medical problems.
Most likely, the fevers, scurvy, and dysentery was the result of poor sanitation, drinking polluted river water, poor diet, and harsh working conditions. The settlers were not used to the heat, mosquitoes, and humidity.
In the first ten months, 1 out of every 4 colonists became sick, and by the end of the year, 40 settlers had died. Even the settlement’s doctor died.
Savannah’s first cemetery was established outside of the settlement and a well was dug for cleaner drinking water.
The settlement began to recover.

11. New Arrivals
Just as the sickness and death was at it worst, a ship carrying 42 Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal arrived at Savannah’s docks. Also on board was a doctor, who could help the colony.
Because the Charter prohibited only Catholics, the Jews were welcomed.
Other immigrants included Italian silk producers, Lutheran Salzburgers, Germans, Swiss, and other nationalities.
By the end of its first year, Savannah had more than 50 houses and several public buildings.

12. Growing Pains
As Savannah grew, problems with the colonists arose. They had three main concerns, mostly with the Trustees’ rules:
Land rules – colonists disliked the restrictions that were placed on land ownership. Many wanted to sell or lease land. Also, many were upset about the rule stating that land could only be passed on to a male heir. If no male heir could be found, the land in question was returned to the Trustees.
Slavery – many of the Trustees felt that slavery was wrong and would be harmful to the colony. Oglethorpe was among this group. However, many colonists and some Trustees felt that Georgia should allow slavery just like the nearby colonies

13. Restrictions on rum and hard liquor – the Trustees, again, Oglethorpe in particular, saw rum and other hard liquor as being bad for the colony. Drinking beer and wine was allowed, but there was a prohibition on rum and liquor. Many colonists simply ignored the prohibition.
Eventually, the restrictions on land and slavery were repealed. Land could be sold, and slavery was allowed in 1750.

14. Changing Roles
In 1734, Oglethorpe returned to England with Tomochichi, his nephew Tooanahowi, and a group of Creeks. The group met the king and queen, and they received plenty of attention.
When Oglethorpe met with Parliament, he asked for money to build forts. Tension was building with Spain, and Georgia's role as a buffer colony was becoming more important.
QUESTION – Before Oglethorpe went back to England, what was Georgia's main role?