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James Oglethorpe first meets the Yamacraw, 1736. Engraving, 19th

century.

Trustee Georgia1730–1761

Georgia’s founders want a new colony different from other English settlements, but their vision proves to be short-lived.

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Trustee Georgia1730–1761

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

Creating a Buffer Colony

Life in the New Colony

The End of Trustee Georgia

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Section 1

Creating a Buffer Colony Georgia is created for different reasons than other English colonies. Unique rules make Georgia different from the start.

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Reasons for the Colony

Creating a Buffer Colony

Threats from Spanish• Spanish encourage Native Americans to attack

Charles Town• Fort King George built to protect Carolina border;

abandoned 1728

SECTION

1

Hard Times in England• James Edward Oglethorpe born 1696; member,

British Parliament, 1722• England overcrowded, people unable to pay debts

imprisoned• Oglethorpe favors prison reform, wants debtors’ colony

- fresh start for debtors; ease overcrowding, unemployment

- colony could sell materials to England, protect Charles Town

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SECTION

1

The Creation of Georgia• Oglethorpe, 20 other prominent men—trustees—

draft charter in 1730• Propose colony name “Georgia” after King George

II; three purposes:- charitable: relief for debtors, “worthy poor”- economic: self-supporting, providing cheap

resources for England- defensive: protective barrier between Florida,

Charles Town

Continued . . .

continued Reasons for the Colony

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1

The Creation of Georgia • King signs charter, grants lands southwest of

Carolina, June 9, 1732• Colonists offered free passage, 50 acres, 1 year

support for family• 500 acres tax-free for 10 years for those who can

pay passage• Many “worthy poor” —artisans, businessmen—

apply instead of debtors• “Resident Trustee” Oglethorpe pays own way,

leads colony• Ship Ann sets sail November 17, 1732, with 115

passengers

continued Reasons for the Colony

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SECTION

1

Different From Other Colonies• Trustees cannot own land in Georgia, do not make

profit• All colonists get same amount of land so social

classes do not form• Hard liquor, slavery not allowed; only men may

inherit land

New Rules for a New Colony

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1

Rough Conditions• Two months to cross Atlantic; travel conditions poor• Oglethorpe meets with Royal Governor of South

Carolina- wants protection from Spanish and Yamasee

Sailing to Georgia

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1

Yamacraw Bluff • Yamacraw Bluff—spot near Savannah River

chosen for colony- becomes town of Savannah

Establishing the Colony

John and Mary Musgrove• John and Mary Musgrove own trading post near

Yamacraw• John: son of Colonel John Musgrove of South Carolina• Mary: born “Cousaponakeesa” to white trader and Creek

Indian• Musgroves have trade monopoly with Yamacraw, Charles

Town colonists

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1

Chief Tomochichi• Tomochichi is chief of Yamacraw; part of Creek

Confederacy• Musgroves help Oglethorpe negotiate treaty with

Tomochichi• Georgia guard prepares area, colonists arrive

February 1, 1733

Establishing the Colony

Continued . . .

Image

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SECTION

1

Negotiating with the Creek• Oglethorpe meets with Creek chiefs to establish

peace• After three days, Treaty of Savannah signed:

- colonists receive land, prices set for trade- Creek will return escaped slaves to South

Carolina- promise that colonists will not take other Creek

lands

continued Establishing the Colony

Continued . . .

Map

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SECTION

1

Continued Help from the Musgroves and Tomochichi• Musgroves translate, negotiate between colonists

and natives• Allow Oglethorpe to use employees as assistants• Oglethorpe takes Musgroves, Tomochichi to

England in 1734• Tomochichi impressed by King, trustees; Creek,

English ally• Oglethorpe and Creek chiefs sign Treaty of

Coweta in 1739- chiefs vow loyalty to George II, reconfirm 1733

land grant

continued Establishing the Colony

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The noble ideals Georgia was founded on quickly give way to the difficult realities of life in a new land.

Section 2

Life in the New Colony

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Establishing Savannah

Life in the New Colony

Early Tasks• Colonists work “in common”—as a group, one

project at a time- build palisade—strong wooden wall of defense

around compound• Crane at top of bluff lifts supplies from ships

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2

Continued . . .

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Planning for a City• Savannah layout based on Azilia design• Four wards—districts—with open public square in

each- public buildings in each corner, house lots

surround square• Fort Argyle along Ogeechee River first of 7 forts

to protect Savannah• Scots Highlanders build fort near Altamaha

River, February 1736 - name area Darien, name town New Inverness

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

continued Establishing Savannah

Image

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More Residents for the Colony• Settlers continue to arrive, including three

religious groups:- Moravians—Protestants from Czechoslovakia- Salzburgers—Austrian, near German border- Jews from Portugal—initially, trustees

prohibited Jewish settlers• All groups had been persecuted in original

countries

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2

continued Establishing Savannah

Continued . . .

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Religion in the Colony• Trustees afraid Catholic settlers may ally with

Spanish in Florida• Oglethorpe brings ministers, two brothers, in

1736- John Wesley—founds Methodist movement- Charles Wesley—Oglethorpe’s secretary,

chaplain at Fort Frederica• George Whitefield comes on later trip; founds

Bethesda Home for Boys

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2

continued Establishing Savannah

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Another Town for Georgia

Augusta Founded• Communications between Savannah, Charles

Town begins October 1734• Secure settlement between towns needed as

trade grows• Oglethorpe completes way station north of

Savannah, June 1736- names site Augusta in honor of Princess

Augusta of Wales

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2

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Life in the New Colony

Responsibilities of the Trustees• Oglethorpe acts as colony’s protector but lacks

official title• Colonists receive military training to defend

colony• Trustees provide food, clothes, tools to colonists

for one year• Each colonist gets 50 acres, small town lot, seed

for farming• Trustees plan to grow silk for England, but plan

fails

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2

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Discontent Among the Colonists

Land• Trustees won’t trade poor land for better land• Difficult to grow crops requested by England• Colonists cannot sell, trade land; women can’t

inherit

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

Slaves• Farmers able to grow rice, indigo, but crops are labor-

intensive• Envy profitability of South Carolina crops using slave

labor

Rum• Banned, available in other colonies; item of trade with

Native Americans

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Hardships Take a Toll• Colonists unprepared for life in new colony• Trustees bring experts from Italy, Portugal to

teach crop production- raw silk; indigo for dyes- grapes for wine

• Soil, climate wrong for intended crops• Trustees mock complainers; some colonists

leave for South Carolina

SECTION

2

continued Discontent Among the Colonists

Section 3

The End of TrusteeGeorgia Defending the new colony and making a profit for England prove to be too great a task for Oglethorpe. In 1752, Britain takes back Georgia and makes it a royal colony.

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Defending the New Colony

The End of Trustee Georgia

Resolving Disputes• Trustees and colonists both unhappy• William Stephens arrives in 1736 to assist

Oglethorpe• Colony divided into two counties, Savannah and

Frederica (1741)• Stephens in charge of Savannah, Oglethorpe in

charge of Frederica• Border disputes between British Georgia and

Spanish Florida continue• Rivalry between England, Spain; Britain declares war

on Spain,1739

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3

Continued . . .

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European Conflicts Carried to the Colonies• Oglethorpe invades Florida in 1740, aided by

Native American allies• Spanish reinforcements arrive, Georgians retreat

to Fort St. Simons• Minor fighting for two years, Spanish blocks Fort

St.Simons in 1742• Oglethorpe evacuates, Spanish take fort

continued Defending the New Colony

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3

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British Establish Control

SECTION

3

Spain Is Turned Back• Oglethorpe greatly outnumbered—650 to 2,000—

but must defeat Spanish• Two small units ambush Spanish on march to

Fort Frederica• Ambush—the Battle of Bloody Marsh—takes

less than hour• Spanish retreat to St. Augustine three days later• England’s claim on Georgia land is now

undisputed

Continued . . .

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Changes in Leadership• Despite victory, trustees and settlers unhappy

with Oglethorpe• Oglethorpe returns to England in 1743, William

Stephens new leader• Two counties reunite into one—Savannah; grows

after Spanish defeat• Legislative assembly created, but has no

lawmaking power- first assembly January 14, 1751, elects Francis

Harris speaker- elects Henry Parker to succeed Stephens as

colony president

continued British Establish Control

SECTION

3

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Changing the Rules

SECTION

3

Land• 50-acre rule frustrates colonists, they want larger

farms• Land limit increased to 2,000 acres, women may

now inherit property

Rum• Rum drinking, sale allowed in 1742; valuable for trading

with natives

Slavery• Some colonists asking for slavery since colony’s start• Slavery legalized in 1751; Scots Highlanders and

Salzburgers oppose

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New Royal Government• Trustees return colony to king in 1752 a year

before charter expires• George II names John Reynolds first royal

governor (1754)• Royal government: governor, 12-man council,

legislature- council advises governor: forms Assembly’s

Upper House, Court of Error- 19 colonists elected to Commons House of

Assembly, later 25

SECTION

3

Continued . . .

Becoming a Royal Colony

Chart

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SECTION

3

The Assembly Takes Action• First assembly meets on January 7, 1755• Reorganizes militia, funds roads, bridges; creates

paper bills of credit• Establishes list of 10 crimes punishable by death• Approves first slave code—basis for all future

Georgia slavery laws

Continued . . .

continued Becoming a Royal Colony

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A Change of Governors• Reynolds disliked; tries to move capital, refuses

advice from council• Henry Ellis replaces him, 1758; inherits weak,

infighting colony• Restores colony in three years; is well-liked,

respected- reforms government, divides Georgia into

parishes, settles land claims- keeps Creek neutral during French and Indian

War• Resigns in early 1761, Lieutenant Governor

James Wright replaces him

continued Becoming a Royal Colony

SECTION

3

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A Voice in Government

SECTION

3

Colonists Have Voice in Government• Commons House of Assembly gave colonists

political voice

Forming Parishes• Georgia divided into 8 districts—parishes—similar to

modern counties- primarily for organizaton; religious, military bodies- members pay tax for church, poor

• England has hands-off policy—“salutary neglect”—toward colonies

• Colonists handle their own problems, Parliament’s laws rarely enforced

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