JAMES EDWARD OGLETHORPE.

FOUNDER OF GEORGIA, 1733.

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THEOPHILUS OGLETHORPE, father of James Edward, was MajorGeneral of the army of King James the Second, and a member of Parliament. In religious opinions he was a Protestant. He purchased a seat called West Brook Place, in Surrey County, a little to the south and east of London. He married Eleanor, daughter of Richard Wall, of Ragane, in Ireland, by whom he had seven children, three sons and four daughters. Lewis, the eldest son, inherited his father's estate.

James Edward Oglethorpe, third son of Theophilus, was born in London, December, 1698; died at Cranham Hall, Essex County, June 30, 1785. The parish register of St. James, London, which gives the date of his birth, records his baptism as occurring the day following his birth.

In early manhood he was employed in military service on the continent. In 1722 he returned to England, and in the same year was elected to Parliament from the borough of Hazelmere, which he continued to represent for a long term of years.

In June, 1732, twenty-one individuals, among them five clergymen of the established church, became a body corporate, by the name and style of "Trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America." Having obtained their charter, they held a meeting in July, and organized themselves according to the provisions of the instrument. Men were appointed to solicit and receive subscriptions. The Trustees met every week to receive benefactions and digest plans.

Georgia Historical Collections," v. I; Stephens' "History of Georgia"; McCall's "History of Georgia "; Strobel's "History of the Salzburgers"; Biographies of Oglethorpe, Harris, Wright."

On the third of October it was resolved to send over a company of a hundred and fourteen persons, men, women and children. The company was to comprise " such as were in decayed circumstances, and thereby disabled from following any business in England, and who if in debt had leave from their creditors, and such as were recommended by their ministers, churchwardens, and overseers of their respective parishes."

On the sixteenth of November, these emigrants embarked on board the ship Anne, Captain Thomas, accompanied by Mr. Oglethorpe, going forth at his own expense, Rev. Dr. Herbert, who volunteered his services as missionary, and a gentleman from Piedmont, engaged by the Trustees to instruct the people in the art of winding silk.

"The friends of the undertaking put on board this first ship, one hundred and fifteen Bibles and Testaments, one hundred and sixteen Common Prayer Books, seventy-two Psalters, three hundred and twelve Catechisms, fifty-six copies of Bishop Gibson's Family Devotions, beside four hundred and thirty-seven other, religious volomes."

Their ship arrived at Charleston January 13, 1733. Mr. Oglethorpe was clothed with power to exercise the functions of a Governor over the new colony.

From camp near Savannah, the tenth of February, he writes a letter to the Trustees in London, and says: "Our people arrived at Beaufort on the twentieth of January, where I lodged them in some new barracks, whilst I went myself to view the Savannah river. I fixed upon a healthy situation about ten miles from the sea."

He soon writes another letter to the Trustees and says: "Our people are all in perfect health. I chose the situation for the town upon high ground-the soil dry and sandy-and springs coming out of the side of the hill. I pitched upon this place not only for the pleasantness of the situation, but because I thought it healthy. It is sheltered from the western and southern winds (the worst in this country) by vast woods of pine trees, many of which are a hundred feet high."

A small fort was erected on the bank of the Savannah river, and some guns were mounted. The men began at once to fell

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He formed them into a company of militia, appointed officers and furnished them with arms. He exercised them from time to time in presence of the Indians, and as they had been disciplined in London, they performed their exercises with skill.

Having put his colony in condition for comfort and defence, he next undertook to deal with the natives for a share of their landed possessions. He found an Indian woman named Mary, who had married a trader from Carolina by the name of Musgrove, and who could speak both the English and Creek languages. Perceiving that she might be made useful as an interpreter, he first purchased her friendship with presents, and then allowed her a salary of one hundred pounds a year, as reward for her services. By her assistance, he summoned a meeting of the chiefs to hold a congress with him at Savannah. At this congress fifty chiefs were present. He pictured to them the power, wisdom and wealth of the English nation, and the advantages that would accrue to themselves from connection and friendship. As they had plenty of lands, he hoped they would freely resign a share of them to his people, who were come to settle among them for their benefit and instruction. Having distributed some presents, which was then considered as a necessary preliminary to a treaty of peace, an agreement was instituted.

Tamochichi, in the name of the Creek Nation, addressed Mr. Oglethorpe as follows:

"Here is a little present. I give you a Buffalo's skin, adorned on the inside with the head and feathers of an Eagle; which I desire you to accept, because the Eagle is an emblem of speed and the Buffalo of strength. The English are 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."

Oglethorpe accepted the present, and a treaty was concluded to the satisfaction of both parties.

Taking with him a number of Indians and other persons, Mr. Oglethorpe departed from Savannah in the winter of 1734, and arrived in England early the following spring. The Trustees were encouraged by his representations concerning the new colony, and took steps to secure further emigration. Their funds had increased by a grant from the British Parliament of £26,000.

In July, 1735, they announced that provision would be made for transportation of a given number of suitable persons. To the Salzburgers in Germany they made special overtures. They invited one hundred from the city of Ratisbon to remove to Georgia, engaging to give them a free passage, with an ample supply of sea stores, and a freehold of fifty acres of land to each settler; together with such an outfit of clothes, tools, and farming utensils as might be deemed necessary. They chartered two ships, the Symond of two hundred tons, and the London Merchant, of the same burden. Two hundred and twenty-seven names in all were enrolled. Among the company were twentyseven Moravians, under care of one of their bishops, the Rev. David Aitschman; Mr. Oglethorpe himself; and Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, the former by invitation of Oglethorpe, to engage in the work of the Gospel among the Indians.

The Spaniards laid claim to Georgia, and an invasion occurred.

Their force comprised one regiment of dismounted dragoons, a Havana battalion consisting of ten companies of fifty men each, ten of one hundred men each of Havana militia, one regiment of artillery, one of St. Augustine militia, one of negroes officered by negroes, one battalion of mulattoes, ninety Indians, six hundred marines, and one thousand seamen; making in all a force of over five thousand men, commanded by Montiano, Governor of St. Augustine, and brought to Georgia in fifty-six vessels. The command of Oglethorpe consisted of only six hundred and fifty-two men, including Indians and militia.

For fifteen days Oglethorpe resisted the enemy, and at last compelled him to retreat. Concerning this victory, the Rev. George Whitefield remarks: "The deliverance of Georgia from the Spaniards is such as cannot be paralleled, but by some instances out

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of the Old Testament." Oglethorpe received congratulations from Governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. And by reason of this victory, he issued a proclamation for a day of public thanksgiving.

...

"Almighty God has at all times displayed his power and mercy . . . . in the protection of godly rulers and people, who have acknowledged and served him. They came out against us. . . . but fear came upon them, and they fled at his rebuke. . . . Not our strength or insight hath saved us, our salvation is of the Lord. . . . I hereby appoint that the twenty-fifth day of this month should be held as a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God for his great deliverance, and the end that is put to this Spanish invasion. And I enjoin that every one observe this festival in a Christian and godly manner; abstaining from intemperance and excess, and from all extravagant signs of rejoicing.

"Given under my hand and seal, this twenty-first day of July, at Fredrica, in Georgia, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty

two.

"JAMES OGLETHORPE.”

In the year 1743 Oglethorpe left Georgia for England. He served several years as member of Parliament, devoting his vacations to his estate. In 1765 he was made General of all his Majesty's forces, and for many years was at the head of the army list as the oldest general officer in Great Britain.

Hannah More, writing to her sister, thus speaks of Oglethorpe, when he is past eighty years old: "I have got a new admirer, and we flirt together prodigiously . . . The finest figure you ever saw. . . . His literature is great, his knowledge of the world is extensive, and his faculties as bright as ever."

"Oglethorpe's self-denial and humility, his concern for the welfare of others, his varied knowledge and experience, the simplicity and dignity of his conduct, together with his chivalrous spirit and unfeigned piety, have but few parallels in the history of human. life."

He was united in marriage to Elizabeth, only daughter of Nathan Wright. "Many and continual were her acts of charity and benevolence."