 Known
today as the "Peach State," Georgia, founded in 1733, is one of
the original 13 states. It was named in honor of England's King
George II. During the Civil War, the fall of Atlanta was a
crucial turning point in the defeat of the South. Today,
Atlanta, which became Georgia's capital in 1868, is a thriving
city with major national corporations, and it is considered the
economic and cultural center of the Southeast. The state flower
is the Cherokee rose.
February 12, 2003
marks 270 years since General James Oglethorpe and his shipload
of settlers reached their new home and founded the colony of
Georgia. The last of the 13 British colonies on the Atlantic
seaboard, Georgia was founded on February 12, 1733 at the
present site of the city of Savannah.
On June 9, 1732, King George II granted a charter to Oglethorpe
and a group of 20 friends, organized as trustees, to establish a
colony named for the king. Oglethorpe's concern for the poverty
and unemployment in England motivated him to help relieve the
poor from the harsh conditions found in debtors' prisons. It was
also hoped that founding a new colony would increase trade and
wealth and provide a buffer for South Carolina against attack by
the Spanish, the French and the Indians
The Royal Charter for the colony of Georgia was officially
certified on June 9, 1732.�114 passengers left Gravesend,
England on the Anne, a 200-ton frigate commanded by Captain John
Thomas. The ship was crowded, but the voyage went smoothly.�Two
sickly children died on the trip, yet in general the company
stayed healthy.�A baby,� Georgius Warren was christened on
November 12 and the passengers celebrated Oglethorpe s birthday
with a special dinner at Christmas.�The company finally sighted
Charles Town, South Carolina on January 13, 1733.
Oglethorpe gave a copy of the Georgia Charter to the Governor of
South Carolina.�A scribe made another copy in 1734, which South
Carolina gave to Georgia in 1965.�The Secretary of State s
Office displays the 1734 Charter in the State Capitol on Georgia
Day.
The Georgia settlers left South Carolina in a group of small
boats on January 30 and landed at Yamacraw Bluff, 17 miles up
the Savannah River.�Oglethorpe s first official act was to kneel
with the company to offer thanksgiving and prayer to God.
Four large tents were erected that night, but soon Oglethorpe
was busy laying out the land lots for Savannah.� The first child
in the colony, Georgia Close, was born on March 17, but she died
ten months later.�Fortifications and a few houses were erected
by summer, but life was very hard for the first year.� Pure
water was lacking, illness spread in the muggy climate and many
died.
Fortunately, the colony received some assistance from South
Carolina and help from the Yamacraw Indians, whose old chief
Tomo-chi-chi proved to be a lasting friend to Oglethorpe.
As more colonists arrived, the Trustees hoped that Georgia could
produce silk, wine and other semitropical goods.�Nearly 500
pounds of raw silk - the most gathered in one year under the
Trustees - were sent to England in 1751, but the trade in silk
never succeeded as the Trustees hoped.�Sitting in London, the
Trustees did not have a realistic view of life in Georgia.�Many
colonists came from the cities and did not understand
farming.�It was harder to grow food than the Trustees
expected.�While there were good harvests in 1738 and 1739, there
were many years when food had to be imported.�Though the
Trustees were trying to protect the settlers when they
prohibited rum and slaves, many of the colonists disliked these
rules.�After Parliament refused the Trustees request for funds
in 1751, the Trustees disbanded.�The colony came under the King
s control and the first Royal Governor, Captain John Reynolds,
arrived in Savannah on October 29, 1754.
By that time, the colonists were already celebrating Georgia Day
in memory of the first landing at Yamacraw Bluff.�William
Stephens, Secretary of the Province of Georgia from 1737 to
1750, wrote in his journal that the day was marked by the firing
of guns, the hoisting of the flag and the drinking of toasts.�He
hoped that Ages to come will celebrate this Day annually here...
The Georgia Legislature gave legal recognition to the
celebration in 1909 and recommended that public schools of the
state hold special ceremonies each year.
In recent years, Georgia Day has been celebrated most colorfully
in Savannah, where people hold parades, parties and historic
programs. |
