| The Salzburgers Travel to the New World |
It was on the advise of Pastor Samuel Urlsperger that James Oglethorpe, a member of Parliament as
well as a reformer who was concerned about the atrocious conditions of the grim debtors prisons. He
resolved to ship their inmates to America instead and enlist prominent men to lead and establish the
colony which would become Georgia, both to give the needy a new start in life and to extend British
dominions. The applicants were examined for honesty and "inability for English livelihood".
well as a reformer who was concerned about the atrocious conditions of the grim debtors prisons. He
resolved to ship their inmates to America instead and enlist prominent men to lead and establish the
colony which would become Georgia, both to give the needy a new start in life and to extend British
dominions. The applicants were examined for honesty and "inability for English livelihood".
Toward the end of their ocean voyage, a terrible storm broke, during which the Salzburger pastors
thundered out bible texts. Among these texts was I Samuel 7:12. where Samuel placed a stone
where God had saved his people from their enemy and named it Eben-Ezer, stone of help. Thus,
Oglethorpe named the town, its stream and the Parish, Ebenezer. Salzburgers were Georgia's first
religious refugees. Their fellow exiles who had ventured to German regions had at least some
continuity of food, language, climate and culture, and some were even treated like heroes, soon
becoming the center of legend, poetry and song. The Georgia Salzburgers travelled into a dreary,
frightening wilderness where nothing was familiar. When once they knew only their small Alpine
farms and quaint villages in the homeland and were surrounded by friends and family, they were
suddenly an ocean away in a harsh and hostile environment.
thundered out bible texts. Among these texts was I Samuel 7:12. where Samuel placed a stone
where God had saved his people from their enemy and named it Eben-Ezer, stone of help. Thus,
Oglethorpe named the town, its stream and the Parish, Ebenezer. Salzburgers were Georgia's first
religious refugees. Their fellow exiles who had ventured to German regions had at least some
continuity of food, language, climate and culture, and some were even treated like heroes, soon
becoming the center of legend, poetry and song. The Georgia Salzburgers travelled into a dreary,
frightening wilderness where nothing was familiar. When once they knew only their small Alpine
farms and quaint villages in the homeland and were surrounded by friends and family, they were
suddenly an ocean away in a harsh and hostile environment.
The settlers had no control of their own government and it was entirely ruled by the trustees.
Georgia granted freedom in religion to everyone except Catholics. On January 8, 1734, a year after
arriving in England, the Salzburgers began their stormy 63 day journey to Georgia on a two hundred
ton ship named the 'Purysburg' under Captain Tobias Pry. On March 12, 1734, their ship arrived at
the Savannah River and was met by Oglethorpe who led them to their new home.
Georgia granted freedom in religion to everyone except Catholics. On January 8, 1734, a year after
arriving in England, the Salzburgers began their stormy 63 day journey to Georgia on a two hundred
ton ship named the 'Purysburg' under Captain Tobias Pry. On March 12, 1734, their ship arrived at
the Savannah River and was met by Oglethorpe who led them to their new home.
Tomochichi, 1644-1739, was an apparent exile himself from the Creek Indian Nation. He and
several followers first settled what is now Savannah, Georgia. Tomochichi became a lifelong friend
of the early English colonists, helping the settlers in Georgia negotiate treaties and settle disputes with
Indians. In 1734, at age 91, he was taken to England with a small delegation of family and tribesmen
by Colonial Oglethorpe. He was an immediate celebrity, and was wined, dined and even had his
portrait painted with his nephew. He returned from his trip to England with a shipload of presents.
Tomochichi created his own tribe of Yamacraws from an assortment of about 200 Creek and
Yamasee Indians around 1728, and they settled within close proximity to English traders.
several followers first settled what is now Savannah, Georgia. Tomochichi became a lifelong friend
of the early English colonists, helping the settlers in Georgia negotiate treaties and settle disputes with
Indians. In 1734, at age 91, he was taken to England with a small delegation of family and tribesmen
by Colonial Oglethorpe. He was an immediate celebrity, and was wined, dined and even had his
portrait painted with his nephew. He returned from his trip to England with a shipload of presents.
Tomochichi created his own tribe of Yamacraws from an assortment of about 200 Creek and
Yamasee Indians around 1728, and they settled within close proximity to English traders.
Georgia was the last American colony and founded 50 years after the initial twelve. It was named for
King George II who granted a 21 year charter to a board of 21 trustees for the land between the
Savannah and Altamaha rivers and westward to the "South Sea". Over the period of the trusteeship
(1732-1755), fifty more trustees were added. Oglethorpe points at his colony, below
King George II who granted a 21 year charter to a board of 21 trustees for the land between the
Savannah and Altamaha rivers and westward to the "South Sea". Over the period of the trusteeship
(1732-1755), fifty more trustees were added. Oglethorpe points at his colony, below
After the exiles arrived in Augsburg in 1733, they travelled north to Frankfurt, then on by barge to
the Netherlands. At Rotterdam, the Salzburgers were met by their appointed Lutheran Pastors, Rev.
Boltzious and Rev. Gronau. Thirty-seven families then proceeded to Dover, England where they
swore allegiance to King George and were therefore awarded the same rights of Englishmen bound
for an English Colony. Exiles and refugees were pawns in a power game played by monarchs and
governments of Europe to populate new colonies or repopulate devastated areas within their realms,
and also to spread their religious ideas or even to protect their borders by acting as buffers to hostile
forces. The Salzburgers were not the first German speaking immigrants in America. Settlers from
Krefeld established the first sizable, distinctly German settlement in America at Germantown,
Pennsylvania in 1683.
the Netherlands. At Rotterdam, the Salzburgers were met by their appointed Lutheran Pastors, Rev.
Boltzious and Rev. Gronau. Thirty-seven families then proceeded to Dover, England where they
swore allegiance to King George and were therefore awarded the same rights of Englishmen bound
for an English Colony. Exiles and refugees were pawns in a power game played by monarchs and
governments of Europe to populate new colonies or repopulate devastated areas within their realms,
and also to spread their religious ideas or even to protect their borders by acting as buffers to hostile
forces. The Salzburgers were not the first German speaking immigrants in America. Settlers from
Krefeld established the first sizable, distinctly German settlement in America at Germantown,
Pennsylvania in 1683.
The first settlement which had been selected by Oglethorpe, Colonel William Bull and Peter Gordon,
leader of a small band of militia, was a site on a bluff known as Yamacraw which was soon cleared
for settlers. The militiamen built a set of stairs running up Yamacraw Bluff which the first settlers
would climb to their new home, a partially cleared and fortified compound with an excellent view of
the surrounding area, including the nearby Indian village.
leader of a small band of militia, was a site on a bluff known as Yamacraw which was soon cleared
for settlers. The militiamen built a set of stairs running up Yamacraw Bluff which the first settlers
would climb to their new home, a partially cleared and fortified compound with an excellent view of
the surrounding area, including the nearby Indian village.
Tomochichi provided
invaluable assistance to the
new colony during their early
years of settlement. The chief
also made the acquaintance of
ministers John and Charles
Wesley. Tomochichi died on
October 5, 1739, and received
an English military funeral.
invaluable assistance to the
new colony during their early
years of settlement. The chief
also made the acquaintance of
ministers John and Charles
Wesley. Tomochichi died on
October 5, 1739, and received
an English military funeral.
The death rate for the first settlers at first was very high because of disease and lack of clean water,
but new colonists arrived to populate the new city of Savannah. The original plans for the city of
Savannah called for four squares, which would expand to six, and eventually expand to twenty-four
squares, surrounded by a network of interconnecting streets. A string of forts was built to defend
Savannah from the Spanish, French and Indians.
but new colonists arrived to populate the new city of Savannah. The original plans for the city of
Savannah called for four squares, which would expand to six, and eventually expand to twenty-four
squares, surrounded by a network of interconnecting streets. A string of forts was built to defend
Savannah from the Spanish, French and Indians.
The settlers had to live in tents. After Oglethorpe negotiated the first treaty with the Indian chief
Tomochichi, the settlers built a stockade and a crane to hoist up freight.
Tomochichi, the settlers built a stockade and a crane to hoist up freight.
