Not all of the Salzburgers settled at Ebenezer in Georgia. Other Salzburger settlements in Effingham
County were Bethany, Goshen, and a town named Abercorn which had been first founded by Scots.
Some of them also went to other more exotic areas in Georgia such as what is now St. Simons Island.
County were Bethany, Goshen, and a town named Abercorn which had been first founded by Scots.
Some of them also went to other more exotic areas in Georgia such as what is now St. Simons Island.
In part, Georgia was established to protect the other colonies against Spanish
invasion from the south, and a year after Savannah was settled, James
Oglethorpe sailed south on the inland waterway in search of a place to build a
fort. He chose St. Simons Island, approximately seventy-five miles south of
Savannah. The trustees seemed to prefer Salzburgers and Scottish Highlanders
as settlers, and Oglethorpe returned to America in 1736 along with a carefully
selected group of 275 settlers, soldiers, and staff, including John and Charles
Wesley. John came to be a missionary to the Indians and a pastor to the
colonists, and Charles was to serve as a private secretary to Oglethorpe.
invasion from the south, and a year after Savannah was settled, James
Oglethorpe sailed south on the inland waterway in search of a place to build a
fort. He chose St. Simons Island, approximately seventy-five miles south of
Savannah. The trustees seemed to prefer Salzburgers and Scottish Highlanders
as settlers, and Oglethorpe returned to America in 1736 along with a carefully
selected group of 275 settlers, soldiers, and staff, including John and Charles
Wesley. John came to be a missionary to the Indians and a pastor to the
colonists, and Charles was to serve as a private secretary to Oglethorpe.
Some of the former mountain folk were also reluctant to continue
when they discovered that the remainder of the voyage was to be
made in small boats. Believing it unwise to take anyone to the outpost
who was unwilling, Oglethorpe then recruited from within the group,
and part of the Salzburgers remained at Savannah while the others
agreed to continue to St. Simons Island, where Fort Frederica was
soon built. Ruins of Fort Frederica, left
when they discovered that the remainder of the voyage was to be
made in small boats. Believing it unwise to take anyone to the outpost
who was unwilling, Oglethorpe then recruited from within the group,
and part of the Salzburgers remained at Savannah while the others
agreed to continue to St. Simons Island, where Fort Frederica was
soon built. Ruins of Fort Frederica, left
By March, 1736, forty-four men and seventy-two women and children began life in the new town,
each with a lot for a house. There was also a large public garden, a common meadow for cattle and
two wells. There was a doctor, carpenter, baker, shoemaker, bricklayer, locksmith and others with
necessary skills. Within a short time from 1736 until 1758, Frederica was developed as an
industrious, self-contained society. The island Salzburgers mingled with the Scottish settlers and
made their living by planting, fishing and selling their products.
each with a lot for a house. There was also a large public garden, a common meadow for cattle and
two wells. There was a doctor, carpenter, baker, shoemaker, bricklayer, locksmith and others with
necessary skills. Within a short time from 1736 until 1758, Frederica was developed as an
industrious, self-contained society. The island Salzburgers mingled with the Scottish settlers and
made their living by planting, fishing and selling their products.
Greatly impressed by the pious Moravians he had met on his journey, however, John Wesley started
the first known gathering of children together on Sundays for religious education in Savannah. He
would later translate thirty-three German hymns into English, including Befiehl du deine Wege or
"Give to the winds thy fears" by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) which can be heard on the page of this
site titled "Gerhardt". After his return to England, he continued to visit with Moravians regularly.
the first known gathering of children together on Sundays for religious education in Savannah. He
would later translate thirty-three German hymns into English, including Befiehl du deine Wege or
"Give to the winds thy fears" by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) which can be heard on the page of this
site titled "Gerhardt". After his return to England, he continued to visit with Moravians regularly.
When Oglethorpe's regiment was disbanded in 1749, most of the Salzburgers left St. Simons Island.
By the early 1800s, "German village" was absorbed into a plantation called "The Village." Today, as
in the rest of the early Georgia settlements, all that is left is an historic marker.
By the early 1800s, "German village" was absorbed into a plantation called "The Village." Today, as
in the rest of the early Georgia settlements, all that is left is an historic marker.
| The Island Salzburgers |
A problem had arisen on the ship when some of the Salzburgers were reluctant to move onto their
new island home after finding out that it was to be a military settlement where they might have to
fight, and most of them preferred to join the Salzburger community at Ebenezer.
new island home after finding out that it was to be a military settlement where they might have to
fight, and most of them preferred to join the Salzburger community at Ebenezer.
Despite his good intentions, Charles Wesley angered some of the settlers so much with his strict
sermons that when some local women started spreading gossip about him, he ended up sleeping on
the ground. His experience was so miserable that he left the Island for Savannah after two months of
constant illness and disagreements with both Oglethorpe and the settlers. Charles later returned to
England, never to return.
sermons that when some local women started spreading gossip about him, he ended up sleeping on
the ground. His experience was so miserable that he left the Island for Savannah after two months of
constant illness and disagreements with both Oglethorpe and the settlers. Charles later returned to
England, never to return.
When their ship arrived on February 6, 1736, the Wesley brothers continued to stay on the ship a
while and the local Yamacraw chief went on board to present John Wesley with a gift of milk and
honey. During the voyage across the Atlantic, John Wesley was amazed at the inner calm of the
twenty five Moravian Germans on board even in frightening weather and when they finally
disembarked, the brothers initially stayed with the Moravians. It was decided that John Wesley move
into a parsonage there while Charles and Reverand Ingram would go on to Fort Frederica.
while and the local Yamacraw chief went on board to present John Wesley with a gift of milk and
honey. During the voyage across the Atlantic, John Wesley was amazed at the inner calm of the
twenty five Moravian Germans on board even in frightening weather and when they finally
disembarked, the brothers initially stayed with the Moravians. It was decided that John Wesley move
into a parsonage there while Charles and Reverand Ingram would go on to Fort Frederica.
Despite the brothers' difficulties, however, they
managed to establish a congregation on the island
which was served by Benjamin Ingham and later
the famous preacher George Whitefield in 1737.
Today it is known as Christ Church, Frederica
(Episcopal). George Whitefield, the Wesleys'
successor, had better luck with the colonists and
apparently survived bite-free.
Church shown in an old postcard, right
managed to establish a congregation on the island
which was served by Benjamin Ingham and later
the famous preacher George Whitefield in 1737.
Today it is known as Christ Church, Frederica
(Episcopal). George Whitefield, the Wesleys'
successor, had better luck with the colonists and
apparently survived bite-free.
Church shown in an old postcard, right
In Savannah, even after preaching all day, John Wesley would attend the
Moravians' Sunday evening German services. After his brother left, he visited
the Fort and was dismayed at the settlers' dire "spiritual condition". He twice
returned later, but the settlers rejected him in the same way they had his
brother, and on one occasion, one of the female trouble-makers tried to shoot
him. When he snatched her gun, she went after him with a scissors, and when
she failed to strike him, he grabbed her and she bit him. The Wesleys probably
regarded their time in Georgia as a spiritual failure. John later wrote in his
Journal, "I came to convert the Indians, but, oh, who will convert me?"
Moravians' Sunday evening German services. After his brother left, he visited
the Fort and was dismayed at the settlers' dire "spiritual condition". He twice
returned later, but the settlers rejected him in the same way they had his
brother, and on one occasion, one of the female trouble-makers tried to shoot
him. When he snatched her gun, she went after him with a scissors, and when
she failed to strike him, he grabbed her and she bit him. The Wesleys probably
regarded their time in Georgia as a spiritual failure. John later wrote in his
Journal, "I came to convert the Indians, but, oh, who will convert me?"
Note: Even though James Oglethorpe founded Georgia as a place where "neither slavery nor strong drink" was to be
allowed, he recognized that wine growing was a basic economic activity. "We shall certainly succeed," he muttered; The
Trustees' Garden in Savannah, Georgia was deemed "the first agricultural experiment station in America," and the garden
was intended as a source of grapes among other plants for the new colony. It did not do well. The earliest American wine
on record was, however, made much earlier in 1564 on St. Simon's Island, only a few miles north of a Huguenot outpost
in Florida.
allowed, he recognized that wine growing was a basic economic activity. "We shall certainly succeed," he muttered; The
Trustees' Garden in Savannah, Georgia was deemed "the first agricultural experiment station in America," and the garden
was intended as a source of grapes among other plants for the new colony. It did not do well. The earliest American wine
on record was, however, made much earlier in 1564 on St. Simon's Island, only a few miles north of a Huguenot outpost
in Florida.
Later, Colonel William Cooke sent out sixteen different sorts of vine cuttings to St. Simon's Island from France in 1737,
but they apparently did not produce well and he tried to make wine from native grapes. An enthusiastic neighbor of
Cooke's named Lieutenant Horton described the experiment to the trustees in 1740 in glowing terms (although a year
later the trustees heard from others that the wine experiment was a failure). Undaunted, Horton was among those who
received 3,000 cuttings sent to the settlement of Frederica by William Stephens in 1744. Supposedly, within a year,
Oglethorpe received a cask of wine made at Frederica. The colonists at Ebenezer experienced failure with grapes and
had no great interest in wine production. They preferred beer.
but they apparently did not produce well and he tried to make wine from native grapes. An enthusiastic neighbor of
Cooke's named Lieutenant Horton described the experiment to the trustees in 1740 in glowing terms (although a year
later the trustees heard from others that the wine experiment was a failure). Undaunted, Horton was among those who
received 3,000 cuttings sent to the settlement of Frederica by William Stephens in 1744. Supposedly, within a year,
Oglethorpe received a cask of wine made at Frederica. The colonists at Ebenezer experienced failure with grapes and
had no great interest in wine production. They preferred beer.
One of the late comers to Ebenezer was one Johann Wilhelm De Brahm. De Brahm, an engineer and cartographer of no
small repute. He was a native of Germany and a military engineer in the army of Karl VII. Three years after he resigned
his commission, he led a group of immigrants to America in 1751, settling in Ebenezer. He received an appointment as
surveyor general for Georgia in 1754 and a commission from South Carolina in 1755 to repair the fortifications of Charles
Town. De Brahm was also hired to design Fort Loudoun. De Brahm accompanied the first garrison of troops under the
command of Captain Raymond Demeré in the summer of 1756 to the proposed site on the Little Tennessee River. De
Brahm did not approve of the site, which led to hard feelings between he and Demeré. Demeré perceived De Brahm's
actions as inciting mutiny and rallied the officers of the garrison behind him, forcing De Brahm to abandon the project and
abruptly leave the fort on Christmas Eve, 1756.
small repute. He was a native of Germany and a military engineer in the army of Karl VII. Three years after he resigned
his commission, he led a group of immigrants to America in 1751, settling in Ebenezer. He received an appointment as
surveyor general for Georgia in 1754 and a commission from South Carolina in 1755 to repair the fortifications of Charles
Town. De Brahm was also hired to design Fort Loudoun. De Brahm accompanied the first garrison of troops under the
command of Captain Raymond Demeré in the summer of 1756 to the proposed site on the Little Tennessee River. De
Brahm did not approve of the site, which led to hard feelings between he and Demeré. Demeré perceived De Brahm's
actions as inciting mutiny and rallied the officers of the garrison behind him, forcing De Brahm to abandon the project and
abruptly leave the fort on Christmas Eve, 1756.
De Brahm continued his valuable work as an engineer and surveyor. When Colonial leaders wanted a fort on Cockspur
Island to protect the growing port of Savannah from Spanish attack, de Brahm supervised the construction of Fort
George in 1761. When his appointment as surveyor general of Georgia ended in 1764, he became surveyor general for
both East Florida and the Southern District. He learned a great deal about the Cherokee Indians and in 1773 issued his
"Report of the General Survey in the Southern District of North America," which included information obtained
during his stay among them. At the onset of the Revolution, De Brahm returned to England and stayed a few years,
eduring financial hardship. He returned to Charleston in 1789, then moved to Philadelphia, where he died in 1796.
Island to protect the growing port of Savannah from Spanish attack, de Brahm supervised the construction of Fort
George in 1761. When his appointment as surveyor general of Georgia ended in 1764, he became surveyor general for
both East Florida and the Southern District. He learned a great deal about the Cherokee Indians and in 1773 issued his
"Report of the General Survey in the Southern District of North America," which included information obtained
during his stay among them. At the onset of the Revolution, De Brahm returned to England and stayed a few years,
eduring financial hardship. He returned to Charleston in 1789, then moved to Philadelphia, where he died in 1796.