The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
History
The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740
Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
Moravians -- Georgia
The Indian work was most discouraging, for the men were careless and
drunken, and in January, 1739, even Rose gave up, and moved back to
Savannah with his family. In October, Tomochichi died, and was buried
with great pomp in Percival Square in Savannah. The Moravians were asked
to furnish music at the funeral, but declined, and it was hardly missed
amid the firing of minute guns, and three volleys over his grave. After
his death his little village was abandoned, and the question of further
missionary efforts there settled itself.
During the winter John Regnier became deeply incensed at some plain
speaking from Schulius, and decided to leave at once for Europe, the
Congregation paying his way. He probably went to Herrnhut, as that had
been his intention some months previously, and later he served as a
missionary in Surinam. In after years he returned to Pennsylvania, where
he joined those who were inimical to the Moravians.
Peter Rose, his wife and daughter left for Pennsylvania soon after their
withdrawal from Irene. They settled in Germantown, and there Peter died
March 12th, 1740. Catherine married John Michael Huber in 1742, who died
five years later on a voyage to the West Indies. Being for the third
time a widow, she became one of the first occupants of the Widows’ House
in Bethlehem, and served as a Deaconess for many years, dying in 1798.
Mary Magdalena became the wife of Rev. Paul Peter Bader in 1763.
On August 10th, 1739, John Michael Schober died after a brief illness,
the ninth of the Moravian colonists to find their final resting place
beside the Savannah River.
In September, General Oglethorpe received instructions to make reprisals
on the Spanish for their depredations on the southern borders of the
Georgia Province. He rightly judged this to be the precursor of open
hostilities, and hastened his preparations to put Carolina and Georgia
in a state of defense. In October the British Government declared war on
Spain, and November witnessed the beginning of fighting in the Colonies.
Of course this meant a re-opening of the old discussion as to the
Moravians’ liability for service, a repetition of the old arguments, and
a renewal of the popular indignation. Oglethorpe was fairly considerate
of them, thought Zinzendorf ought to have provided for two men,
but added that he did not want the Moravians driven away. Still
the situation was uncomfortable, and the Moravians began to make
arrangements for their final departure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account