The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
History
The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740
Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)
Moravians -- Georgia
Every acre of land that was cleared and planted had to be securely
fenced in, for cattle roamed in the woods, and ruined unprotected crops.
Indeed, the colonists in Georgia derived little benefit from their
cattle, which ran at large, and when a few were wanted for beef or for
domestic purposes, they were hunted and driven in. The Moravians had
to wait until midsummer before they could get their allotment, and then
they received a cow and calf, six hogs and five pigs, with the promise
of more. Before the others came the cows had again escaped to the woods,
and the swine had been drowned!
In July Spangenberg wrote to Herrnhut that he had given his fifty
acres of land, including the town lot, to the Moravian Congregation at
Savannah, and that he would at once apply to the Trustees to vest the
title in that body, and if he left Georgia before this was accomplished
he would give a full Power of Attorney to Toeltschig. From the first his
land had been used as the common property of the party, and he desired
that the nine men, who, with him, were bound to the repayment of the 60
Pounds, borrowed from the Trustees, should have the use of it until
that obligation was met, and then it should be used as the Savannah
Congregation thought best.
Nitschmann’s land seems to have been held in a different way, although
granted at the same time, and under similar circumstances. July 11th,
Spangenberg sent him a detailed description of the town and garden lots,
explaining the advantages and difficulties of cultivation, suggesting
several methods by which it could be done, and giving the approximate
cost, urging that instructions be sent as to his wishes. Later he wrote
that the company had decided not to wait for Nitschmann’s reply, but to
clear the garden on the terms usual in Georgia, e.g., that the man who
cleared a piece of ground held it rent free for seven years, when it
reverted to the owner. This had been done, and the garden was ready to
plant and fence, and if Nitschmann approved they intended to clear the
farm, and would build a small house on the town lot. Zinzendorf had
suggested that negroes be employed on Nitschmann’s land, but at that
time slavery was prohibited in Georgia, and any negroes who ran away
from Carolina were at once returned to their masters.
The two farms lay side by side about four miles from Savannah, the
gardens, also adjoining, were about two miles from town, so it was
necessary to build cabins at both places, as shelters from sun and
storm, which the settlers found equally trying. Two additional cabins
had been built in Savannah on Spangenberg’s lot, and by the end of the
year a house, thirty-four by eighteen feet in size, was under roof,
though not yet finished. This gave an abundance of room, not only
for themselves, but for the second company to whose arrival they were
looking forward with such eagerness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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