Who were the key
people of Georgia’s
founding?
James Oglethorpe
• Considered the founder of Georgia
• Acted as the colony’s first governor
• Was the only one of the trustees who actually came
to Georgia
King George II
• King of England who granted the charter for the
colony
• Georgia was named in his honor.
Trustees
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•
•
•
21 men who ruled the colony
Paid the way for those colonists who couldn’t pay
Made regulations – not laws – for the colony
Ran the colony for 21 years
Original colonists
• 114-125 English citizens
• Some paid their own way and got 500 acres of land
and up to 10 servants
• Those who couldn’t pay their way were given 50
acres
• All of the colonists were expected to grow mulberry
trees (for silk) and indigo (for dye) on part of their
land
• They were also expected to defend the colony.
• http://todayingeorgiahistory.org/content/georgiacolony-founded
Tomochichi
• Yamacraw chief
• Made friends with Oglethorpe and allowed
colonists to settle on Yamacraw Bluff
• Went with Oglethorpe to England to meet trustees
• Enabled the colony to get started
• http://todayingeorgiahistory.org/content/tomochic
hi
Mary Musgrove
• Part Indian/Part British
• Married to John Musgrove, who ran a trading post
• John was hired by Oglethorpe to interpret between
him and the Indians.
• Mary eventually took over the job, as well as the
payment from Oglethorpe
Portuguese Jews
• 42 Jewish settlers
• Arrived in summer 1733
• Had new settlers to replace some of original
colonists who had died
• Had a doctor, Dr. Samuel Nunis, to replace the
original one
• This group secured the survival of the Georgia
during its first few months
Salzburgers
• 50-60 families of German Protestants came in 1734
• Were looking for a place to live, work, and practice
their religion
• Settled 25 miles from Savannah in a place they
named Ebenezer (“rock of help”).
• The soil was not good, so they asked to move.
• They named their new settlement New Ebenezer.
• The Germans added diversity to Georgia and set up
our second city.
• http://todayingeorgiahistory.org/content/germansalzburgers-arrive-georgia
Scottish Highlanders
• Between 170-180 came to GA in 1735
• Settled the city of Darien, on the Altamaha River
• Oglethorpe recruited them because they were
good soldiers and would protect their new home.
• Built a fort on the river and fought with Oglethorpe
to drive out the Spanish from the colony in 1742.
• Established GA’s 3rd city and protected GA’s
southern boundary