Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Screven, James Proctor 1799 - 1859 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 13, 2004, 3:17 pm Author: William Harden p. 588-595 DR. JAMES PROCTOR SCREVEN. (Prepared by Thomas F. Screven.) Dr. James Proctor Screven was born October 11, 1799, near Bluff-ton, in St. Peter's Parish, now Beaufort county, South Carolina, and died July 16, 1859 at the Hot Springs in Virginia, where he had gone in the hqpe of restoration to good health after an illness which began some time in the fall of 1858; this illness was probably attributable to his ardent and energetic attention to the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad (now a part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) of which he was the faithful and first president. Dr. Screven was the oldest son of Major John Screven, born January 18, 1777, in South Carolina, Major of the Second Battalion of Militia at Savannah, Georgia, and a planter in South Carolina and Georgia; he died November 20, 1830, at Savannah, his then place of residence and was there buried; his wife was Hannah (Proctor) Screven, born January 8, 1778, in South Carolina, and killed with her son John Screven, (born August 4, 1803) in the great storm of September 8, 1804, on Wilmington island, Georgia, by the fall of the family residence. Hannah (Proctor) Screven was the second daughter of Richard Proctor, born 1734 in Charleston, South Carolina, and said to have been the first male baptized at St. Philip's church at Charleston; he died April 26, 1817, at the age of eighty-three years, in Savannah, Georgia, at the residence of his son-in-law, Major John Screven, and interred near Bluffton, South Carolina; and his wife, Mary Ann (Vinson) Proctor, born February, 1752, and died in 1822. She was a daughter of George and Martha Vinson of South Carolina. Richard Proctor was a son of Stephen Proctor of Charleston, South Carolina, and Hannah (Simons) Proctor, his wife, widow of John Royer, and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (DuPre’) Simons of South Carolina, and of French Huguenot descent. Dr. Screven's grandfather, Lieutenant John Screven, was born November 23, 1750, on James island, South Carolina; he died September 2, 1801, and was buried at Montpelier which is located on the southern shore of May river, or the River of May, and nearly opposite Bluffton, South Carolina; Lieutenant John Screven moved from South Carolina to the St. John's Parish, afterward known as Liberty county, Georgia, where his brother, James Screven, resided and became a planter there; he is recorded - as becoming Lieutenant in Capt. James Screven's company of St. John's Rangers, by the Council of Safety of the State, and as engaged in the issue in 1776 of paper money for that state. Dr. Screven's grandmother was Elizabeth (Pendarvis) Bryan, born May 23, 1755; died April 5, 1804; widow of Josiah Bryan (son of Jonathan Bryan) daughter of Joseph Pendarvis, whose pioneer ancestor was Joseph Pendarvis, died in 1694, and Mary Bedon, daughter of Col. Richard Bedon, and descended from George Bedon who came over from England with the Sayle colony in 1670. Josiah Bryan and Elizabeth Pendarvis were married August 14, 1770; he died 1774, leaving one son, Joseph, who was born August 18, 1773; by Elizabeth (Pendarvis) Bryan's first marriage she had one son. Her marriage to Lieut. John Screven occurred January 13, 1776, and they had thirteen children. Dr. Screven's great-grandfather was James Screven of James island, South Carolina, born 1609, son of Samuel Screven, who was a son of the Rev. William Screven, born in Somerton, England, about 1629, an immigrant to Kittery, Maine, removed to South Carolina about 1696 with his family consisting of his wife, Bridget (Cutt) Screven and children, and Baptist congregation; founded the first Baptist church as its minister and died on the site of Georgetown, South Carolina, in 1713 and is there buried. Dr. Screven's great-grandmother was Mary (Smith) Screven, born 1717, died 1758, a daughter of the second Landgrave Thomas Smith of South Carolina, son of Thomas Smith of Exeter, England, born 1643, first landgrave and governor of South and North Carolina, and Barbara Smith, his wife. Mary (Smith) Screven's mother, Mary, was a daughter of Col. Edward Hyrne, of Norfolk, England, and of North Carolina, and his wife, Elizabeth (Massingbird) Hyrne. (A bible record of the Girardeau family). Dr. Screven completed his grammar school education at Willington, near Abbeville, South Carolina, under the tuition of Dr. Moses Wad-dell, then celebrated as a successful instructor of youth, and who became president of Franklin College, afterward the University of Georgia, at Athens, Georgia. He then entered the South Carolina College at Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated in 1817 with honor. Returning to Savannah he studied medicine under Dr. Wm. R. Waring, one of the leading physicians. Upon the completion of that course he entered the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, where he graduated April 6, 1820, obtaining a medical diploma, also one from the Medical Society of Philadelphia, dated at the time of his appointment to honorary membership in that society. This society appears to have been founded in the year 1779. Upon the completion of his course at the University, at his father's desire he obtained a French passport, dated May 27, 1820, and left for London, England, where he studied at Guy's and St. Thomas' hospitals, Sir Astley Cooper being one of the surgeons who gave him a certificate, dated April 13, 1821, of his diligent attendance upon the practice of surgery and medicine, in Guy's and St. Thomas hospitals for six months last past. Then he went to Paris, France, still in the active pursuit of his profesional studies, but also to learn their cognate branches. He was also a pupil of the celebrated Cuvier, as well as of others, the most distinguished of the French Medical school. Here he mastered the French language and probably the Italian. He numbered LaFayette as one of his friends. The remainder of Dr. Screven's stay in Europe, which occupied over two years, was spent in travel in Switzerland and Italy. In the latter country, the late Hon. George Bancroft, the historian, was his companion. His son, John Screven, wrote: "I have long used a copy of Horace belonging to my father, evidently a vade mecum with him, as it was copiously marked with his references to objects of interest mentioned by the poet, and indicated not only his habitual closeness of observation but that he definitely associated those objects with the careful and well-directed maintenance of his classical studies. He made full and conscientious use of his European experiences, both in his profession and in the sciences, which later had their earlier accepted development in that period,—that is, in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Without professing to apply himself to the sciences otherwise than as a man of advanced intelligence, he devoted much time to geology, mineralogy, conchology, chemistry and comparative anatomy," so when he and Dr. Joseph C. Habersham learned of the discovery of the remains of a strange animal on the shore of Skidaway island in Chatham county, his knowledge of anatomy convinced him that the remains were that of a megatherium, and to congratulate himself that he had been a pupil of Cuvier. He delivered his views on this interesting subject before the Georgia Medical Society, of which he became a member in 1823, Some of these remains were sent to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C., but were destroyed when the original buildings were burned. Portions of these remains were given to the Georgia Historical Society some time after his death. Another instance of the value of his observations in Europe was his letter to the council of Savannah in August, 1823, upon the subject of dry culture as observed in the south of Europe, which was referred to a committee and reported as "well calculated to set the question of the utility of dry culture at rest" and "after six years have passed away the operation of the dry culture system, imperfectly as that system has been enforced, it has given evidence the most conclusive of a favorable influence upon the health of Savannah." A newspaper of the time, September 16, 1823, stated: "No dispassionate man, after reading it can longer doubt. By the friends of Dr. Screven, this letter must be received as a most satisfactory evidence of the manner in which he has appropriated the time he passed in Europe—to his community and the country, this letter gives a high promise of future usefulness. We cannot close our remarks without expressing our approbation of the manly, dignified and chaste style of the writer." Dr. Screven began the practice of medicine in Savannah in 1822-3. He and his brother-in-law, Dr. Wm. C. Daniell, formed a partnership and on April 23, 1823, they issued a public notice to the effect of their having procured the building occupied as a poor house and hospital, and would open May 1st next for the medical treatment of sick seamen and negroes. Dr. Screven was elected January 8, 1824, by council "the first health officer under the new method." Dr. Screven was alderman from April 13, 1826 to September 11, 1826; from then to September 10, 1827, and again from December 4, 1828. Dr. Screven was married December 26, 1826 by the Rev. Abiel Carter, rector of Christ church at Savannah, to Miss Hannah Georgia Bryan, born August 31, 1907, daughter of Joseph Bryan and Delia (Porman) Bryan, (died December 16, 1825), daughter of Gen. Thomas Marsh Forman, of Rose Hill, Cecil county, Maryland. Joseph Bryan and Delia Forman were married April 9, 1805, at the residence of Judge Ezekiel Forman Chambers, (a relative of General Forman) at Chestertown, Maryland. Joseph Bryan was born August 18, 1773, son of Josiah Bryan, and died September 5, 1812, at his own home, Non Chalance, Wilmington island, and there interred. He was several times a member of the state legislature and once a member of the United States congress. It is said that Joseph Bryan's popularity was greatly increased in the state by his successful fight, unarmed, with a bear, which he killed. At a house in the country, he desired at night a bath in a horse-water trough near the premises, which the bear also inclined to. A contest for the bath ensued, in which he succeeded by his great strength and courage. He resigned in 1806 from the United States congress before his term expired. The distinguished John Randolph, of Roanoke, of Virginia, his dearest and most intimate friend, wrote of him in an obituary notice: "The character of Mr. Bryan was every way original. He was himself and no one else at second hand. Educated in Europe, which quarter of the globe he again visited for improvement by travel. He was every way free from taint of foreign manner. He lived and died a Georgian. Soon after his last return from Europe he was elected to congress from his native state. He took no part in the debates of the house, but his zeal against the Yazoo claims was not surpassed by even that of his friend, General James Jackson himself. In the spring of 1806, after serving three sessions in congress, Mr. Bryan resigned his seat, in consequence, it is believed, qf his marriage the preceding year, with a beautiful and amiable lady of the eastern shore of Maryland, who, (with five children), survive him. Congressional life is incompatible with domestic enjoyments. "His dissolution was uncommonly rapid; but his spirit retained its vigor to the last. He made light of his disease, and a few days before his death invited an old friend to dine with him next Christmas. All his fortitude could not save him. His complaint was of the liver, with dropsy. "In person Mr. Bryan might have served as a model to the statuary. He possessed wonderful strength and activity of body, united to undaunted resolution; but he was not more terrible than generous as an enemy. The brave are always generous. As a friend, he was above all price. His mind was of the first order—stored with various but desultory reading; for he read solely for his own amusement. His integrity was unimpeached and unimpeachable; his honor unsullied. Quick in his resentments, but easily appeased when injured, and equally ready to acknowledge an error when wrong, provided the appeal was made to his sense of justice; for he knew not fear; he was brave even to rashness, and his generosity bordered on profusion. Strange, wonderful man! Some fatality must have taken him from the sphere for which nature designed him, and he has left his friends to regret that his talents, integrity, honor, unbounded and unexampled courage should be so early lost to them." Josiah Bryan, born August 22, 1746, in South Carolina, died 1774 at Brampton, Georgia, married August 14, 1770, Elizabeth Pendarvis, was a son of Jonathan Bryan and Mary (Williamson) Bryan, who were married October 13, 1737. Mary (Williamson) Bryan was a daughter of John Williamson, of South Carolina, and Mary (Bower) Williamson. Mary (Bower) Williamson was a daughter of William Bower and Martha (Hext) Bower. The latter was a daughter of Hugh Hext. William Bower and Hugh Hext came together from England to South Carolina. Their descendants were numerous and allied with prominent families of the province and state. Jonathan Bryan, born 1708 in South Carolina and died 1788 at Brampton, his place of residence near Savannah in Georgia, was a son of the pioneer ancestor, Joseph Bryan and Janet (Cochran) Bryan, a daughter of Hugh Cochran of South Carolina. Mr. Bryan assisted Gen. James Oglethorpe in the selection of the site upon which Savannah stands; was useful in the construction of the country road leading to Darien and Frederica, and in 1740, as lieutenant of a company of "Gentleman Volunteers," attended General Oglethorpe's expedition to capture St. Augustine in Florida. Mr. Bryan moved in December, 1752, with his family, to Savannah, permanently. With a high standing in South Carolina, he soon became more prominent in Georgia: One of the king's council; one of the judges of the court of oyer and terminer and the general court; treasurer of the province; captain of a company of horse militia; prominent in the councils of the malcontents with the actions of the British government in regard to taxation, who desired and finally succeeded in a separation of the province and state from the control of that government; resigned from the king's council, because of its threat to expel him, whereupon the Union Society bestowed upon him a silver vase, a gift expressive of the society's appreciation of his devotion to the cause of his fellow citizens; member of the Council of Safety and Executive Council, at one time acting as president of the state; in January, 1779, captured with his son, James, by the British at his "Union" plantation, twelve miles north and west of Savannah, but on the northern shore of the Savannah river, both taken to New York and held there in close and severe imprisonment for more than two years; when exchanged they returned to Georgia or South Carolina. Mr. Bryan's last effort for the colonists was his fighting with General Wayne in the latter's victory over the British and Indians near Savannah in the last year of the war. His daughter, Mary, widow of John Morel, married in 1784 Richard Wylly, a distinguished officer of the Revolution and member of the Society of the Cincinnati; and another daughter, Hannah, married John Houstoun, lawyer by profession, son of Sir Patrick Houstoun, and member of the congress of the states, governor of Georgia, 1778, first mayor (1791) of Savannah, again governor of the state, judge, etc. General Thomas Marsh Forman, born August 20, 1758, died 1845 and buried at his residence, Rose Hill, Cecil county, Maryland, was a son of Ezekiel Forman and Augustine or Augustina (Marsh) Forman, born 1744, daughter of Thomas Marsh and Mary (Thompson) Marsh, who was a granddaughter of John Thompson and Judith (Herrman) Thompson, and great-granddaughter of Augustin Herrman and Janetia Herrman, daughter of Casper and Judith Varleth. Thomas Marsh Forman joined Smallwood's regiment in the Revolution as a cadet, shortly before the battle of Long Island, New York; the next winter was commissioned lieutenant in the llth Pennsylvania regiment; then becoming captain in his uncle David Forman's continental regiment; and in 1779 succeeded James Monroe as staff officer to Maj. Gen. Lord Sterling. He served in the legislature in 1790, 1792, and 1800, and during the bombardment of Fort McHenry, War of 1812, commanded a brigade of militia. In his will, he bequeathed his estate to his grandson, Thomas Marsh Forman Bryan, son of Joseph Bryan and Delia (Forman) Bryan, provided he changed his name to Thomas Marsh Forman, which was done by the legislature of Maryland. General Forman was descended from Robert Forman "who was driven from England by the persecutions of Archbishop Laud, and took refuge in Holland. His name and that of his wife, Johanna, are enrolled upon the church register at Vlissingen, Holland, the English name being Flushing. On Long Island, New York, he was one of the incorporators of Flushing in 1645, which was then governed by the Dutch, but the incorporators were Englishmen. The charter at Albany has Robert's name spelled "Firman," but in all documents signed by him it is spelled "Forman." He moved to Hempstead, Long Island, incorporated November, 1645. His name appears among the forty-three signers of a letter to Governor Stuyvesant agreeing to pay the "tenths" demanded by the governor, if it can be shown that they are legally obliged to do so. On December 9, 1658, Governor Stuyvesant chose to be magistrates Richard Gildersleeve and Robert Forman. On May 12, 1664, Robert Forman was one of the two magistrates at Oyster Bay, then under New England jurisdiction. His will, dated February 7, 1670 (record of Oyster Bay), mentions his sons, Moses, Aaron and Samuel. His wife was Johanna as shown by deed dated June 9, 1665. He died in 1671. Aaron Forman moved to Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 11, 1693. His son Samuel married in 1667 or 1668 Mary Wilbur, daughter of Samuel Wilbur and Hannah Porter. Ezekiel Forman, father of Gen. T. M. Forman and son of Joseph and Elizabeth Lee Forman, married first Augustine, or Augustina, Marsh, daughter of Thomas Marsh and Mary (Thompson) Marsh; the latter a granddaughter of John Thompson and Judith (Herrman^ Thompson; the latter a daughter of Augustin Herrman and Janitia his wife, daughter of Casper and Judith Varleth. Ezekiel Forman was commissioned high sheriff of Kent County, Maryland, January 14, 1776; appointed paymaster to the eastern shore marching militia; member of the Council of Safety of Maryland and died at his wilderness plantation four or five miles from Natchez, Misissippi, having journeyed down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to this plantation to cultivate tobacco. He wrote an interesting narrative of this journey, which has been printed, a copy being in the possession of the writer of this paper. Augustine Herrman, colonist, first in New Amsterdam, now New York, and next Lord of Bohemia Manor in Maryland; he acquired this title and large tract of land through his making a valuable map of Maryland and Virginia at a cost to him of ten thousand dollars or two hundred pounds, which was an important acquisition to Maryland, and thereby the grant of the title of Lord and the Bohemia Manor. He was born at Prague, Bohemia, and died on his manor in 1686; his father and mother were Augustin Ephraim Herrman and Beatrice, daughter of Casper Redel of Prague, a patrician family. A copy of the above mentioned map is in the possession of the writer of these papers, and the original map has been in the map department of the British Museum these many years. To return to Dr. Screven: A monument committee, composed of John Shellman, John Stevens, "William B. Bulloch, J. V. Sevan, R. W. Habersham, A. Porter, James P. Screven, William Gaston, Alexander Telfair, A. B. Panin and J. Bond Read, was formed to erect monuments to General Green and the Count Pulaski; and on November 30, 1826, the state authorized a committee, of which Dr. Screven was a member, to institute a lottery by which to obtain funds for these monuments. In 1834 there was cholera in Savannah, and in December, the state appropriated $15,000 to be used in a Lazaretto to be located at Savannah, and Dr. Screven was one of a committee to select a site. This committee reported, February 5, 1835, in favor of the extreme western point of Tybee island, which was on Lazaretto creek. About 1835, Dr. Screven retired from the practice of medicine and with his family resided at Non Chalance, Wilmington island, for the purpose of actively prosecuting his planting interests there as well as in South Carolina and in Georgia on the Savannah river. This he followed successfully, thereby gathering large profits, and if he chose, the position of a man at ease in this world's goods. His energy and mental endowment allowed but little ease. However, about 1847-8, he and his family moved back to Savannah, and it is found that he was an alderman in the 61st, 62nd, 63d and 64th administrations of the city, and mayor in the 67th administration. As alderman, during the calamitous yellow fever of 1854, he sent his family to Non Chalance, Wilmington island, remaining himself unmindful of the dread fever. At one time, September 21, 1854, he as acting mayor, and Mr. Alderman Mallory, were the only ones of the mayor and aldermen, who were able to care for the interests of the city. Fortunately the fever did not attack him. His greatest misfortune was after the fever had almost ceased, when on November 7, 1854, his son, James, was drowned in the river north of Non Chalance, while endeavoring to swim ashore to safety with a young lady who was visiting the family. During the period from 1850 to and including 1857, the improvements to the city were the acquirement of the Springfield plantation, purchased by Dr. Screven and turned over to the city of Savannah at the purchase price; the establishment of Laurel Grove cemetery; introduction of gas; the building of water works; building of the Savannah, Albany and Gulf and Atlantic and Gulf railroads (now the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad), of which Dr. Screven was president; introduction of a public school system. For this, see Gamble-Mayor Myers report, 1799-1900. In 1855, Dr. Screven visited New York, England and France and Holland to observe the methods for the supply and purification of water, which might apply for use at Savannah. During his absence and without his knowledge, he was elected senator to the legislature by his fellow citizens. As mayor of the city his administration met with general approbation. Dr. Cosmo P. Richardsone, the popular captain of the Savannah Volunteer Guards (organized 1802), having died early in 1852, Dr. Screven was soon after elected their captain, which met with hearty appreciation, for with his accustomed energy and intelligence, he thoroughly fitted himself by sincere devotion. And so he demonstrated his capacity as a military leader and the Guards flourished. One instance of his fondness for the corps was his gift of several lots of land in the southern section of the city. It should be mentioned that in 1835, he volunteered, probably with the Guards, to serve in Florida, against the Indians. He resigned his command about 1857, when his son, John, succeeded him. Dr. Screven having died in Virginia in July, 1859, his remains were there temporarily interred, and 011 the 9th of April, 1860, they were brought to his late residence at the southwest corner of Congress and Abercorn streets in Savannah. On that day the mayor and aldermen met and adopted the following resolutions, introduced by Mr. Alderman Abraham Minis: "Whereas, it has pleased Almighty Providence to remove from our midst one of our most cherished citizens—one who has served this community most zealously, faithfully and creditably— one who never took a place that he did not fill, and one than whom Savannah had never a more true and loving son, for whose prosperity life itself was not too great a sacrifice. "Dr. James P. Screven was useful and honorable among men; discharging many public duties, and among them the mayoralty of our city, and no one in that capacity has ever labored more zealously and successfully for her weal; it is therefore meet that as his remains are borne from afar, whence he breathed his last, to mingle with the sands he loved so well, that this council shall endeavor to pay all respect to so much departed worth. "Be it therefore resolved, That the Mayor and Aldermen, accompanied by the officers of the council, will, in their official capacity, as a body attend the funeral ceremonies of the honored deceased. "Be it further resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be furnished to the family of the deceased, and be published in the gazettes of the city.” The funeral was held on April 10, 1860, and the remains placed in the Screven vault in Laurel Grove cemetery. In the Savannah Republican was published: "The characteristics of Dr. Screven were not only an acute and comprehensive intellect, but an energy and perseverance of industry, which made him anywhere and everywhere a man of mark." It was also written of him: "He was an extraordinary man, fitted by physical and intellectual equipment to lead in affairs requiring great energy, resolution, devotion and judgment. The public and private confidence, enlisted through these eminent qualities, entitled him to the distinctions he actually attained, and to them would have been added the highest honors of the state had his life been prolonged." Additional Comments: From: A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA BY WILLIAM HARDEN VOLUME I ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chatham/bios/gbs155screven.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 26.4 Kb