Chatham County GaArchives History .....Chapter X - History of Savannah 1913
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p. 86

CHAPTER X DARK COLONIAL CHAPTER

OGLETHORPE'S ADMINISTRATION APPROVED BY ENGLISH TRUSTEES—FORTIFYING GEORGIA'S
SOUTHERN FRONTIER—PROMOTED TO "GENERAL." OGLETHORPE—CAUSTON'S FINANCES GO
WRONG—OGLETHORPE's SELF-SACRIFICE—THE FALL OF CAUSTON.

   Closely following the events recorded in the last chapter came the downfall
of Thomas Causton. Oglethorpe, believing that he had placed the southern
boundary of the colony in a position of security against the attacks of the
Spaniards, left Georgia in the month of November, 1736, to lay before the
British ministers an account of the attitude of that people towards the
province, and to urge that he be authorized to resort to such measures as would
place Georgia in a stronger condition to receive the attacks which he was sure
would come from the enemy.

OGLETHORPE'S ADMINISTRATION APPROVED BY ENGLISH TRUSTEES

   Arriving in England at the close of the year, Oglethorpe received the
unanimous thanks of the trustees, at a meeting of the board held January 19,
1737. The minutes of the trustees show that James Oglethorpe was present at a
meeting held on the 12th of January, 1737, and "made a report to the Board of
his proceedings in Georgia from the time of his landing there in February last,
and of the present state of the colony; and likewise laid before them two
treaties of peace between the people settled at Georgia and the Spaniards at St.
Augustine concluded and ratified, the first by Charles Dempsey, Esq., (appointed
by Mr. Oglethorpe for that purpose) and the Council of War at St. Augustine; the
other by the said Charles Dempsey, Esq., and Don Francisco Del Moral Sanchez,
governor of St. Augustine, dated October 26th," and following that record this
important item was adopted: "Resolved that James Oglethorpe, Esq., be
congratulated on his safe return to England, and that the thanks of the Trustees
be given to him for the many and important services done by him for the Colony
of Georgia."

   Oglethorpe remained in England until July, 1738, and on the 5th of that month
he sailed from Portsmouth, arriving at Jekyll sound on the 18th of September.
The following day he addressed a letter to Sir Joseph Jekyll, for whom he had on
a former trip to the southward named both the sound and the island. He began the
letter by saying "I am

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now got to an anchor in a harhour and near an island that bears your name. God
has given me the greatest marks of His visible protection to this colony."
Proceeding on his course he landed on the south end of St. Simon's island, and,
on the 21st, arrived at Frederica. This place was chosen as a settlement by
Oglethorpe when he determined, in 1734, to choose a place which would be of the
greatest advantage in protecting the southern border of the colony against the
Spaniards and other enemies. It was on the 26th that he and his comrades,
Captain Ferguson and sixteen others who started on the trip on the 23d of
January, landed on that spot, and "lay all night under the shelter of a large
live-oak tree and kept themselves dry." Seeing the importance of having a
military station in that portion of his territory, he decided that a fort should
be erected there. The plans were matured, and the fort, built of tabby, was
finished in April, and a town was laid out which he named Frederica, after the
Prince of Wales. Here the people who were to possess the place assembled and
took possession of the lots assigned to them on the 19th.

FORTIFYING GEORGIA'S SOUTHERN FRONTIER

   The statement is frequently made that Oglethorpe spent too much of his time
while in Georgia at Frederica, and that consequently he neglected to look with
proper care over the affairs in the town of Savannah. The malcontents in their
"True and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia in America" made this
statement: * "In February, 1735-36, Mr. Oglethorpe arrived in Georgia, for the
second time, with great numbers of people, in order to settle to the southward,
where he soon after carried them. Upon the Island of St. Simon's he settled a
town, which he called Frederica;. and about five miles distance from thence,
towards the sea, he placed the independent company which he removed from Port
Royal in Carolina, their former station. On one of the branches of the Altamaha
he settled the Highlanders in a village which was called Darien. Then he settled
a fort on Cumberland, which he named St. Andrews; and some time after he caused
a garrison of about fifty men to be placed upon a sandy island (without fresh
water) in the mouth of St. John's river, opposite to a Spanish lookout, where
possession was kept for about six months, and several fortifications built; but
at last he was obliged to abandon it, after several people had lost their lives
by the inconveniences of the place, besides great sums of money thrown away in
vain;" and, further on,** "Mr. Oglethorpe staid not long at Savannah, his common
residence being at Frederica, where they had, in imitation of us, built a few
houses, and cleared some land; but finding planting not answer, they left it
off, and as soon as the regiment came, almost everybody betook themselves to the
keeping public houses; and in this manner do the few that now remain live."

   In this way Oglethorpe has been often charged with the offense of turning his
attention too much to places outside of Savannah; but those who have taken that
position do not seem to have directed their atten-
___________
   * Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, Vol. II, p. 206. 
   ** Ibid., p. 216.

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tion to the importance of fortifying the southern frontier against the
troublesome Spaniards. Had Oglethorpe neglected that one serious feature of his
work as he saw it from a military point of view, there is no reason to doubt
that advantage of that lack of judgment would have been taken by the commander
at St. Augustine, and disaster would have overtaken the young colony of Georgia.
His training as a soldier clearly pointed out the necessity of having a force of
troops stationed at a well-fortified post in that neighborhood, and he
communicated his views to the Trustees with such telling effect that we find
this record in their minutes of August 10, 1737: "Read a memorial to his Majesty
setting forth that the Colony of Georgia being very much exposed to the power of
the Spaniards and become an object of their envy by having valuable posts upon
the homeward passage from the West Indies, and the Spanish having increased
their forces in the neighborhood thereof; that the Trustees in consequence of
the great trust reposed in them find themselves obliged to lay before his
Majesty their inability sufficiently to protect his Majesty's charter against
this late increase of forces; and therefore become humble supplicants to his
Majesty on behalf of his Majesty's subjects settled in the Province of Georgia,
that by a necessary supply of forces the province may be protected against the
great dangers that seem immediately to threaten it."

PROMOTED TO "GENERAL" OGLETHORPE

   This memorial was answered favorably, and the minutes of October 5, 1737,
open with a list of the Trustees present at that time in which Oglethorpe's name
appears with the title of colonel prefixed to it, the reason for it being
disclosed in the journal of the common council of that body of the same date, in
these words: "Mr. Oglethorpe acquainted the common council that in pursuance of
the Trustees' memorial to his Majesty, dated August 10, 1737, setting forth the
state of the Colony of Georgia and the inability of the Trustees to protect his
Majesty's subjects settled there against the dangers which they are apprehensive
of from the late increase of Spanish forces at Havanna and St. Augustine, and
praying that his Majesty will order a necessary supply of forces for the
protection of the province; that his Majesty had ordered a regiment of six
hundred effective men to be raised for the defence of the Colony and to be sent
thither, and that his Majesty had appointed him Colonel, James Cochran, Esq.,
Lieutenant-Colonel, and William Cook, Esq., Major of the said Regiment." The
title of colonel was soon changed for that of a higher rank, and in a short time
he received a commission as "General and Commander-in-Chief of all and singular
the forces employed and to be employed in the provinces of South Carolina and
Georgia in America.”

   It is to be presumed that a description of the uniform worn by the officers
of Oglethorpe's regiment will be acceptable to some readers who take an interest
in even the smallest particulars relating to the affairs of that good man. If
the uniform has ever been heretofore described this writer has not had the good
fortune to see it in print, and he takes pleasure in giving it here as written
in a letter to the late Bishop William

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Bacon Stevens from Professor William MacKenzie of the University of Edinburgh,
dated 15th September, 1845, in which the writer said it was a "description of
the uniform of Oglethorpe's regiment, taken from a painting of a soldier of that
regiment, in a MS. volume in the library of the deceased Duke of York: Hat, old
style three cornered, low roofed; coat red and of ample dimensions, wide in the
skirts—facings green, with a narrow stripe of white between and the body of the
dress.”

   The rank of general was probably conferred about the 7th of June, 1738, as he
is there mentioned with that title in the minutes of both the trustees and the
common council.

CAUSTON'S FINANCES GO WRONG

   Added to the suspicions of the trustees that the finances of the colony, as
shown by Causton's accounts, were improperly managed, and that the increase in
the number of certified accounts was not warranted, came complaints from certain
persons of his overbearing spirit as well as representations of the grand jury
of Savannah charging him with all sorts of misdeeds. Awakened to the fact that
something was Avrong, an investigation was made by a committee, and at a meeting
held May 1, 1738, the following record was made in the minutes of the common
council: "Read a report from the committee on accounts to the following purport:
That they had examined several accounts lately received from Georgia whereby
they find that large credit has been given to several persons by Mr. Causton for
which no orders had been sent from the Trustees, and were of opinion that he
must be called upon to give an account to the Trustees why such credits were
given."

   At a meeting of the Trustees, held on the 7th of June following, a copy of a
letter written by order of that body to General Oglethorpe by Harmon Verelst,
accountant, was inserted in the minutes. It begins with this statement: “The
Trustees being greatly alarmed at the great number of certified accounts,
amounting to one thousand four hundred and one pounds thirteen shillings and two
pence brought for payment since Tuesday last, immediately met to concert the
most proper measures to secure their effects in Georgia and Mr. Causton's person
to answer for. his conduct." To this letter Oglethorpe replied, "I have the
Trustees' order for making an immediate seizure on Causton, his books and
papers, and shall see them immediately executed. This must be kept with the
greatest secrecy, for if he should know the orders before they are executed the
effect will perhaps be prevented. I have not trusted even my clerk.” On the same
day the common council met and recorded this action which was communicated to
Oglethorpe: “The Common Council have this day sealed the removal of Mr. Thomas
Causton from the office of first Baliff and the appointment of Mr. Henry Parker
in his room which they desire you to use or not according to the Trustees'
letter of the 2d instant; and Mr. Holland and Mr. Henry Archer being of opinion
that after the arresting of Mr. Causton, which must be done at all events, but,
if so, legal process to justify the apprehending and detaining him, afterwards
it is the most proper the securing his books and papers, allowing him the use of
his books and papers to make out his accounts from

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p. 90

Lady Day, 1734, and taking the possession of the Trustees' effects. You should
be desired only to continue him in custody, or on sufficient security, until his
accounts are examined into."

OGLETHORPE'S SELF-SACRIFICE

   Oglethorpe's reply to the Trustees is recorded in a long letter, written at
Savannah, October 19,1738, and from that letter the following extracts are
taken: " I rec 'd a copy of Mr. Verelst 's letter dated the 4th August, and in
answer to it am very glad that the prudent measures you took to stop all credit
here has had an effect (as you mentioned) suitable to your intentions. * * *
Upon my arrival I sent Mr. Jones from Frederica and have taken possession of the
books and effects in ye store,. Mr. Jones will receive them as soon as they can
be delivered him regularly. I demanded an inventory of the stores which Mr.
Causton has delivered (but Mr. Jones thinks 'tis imperfect). I send it herewith.
* * * I am very sorry to send you such trifling papers, but they are the only
accounts I can yet get. * * * I cannot as yet find that Causton has been guilty
of getting for himself, tho' he has unaccountably trifled away the public money;
one of the follies that has brought this ruine on is the trusting people that
importuned him with goods and provisions of all kinds and let them discharge the
debts by day labour in trifling works; whilst money was thus squandered, the
real necessary charges of the Colony were not defrayed. The scout boatmen,
rangers and others who defended the Province are not paid, and starving whilst
the Trustees owe them money, and yet they were not only contented to stay till
my arrival, but when I told them the Trustees' circumstances their affection was
so great that they offered to serve on until the Trustees' affairs mended. I
thanked them, but reduced the Rangers, since I could not feed them with hopes of
what I could not make good. The scout boats I have for this month paid out of my
own money, since they are absolutely necessary, and I will not charge the
Trustees with new debts.

* *   *   I can see nothing but destruction to the Colony unless some assistance
be immediately sent us; I support things for awhile by some money I have in my
hands and is the balance of my account with the Trustees, and the rest I supply
with my own money, for I will not incur debts nor draw bills upon you; and if
the effects here go to pay the certified accounts they will not near pay them,
for they will not amount to half the sum of the debts incurred here that are not
certified.   If this (I know not what name to give it) had not happened, the
Colony had overcome all its difficulties and had been in a flourishing condition.

* *   *   I have already expended a great deal, and as far as the income of my
estate and employments for this year will go, I shall sooner lay it out in
supporting the Colony (till I can hear from you) than in any other diversion.  
*   *   *   Another thing may lead you into a mistake in believing that there is
money due to the store here, from the account Mr. Causton sent you of goods
issued from ye store to sundry persons ( a copy whereof you sent me) whereas
most of those people were creditors who were paid what was due to them from the
store by giving them credit with the sloop owners. The short state of your
affairs is, that this

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unhappy man Causton hath contracted a debt at home and abroad far beyond what
the Trust is possessed of, therefore nothing can be issued from' the store
except in payment of debt, since all belongs to the creditors. * * * With
respect to Causton's behaviour here, I have already mentioned. I examined him to
know what could be the meaning that he dare exceed so excessively your orders
and thereby plunging the Colony into its present difficulties. He answered that
he made no expenses but what necessity forced him to, and that he could prove
that necessity. * * * He did not pretend to justify himself in not sending over
the balance of his accounts. His negligence to bring his accounts to a balance
half yearly, or every year at least, has been the occasion of the melancholy
situation he has put us in. Some things he alleged that had weight. * * * He
said further that he had not been guilty of any fraud, nor converted any of the
Trustees' money to his own use. He at first seemed pretty stubborn, but upon a
second examination he was -more submissive. When I was about to commit him, he
pleaded that it was not usual here to commit freeholders for any but capital
crimes; that Watson, who was accused of killing a man, and had been found guilty
by a jury, was bailed upon his own recognizance. That he submitted to the
Trustees, and that all he had acquired in his six years' service and all that he
had in the world was laid out in his lot in the Colony, and that he would give
all as security to abide and justify his accounts. He has accordingly given
security. He has delivered the stores, books, etc., unto Mr. Jones, according to
your appointment. * '* * I desire to know in what manner you would have me
proceed in Causton's affair."

THE FALL OF CAUSTON

   This matter of Causton's defalcation, added to other troubles in the colony,
worried Oglethorpe probably more than he was willing to admit, and he tried, in
his correspondence at that particular time, to show a spirit of unconcern, and
even to take a humorous view of his situation, as shown in this bit of
pleasantry used in a letter to Alderman Heath-cote (whom he addressed as "dear
George") on the 20th of November; "I am here in one of the most.delightful
situations as any man could wish to be: a great number of debts, empty
magazines, no money to supply them, a number of people to be fed, mutinous
soldiers to command, a Spanish claim and a large body of their troops not far
from us. But, as we are of the same kind of spirit, these difficulties have the
same effect upon me as those you met with in the city had upon you. They rather
animate than daunt me." He several times more referred to the Causton affair, as
in a letter to Mr. H. Verelst on the 22d of November; "I cannot yet get Mr.
Causton's balance of accounts, nor can I be sure on the debts due in Georgia;"
to the Trustees, March 9, 1739: "The store hath received a second advice from
you that you have sent bacli an account certified by Mr. Causton of £772.4.7 due
to Mr. Symonds for goods delivered to the stores here, and that you have ordered
it to be paid here;" to the same March 12th: "Mr. Jones hath acted with
steadiness and courage; he desired me not to confirm a certificate signed

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by Mr. Causton in favour of Mr. Williams for the reasons in his letter. Mr.
Williams is very angry. * * * A worse affair hath happened upon the civil letter
wrote by the Trustees to Mr. Causton to furnish Colonel Cochran with what he
wanted for the Regiment and paying for the same, a credit hath been given to his
order to ye amount of £935.13.3 and Mr. Causton hath taken from Colonel Cochran
£198 in wines. This debt cannot be demanded of the Regiment, for regiments have
nothing but the pay of each individual officer and man." There is very little
more about this matter in the records of that period; and so fell Thomas
Causton, the persecutor of John Wesley.



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

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