Yale University Library

39002013819280

CL88
38

YAIE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

^*wwt

1909

. . . a:nt> ...
.  TIIVIES
... OF ...
JONATHAN BRYAN,
1708-1788.
. . . BV . . .
MBS. J. H. BEDDIKG,
"WAYCROSS, GKOHGIA.

COPTBIGHTBD 1001
Bt MBS. J. II. BEUDINO.

RAVAMNAH GA.:
THE .MORNIXO KKWH I'HINT.
IMl

CHAPTER I.
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, by nature
and events, have been closely linked together, and their
histories so interwoven, it would be impossible to write
the biography of one who was born in South Carolina
in 1708, and died in Georgia in 1788, whose services,
first to the British Crown, and later in the cause of
American Independence embraced fifty years of that
period, without some description of the scenes in which
he lived, and the men with whom he was associated.
The first English colony landed in South Carolina
near Port Royal in the year 1G70. Settlements were
made by several English gentlemen, who purchased
the land from a company chartered by Charles II in
1663, under whose corporate authority North Carolina
had been colonized. The second governor, feir John
Yeamans, carried with him, in 1671, fifty families of
colonists from Barbadoes, and nearly two hundred
slaves. In this way slavery was introduced into South
Carolina. This colony was strengthened by others,
who, filled with the spirit of adventure and thrilled
with enthusiasm by descriptions of the country, left the
congested centres of civilization in the old world for
America, where freedom of conscience and oppor
tunity, like stars of hope, beckoned them onward. Not

only the oppressed and the sons of toil, but the chil
dren of luxury were fascinated with such descriptions
as Waller's account of an island in this region :
" The lofty cedar which to Heav'n aspires,
The prince of trees is fuel for their fires,
Tlio sweet Palmettoes a new Bacchus yield,
With leaves as ample as the broadest shield,
Under the shadow of whose friendly boughs
They sit carousing, where their liquor grows.
Figs there unplanted through the fields do grow ;
Such as fierce Cato did the Romans show :
With the rare fruit inviting them to spoil
Carthage, the mistress of so rich a soil.
With candid Plantines and the juicy Pine,
On choicest Melons and sweet Grapes they dine,
And with Potatoes fat their lusty swine.
Thc kind spring, which but salutes us here,
Inhabits there, and courts them all the year.
Ripe fruits and blo.ssoms on the same trees live,
At once they promise, what at once they give.
So sweet the air. so moderate the clime,
None sickly lives, or dies before his time,
Heav'n sure has kept this spot of earth uncurst,
. To show how all things were created first."
From the vast phosphate beds of South Carolina
to those of Florida, with the higher elevation of Geor
gia lying between, a country great enough in extent to

sustain an empire, and with soil* and climate unsur
passed, it is not strange that Spain struggled to call
this fair land her own from the gold regions of North
Georgia to the sea; nor that, when the colonist reached
this country, now divided into three states, with its
long coast line washed by the Atlantic and Gulf, gi
gantic forests filled with game, and rivers great, abound
ing in life, the imagination could go no further, and
some were ready to declare: "Here is the life-giving
fountain, the beautiful fountain of youth."
But to the philosopher, the humanitarian, tho
practical side appeared, and Oglethorpe wrote back to
England : "The Colony of Georgia, lying in about the
same latitude with part of China, Persia, Palestine and
the Madeiras, it is highly probable, that when hereafter
it shall be well peopled and rightly cultivated, Eng
land may be supplied from thence with raw silk, wine,
oil, dyes, drags and niany other materials for manu
facture, which she is obliged to purchase from South
ern countries." Antedating the advent of the Indians, the phos
phate beds reveal the fact that a dense population once
lived here, contemporaneously with all prehistoric an
imals, and all that now inhabit the earth, and that by
some mighty cataclysm these vast sepulchers were
made. This was a land a beneficent Father had prepared
for the tramp of the coming hosts of another race, this

the country we know not why, the noblest tribes of
the Red Race were destined to. yield up, not without
a struggle, within a little more than a century.
It has been said: "There is nothing great in the
world but man, and nothing great in man, but his
soul." If then the pure great souls of those who have
walked the earth stand like sentinels along the corri
dors of time, pointing humanity to higher hopes, and
linking us not only to the past, but to reunion here
after with the innumerable company who have gone
before ; if, among such as these, we can claim the found
ers of our republic, may we not justly rejoice in iheir
memories, and. leave lor our children the glorious her
itage of their sufferings and their achievements?

CHAPTER II.
In 1680 another small colony of English gentle
men joined the one that arrived at Port Royal in 1670.
Among them was Joseph Bryan, of Hereford county,
England. But little is known of his life and charac
ter, except that his kindness and hospitality won for
him and his family the undyingfriendship of the Yem
assee Indians. He married Janet Cochran and they
settled in the vicinity of old Pocotaligo. He burnt the
bridges behind them, and America henceforth became
tho home of their descendents. We have the record

of four children born to them ; his oldest son, Joseph,
probably in 1697; Hugh, in 1699; Hannah, in 1706,
and Jonathan Bryan, in 1708 ; three weeks. later Mrs.
Bryan died, leaving the infant son. Joseph Bryan, the
first, owned a plantation called Providence, in Prince
William's parish, between Pocotaligo and Prince
William's Church — the spot is near the line of the
Savannah and Charleston railroad, in the vicinity of
Yemassee. Calmstead, lying on the right bank of the
Pocotaligo, belonged to his son Hugh; and Walnut
Hill, lying between Providence and Calmstead, was
settled by Jonathan in 1734. The oldest son, Joseph,
gave aid and personal effort to the infant colony of
Georgia. Hugh held many positions of honor and trust, and
early in the life of the colony became identified with
its interests. An old map gives this record : "South
Carolina and a part of Georgia, containing the whole
sea coast, all the islands, inlets, rivers, creeks, parishes,
and townships, burroughs, roads, bridges, as also sev
eral plantations with their proper boundaries and the
names of their proprietors, compiled from surveys taken
by the Hon. William Bull, Esq., Lieut. Gov. Gascoigne,
Hugh Bryan, Esq., and William deBraham, Esq., Sur
veyor General of the Southern District of North Amer
ica. Republished with considerable additions made
from the surveys made and collected by John Stuart,
Esq., His Majesty's Superintendent of Indian Affairs;

by William Faden, successor to the late T. Jeffrys,
Geographer to the King, Charing Cross, 1780."
Twelve years before George I had ceased to reign,
and when Louis XIV was about to die, peace had been
settled between England and France, and the colonies
of these two countries would have been left undis
turbed to pursue their own development, but the Span
iards, then in occupation of Florida, claiming that their
territory covered the subsequent province of Georgia,
extending even to Virginia, were permanent enemies
on the Southern frontier of South Carolina. They
made allies of unfriendly Indians, and gave refuge to
runaway slaves. The whole Indian world from Mobile
to Cape Fear was in commotion. The Yemassees of
South Carolina, the most warlike of all the Southern
tribes, renewed friendly relations with the Spaniards at
St. Augustine, won alliances with many other tribes,
and on the morning of Good Friday, April 15, 1715
indiscriminate massacre of the English began, hiding
by day in the swamps, and by night attacking settle
ments. All who could fled to Charlestown (afterwards
called Charleston), which was also in peril, and the
colony seemed near its ruin. At last the deliberate
courage of civilized man prevailed, and the savages
fled. The colonists checked them on the north, and
they vanished into the forest. On the south, Charles
Craven, Governor of the province, pursued them ; the
Yemassees retired into Florida and were warmly wel-

comed to St. Augustine by the Spaniards, with peals
from bells and a salute of guns. Gov. Craven, on his
return to Charlestown, was greeted with gratitude and
applause. The locality where this bloody conflict be
gan is identical with the seat of the Bryan family, who
escaped massacre solely because of the kindness shown
the Indians by Joseph Bryan. Hugh Bryan was in
his seventeenth year, and was carried a captive to Flor
ida. .The Indians solicited his death whenever they
heard of the success of the Carolinians, but the King
interposed in his behalf and would not hurt him, be
cause of regard for his father. While in Florida, where
he was held in captivity a year, he found a Bible and
a copy of Bishop Beveridge's Private Thoughts, both
the Indians had taken from some white family they
had killed. These were his constant companions, and,
surrounded by savages, he found a refuge in God.
Later in life he became an ardent follower and close
companion of Whitefield.
The third child of Joseph Bryan, Hannah, mar
ried William Edwards Cochran. In 1732 Joseph
Bryan, Sr., died. But little is known of his life, and
he was not prominent in any of the public events of
the day, but his influence over the character of his
children, and the reverence in which he was held by
the Indians, leaves his memory fragrant

10

CHAPTER III.

A painful sense of insecurity took possession of
the English colony in South Carolina. They lost four
hundred inhabitants in the struggle with the Yemassees,
protracted wars and incursions of pirates reduced their
numbers and resources, and they decided if an appeal
to the Lord Proprietors failed, to apply to the Crown
for assistance. The answer to this appeal was unsatis
factory, so their agents, through the House of Com
mons, besought the King for speedy relief. The King
had the difiiculties investigated, as North Carolina had
also long been agitated by like troubles. The Claren
don charter, extending from lat. 30 to 36 degrees,
granted by Charles II of England, was declared for
feited by Parliament 1729. The Lord Proprietors, ex
cept Lord Gateret, gave up the contest and sold their
interest to the King, in sterling money equivalent to
45,000 Spanish mill dollars; eaeh colony received the
same amount. . What is now Georgia had been em
braced in this charter. Thus ended the unwise experi
ment of attempting to legislate for people, whose wants
were unknown, who cared not for titles nor pageantry,
and the constitution prepared for the Lord Proprietors
by John Locke, the great English philosopher, called
the Grand Model, proved a complete failure. After
this the government of North and South Carolina de
volved on the Crown, subject to the limitations, fran-

11

chises and privileges secured to the settlers by charter,
although they relinquished all claim to the soil.
It is probable that about this time Jonathan Bryan
went to England and received a university education,
as twenty-five years later he received an appointment,
only given to those who had acquired in these halls of
learning a knowledge of English law. (Jones' History
of Georgia, Vol. I, page 465.)
It was at this period that James Edward Ogle
thorpe, the peerless hero of that day, soldier, statesman,
philanthropist and a member of parliament, became so
interested in the poor of England, whose unjust laws
crushed and rendered them powerless to better them
selves, also the condition of the distressed and pei-se-
cuted Salzburgers, that he determined to seek homes
for them in America. In 1729 a persecution was be
gun under Leopold, Duke of Austria, that continued
with violence until 1732 against the Salzburgers, so
. called from Salzburg, the broad valley of the Salza,
which lies between the Norric and Rhetian Alps. They
were Protestants (Lutherans), and experienced every
species of outrage fanaticism could invent. Their
property was confiscated ; they were whipped, impris
oned, murdered, banished, children torn from parents,
husbands from wives, and over thirty thousand were
compelled to seek safety in other countries. These
were the people whose condition appealed to the great
heart of Oglethorpe, and he secured for them a grant of

12
territory for a colony to be named in honor of the
King. It extended "from the head , waters of the Sa
vannah river to its mouth ; thence along the coast to
the Altamaha ; up that river to its head waters, and
thence westerly in direct line from the head waters of
said rivers respectively to the South seas," which was
equivalent to an indefinite western extension.
The land Tying between these two rivers was the
same chosen in 1717 by Sir Robert Montgomery to
form a province independent of Carolina to be called
the Margravate of Azilia. A yearly quit rent of one
penny per acre was to be paid to the Lord Proprietors,
and the agreement included concessions on both sides.
The time limit for settlement was three years from the
date of grant, and, failing to secure immigration, it be
came void.
Now, Oglethorpe undertook to colonize the territory.
Sir Robert described as: "The most amiable country
ofthe universe; that nature has not blessed the world_
with any tract which can be preferable to it ; that Par-'
adiso with all her virgin beauty may be modestly sup
posed at most, but equal to its excellencies. It Hes in
the same latitude with Palestine herself that promised
Canaan, which was pointed out by God's own choice,
to bless the labors of a favorite people."
Fair Georgia, our own loved land, whose meadows
and mines, climate, soil, fruits, flowers and game have
proven all that these ardent admirers of nature de-

13
scribed ; whose hills and streams, water falls and val
leys make her sons and daughters now declare, as the
Psalmist of old, that : "She is beautiful for situation,
and the joy of the whole earth." This was to be the
refuge ofthe honestly unfoi'tunate, and those who were
martyrs in the cause of truth. The land was conveyed
to Oglethorpe and twenty-one noblemen and gentlemen
to hold in trust for purposes named. Never were more
liberal terms granted ; never more unselfish .service
given to humanity. The trustees contributed liberally
of their private means, and generous response was
made to Oglethorpe's appeal for aid. The whole na
tion was in sympathy with the enterprise. Great wis
dom was displayed in every detail of the plans ; the
trustees forbade the importation of rum and negro
slaves; every precaution was taken to insure success.
Papists only were excluded. Great care was exercised
in the selection of immigrants ; no one was permitted
to come who was not by competent authority judged
worthy of citizenship. The men werb expected to be
both soldiers and planters, and for that reason reliable
and strong men were selected, who agreed to conform
to the terms of the trustees. Oglethorpe, at his own
request, bearing his own expenses and that of his serv
ants, took charge of the colony without expectation of
reward. At the age of thirty-five he took passage for
Georgia on the galley Anne, November, 1732. There
were a hundred and thirty persons on board. The

14
Duke of Newcastle, then at the head of colonial affairs,
had addres.sed letters to the governors of the American
provinces, commending Oglethorpe and his mission.
This royal command, however, was not necessary to
insure his welcome to South Carolina. The protection
of the colony on the south, the character of the man,
the human sympathy for their countrymen from- the
old world, all aroused deep and earnest interest in the
.safe arrival of the colotiy at Charlestown, where the
Anne anchored outside the bar, January "13, 1733. The
governor, Robert Johnson, gave them a warm welcome,
and thoy were treated with great hospitality. The next
day they sailed for Port Royal, and thence to Beaufort,
where they arrived in the early morning January 19;
they were saluted by artillery ; the colonists were in
vited to land and refresh themselves.
A few days later, Mr. Oglethorpe having left the col
onists in South Carolina (where they were most hos
pitably entertained), with Col. Williara Bull, landed in
Georgia. They speedil}'- sought an interview with
Tomochichi, the mico or king of the Yamacraws, a
tribe whose town la3' near the spot on the high bluft
Oglethorpe desired to select for the site of the new
town. Two kingly men, representatives of two races
and two continents, recognized in each other the nobil
ity of manhood, and the heartbeat of human brother
hood drew them at once to each other. As deep and
tender as was Oglethorpe's interest for the Salzburgers

15
was Tomochichi's for the scattered remnant of the
Yemassees. Soon after the treaty was made, which
was never broken, he pleaded for these erring ones,
whose savage nature had been spurred on by the Span
iards until almost exhausted, now earnestly desired to
return to the graves of their ancestors. True to the
end, he used his earnest efforts to influence all other
tribes to friendly relations with the English. The
treaty with the lower Creeks and Uchees was ratified
October 18, 1733, and Georgia stands as deeply indebt
ed to Tomochichi as to Oglethorpe for the stability of
the colony. Oglethorpe located his tent beneath four
tall pines fronting the river; four large tents were
pitched to accommodate the colonists until houses
could be built On the afternoon of January 31, 1733,
having been two days on their journey from South Car
olina, the colonists landed in Georgia. In the early
raorning of February 2 the people were called togeth
er ; thanksgiving was offered to God for their safe arri
val, and His blessings invoked upon the colony, and
"Amid the aisles of the dim woods rang.
The anthems of the free."

16

CHAPTER IV.
In the wonderful art exhibit at the World's Fair
in Chicago, perhaps no picture left a greater impression
on the minds of the hosts,, who saw it, than "The land
ing of Columbus," loaned by a Russian prince. How
one in that cold distant clime could paint a landscape
so true to nature, so radiant Avith the glow of our own
southern skies, seemed a mystery. Let us see this
glorious afternoon in a semi tropical clime, reproduced
in Georgia, with the scene somewhat changed. but the
surroundings the same. Instead of Columbus aud his
men, Oglethorpe stands near the tall pines he has se
lected to overshadow his tent, many are thereof whom
we have no record, but we can with certainty declare
that there were present Col. Bull and his nephew, who
had so warmly welcomed and entertained him at their
plantations, en route to Georgia. They brought four
servants and spent a month aiding and supervising
the building of the town. Mr. Whitaker, who had sent
from his Carolina plantation one hundred head of cat
tle for the colonists, and Mr. St. Julian, who came with
his servants to render assistance. A messenger sent
from Mrs. Ann Drayton with four of her sawyers.
Rev. Henry Herbert, a clergyman of the Church of
England, who had volunteered to bear his own ex
penses, and give his services to the colony. Tomochichi,
the Indian mico, over ninety years of age, was there.

17
one of nature's noblemen, whose heartbeat was attuned
to the voi'ce of the Great Spirit, and his young heir
and nephew Tonahowi, whom he afterwards gave
to Oglethorpe to educate. Mary Musgrove (Coosapo-
nakesee), the Indian half-breed woman, who had mar
ried an English trader from South Carolina, and be
came Mr. Oglethorpe's interpreter. Mr. Amatis, an
Italian, whose services the trustees had secured to teach
the colonists to breed silk worms and wind silk. Mr.
Joseph Bryan and his son-in-law, Stephen Bull, Avho
was the nephew of Col. Bull, brought twenty servants
for Mr. Oglethorpe to use as he wished Jonathan
Bryan, who was at this time in his twenty-fifth year,
and is described in White's Historical Collection, as :
"A man of tall and imposing appearance, of great
strength and hardihood, and his heart the seat of kind
ness." Oglethorpe selected him to survey and locate
the roads, with the assistance of the tAventy men brought
by his brother Joseph to clear the woods so that the
present Ogeechee and White Bluff roads, leading from
Savannah, were the result of his work. Gigantic oaks
and magnolias, cedars and myrtle, covered the spot
where now the spires of churches and the busy marts
of trade are found.
Balmy odors of forest trees, mingled with the per
fume of the yellow jessamine, our first herald of spnng;
song birds innumerable, chief among these feathered
warblers, the mocking-birds, filled the air with music.

18
The pipe of quail and woodcock, the yelp of wild tur
keys, often startled the fleet deer and other dwellers
in the grand old woods. Amid this glow of beauty
and flow of wild music the repose of nature was soon to
be broken by the sound of axe and saw.
Other colonists from England joined these during
the year, but it was not until March 12, 1734, that the
Salzburgers arrived and were welcomed by Oglethorpe.
They had for several centuries prior to the reformation
opposed the corruptions of the Church of Rome, and
many bloody persecutions were waged against them.
They were compelled to secrete themselves in the most
inaccessible mountains of Dauphine, France, Alps of
Switzerland and Tyrol. During the reformation they
were hunted like wild beasts b}' emissaries of Rome, and
suffered every cruelty and malice man could devise.
They kept the faith and were not forsaken. The first
company that reached America consisted of forty-two
families, and numbered seventy-eight persons. The
land allotted to the Salzburgers was twenty-five miles
from Savannah, first known as St. Matthew's parish
and afterwards as Effingham county. They finished
their journey as they commenced it, with fervent praise
to God for His great goodness as displayed in their past
history, but especially in bringing them to so goodly a
land. After singing a psalm they set up a rock, which
they found upon the spot, and named the place Ebe
nezer (the stone of help), for they could truly say,

19
"hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Thus, with devout
gratitude to God and reliance upon His goodness, the
foundation was laid for the colony. Soon after the
Salzburgers were located Mr. Oglethorpe returned to
England, leaving the colony in comfortable houses, but
deeply lamenting his departure. He left them accom
panied by several English gentlemen and Indians, in
cluding Tomochichi, his wife and nephew.
In writing to an English friend of the Indian mico,
he said he was "a man of excellent understanding, so
desirous of having the young people taught the English
language and religion, that notwithstanding his ad
vanced age, he has come over with me to obtain means
and assistant teachers." While in England Mr, Ogle
thorpe resumed his seat in Parliament and succeeded
in securing the passage of two bills, one to prohibit the
importation and sale of rum, brandy and other dis
tilled liquors in Georgia, also to prohibit the importa
tion of black slaves or negroes. Both became laws un
der royal sanction.
After faithful service for the colony in England,
he again embarked for Georgia, December 10, 1735,
with two vessels, accompanied by many English people
and twenty-five German Lutherans. He had persuaded
John Wesley also to come as a religious teacher ; Charles
Wesley, being anxious to go with his brother, accepted
the position of private secretary to Mr. Oglethorpe, and

20
after a long, tempestuous voyage, they reached Savan
nah, February 4th, 1736.
In this way was laid the foundation for the Empire
State of the South, in which Jonathan Bryan took
such a conspicuous part. October 13th, .1737, he was
married in South Carolina to Miss Mary Williamson,
and lived at the plantation, Walnut Hill, settled in
1734,. where his son Hugh was born September 7, 1738,
Here in this delightful plantation home eight children
vfere born before his removal to Georgia in 1752. He
settled other plantations in South Carolina called Cy
press and Good Hope. Probably not unlike Washing
ton's home at Mount Vernon were many of the South
Carolina and Georgia homes of that time.
In the writer's childhood many a happy day was
spent at one near Savannah, built soon after the Revo
lution. The windows and doors were brought from
England, and nearly all the furniture. It was swept
away by a torch from Sherman's army, December,
ia64.

21

CHAPTER V.
The Savannah river, so called from a tribe of In
dians bearing that name, now had nestled on its banks
the town of the same name, with settlements scattered
through the country as far up the river as Ebenezer,
the Salzburgers having changed their location to the
river front. In 1735 Oglethorpe marked out the site
for Augusta, and sent a garrison there the next year.
The river became the medium of trade, boats large
enough to carry ten thousand pounds of peltry soon
navigated the stream, and from Charlestown to Au
gusta lucrative trade sprung up.
The Spaniards in Florida watched the growth of
the colony with jealous eyes, and as their trade laws
were not free, found many occasions for strife with the
settlers in the new province. Oglethorpe soon realized
that he must defend the colony against them, and went
to St. Simons Island, where he built a house to live in,
and called the place Frederica.
Jonathan Bryan often visited Georgia. He and Mr.
Barnwell promised to come with a large force of men
from Carolina to his assistance whenever Mr. Ogle
thorpe required their aid.
At Savannah the colonists were busy in the cultiva
tion of silk worms and winding silk ; also the propaga
tion of mulberry trees, upon which the worms fed, and
all kinds of native fruit trees, also many plants and

22
trees imported from England and the West Indies. On
the coast and sea islands constant anxiety about the
inroads of the Spaniards, and in Savannah dissensions
among the traders, and difficulties between the Italians
employed in the silk industry, caused Oglethorpe much
anxiety. The settlement that gave hira no trouble
after the location was changed was the Salzburgers at
Ebenezer. In the wild woods, surrounded by Indians,
these people, whose hearts were overflowing with grat
itude for freedom to Avorship God according to the dic
tates of conscience, supervised by Rev. Martin Bolzius,
a consecrated and learned man of their own faith, in
dustrious, and scrupulously clean in heart and life,
Avere the very salt of the colony. In 1737 they sent to
England 10,000 pounds of raw silk.
The impression made on John Wesley Avhen he came
on the same ship vvith some of them from England, was
tho beginning of a reconsecration of his life, and through
him a spiritual uplift in the religion of the world, un
known since the days of Luther. As the leader of the
Reformation had learned that^ "The just shall live by
. faith alone," and endued with the power of God's spirit
to proclaim it to the Avorl(J, so John Wesley learned
from these Lutherans, that there were still higher
grounds of Christian living; that they had revealed to
them, that the soul that is hid Avith God in Christ
Jesus knows that, "Neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor

23

things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, Avhich is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Here on
Georgia soil it Avas appointed to him to learn of the
higher life on earth, to Avalk through the valley of
Baca, assailed doubtless by the unseen forces'bf evil, as
Avell as those that Avere knoAvn. To his faithful friend
Mr. Delamotte he gav§ the task of gathering the children
of Savannah together each Sunday, Avhere they Avere
instructed by John Wesley himself, and here was laid
the foundation for Sunday-schools, that later in Lon
don Avas introduced by Robert Raikes. The Lutheran
minister and Mr. Jonathan Bryan were also his close
friends, as subsequent events proved, so amid the trials
through Avhich he passed in a strange land, he Avas sus
tained with human sympathy. The disappointment of
his sojourn in America Avas his mission tothe Indians;
it was impo.ssible to teach many of them, except through
interpreters (these Avere difficult to obtain), and even
Tomochichi had learned to knoAv that all of the Avhite
race were not like Oglethorpe. He told John Wesley
that he longed to be instructed in the Great Word, but
hoped tbat he Avould not do as the Spaniards had done,
"Baptize the Indians before they were taught." Thus
Wesley's experience in Georgia prepared him very
largely for the work God had in store for him in Eng--
land, and among the stars that now shine in his crown,

24
doubtless many Georgia Indians whom he led to Christ
are there. Soon after his return to England Rev. George White-
field came to Georgia in 1738. Wesley had preached
the Law, and although many who heard him bitterly
resented the Truth aa he saw it revealed, he laid the
foundation for tho success of Whitefield. In the power
of the Gospel, with glowing elociuence, this brilliant
man reaped a harvest of souls ' for eternity. " Paul
planted, Appollos watered, God gave the increase," As
like attracts like, ho visited Ebenezer, and Avas so im-
pros.sod with the succos.s of tho school and orphanage
conducted by the Salzburgers, that he returnccl to Eng-
hind in 1741, to secure funds to found the school at
Bethesda, that is to this day a monument to his zeal,
and tho liberality of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon.

CHAPTER VI.
In 1737 Oglethorpe went to England to obtain troops
to enable him to reinforce the colonies against the
Spaniards. He raised and equipped a regiment of 600
men, Avas given the command of all the forces in South
Carolina and Georgia, and Avas henceforth General
Oglethorpe. War was declared by England with Spain
in 1739, but before this Gen. Oglethorpe, through Tom-

25
ochichi, secured a treaty with all the Indian tribes east
of the Missis.«ippi.
His diplomacy, the superb courage of his perilous
trip to CoAveta, Avhere the treaties were ratified, leaves
him Avithout a peer in the annals of Indian warfare.
Having received orders in 1740 to invade Florida, he
called upon South Carolina for aid, and at the head of
2,000 men, consisting of the regiment he brought from
England, troops from Carolina, and also a company of
gentlemen volunteers from that colony, the Georgia
militia, and sorae friendl}' Indians, in the spring of
1740 he led them into Florida, for the purpose of cap
turing St. Augustine.
Among the volunteers Avho joined the expedition
Avere Joseph and Lieutenant Jonathan Bryan. They
arrived at the camp at St. Johns May 22d. On the
24th they removed with a detachment of the Carolina
regiment to Fort Diego, captured from the enemy about
twenty miles from St. Augustine. Here Oglethorpe
had established a fortified camp. The General, in the
evening, marched out of his camp at Fort Diego, with
about 100 men of his regiment, with Lt. Bryan and
six ofthe volunteers, aud a party of Indians.
On the 26th of May. having marched all night, at
daybreak thev came Avithin five or six miles of St. Au
gustine, and m sight of five scattered houses, in some
of Avhich smoke appeared. Therefore, having called
the whole body to halt, at about quarter mile distance.

2(]
ho ordered Lt. Bryan with six volunteers under him to
march up and attack the houses. They searched every
one of them and brought forth two negro prisoners.
For Avant of more assistance, the General then ad
vancing with thc Avhole party, said : "Well, I see that
tho Carolina men have courage, but no conduct." To
which Lt. Bryan replied : "Sir, the conduct is yours."
The volunteers Avould have burnt the houses, but the
General refused to permit them to do it, saying that
they Avould serve for the inhabitants that he Avould
bring there.
The two negroes confessed that they had run aAvay
from South Carolina, and according to oneof theirstip-
ulations Avith the General, Avere redeemable to theoAvn-
ers upon paying five pounds per head to the captors.
The volunteers agreed to pay him half the salvage and
keep them, or to receive half and give them to him.
but the General declining a property in them, refused
both and took them to himself. He had previously, at
Ft. Diego, taken from these volunteers several horses
Avhich they had caught to carry their baggage, and al
though cattle were in plenty, it was very difficult for
them to obtain fresh provisions. The General was ac
quainted Avith this, but said that Diego Spinola should
be paid for all that Avere killed. This man, entitled
Seignor in the articles of capitulation at Ft. Diego, Avas
a mulatto Avho supplied the garrison at St. Augusiitine
Avith beef.

27
Ft. Diego had been his property, a cow pen and a
house, and for his own safety from the Indians he had
had them palisaded around Avith cedars fifteen feet
high Before day, June 2d, Moosa, an abandoned fort very
near St. Augustine, Avas occupied by Oglethorpe, Avho
proceeded to reconnoitre the main fort and the toAvn.
He refused to burn the town although advised to do .so
by Col. Palmer. Lt. Bryan of the A'olunteers, Avith
three or four rangers, went close up to the town and
brought oft three horses. He found the town in con
fusion, the inhabitants shrieking and crying. Upon
his return he asked the General if it Avould not be best
to attack the tOAvn then, for if he retreated they Avoukl
make preparations against his return. The General
replied, that if he should attempt to storm the town he
Avould lose 300 men. Deserters afterwards reported
that the government had ordered the inhabitants, in
case of attack, to go into the castle. On the 5th of
June the volunteers, except the General's aid, feeling
dissatisfied at their treatment, and disappointed in the
expectation of attacking the toAvn, returned to St.
.Johns. There meeting the rest of the company just
returned, Lt. Bryan proceeded no further himself, but
joined them. Oglethorpe took possession of Anastasia
Island and proceeded to the investment of St. Augus
tine. Ft. Moosa was attacked by night, Col. Palmer,
twenty Highlanders, some Indians, and a few others

28
were killed, and the garrison driven out. Nothing of
importance was accomplished by the investment. The
English naval auxiliaries determined, on account of
storms and other reasons, to raise the blockade of the
harbor. Oglethorpe abandoned the siege and retired
in July, 1740. The failure of the expedition caused
deep mortification, the Carolina troops Avere accused as
one of the causes of the failure, an investigation Avas
ordered by the General Assembly of South Carolina,
and they were fully exonerated.
The grim monster, Pestilence, that follows Avar prob
ably had much to do Avith the failure of the expedition.
In a warm climate, destitute of many necessities and
all the comforts of life, both body and spirit failed, and
even Gen. Oglethorpe, Avho reached Frederica July
10th, 1740, lay ill of fever for two months in the only
home he ever had on Georgia soil. During the life of
the colony, seven years, he had labored unceasingly
for its safety and preservation. In these days of phys
ical exhaustion his cheerfulness never deserted him.
On this island home, surrounded by beautiful gardens
of fruits and flowers, fanned by ocean breezes, his phy
sical and mental strength Avas renewed. Here he de
termined to gather his troops around him, and defend
the colony against the foe. History records no higher
courage, no better generalship than the defense of St.
Simons Island, and it was there, July, 1742, that the
Spaniards in America learned that their struggle Avith

29
England must cease, and later received the repulse,
from Avhich they never rallied.
On the 23d of July, 1743, Oglethorpe left Georgia
never to retum. In England, Sept. 15th, 1744, he mar-
riedalady of wealth, beauty and many accomplishments.
In 1765 he was given command of His Majesty 'r^ army.
When the colonies revolted, he was offered the com
mand ofthe British army in America. His reply was:
"I know the Americans well. They can never be sub
dued by arms, but their obedience can be secured by
doing them j ustice." He refused the command because
it did not carry with it the privilege of complete con
trol ovet questions of grievances and reconciliation.
He died in August, 1785, at the advanced age of 97
years. Though neither bronze nor marble records it
in Georgia, it is writ in human hearts : He loved his
fellow man. CHAFfER VIL
Homeward turned the Carolina volunteers in July,
1740, through Georgia, of course, they traveled. On a
warm day, much fatigued and disappointed, they
reached Bethesda, the home and school founded by
George Whitefield, near Savannah. The previous
January, Mr. Whitefield had been the guest of Mr.
Hugh firyan at one of his plantation homes in Caro
lina. There Jonathan Bryan and Stephen Bull met

30
him. Now these weary and foot-sore soldiers received
a Avarm greeting from Mr. Whitefield, and were invited
to rest a while at Bettiesda. They gladly accepted the
invitation, and Avere refreshed in body and soul. With
the ocean breezes fanning tho gigantic trees festooned
with graceful vinos, tho odor of magnolia blooms fill
ing the air, and mocking-birds trilling every note in
the scale, they wero reminded of their own homes in
Carolina, with loved ones eagerly awaiting their return,
but to hear tho most eloquent preacher of that day, to
sit at his feet and learn of spiritual things, was the at-.
traction that made thera linger by the way. They be
longed to the Church of England and had been brought
up in its fold, but under the power given to this leader
in the hosts of God's Israel, Jonathan Bryan becarae
deeply convicted of sin and greatly concerned about
liis spiritual welfare. "Ho returned homo rejoicing in
hope." The next raonth Mr. Whitefield was in Charles
town on his way to Boston, and Jonathan Bryan and
Mr. Bull again sought him, to bo moi'o ostablishctl in
the right Avay. But it was not until thc following Oc
tober ho makes this entry in his Bible : "John 3, v
and vi. My conversion frora corruption to Christi
anity, the time whereof I bless God, 1 well reraeraber
was October 21th, 1740. 0, that this day may l)c much
to be roraomborod by mo when I was brought out of

31
spiritual bondage into the glorious liberty of the Son
of God. "Praise the Lord 0, my soul !
While I live I Avill praise the Lord,
And magnify Him while I have m}' being!
TH
Jon — Bryan."
In 1741 Mr. Whitefield, en route to England, em
barked at Charlestown. Before reaching Charlestown
he stopped at Good Hope, near Port Royal, a planta
tion Avhere Jonathan Bryan was now residing, and Avas
entertained in the hospitable style of Colonial Days.
The-advent of this man, so full of the life and power of
the Holy Spirit, drew crowds around him Avherever he
stopped on his journeys. The effect of his discourses,
the ability to explain God's Word and its power upon
his hearers cannot better be explained than in the fol
lowing extract from a letter Avritten by Hugh Bryan to
his sister, dated Feb. 8th, 1740: "My sins, which I
had overlooked, now stared me in the face. I saAV that
my natural mildness of temper, gravity, kindness, lib
erality, justice and temperance, not leading me into
the excesses of Avrath, envying, licentiousness, hard
heartedness, covetousness, fraud and profaneness,
Avhich many others fell into, had deceived me. On the
other hand, the inate polluteness of my soul, as world-
liness and self-love, applause of men, lukcAvarmness,

82
ingratitude to God, slothfulness in His service, un
profitable and sinful thoughts and discourse, these and
many more sins of the like nature, I found had laid
under covert in the secret recesses of my soul, unob
served till now on a strict search, assisted by the light
of God's Spirit, I discovered them to my great amaze
ment." Hugh Bryan Avas a man full of emotion and his
religious feeling often led him into rhapsodies. His
brother Jonathan was of sterner mold, but his piety
was oarnost and practical, and accompanied tho whole
conduct of his long eventful life. After tho Bible
record of his thirteen children, ho writes in a vein of
prayerful solicitud(i and tondornoss: "0, Lord I grant
that thoy may all be born of Thy Spirit, and may bo a
seed to servo Theo in their day and generation."
In 1742 tho Spaniards invaded Georgia, and Mr.
.James Habersham, then in charge of tho Bethesda
Home, in the absence of Mr. Whitefield in England,
moved the household, consisting of eighty-six, to South
Carolina, where they were entertained at the planta
tions of Jonathan Bryan and Stephen Bull about six
months, until the Spaniards had withdraAvn.
When Mr. Whitefield came to America he was
strongly opposed to the introduction of negro slaves,
but contrasting tho condition of tho negroes on the
Carolina i)lantations with those in Africa, he changed
his mind and advocated their introduction into Geor-

gia. He AA'as sharply reproved for speaking in favor of
slavery by Rev. Martin Bolzius, the minister in charge
of the Salzburgers, a man of great learning and executive
ability ; but he firmly held the position and declared
that Africa Avould be more speedily Christianized by
Christian negroes from America than in any other way.
He saAV many of them in Carolina converted to Christ,
and the work of civilization progress on the planta
tions, as he kncAV it could not in the dark continent.
Surrounded by an atmosphere of religious excitement
and reformation, Jonathan Bryan became deeply in
terested in this grave question of bringing the salva
tion of Christ to the negro. He did personal work
among thera, and gave the use of his barns for preach
ing and teaching their children.
The colonists in Georgia, moved by Mr. White-
field's influence and yielding to the policy of the
Mother Country, allowed the introduction of negro
slaves in 1751. The same year Jonathan Bryan settled
a plantation in Georgia, and moved into this colony
with his family — Avife, six sons and one daughter — one
son having died in Carolina in October, 1749.
We find in his memoranda this record: "I began
to settle my ncAV plantation in Georgia, January 1st,
1751. I removed Avith my family from South Carolina,
August 27th, 1752, settled the Monmouth January 22,
1752. I began to settle Seven Oakii, November 8th,
1*764; our family removed there February 18th, 1765.

34
The year 1766 memorable for that most detestible act
of Parliament called the Stamp Act. The greatest
hurricane in the raeraory of raan Avas in 1764, on Thurs
day and Friday, 14th and 15tn of Septeraber, succeeded
by another, 30th, the same month."
He also owned Brewton Hill, Avhich Avas at that
time the largest rice plantation in America, and the
Union, tAvelve miles above Savannah, near the spot the
Charleston and Savannah Railroad bridge crosses the
Savannah river. He named two of his plantations for
the country seats of the Bryan family in Hereford
county England, Dean Forest and Brampton. The
latter is three miles above Savannah on the river, and
Avas probably his residence the greater part of each
year. CHAPTER VIII.
In June, 1752, one year prior to the time that the
Trustees' charter expired, they surrendered it to the
CroAvn. The government then devolved on the board
of trade and plantations, of Avhich the Earl of Halifax
was the head, subject to the authority of the Crown.
Captain John Reynolds of the navy Avas appointed
Governor, and the constitution ot the colony Avas mod
ified. The legislature or General Assembly Avas to
consist of two houses, one known as Councillors, the
other as Representatives, Avho in conjunction Avith the

36
Governor were to have full law-making power, subject
to the board of trade and plantations, and ultimate veto
of the CroAvn. The Councillors or upper house Avere
colonists, appointed by the King. The representatives
of the lower house Avere chosen by the people. A new
judicial system was introduced by the constitution. A
general court was created consisting of tAvo judges and
an attorney general, with the right of appeal to the
Governor and his council ; in certain cases where more
was involved to the board of trade and plantations, and
in last resort to the King. The judges appointed Avere
Noble Jones and Jonathan Bryan. A Court of Chan
cery and Admirality was at the same time established,
and James Edward Powell was appointed Judge Advo
cate. The first general assembly met March 16th, 1754.
Patrick Graham, Sir Patrick Houstoun, Bart, James
Habersham, Alexander Kellet, William Clifton, Noble
Jones, Pickering Robinson, Francis Harris, William
Russell, Clement Martin and Jonathan Bryan wore
confirmed as the Governor's council for the colony.
This body divided the province into eight parishes.
In 1757, under the administration of Gov. Ellis,
when the peace of Georgia seemed to be threatened by
French intrigues Avith the Indians, the Governors of
South Carolina and Georgia agreed to invite the Indi
ans to hospitable entertainment at Charleston and Sa
vannah, and at the same time impress them Avith the

36
military strength of the provinces. At Savannah they
were received by a hundred Virginia Provincials, de
tailed for the purpose by the Georgia Rangers, and by
the First Georgia Militia, commanded by Col. Noble
Jones, Sixteen cannon were mounted in the batteries
about Savannah, and seven field pieces were placed in
front of the Governor's dwelling. The Indians escort
ed by Capt. Milledge and the Rangers, "were met
beyond the lines by Capt. Jonathan Bryan and a cav
alcade of citizens, who welcoraed thera ih the narae of
the Governor, and regaled them in a tent pitched for
that purpose," Gov. Ellis' adrainistration Avas very
popular, but on account of the infirmities of age he was
compelled to resign. In 1760, James Wright, Esq.,
subsequently created a baronet, the third and last of
the provincial governors of Georgia, entered upon his
office. He Avas destined to have Avith Jonathan Bryan
some notable embroglios. The neAv governor Avas a
native of South Carolina, a laAvyer by profession, and
for a long period was attorney general of that province.
His large experience in public affairs, high character
and distinguished loyalty to the British Crown, secured
his appointraent to this iraportant office. In ordinary
tiraes these qualities would have peculiarly fitted him-
for the position. At the time of his appointment the
Avhite population of Georgia numbered 6,000 and the
negro slaves 3^578, It increased rapidly under his ad
ministration and in 1776 numbered 50,000. Savannah

37

was much improved, and became so noted for its
healthfulness that many planters from South Carolina
resorted there during the summers. The dense forests
on Hutchinson's Island, also to the east and Avest of the
town, cut off the malaria from the Carolina rice fields.

CHAPTER IX.
But the revolution Avas approaching, and the ex
treme views of the governor did not accord with those
ofthe people. The great principle that there, can be
"no taxation Avithout representation," Avas deep-rooted
in their minds. Gov. Wright declared this absurd, in
A'icAV of the supremacy of the British Parliaraent, and
condemned the General Assembly of the province for
its approving response to the representatives of the
province of Massachusetts Bay, and to the Speaker of
the Virginia House of Burgesses, as to the raeasures by
them pursued to obtain redress of their common
grievances, and dissolved the General Assembly of
Georgia. But in 1768 that body had already framed and
immediately transmitted through Dr. Benjamin
Franklin, its agent in London, an address to the King,
complaining of the tax acts of Parliament, lamenting
that by "their imposition of internal taxes we are de
prived of the privilege, which with humble deference

38
we apprehend to be an indutiable right, that bf granting
away our own property." This and all these petitions
for redress and reform having failed, the Georgians
united with the colonies in resolutions of refusal to
import any British goods, which they could produce
for theraselves. A meeting of merchants was held in
Savannah, September 16th, 1769, in Avhich such meas
ures Avere adopted. Following this, September 17th,
1709, a public meeting was held, at Avhich Jonathan
Bryan presided. Resolutions Avere passed and ordered
to be published in the next issue of the Georgia Ga
zette, then the only noAvspaper published in the
province. The prearable of these resolutions clearly
and forcibly express the grievances of the people :
"We, the inhabitants of Georgia, finding ourselves re
duced to the greatest distress and most abject condi
tion by several acts of the British Legislature, by means
whereof our property is arbitrarily Avrested from us.
Contrary to the true spirit of our constitution, and the
repeatedly confirmed birthright of every Briton, under
all these aggressions finding that the most dutiful and
loyal petitions from the colony for the redress of the
grievances have not answered the salutary purpose Ave
intended, and being destitute of all hope of relief from
our multiplied and increasing distress, by our industry,
frugality and economy, are firmly resolved never to be
in the least accessory to the loss of any privilege Ave are
entitled to." "Therefore, we, Avhose names are herein

;^9
subscribed, do solemnly agree toand Avith one another,
that until said acts are repealed, we Avill most faithful
ly abide by and adhere to, and fulfill the following res
olutions." Then, briefly condensed, folloAV the pledges:
"First, Tp promote and encourage American manufac
tures, and of this province in particular. 2nd. To
raise sheep for the wool. 3rd. To promote raising of
cotton and flax and encourage spinning and Aveaving.
4th. On no pretense to import British, European or
East India goods, except the cheapest variety."
The kinds are stated, shoAving that the col
ony Avas almost absolutely dependent on
Great Britain and foreign countries for sup
plies. "5th. To neither purchase nor give mourning
at funerals. 6th. Not tio import, buy or sell after
July 1st, 1770, any negroes brought into the province.
7th. Not to purchase negroes already imported, or
goods, wares or merchandise from any person refusing
to sign the agreement within five weeks from date
thereof, and every person signing and not strictly ad
hering to the agreement, and also every one not sub
scribing, shall be looked upon as no friend to the coun
try." When Ave realize that the Stamp Act passed in
1765, imposing a duty on all paper, vellum and parch
ment used in the American colonies, and declaring all
writings on unstamped material to be null and void.it
is not strange that it aroused general opposition in the
colonies. When it Avas repealed and other concessions

40
made, Govl Wright represented to the Royal Govern
ment "That these indulgencies gave encouragement to
the Americans, bringing conviction to them that their
demands had not only been legal and constitutional, but
right in themselves;" also "that the disease having
been, in some measure, promoted and encouraged by
the Mother Country," adds: "I perceive the remedy
and reforra raust come frora thera likewise."
• Jonathan Bryan was a member of the Royal Coun
cil, and a motion was then made for his expulsion,
Avhich was not then acted upon, but when informed
that he had presided over the meeting, the King was
greatly incensed, and ordered him suspended from this
and any other office he might hold in the province.
This order was reported in a letter to the Earl of Hills
borough by Gov. Wright, December 9th, 1769, but the
removal of Mr. Bryan frora office was not reported to
the Earl by Gov. Wright until March 1st, 1770. The
order of deposition from the Crown Came sorae months
after this occurrence, but as Mr. Bryan was a member
of tho Royal Council as late as July, 1774, Avhen he
resigned, it is doubtful, at least, Avhether the order Avas
ever carried out. It raised him still higher in the es
timation of the people, and made for him the first mar
tyr to the revolution in Georgia. It was regarded as a
tyrannical act on the part of the King. As a meraber
of the council he occupied a dual position — first, as an
advisor to the Governor; second, as a raember of the

41
Upper House or Assembly. In either case he was en
titled to his opinions and their expression. Without
these, both councillor and legislator become the mere
instrument of tyranny and corruption. The members
of the Governor's Council Avere required to subscribe
to the Test Oath and the Oath of Allegiance, but it can
not be shown that Mr. Bryan, in presiding over the
non-importation meeting, Avas Avanting in just observ
ance of any of these oaths. There was nothing revolu
tionary in the proceedings; they betrayed nothing more
than grave dissatisfaction Avith the "acts of the Brit
ish Parliament, Avhich had reduced them to great
distress, which they regarded as unconstitutional,
and which Avere eloquently condemned in Parlia
ment. They resolved upon no measure of vio
lence, and only on such a course of action as
may* be pursued by individuals or communities
for self-protection and for commercial and industrial
independence. The Royal Cabinet Avas divided as to
the issue at stake, and Lord North himself, the Prime
Minister, Avasin favor of repeal, but submitted his veto to
the King, whose rule Avas rarely to forgive a grievance.
In ordering the removal of Jonathan Bryan, he at
tempted that Avhich he dared not execute on on6 of his
own cabinet, who opposed the same measures. Doubt
less at this same .period, he entertained not a single
sentiment disloyal to the King; such seems to have
been his public reputation. At a dinner given in

42
Charleston, May Slst, 1770, in celebration of the land
ing of the statue of William Pitt, one of the regular
toasts announced Avas to the Hon. Jonathan Bryan. A
number of toasts Avere offered, among them to Gov.
Bull, nor was the King forgotten. Ihe Carolina Ga
zette, describing the occasion, speaks of Mr, Bryan as
a distinguished Whig of Georgia.

CHAPTER X.
Deep and earnest as was the interest of Mr. Bryan
in all the public affairs of the colony it did not inter
fere, with his personal; duties to his church, his home
or his slaves. Five children were born to him in Geor
gia. Seven had died in early youth, leaving at this
time four sons and two daughters: Hugh, born Sep-
. tember 7th, 1738; Mary, February 16th, 1745; Josiah,
August 22, 1746; William, January 21st, 1748; Jaraes,
Septeraber 22, 1752; Hannah, October 7th, 1757. Mary
Bryan raarried in 1766 John Morel, Avho died January
3rd, 1776. She was afterwards raarried to Col. Richard
Wylly. J(^siah Bryan was raarried October 14th, 1770,
to Elizabeth Pendarvis. He died in 1774. William
Bryan Avas a physician, and never married.
When Jonathan Bryan was attached to the Church
of England in 1736 he Avas appointed Avith Stephen
Bull, Hugh Bryan, Joseph Izard and John Mulryne

43
to build a chapel on Combahee river, St. Helena Par
ish, S. C. After having been brought in close relations
with Wesley and Whitefield his spiritual life was
quickened. What Avas called Mr. Whitefield's irregu
larities caused "Rev. Alexander Garden to suspend
him from ofiice." Doubtless the Bryans espoused his
cause. This, with the limited church privileges of
their section, caused them to separate from the Church
of England in 1740. The Methodists' schism had. not
then occurred, and the Bryans attached themselves to
the Presbyterian church. In 1742 he Avith his broth
ers Joseph and Hugh, and Stephen Bull organized the
Stony Creek Independent Presbyterian Church, of
which Hugh and himself were deacons. A copy of a
letter he received from Mr. Whitefield is in the old
South Library, Boston, No. 630. "A letter to the ne
groes lately converted in America, and particularly
those lately called out of darkness into God's marvel
ous life, at Mr. Jonathan Bryan's in South Carolina. A
welcome to the believing negroes in the Household of
God, by a friend and servant of theirs in England.
Eph. III-2. London, J. Hart, 1743."
Andrew, one of his favorite servants, born 1716,
died 1812, was an ordained Baptist minister, and
preached in his master's barn at Brampton. He Avas
the founder of the first colored church in Savannah, ,
was given his freedom and allowed a lot in Savannah
belonging to his master to build a house upon. This

44
spot has ever been consecrated to their worship. Upon
it now stands the Bryan Baptist Church.
With the fervor and loud demonstrations ot the
negroes at their religious services it was supposed on
one occasion that they were plotting mischief, and An
drew was arrested and whipped. His master i nterceded
for him, the matter was examined by several leading
citizens, there was no evidence that the slaves were in
mischief, and AndroAv obtained perraission from the
Chief Justice to continue to preach. The following is
part of the inscription on his tombstone : "He has done
more araong the poor slaves than all the learned doc
tors in Araerica. He was imprisoned for the Gospel
and without any ceremony Avhipped, but was Avilling
to suffer death for the cause of Christ. He Avas an
honor to huraan nature, an ornaraent to religion, and
a friend to raankind."
As an evidence that Mr. Bryan's interest in the re
ligious instruction araong the negroes never ceased,
the following letter is found in Volurae V, Methodist
•Magazine, 1785: "New York, April 1st, 1772."
"Reverend Sir :
"By a letter from Mr. Lloyd, from London, avc are
inforraed that you incline to visit America. Mr. White-
field's preaching was of unspeakable use to many, but
he preached raostly in seaport towns and the most pop
ulous parts of the province, where the gospel was

4.j

knoAvn, though not preached in poAver. In the back
parts which are now groAvn populous the inhabitants
are still in a state of deplorable ignorance. If some
zealous and able teacher aa'OuUI engage heartily in the
work of their conversion, hoAV soon might rivers spring
forth in the desert, and these oavIs and dragons of the
Avilderness give honour to God. No doubt many in
England and elscAvhere, who abound in wealth, Avould
contribute toward erecting schools to teach the children,
and also tOAvard the support of preachers, il such an
undertaking Avas properly set on foot. But Avho is qual
ified forthis work? I know none except yourself.
"But, Dear Sir, Avhat concerns me more than all, is
the unhappy conditions of our negroes, Avho are kept
in Avorse than Egyptian bondage. The clothes Ave Avear,
the food Aveeat, and all the superfluities Ave possess, are
the produce of their labors, and Avhat do they receive
in return? Nothing equivalent. On the contrary we
keep from them the key of knoAvledge, so that their
bodies and souls perish together in our service. If,
therefore, you are not too advanced in yearn, I say to
you, in the name of God come over and help us; in
doing which you will greatly oblige many thousands,
but among the rest,
"Your friend and brother, "Jonathan Bryan."
Jonathan Bryan was one of the truest and purest
types of the southern planter. Thousands like him, as
faithful to God and man have gone to rest with the

46
slaveholders Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So faithfully
did they discharge their trust to the negro race, that
in time of peril they could safely trust them. The oc
casional exception to this rule proved its truth.
During the war between the States, a hundred and
tAventy years later, when six hundred thousand south
ern men, the strength of the land and the flower of its
youth, went forth to fight as Washington did for con
stitutional republican liberty, they left their women and
children and their aged ones t.o the care of their negro
slaves. With faithful toil they labored to maintain
thera and supply their masters in the field Avith bread.
Unsurpassed in the annals of history Avas their loyalty
to the southern people, and rare indeed Avas found any
lawlessness among them. Even when the Emancipa
tion Proclamation was issued with the hope of causing
insurrection in the South, they Avere unmoved in their
devotion to their owners. So far superior Avere their
morals and manners to those of this era, thirty-six
years after emancipation, that it is refreshing te find
one Avho had even a few years' training under the old
regime. The Hebrews were held in bondage in Egypt two
hundred and fifteen years ; the Africans in England
and America exactly the same length of time ; they
were brought to Georgia against the protest of a ma
jority of her people; Avhen the Ruler of the Universe,
Avho marks even the sparrow's fall, saw fit to release
thera, it Avas done.

CHAPTER XI.
Responding to a call dated July 20th, 1774, a
number of the freeholders and inhabitants of the
province held a meeting in the Watch House, in Sa
vannah, to take action as to the critical situation groAV-
ing out of the late acts of the British Parliament, as to
the toAvn of Boston, as Avell as to the acts tending to raise
a perpetual revenue Avithout the consent of the people,
or their representatives. John Glenn presided, and
the nieeting authorized a comraittee of thirty-one to
prepare resolutions sirailar to those adopted by the
Northern colonies, and expressive of the sentiments
and determination of this province. Mr. Bryan was
one of this committee. The meeting adjourned until
the 10th of August, that invitations might be extended
to delegations from other parishes. August Sth, Gov.
Wright issued a proclamation declaring the meeting
"unlawful, and its acts unconstitutional, illegal and
punishable by law." Nevertheless, the adjourned
meeting, now a general meeting of the inhabitants of
the province, was held at Tondee's Tavern, in Savan
nah, August 10th, 1774, declaring the rights of the
colonies, denouncing the acts of Parliament, concurring
with sister colonies in every constitutional measure to
obtain redress of American grievances. Before Gov.
Wright's proclamation was issued, he convened his
council to advise as to the best means of checking the

48
proceedings of the people, and, as Jonathan Bryan's
name was on the list of the committee, a motion Avas
made to expel hira from his seat in the council. But
as McCall's History says : "Mr. Bryan, Avith patriotic
indignation, informed them in a manner peculiar to
himself, for its candor and energy, that he Avould save
them the trouble, and handed his resignation to the
Governor." The Union Society, controlling Bethesda Home,
then as now, composed of the representative men ofthe
community, recognizing the patriotic course of Mr.
Bryan and the personal sacrifice he Avas offering to the
public cause, presented hira Avith a silver vase, now in
possession of Mr. Joseph Bryan, of Richraond, Va.
The vase bears the following inscription:
"To
Jonathan Bryan, Esq.,
Avho, for publicly appearing in
favor of the rights and liberties
ofthe people, Avas excluded frora
his Majesty's council of this
province, this piece of plate, as
a mark of theircsteem, is present
ed by the Union Society in
Georgia."

'S'

(obverse)- -"//a cuique eveniat derepublica meruit.^'

49
Public affairs Avere noAv the object of intense in
terest to all, especially in Savannah, Avhere the two
forces, the Tories led by Gov. Wright on the side of the
CroAvn, and the Whigs for the colonies, had culminated
in the meeting at Tondee's Ta\'ern, August 10th, 1774.
The issue seemed for the Crown or for the country.
Gov. Wright began to realize that the majority Avere
for the rights of the people. With all his talent,
diplomacy seemed to have failed, so uoav the arts of
the politician Avere all that Avas left by Avhich he could
hope to win his cause. To strike at one of the leaders
ofthe Whig faction was his strongest Aveapon, an op
portunity seemed to open for him in an unexpected
way. .Near the close ofthe Provincial Congress that con
vened October 18th, 20th, 1774, Gov. Wright had read
before tha.t body a treaty made by Jonathan Bryan and
certain prominent citizens of East Florida, Avith tAven-
ty-one head men, warriors, chiefs and kings of the
Creek Nation. There Avere discrepancies that doubtless
Avere well understood by the public at that time, but
now cannot be explained. One of these was that the
treaty or lease was dated October 28th, 1774, but Avas
read before the Assembly October 20th. The effective
portion was as follows : "For and in consideration of
one hundred pounds sterling, lawful money of the
Province of Georgia, to them in hand paid, at and before
the sealing of these presents, and receipt whereof is here-

50
by acknowledged, and also for and in consideration of
the great regard they bear to the said Jonathan Bryan,
have and each of them hath, in behalf of themselves,
their heirs and successors, and behalf also ofthe Creek
Nation, devised, granted, and to farm let unto the said
Jonathan Bryan, his heirs, executors and administra
tors, all that plantation tract or parcel of land known
by the name of Locheway, and the Appalachee river
to the north, by the line drawn part of the said river,
where the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers meet, to the
source of the St. Mary's river, and from thence on a
southwest coufse, on a direct line to the Gulf of Mexico,
being in part, of the land belonging to the Creek Nation,
together with all the premises and appurtenances there
to belonging. To have and to hold the said tract or
p:ircol of land and promises before mentioned, with the
appurtenances, unto the said Jonathan Bryan, his
heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, from the
date of these premises, for and during and until the
full term of four-score and nineteen years from thence,
and next enduring and fully to be complete and ended.
Yielding and paying therefor yearly, and every year,
unto the said Chehaw Kako, and other lessees, their
hoirs or successors, tho rent of one hundred bushels of
Indian corn, delivered on some convenient parcel or
tract of land."
John Stuart, at that time Indian Superintendent,
Noble Jones, J. E. Powell, Clement Martin, Jr., John

51
Graham, Lewis Johnson, Jaraes Read and James Hume
united in the following published statement, substan-
tiallv confirmed by Anthony Stokes. Chief Justice of
the Province (formerly associated Avith Jonathan Bryan
in the General Court):
"When all the other business ofthe Congress Avas
finished His Excellency Gov. Wright produced the
deed and directed the interpreter to inform the Indians
of it, and to acquaint them that he was greatly
surprised that they sh6uld be so tenacious of their
lands Avhenever a request Avas made in behalf of the
Government, and that they should give away so large
a body to an individual. The countenances of the In
dians sufficiently denoted their astonishment. Tala-
chee. one of those Avho had put his mark to the deed,
declared the whole transaction Avhich was interpreted
to them was as folloAvs : 'When he and others came
down to mark, that Mr. Bryan came to them and
brought with him sorae Avhite men and an Indian
Avench named Maria, who could speak English, and
requested by her to have a spot of land to settle a coav-
pen and raise some corn upon, that he mejint to come
and live among them and settle a store. That he also
understood that the paper contained a good talk to the
Nation ; that he and the rest of them, after being fol
lowed to Woods' saAV-mill, put their mark to it but told
Mr. Bryan at the same time they must carry it to the
Nation to have it confirmed there; but that it was never

{}•.£

presented to the Nation.' The other Indians who Avere
at the Congress seemed much annoyed. One said that
he Avould not leave the house till the paper Avas burnt,
and one in particular declared that it was his opinion
if the paper was not destroyed the Nation would not
believe what had passed at the Congress. His Excel
lency requested that the deed might not be destroyed,
but the Indians might, if they pleased, tear off their
seals and marks, which at their request was done, and
added also, 'It will sufficientlv open the eyes ofthe
public' "
Chief Justice Stokes in his statement adds: "Upon
the whole it did appear and still does appear, that the
Indians were deceived and that the lease was obtained
by misrepresentation." The deposition of thetAvo loy
alists, Jacob Moniac and Samuel Thomas, sworn inter
preters to the upper and loAver Creek Nations, taken
before Justice Stokes, reaffirms the foregoing statement
and Talachee's declaration before the Congress, he be
ing the principal speaker, "That the Tonkabachee
warrior had said they Avere all deceived, that the Coav-
eta Avarrior said if the aforesaid paper Avas not de
stroyed, that the head men and chiefs in the Nation
Avould not believe what Avas done at said Congress,"
Talachee hiraself after seeing said paper and the seals
thereon, laid hold of it, and Avould have his seal torn
ofl^. His Excellency Gov. Wright at the request of the
Indians ordered Mr. Wylly, the Clerk of the Council,

53
to cut off all the seals, and told the Indians that he
would not permit the paper to be destroyed, that he
Avanted to have a copy made to send to the Governor
of Florida; that Talachee told His Excellency that
Maria, Avife to St. Diego, Avas interpreter between Mr.
Bryan arid the Indians, and that the day after the Con
gress Maria, being desirous of exculpating herself, came
to Jacob Moniac, one of the deponents, and took hira
to Mr. Bryan, and she, Maria, said: "Mr. Bryan, I am
accused by the chiefs and the head men of the Nation
to have interpreted, to have given aAvay a large portion
of land;" and also said, "I have uoav brought the inter
preter with me, and I desire you to tell him before all
the Indians uoav present Avhat you told me to interpret
to the Indians then present." That Mr. Bryan an
swered : "He had asked the Indians for a piece of land,
that the Indians asked him, 'Where do you Avant it, on
the Okonee or the Altamaha river?' To Avhich he an
swered : 'No, I do not want it in this Province, for the
Governor of Georgia and I do not agree,' and further
added, he Avanted it where he could bring great boats
up." That the Indians then asked him what he want
ed it for? to Avhich he ansAvered, that he had great
flocks of cattle, and if they Avould give him land in the
Appalachee Old Fiel'ds, or on the mouth of the Flint
river, he would come and live among them and make
a town larger than Savannah, and would get a great
number of friends to come and live with him, but if it

54

was not agreeable to the whole Nation, men, women
and children, he Avould not insist on it. Jacob Moniac
further deposed, that Mr. Bryan in the conversation
with Maria further said: "If I find it disagreeable to
the Avhole Nation I shall not trouble myself any more
about it," and added, "The land is your OAvn, it neither
belongs to the King nor the Governor, and you may do
as you please with it." '
Samuel Thomas, the other deponent, for his part
sayeth : "Having had frequent talks with the chiefs,
head men and warriors of the Nation since the said
Congress, that they Avere all angry at such a paper be
ing Avrote, particularly Pumpkin King, the Chehaw
warrior, Talachee, and several other head men and
warriors, Mr. Tate, the deputy superintendent, de
sired this deponent Thomas to acquaint thera that the
Hon, Mr, Stuart, superintendent, had heard that Mr.
Bryan had reported, that many or all of thera had
been at his house begging him to take them back. In
answer to which all of tbose uoav present, except Tala
chee, denied having been there to offer back the land;
that if any Indians had been there it must have been
their young men, and if they had been at Mr Bryan's
house, it AVHS of no consequence. Talachee said that he
had been at Mr. Bryan's house and had drunk a glass
of wine. "And also this deponent Thomas further sayeth, that
all the aforementioned chiefs, head men and warriors

66
declared if any Avhite man settled there, meaning, as
this deponent believes, the land supposed to be leased
to Mr. Bryan, it would be attended Avith bad conse
quences; and the Coweta warrior said to this deponent
last night that if the papers had not been destroyed, it
Avas the only thing that would have occasioned a war
with the white people, and lastly these deponents say,
that from Avhat passed at the Congress, and from sev
eral conversations they have since had Avith the Indi
ans, they do believe the said writing Avas obtained by
deceiving the Indians.
"Sworn to in the Province of Georgia the day and year
first above Avritten. "Anthony Stokes.
"Jacob x Moniac.
mark
"Samuel Thomas."

CHAPTER XII.

These publications appeared in the Georgia Gazette,
November 2nd, 1774, and they Avere responded to in
the same journal, November 12th. by an anonyraous
writer over the signature "Veritas," Avho being Avell ac
quainted with this affair from from its origin declared
Mr. Bryan extremely ill treated, and refuses to be silent
Avhen he sees him so injuriously attacked and unjustly
represented. The writer declines to enter into a detail

56
of the manner in which Mr. Bryan obtained the deed,
but proceeds to lay bare the inconsistency apparent in
the conduct of the Indians with Mr. Bryan, the Gov
ernor and the Congress. "The first publication," the
statement says, "that fifteen marks were put to the
deed, and, speaking of Talachee, says he understood
that the paper contained a good talk to the nation,
meaning that he knew not the true purport of it, but
told Mr, Bryan at the same time that they must carry
it to the nation to have it confirmed there. Poor sav
ages, hoAV they Avere imposed upon, and I hope that
every man who reads, Avithout dust in his eyes, Avill
subscribe to the congruity ofthe assertion."
Comraenting on the stateraent of Justice Stokes,
Veritas declares 'his opinion in this affair has been
given rather precipitately, and is built upon raisrepre-
sentations, andas his opinion seems to reflect sorae cen
sure on my friend (and friendship Avith me must ever
be held sacred), I hope he Avill pardon me for making
some short strictures upon his publication. He says:
'It did and still does appear to me that the Indians
were deceived, and that the lease was obtained by mis
representation ;' if I am not mistaken some one of the
Indians gave, as a reason for signing the deed, that
Mr. Bryan, or some person in his behalf, signified that
the lease was for some land to keep a cow-pen or build
a store on. Mark this, -Mr. Printer, what Avas before a_

67
good talk is now a lease, and it is confessed that the
Indians kncAv it,"
Veritas continues to write : "A third publication,
the deposition of Jacob Moniac and Samuel Thomas,
these men have SAvorn upon the Holy Evangelists, yet
I dare venture to say if you ask them Avho the Holy
Evangelists are, they Avill tell you they never heard of
them in the Creek Nation, but it Avas probable they
were Indian traders, Avho existed many years ago, of
Avhich no tradition has been handed down, to the pres
ent tribe of Avarriors. These men, I say. have been
called upon to bear testimony, and after all Avhat have
they sAvorn ? Why, that Mr. Bryan asked the Indians
for a piece of land, that the Indians asked hira 'Avhere
do you Avant it, on the Okonee or on the Altamaha
river?' To Avhich he answered, 'I do not Avant it in
this province, for the Governor of Georgia and I do
not agree,' and further added he Avanted it at a place
where he could bring boats up, and that he Avould corae
and live among them and would get a number of his
friends to come and live Avith him. Now, let us re
mark on this tremendousdeposition of these important
sworn interpretors of the upper and loAver Creek
Nation, perhaps it may be rash to interfere Avith such
superior beings, but I cannot for the life of me forego-
the impulse. First, he would make a town larger than
Savannah, I suppose to polish and refine them up to
town life, and would get a number of friends to come

58
and live with him, probably two or three thousand cow-
pen keepers, Avith their wives and children at a place
Avhere he could bring boats, meaning great ships, to
trade with his cattle and 'rencAV the days of old Aesop,
when man and beast conversed together. Now, where
is the deception in all this? Tell me, ye men of can
dour and ingenuity — to the corrupt and prejudiced I
speak out — let them enjoy their OAvn opinions and feed
themselves Avith the poisonings of their own gall.
Their arrows, directed against such a man as Jonathan
Bryan, Avould be like the Trojan darts, Avhich made no
impression on the shield of Achilles. One word more
and I have done. It is asserted in the above mentioned
depositiou that the chiefs, head men and warriors de
clared that if any whites had settled those lands sup
posed to be leased by Mr. Bryan, it would be attended
Avith very bad consequences. The second publication
says 'very disagreeable consequences might have
arisen.' A very serious consideration, truly. But Avhat
could those consequences have been, and from Avhat
source could they have come? That gentleman Avould
have raade all his promises good to the Indians, and if
honor, justice and a strict regard to his engagements,
could have maintained harmony and peace, Jonathan
Bryan bid fair to have gained a valuable acquisition to
the CroAvn, which deliberate enA'^y, private pique, and
rancour of heart, have attempted to overset. There are
men so tenacious of the honor of the CroAvn that the

59
Summum Bonum of their happiness would seem to de
pend on it ; but say ye Might Sticklers is it for the
advantage of the Crown to set the gratification of a
private animosity in competition Avith your Master's
interests? From such Pliarisaical loyalty defend me
Heaven I "Veritas."
In the same issue of the Georgia Gazette, immedi
ately folloAving the communication signed "Veritas,"
appears this answer from Jonathan Bryan himself:
"To the Printer: Sir — Whatever motive might
have induced the Honorable Gentlemen to have given
their opinions so freely, respecting the obtaining and
validity of a lease of a body of land from the Creek
Nation upon such testimony as appeared, and Avas laid
before them, is best knoAvn to themselves, but this is
certain, that had they really been anxious to ascertain
the truth, nothing at that time Avas more practicable.
The papers themselves Avere upon the spot, and had an
inquiry been made hymen of character and candour, tho
truth Avould have appeared, the minds of the public
would not have been poisoned with misrepresentation
and error. The Honorable Gentlemen have assumed
to themselves poAver Avhich should alarm a people de
sirous of living as freemen. They publish their opin
ion as the standard of decision ; they even deny the
principles of common justice. For instance, admitting
their supremacy in deciding points of publick legisla
tion, they have condemned me without even that hear-

60
ing, which our laws allow the most detestible culprit;
notwithstanding my being in tOAvn almost every day,
when the lease was in agitation and those affidavits
were 'procuring and publication preparing, I Avas never
called on as a gentleman or party concerned to say any
thing about it while the Indians were down, Avhereby
the matter raight be amicably understood and ex
plained to the publick if necessary. I have heard that
the Indians appeared to be uneasy Avhen the lease Avas
brought in question and my character so much repro
bated for having accepted it, and their acquiescence in
the destruction of it Avas the effect of their tenderness
and regard for me, fearing, from Avhat was said, that I
should suffer as an individual if it Avas not destroyed.
If the Honorable Gentlemen, or any one else, should
doubt the reality of this assertion, they may knoAV that
I have it from themselves, and a little time Avill prove
the truth of Avhat I have said, and the honor, attach
ment and steadiness ofthe Indians in that particular.
"I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
" Jonathan Bryan.
"Savannah. Ga., Nov. Sth, 1774."
These opinions of the Avitnesses Avere founded
wholly on ex parte testiraony, obtained in the absence
of Mr, Bryan, and Avithout alloAving hira an opportu
nity for explanation or defence. Moreover, it Avas ex
pressed by mon all of Avhora Avere under the influence
of Gov. Wright, ardent loyalists like himself, members

61
of his council and among the dissenters to the resolu
tions passed at Tondee's Tavern, August 10th, 1774.
John Stuart was Superintendent of Indian Affiiirs, and
like Justice Stokes held his appointment from the
CroAvn. All were in political opposition to Mr. Bryan,
and so far as Gov. Wright is concerned, Mr. Bryan
openly avoAved that he Avanted land outside of his
province, because he and the Governor of Georgia did
not agree. No one undertook to reply to the commu
nication of Jonathan Bryan "To the Printer," But
traditional facts, Avhich seemed to throAV some light
on this raatter, Avere that he Avas a special favorite Avith
the Indians. Their head men and others came every
year to visit hira at his house. This tallies Avith the-
statement that Talachee admitted his having been at
Mr. Bryan's house, after the scene before the congress,
and of his having taken a glass of wine there. Talachee
was not only the leading chief in the Indian deputa
tion, but the principal speaker in the drama before con
gress, and it is quite improbable that if he sincerely
entertained for himself, or respected the indignant and
vindictive sentiments then expressed by his fellows,
that he would so soon after have gone to the house of
Mr- Bryan and accepted his hospitality. This Avould
not comport with the Indian character, and strongly
sustains Mr. Bryan's declaration, that their conduct be
fore the congress as confessed by the Indians to him,

62
Avas governed by a fear that he would suffer at the hands
of the government.
It raay be equally true that they were moved by
fears for themselves. They had just obtained a.treaty
by which all previous treaties Avere confirmed, existing
grievances condoned, all differences settled, and their
dramatic rage over the cession to Mr. Bryan only
concealed the fear of sorae consequent disturbance of
the terras, or of the total abrogation of the final treaty
by the governraent. Thoy had boon told by Governor
Wright that the King of England could send him a
force sufficient to exterminate the Avhole Indian nation,
and they trerabled at the thought of having conceded
to an individual Avhat they had denied to the King of
England. It Avill be noticed that Avhen called by Maria, the
interpreter, to state in the presence of the Indians what
he had told her to say, Mr. Bryan said the land they
had ceded to hira was their own : "It neither belongs
to the King nor the Governor, and you raay do as you
please Avith it."
Gov. Wright hiraself, in his rebuke to the Indians,
admitted their rights, and in a subsequent treaty actu
ally paid the traders, to Avhom they had becorae in
debted, forty thousand pounds for a large part of the
raost valuable territory of Georgia, ceded to the Crown
by the Indians in consideration of this settleraent. This
was the price not only ot the land but of thearaity and

63
contentment of the Indians, and forever dismissed their
rights. But in the transaction with Jonathan Bryan-
the cession was direct in its nature — no third party
like the traders, greedy and oppressive in their claims,
were concerned. It retained the future right of the
Indians in the fee of the soil, and was only a part of
large tracts of uncultivated territory that belonged to
that nation. It is true that the annual rental was in
considerable, but it Avas costly to clear land and pre
pare it for cultivation. What consideration, if any, Avas
paid to the Indians? Their lands Avere .seized and ruth
lessly granted aAvay under letters of patent in absolute
disregard of their rights. In their transaction with
Jonathan Bryan their rights Avere to be kept alive dur
ing his tenancy, and at its terraination the land Avould
have reverted to the proper owners. In the meantime,
it would have been settled, cultivated and so increased
in value that the Indians Avould have gained enor
mously in the reversion. Florida had been ceded to
Great Britain by Spain in 1763, Spain had no title to
its territory and but little regard to the treaty, as 25,-
000 English people in West Florida, as late as 1783,
were compelled to seek homes elseAvhere on account of
Spanish occupation. This exodus would probably have
been averted if the real treaty made by Jonathan Bryan
with the Indians had not been annulled.

64

CHAPTER XIIL
Party strife between Whigs and Tories was culmi
nating. That the people were loyal to the King and
the Mother Country cannot be doubted, but unjust and
tyrannical laws they had resolved to resist. The ma
jority of the Salzburgers protested against the resolu
tions of August 10th. Driven like Avild beasts from
one country to another, they had at last found a home
of rest in Georgia, and felt that it Avould be disloyal to
take sides Avith the colonists against the Mother Coun
try. The strong ties of blood, language and religion
bound raany others Avho refused to take sides against
England ; but the battles of Lexington and Concord
aroused tho reluctant sentiments of the people and
united the colonists. The shedding of blood could not
be condoned, and Gov. Wriglit found many of his most
ardent supporters now falling frora his ranks. The
magazine at Savannah Avas broken into, and the ara
munition it contained, about six hundred pounds, was
removed. Some sent to Beaufort, S. C, the remainder
secreted. On the night of the 2nd of June, 1775, all
the cannon on the Bay at Savannah were spiked, dis
mantled and thrown down the bluff. A liberty pole
Avas erected, but even then, in testimony ofthe disposi
tion to reconciliation Avith the Mother Country, the
first regular toast drank on this occasion was to the
King, but the second was to American liberty. Sub-

66
sequently, June 22nd a Council of Safety was appoint
ed, of which William Ewen Avas president. These and
other movements in Georgia, finally culminated in the
proceedings of. the Provincial Congress, assembled at
Savannah on the 4th of July, 1775, which united the
province with the other twelve American colonies in
resistance to and separation from the British govern
ment. From C. C. Jones' History of Georgia we quote
the folloAving: "Memorable in the annals of the colony
Avere the proceedings of the Provincial Congress, which
assembled at Savannah on the 4th of July, 1775.
Every parish Avas represented, and the delegates were
fitting exponents of the intelligence, the dominant
hopes, and the material interests of the communities
from which they respectively came. This Avas Georgia's
first secession convention. It placed the province in
active sympathy and confederated alliance Avith the
other twelve American colonies, practically annulled
within her limits, the operation of the objectionable
acts of Parliament, questioned the supremacy of the
realm, and inaugurated measures calculated to
accomplish the independence ofthe plantation, and its
erection into the dignity of a State."
The following committees, submitting proper cre
dentials, then came together at Tondee's Long Room:
Tovn and District of Savannah — Archibald Bul
loch, Noble Wimberly Jones, Joseph Habersham, Jon
athan Bryan, Ambrose Wright, William Young, John

66 *
Glenn, Samuel Elbert, John Houstoun, Oliver Boweii,
John McUluer, Edward Telfair, Thomas Lee, George
Houstoun, Joseph Reynolds, John Smith, Williara
Ewen, John Martin, Dr. Zubly, William Bryan, Philip
Box, Philip Allraan, William O'Bryan, Joseph Clay,
Seth-John Cuthbert.
District of Vernonhurg — Andrew Elton Wells,
Matthew Roach, Jr.
District of Acton — David Zubly, Basil Cowper,
Williara Gibbons.
Sea Island District — Col. Deveaux, Col. De Le
Gall, Jaraes Bulloch, John Morel, John Bohan Girar
deau, John Barnard, Robert Gibson.
District of Little Ogeechee — Francis Henry Harris,
Joseph Gibbons.
Parish of St. Matthew — John Stirk, John Adam
Treutlen, George Walton, Edward Jones, Jacob Casper
Waldhauer, Philip HoAvell, Lsaac Young, Jenkin Davis,
John Morel, John Fieri, Charles McCay, Christopher
Cramer. Parish of St. Philip — Col. Butler, Williara LeConte,
Williara MaxAvell, Stephen Drayton, Adam Fowler
Brisbane, Luke Mann, Hugh Bryan.
Parish of St. George — Henry Jones, John Green,
Thoraas Burton, Williara Lord, David Lewis, Benjarain
Lewis, James Pugh, John Fulton.
Parish of St. Andrew — Jonathan Cochran, William
Jones, Peter Tarlin, Lachlan Mcintosh, William Mcln-

67
tosh, George Threadcraft, John Wereat, Roderick Mc
intosh, John Witherspoon, George Mcintosh, Allan
Stuart, John Mcintosh, Raymond Demere.
Parish of St. Z)av/d— Seth-John Cuthbert, William
Williams. Parish of St. Mary's — Daniel Ryan.
Parish of St. Thomas — John Roberts.
Parish of St. Paul — John Walton, Joseph Maddock,
Robert Rae, James Rae, Andrew Moore, Andrew Bur-
ney, Leonard Marbury.
Parish of St. John — James Screven, Nathan Brown
son, Daniel Roberts, John Baker, John Bacon, James
Maxwell, Edward Ball, William Baker, William Bacon,
John Stevens and John Winn.
This congress reassembled January 20th, 1776, and
enacted the first constitution of Georgia, which re
mained in force until superseded by that of February,
1777. Among the rules and regulations adopted therein
were : "First, there shall be a president and command
er-in-chief appointed by ballot in this congress for six
months. Second, there shall be in like manner and for
the like time also a Council of Safety, consisting of
thirteen persons, besides the five delegates to the gen
eral congress, appointed to act in the nature of a Privy
Council to said president or commander-in-chief. Third,
the president shall be invested with all the powers of
government not inconsistent with what is hereafter

68
mentioned, but shall be bound to follow the advice of
the said council in all cases Avhatsoever, and a.ny seven
of said coramittee shall be si quorum for acting."
Archibald Bulloch (the ancestor of President
Roosevelt) was president of the congress and command
er-in-chief. On llth of December, 1775, the folloAving
members of , the Council of Safety were appointed:
George Walton, William Ewen, Stephen Drayton, Noble
W. Jones, Basil Cowper, EdAvard Telfair, John Bohau
Girardeau, John Smith, Jonathan Bryan, William Gib
bons, John Martin, Oliver Brown, Ambrose Wright,
Sarauel Elbert, Joseph Habersham and Francis Henry
Harris. This council continued to act and legislate for the
province during all the initiatory movements of the
revolution in Georgia. It ordered the arrest of Gov.
Wright, John Mulryne, Josiah Tattnall and Anthony
Stokes, and the disarming of all non-associates Avho re
fused their parole, not to aid, assist or comfort any of
the persons on board his Majesty's ships of Avar, or take
up arras against America in the present unhappy dis
pute. The officers of the battalion authorized by Con
gress were commissioned to arrest the sailing of eleven
merchant ships, laden Avith rice, lying at the wharves
of Savannah. Appraisement was made of houses in
Savannah and its hamlets, of friends to the cause and
none others, in order that the owners might be identi
fied for losses in defense of the town. It was also re-

69
solved, that it was incumbent on the friends of Ameri-
Cain this province to defend the "Metropolis," i. e.,
Savannah, as long as the' same shall be tenable, and
rather than it be taken and employed by them thesame
shall be destroyed. Persons holding property were re
quired to report to headquarters in Savannah and to
defend the same on pain of suffering all the conse
quences contained in the foregoing resolutions. These
measures were precipitated by the presence »t Five
Fathom Hole ofthe British squadron carrying seventy
guns under Capt Barclay, and between two and three
hundred light infantry and marines under Maj. Grant.
The Provincial Congress refused to perrait the British
commander to secure supplies; he then determined to
capture the vessels laden with rice, which Avere moored
on the southern shore of Hutchinson's Island opposite
Savannah. For this purpose Capt. Barclay placed one
of his vessels in Back river abreast of the toAvn, and
sent the Hinchinbrook, a schooner of eight guns, around
the head of Hutchinson's Island. The Hinchinbrouk
went aground, Avas attacked and would have been cap
tured by a body of riflemen under Maj. Joseph Haber
sham could boats have been procured, but floating at
high water she escaped.
The night of March 2nd Maj. Maitland and Grant
landed their troops from the vessel in Back river, and,
marching across Hutchinson's Island, took possession
of the rice vessel at 4 o'clock in the morning. The au-

70
thorities in Savannah were not informed of this until
several hours later. Capt. Rice, who had dismantled
the vessel under orders of the Council of Safety, was
forcibly held when he boarded one of the vessels. Capt.
Demere and Lt. Roberts were sent unarmed to demand
the release of Capt. Rice but they were detained as
prisoners, 'ihe release of these officers having been de
manded and refused, two four-pound shots Avere fired
from the breastworks erected on YamacraAV Bluff by
Col. Mcintosh. James Jackson and James, the young
son of Jonathan Bryan, manned this gun. TheBritish
comraander then agreed to treat with any tAventy of
ficers sent for the purpose. Capts. Screven and Baker
were detailed, taking with thera twelve of the St. John's
Rangers, Avho Avere pulled up under the stern of the
vessel, when they demanded the return of the captive
officers. Capt. Baker, provoked by the insulting lan
guage of some one on board, fired at hira ; a discharge
frora swivels and small arms from the vessels nearly
sunk the boat ; but the party, though under this fire as
long they Avere in range, retired Avith but one man
wounded. For about four hours a fire then was kept
up between the breastAvorks at YamacraAv and the Brit
ish troops on the vessel. The Council of Safety deter
mined to burn these vessels. Among those Avho volun
teered for this service were : Capt. BoAven, John Morel,
Lt. Jjimes Jackson,! homas Hamilton and James Bryan.
One of the vessels, the Invernejis, was fired and turned

71
adrift, communicating the flames to three others, which
were burned. Tavo escaped to sea, leaving six disman
tled. Meantime the British troops, in much confusion,
took to the marsh on Hutchinson's Island, where they
Avere galled by the fire of Georgia riflemen and
grape from the field pieces. Tiiey Avere finally dis
lodged, with the aid of the Carolina volunteers and
militia, under the command of Col. Stephen Bull, as
sisted by Maj. Bourquin. The British squadron dropped
down to its previous anchorage in Tybee Roads. Capts.
Rice and Demere, and Lt. Roberts bemg still held as
prisoners, Anthony Stokes, James Edward PoAvell,
Josiah Tattnall, John Mulryne and others of the Royal
Council remaining in Savannah, Avere arrested in retal
iation. About the 20th of March the former Avere re
leased, therefore the members of the Council were also
released, on the condition that if remaining in Savan
nah they have no communication Av.th the King's
troops or ships in this province. The safety of their
person and property to be secured so far as the same
could be protected by the Council of Safety, or to go on
board the ships at Cockspur, and take their apparel,
provisions or anything else they might think necessary
for their voyage, if they were disposed to leave the
province.

72

. CHAPTER XIV.
The northern portion of Tybee Island was at that
tirae laid off into building lots, and the habitations
erected there were used by Gov. Wright, who had es
caped frora arrest, and had fled to the ships ; and also
by the officers of the squadron and the soldiers. Pres
ident Bulloch led an expedition for the purpose, and
burned all these buildings, except one occupied by a
sick woraan and several children.
In June, 1776,- Mr. Bryan went to Charlestown,
and inforraed Gen. Lee of the exposed condition of
Georgia to the ravages of the British cruisers, whose
headquarters were at St. Augustine. Gen. Charles Lee
was then in comraand of the southern department ; he
called upon the Georgia Council of Safety to send a
deputation to confer with him in regard to the condi
tion of Georgia and the best means of defense against
both external and internal enemies. Col. Lachlan Mc
intosh, Jonathan Bryan and John Houstoun were del
egated to this duty, and arrived in Charlestown Avithin
a few days after the great victory of June 28th, in
Charlestown harbor. Without proper preparation of
boats, food or medical supplies, Gen. Lee sent the
troops to capture St. Augustine. As might have been
expected, tho expedition proved a failure.
President Bulloch issued a proclamation in 1776,
calling a general election betAveen the first and tenth

73
of September for representatives to meet in Savannah
on the first Tuesday in the following October. The
convention met, but it Avas not until February, 1777,
that the constitution was finally agreed upon. This
was the first regular constitution of Georgia until the
meeting of the neAV legislature provided for the follow
ing May ; the pre-existing system of government
was continued. President Bulloch was requested, un
der a resolution of the Council of Safety passed Febru
ary 22, to take upon himself the whole executive poAv-
ers of government. Before the end of the month he
died, greatly lamented.
Button Gwinnett was elected in his place on the
fourth of March, but it is found that on the 26th of
the same month Jonathan Bryan Avas acting as Vice
President and commanded in behalf of the State of
Georgia. The constitution of 1777 was admirably
adapted to the exigencies of the times. President
Gwinnett's unhappy difficulty with Gen. Mcintosh
ending in his death, John Treutlen Avas elected Gov
ernor in May, 1777. Jonathan Bryan was retained in
the council. November, 1778, the field of active operations had
been transferred by the British authorities from the
north to the south. It Avas arranged that Gen, Augus
tine Prevost should send from St. Augustine tAvo expe
ditions, one by water under Lt. Col. Fuser, the other

74
by land under Lt. Col. Mark Prevost, the tAvo to unite
at Sunbury. Col. Prevost advanced into Liberty county, where
he was met by Col. John Baker, with a few mounted
militia, and afterAvards by Col. John White, with about
one hundred continentals and militia, and two light
cannon. On the morning of November 28th Col.
White was joined by Gen. Screven with tAventy militia.
They took position about one and a half miles south of
Medway church, where an ambuscade could be laid.
The enemy, however, conceived the same design, and
the advancing parties approached each other. Gen.
Screven, Avho was reconnoitering on foot, was mortally
wounded. He AVas carried into his own house, which
was not far distant ; when the enemy discovered its
ownership they decided to burn the house, and Gen.
Screven died while being carried out of it. Col. White,
finding himself opposed by superior numbers, retreat
ed ; but Prevost, deceived into believing that the former
was falling back on supports coming from Savannah,
and finding Fuser's command had not reached Sun-
bury, that the forces of Cols. Elbert and White had
united at the Ogeechee, determined to return to St.
Augustine, but not until he had burned MedAvay
church, plundered the country and subjected the in
habitants to robbery and insult. Late in November,
Col. Fuser again appeared before Sunbury and invest
ed the town by land and water. Col. Mcintosh held

76
Fort Morris with less than 200 men, but when its sur
render was demanded, Mcintosh replied: "Come and
take it," but Fuser, hearing that Prevost had retreated,
abandoned the siege. Atuhis tirae the expedition of
Col. Campbell wason its Avay to the reduction of Savan
nah, the town being in avery defenseless condition and
the people alarmed by the formidable force of the en
emy. Jonathan Bryan was at his plantation home
called "The Union," on Union creek, about twelve miles
from Savannah, in South Carolina. Gov. Houstoun
sent the public records by boat to his residence for safe
keeping. These records were subsequently sent to
Charlestown, later to North Carolina and finally to
Maryland, where they remained till the close of the
war. On the 27th of December, 1778, the British had
anchored in Tybee Roads, Two men were captured on
Wilmington Island and gave the information that Col.
Campbell determined to move on Savannah on the
same day. At noon on the next day's fiood tide there
came a man of Avar, a galley, an armed brig and the
armed sloop "Greenwich," followed by the transports in
three divisions. The man-of-war moved into the reach
opposite Brewton Hill about four o'clock in the after
noon, and drove back two American galleys which had
fired upon her. The day being far spent and some of
the transports aground, the attack was delayed until
daylight next morning, when the first division of the

76
British landed on the river dam at Brewton Hill. The
Light Infantry, under Capt, Cameron,, moved forward
on the rice field bank leading from the river, to dis
lodge a company of forty men • under Captain
Sraith, of South Carolina, posted on the sumrait of the
bluff, over thirty feet high, Avhich overlooked and com
manded the approach of the enemy. Capt, Smith's
force being driven back, joined the main array. The
road to Savannah was then laid open and the capture
ofthe metropolis virtually accomplished. Gen. Howe's
failure to meet the eneray frora the surarait of Brewton
Hill seeras incomprehensible and inexcusable. Here
was an elevation rising thirty or more feet above the
rice Holds, which could be inundated and made to ap
pear like ditches, and rendered alraost impassable to
those attempting to move in line of battle. The man-
of-war intended to cover the landing, being the advance
ship of the eneray, lay more than a raile away, beyond
effective cannon range. The approach was a narrow
causeway, probably a dam not more than four feet on
the top, forming a defile on which the attacking party
must move in file, exposed to the raost fatal fireon front
and flank, and yet only forty raen Avere assigned to
cover this position, the only one tenable under Gen.
Howe. Deceraber 29th, 1778, Col. Elbert, recognizing the
strength of this position, urged tho importance of hold
ing it, and offered his regiraent for the purpose ; but

77
Gen. Howe, rejecting the only position Avhere he could
have been defended, threw his army across the Thunder
bolt road near Avhere it noAV crosses Liberty street. Here
a traverse was thrown up, mounted with tAvo guns; a
hundred paces' in front of this Avas sunk a trench to
impede the march of the enemy, and a bridge across
what is now Bilbo's Canal Avas burned. From this cen
tre, the Thunderbolt road, lay the right Aving, consist
ing chiefly of the Carolina regiments of Cols, Hugerand
Thompson. They rested on a Avooded swarap partly
covered by houses of the Tattnall plantation, Avhich were
occupied by riflemen. The round-house and shops of
the Savannah, Florida and Western R. R. are uoav
located on this spot. The left Avas nnder the command
of Col. Elbert, consisting of a part of the First, Second,
Third and Fourth battalions of Georgia Continentals,
These rested obliquely to the rear of Col, Elbert's posi
tion, now occupied by the gas Avorks. extending to the
rice fields of Gov. .Wright's plantation. To the rear
lay the town. The force under Col. Campbell numbered
two thousand. The troops under Gen. HoAve, other
than the militia, numbered six hundred and seventy-
two. Although informed ofthe path which led through
the swamp south of the Thunderbolt road and urged
by Col. Walton to guard it. Gen. Howe allowed the
enemy to pass through unopposed, under the guidance
of a negro named Quamino Dolly. Approaching by
this path, and close to it, but unobserved by the Amer-

78
ican outposts, Sir James Baird with the Light Infantry
and New York Volunteers attacked and put to flight a
body of one hundred militia, which had been posted to
guard the road leading to the Ogeechee ; that is to say,
about where Jones, Charlton and Bull streets now in
tersect near Jasper's monument. Hearing the firing
in the engagement of Sir James Baird, and as assured
that the American right had been turned, Col, Camp
bell, Avhose line of battle lay across the Thunderbolt
road, only a little west of where the present toll gate
is, opened in front with his artillery and ordered a gen
eral charge. The Americans yielded in a panic and
fled. Fortunately Col. Roberts held the causeway next
to the Augusta road, across the head of Musgrove creek,
for the American right to pass ; but the left, under Col.
Elbert, in atterapting to pass between the causeAvay and
the river, through the rice fields on Springfield planta
tion, was arrested by Musgrove creek then at high tide.
Here raany Avere drowned ; those only escaped who
could swim. The capital of the State Avas now in the
hands of the enemy.
According to Gen. Moultrie's account of the His
tory of the Revolution in South Carolina and Georgia:
"Gen. Howe called a council of his field officers, Avho
advised him not to retreat, but stay and defend Savan
nah. This was the most ill advised, rash opinion that
could be given. It is absurd to suppose that six or
seven hundred men, some of them raw recruits, could

79
stand against tAvo or three thousand as good troops as
the British had, led by Col. Campbell, an active, brave,
experienced officer. Gen. HoAve should have retreated
with his men up the country, as he had certain infor
mation that Gen. Lincoln was marching Avith a body of
men to join him, and did actually arrive at Purisburg
on the third day of January, only four days after his
defeat. Gen. Howe was tried by courtmartial for the
loss of Savannah and acquitted."

CHAPTER XV.
While a man of Mr. Bryan's strength of character
must have found many pleasures in life, probably not
the least of these was that of having his sons united
with him in heart and purpose, through the eventful
years of his country's struggle for liberty. His first
born son, Hugh, and Dr. William Bryan, sat with him
as members ofthe Continental Congress in Savannah,
July, 1775, also John Houstoun, who married his daugh
ter, Hannah. From their number were elected the dele
gates to the Congress the nextyearin Philadelphia, who
were directed to vote for the independence of the col
onies. But many sorrows also had been his portion, prob
ably that which caused his deepest grief, was the sud
den death December 19th, 1776, of his son Hugh by a

80
fall from his horse. Hugh Bryan was thirty-eight years
old, and a deacon in the Presbyterian church. How
tender the bond between this father and son, who were
so congenial, can readily be understood.
We can also be assured of his delight in the brave
ry of his young son James (who was a lieutenant in
the Continental line of tho Georgia brigade), the part
ho took at the battle of Savannah, and in tho destrucK
tion of the ships.
With this son James, his wife and daughter, Mrs.
Morel, he was now, three days after tho reduction of
Savaimah at his plantation, "The Union," where the
public records had been sentby Gov. Houstoun for safe
keeping. That night Lt. Clarke, hoping to capture Gov.
Ho'istoun, despatched up Union creek to this planta
tion tho "Phoenix" or Fowey man-of-war; he did not
find the Governor, but took Jonathan Bryan and his
son James prisoners. His daughter, Mrs, Morel,
pleaded on bended knees with Sir Hugh Parker for her
aged father's release ; sho was treated Avith rudeness nnd
conton)j)t. They Avcre taken to New York and placed
on j)rison ships, whore they suffered groat hardships.
McCall's History says: "Many gentlemen, who
had been accustomed to ease nnd affluence, Avere con
signed to these abominable prison ships. Among the
number was the venerable Jonathan Bryan, bending
under the weight of years, whose daughter, when .she
was entreating Sir Hugh Parker to soften the sufferings

81
of her father, was treated by him with vulgar rude

ness."

The following report was sent from Gen. Moultrie
to Col. Dart, January 20th, 1779: "We have nothing
from the enemy these several days; they are lying still
in their quarters and we in ours. We frequently have
fiags going to and Avith necessaries to our unfortunate
prisoners. We are just going to send one Avith neces
saries for poor old Mr. Bryan, Avho is ordered to pre
pare himself to go to New York."
The following letters express more eloquently than
conjecture can suggest the sufferings of tne captives,
and the agony of separation from the wife and mother :
"Long Island, June 2nd, 1780.
"ify Dear Wife :
' "We stiil reside on Long Island, Avhere our ex
penses are high. In this place are few instances of
generosity or hospitality, but Avithout money Ave cannot
subsist; 1 have drawn on Mr. Basil Cowper for sixty
pounds in favor of Mr. Ralph MacNair & Co. ; with
these gentlemen I have had an extensive credit, and
they must be paid. My dear wife Mollie, if there should
be any difficulty with Mr. CoAvper, who, I believe,
would be glad to serve me, please to apply to our
daughter, Mrs. Morel, who, if you are not in cash, will
assist you in settling this affair to the satisfaction tb

82

those concerned. I am, dear wife, your ever affection
ate husband, "Jonathan Bryan,
*'To Mrs.. Mary Bryan,
"Brampton (near Savannah^, Ga."

"Long Island, June 3rd, 1780.
"Dear Wife:
"Yours of the 25th of March came to my hand,
and gave me great pleasure to find you once more in
hopes of doing Avell. I reflect Avith concern on the
raany difficulties you have gone through, and the
gloomy prospect yet before you, of spending the dregs
of life under a series of trouble, which, I doubt not, Avill
be sanctified to you. Our separation from each other
sits heavy on my raind, and I reflect, Avith great sorroAV,
on being deprived of the happy seasons of bending our
knees in union before the Throne of Grace. Our
prayers are recorded in God's Book ; our tears are pre
served in His bottle, and future destination is in His
hands. "I expect to see you no more on this side of tirae,
as I decline fast, but shall meet you in Heaven, where
the wicked will cease frora troubling and the weary
are at rest. I have no prospects of an exchange, and I
knoAV not how long I raay remain in a situation where
I am a burthen to myself and expense to you. Re
member meto our dear children, and also to our poor

83
slaves, if Ave have any left, I have had no account of
affairs since I have bean in this place, or whether any
of our property yet remains in your hands, I shall
conclude Avith prayer that God may, in time of distress,
hide you under His pavilion and cover you under the
hollow of His hand.
"Your affectionate husband, "Jonathan Bryan.
"P. S. — Our son James is Avell, and sends his duti
ful respects to you and love to his brother and sisters.
The bearer, Mr. Jackson, has treated me Avith great de
cency and friendship, and I beg that his kindness may
be returned."

"Brampton, Ga., June llth, 1780.
"Dear Mr. Bryan :
"I received your two letters of 22nd of August and
19th ot November, informing me of your and James'
health, which gave me the greatest satisfaction, not
having heard frora you for a length of time, I Avrote
to you in November last, and shall be punctual in do
ing so by every opportunity. Since your absence I re
turned to Brampton, where I now reside with most of
our property, and hope to do well. My treament has
been exceedingly perlight, everything considered; have
little reason to complain. My greatest concern is for
yourself and James, fearing you may be in want of
money. At present it is not in my power to remit ; am

84
truly sorry it has not been done before this, but am in
great hopes Avill be able shortly. Be assured every
effort will be employed to do so, I think, by applica
tion to the coraraanding officer for self and James, a
parole might be procured to return to Georgia and re
side Avith me. We are far advanced in years, and ac
cording to the course of nature cannot live long. Could
this request be granted, I shall look on it as the most
happy event of ray life; on my part, willdoeverything
in my power to promote. I pray that God, in His
great goodness, may corafort and support us in all our
afflictions. I heard from Hannah a month ago, at
which tirae she was well at Jacksonborough, S. C. Mr.
Morel, Mrs. Cuthbert, Mrs. CoAvper, with their farailies,
are well; their children have been inoculated for the
¦ small-pox and safely recovered, also myself inoculated
in my old age and safely recovered, bless God, with
scarcely a day's sickness. I do most earnestly recom
mend the keeping up your spirits with fortitude, and
being resigned to the dispensation of God, who will,
in His own good time, relieve us from every affliction.
"From, dear Mr. Bryan, your affectionate wife,
"Mary Bryan.
"Billy is with us, and joins Avith the greatest love
to self and Jaraes.
"When you write, please direct your letter to Mr.
Basil Cowper.

86
"Directed to Jonathan Bryan, Esq., Prisoner oi
War at Long Island, to the particular care of the com-
misarys of prisoners.''
"I expect to see you no more on this side of time,"
wrote Mr. Bryan from his prison on Long Island to his
wife, thinking that his own declining health Avould
terminate his life before he Avould be released from cap
tivity. But Avhile he Avas yet in imprisonment, the
faithful and devoted partner of forty-four, years of
union, yielded up her life March, 1781. Mrs. Nancy
Cuthbert, daughter of Joseph Bryan, was present ather
death bed. Up to this time Jonathan and James Bryan
had been in captivity tAvo years and two months. Hoav
much longer this continued is not known, but the suf
ferings of the aged captive and his son, in at least a
portion of this long and inhuman confinement, may be
inferred from McCall's History : "Some ofthe Georgia
prisoners, who were exchanged for a like number sent
from Charleston in March or April, Avere so emaciated
when they arrived in camp that thev were obliged to
be carried from the boats in which they were brought
from the prison ships. They complained highly of the
ill treatment which they had experienced on board the
filthy, floating dungeons, of which their countenances
and emaciated bodies exhibited condemning testimony.
They asserted that they had been subsisted on con
demned pork, which nauseated the stomach, and oat
meal so rat-eaten that swine would not fare on it. That

86
the staff of officers and members of the council from
Savannah shared in common with the soldiery — even
the venerable Bryan was obliged to partake of such re
pasts or die of hunger. In consequence of such mal
treatment five or six died daily, Avhose bodies were
taken from the prison ships to the nearest marshes and
troilden in the mud, from whence they were soon ex
posed by the washing ofthe tide, and at low Avater the
prisoners beheld the carrion-crows picking the bodies
of their departed corapanions ; about one-third of the
prisoners perished."

CHAPTER XVL
It is related that Jonathan Bryan took part in the
operations of Gen. Wayne in the spring of 1782. This
confirras the fact of his exchange.
During his captivity stirring events had occurred
in Georgia. After the fall of Savannah, Sunbury and
Augusta the enemy Avere virtually in possession of all
Georgia. Gov. Wright resuraed his administration
July 14th, 1779. The property of these Avho did not
espouse the royal cause was plundered by the troops,
or sequestrated to the use of the CroAvn. Loyalists
alone were permitted to sell their produce and only to
loyal purchasers. The families of such as had adhered
to the cause of their country Avere stripped of their

87
property by plundering enemies before it could be re
moved to places of security. Bandits, under the name
of Loyalists, were let loose to pillage them of all that
was movable. Negroes, stock, furniture of every de
scription, clothing about their persons, ear and finger-
rings and breast-pins were considered good prizes.
Children were beaten, to extort from them the secret
deposits of valuable property. Obscene language was
used ; personal insults offered to Avomen, and life under
such conditions was insupportable. Many were obliged
to abandon the country and seek a dependent residence
in the adjoining states in midAvinter. Those who had
practiced such cruelties Avere not spared Avhen the for
tunes of Avar thrcAV them into the hands of their adver
saries. Retaliation on both sides became tne order of
the day, and the war begun for freedom became a war
for extermination. February 14th, 1779, the country
became the scene ofthe most active Avarfare. A brill
iant victory was Avon by the Americans at Kettle
Creek, and minor operations around Augusta proved
successful. Col. Campbell evacuated some points in
February; much annoyed by the Americans, he with-
droAv to Hudson's Ferry on the Savannah river.
The American force, under Gen. Ashe, was defeat
ed in March. Leaving Gen. Moultrie Avith 1,200 men
at Purisburg and Black Swamp to watch the enemy in
the event of an attempt to move into Carolina, Gen.
Lincoln led the remainder of the American force

88
towards Augusta, but discovering that Gen. Pre
vost had advanced into Carolina and threatened
Charleston, he halted at Silver Bluff, on the Savannah
river, in April, 1779. But Prevost's operations against
Charleston were unsuccessful, and, retreating by way
of the sea islands, he returned to Savannah after post
ing at Port Royal a detachment of 800 men under Col.
Maitland, destined to a distinguished part in the Brit
ish defense of Savannah, October, 1779. His army
passing through the best settled district of South Caro
lina bore away about 3,000 slaves, who were sold in the
West Indies. About 1,000 followed the army and were
lost, perishing in the streams, Avhich they could not
cross, or in the woods frora disease and want, or from
the cruelties ofthe soldiery. Jones says in his History
of Georgia : "To this day Otter Island is strewn Avith
their bones. One million dollars and valuables of all
kinds were taken from South Carolina." Ramsey
says: "The British carried rice barrels full of plate,
which they had taken frora the inhabitants. The
repositories of the dead were in several places
broken into, and the graves searched for hidden treas
ures. What was destroyed by the soldiers Avas sup
posed to be of more value than what they carried off.
Feather beds Avere ripped open for the ticking. Win
dows, chinaware, looking-glasses and pictures were
dashed to pieces. Not only the larger animals were
wantonly destroyed, but the licentiousness of the sol-

89
diers was so great that nothing within their reach, how
ever insignificant, Avas permitted to live. The gardens,
which had been improved with great care and orna
mented with foreign plants, were laid waste." •
These ravages were repeated in Georgia and Caro
lina when Sherman, with the largest invading army of
modern times, passed through a breadth of country
thirty miles wide, from Atlanta to Savannah, and later
to the capital of South Carolina. Thousands of living
witnesses can attest the truth of his report to Abrahara
Lincoln : "Not a crow could find its rations in a day's
journey." Jonathan Bryan's planting interests lay within
the scenes of ruthless plunder and devastation. Finally
on the 9th of October, 1779, the combined French and
American forces, under d'Estaing and Gen. Lincoln,
were hurled against the British defenses about Savannah
and were repulsed Avith great loss. Among those Avho
fell Avere Count Pulaski, Col. Jones, of Liberty county.
Aide to Gen. Mcintosh, and Sergeant Jasper. May,
1780, Gen. Lincoln withdrew his army from Georgia,
and attempted the defense of Charlestown, Avhich Avas
captured by Sir Henry Clinton, May 12th, 1780. The
defense of Charlestown was even niore injudicious than
that of Savannah under Gen, Howe, In the former
case. Gen, Washington himself declared that the im
practicability of defending the bar amounted to the loss
of the town and garrison. The repulse of the Ameri-

90
cans at Savannah and the fall of Charleston
seemed to destroy the hopes of the republi
cans in Georgia, and many of them resuraed al
legiance to the Crown. .Sorae retired to their home
steads, seeking to make subsistance for their families ;
others remained under arms and continued the Avar
with unabated vigor, but with varying success. Au
gusta Avas besieged, but the investment was raised on
the approach of reinforcements. In April, 1781, move
ments were renewed against Augusta and the town was
surrendered June 5th, 1781. Augusta then became the
capital of the State. In August of the same year
Nathan Brownson was elected Governor, and James
Bryan, who, Avith his father, had returned from captiv
ity, Avas elected Treasurer ofthe State with a salary of
one hundred and fifty pounds per annura. Between the
fall of Savannah in December, 1778, and June, 1781,
great weakness existed in both the Royal and Repub
lican Governments of the State. Neither could assem
ble a quorum of the Legislative department. In Jan
uary, 1782, a Legislature assembled at Augusta and
carried into effect the laws previously enacted, confis
cating the estates of Loyalists. As taxation was
impossible, a system of credit was adopted to pay the
militia and maintain the government. Gov. Martin
had succeeded Gov. Brownson, and in his administra
tion the war was ended in Georgia. In 1782 Gen. An
thony Wayne was appointed by Gen. Greene to com-

91
mand in Georgia. He crossed the Savannah river
January 12th, made his headquarters at Ebenezer, and
Gov. Martin removed the seat of government to that
town. The British Avere virtually driven from the soil
except from Sunbury and Savannah. Forays of the
enemy frora these places Avere invariably driven back,
while the Republicans, under the daring lead of Col.
Jaraes Jackson, pressed their assaults alraost to the
gates of Savannah. They burned the rice stacks of
Gov. Wright, on Avhich Col. Carapbell had formed his
line of battle in December, 1778. Ramsey says, in his
History ofthe Revolution : "On the 21st of May, 1782,
Col. BroAvn, at the head of a considerable party, marched
out of the garrison at Savannah, Avith the apparent in
tention of attacking the Americans, consisting of sixty
horse and forty infantry. The Americans were led by
Col. White of the cavalry and Capt. Parker of the in
fantry to a spirited charge, in which forty of the men
commanded by Col. BroAvn were killed or Avounded,
about twenty taken prisonersand the remainderobliged
to shelter themselves in the swamp under cover of
the night. Mr. Jonathan Bryan, a respectable citizen
of the State of Georgia, though nearly eighty years of
age, was among the foremost on this occasion, and
showed as much fire and spirit as could be exhibited by
a young soldier in the pursuit of military fame"
In this restricted condition the British comraand
er Gen. Clarke, invited the assistance of the Creek

92
Indians, and Garistersigo, a bold and skillful chief, led
towards Savannah a band of about three hundred Avar
riors. By swift secret marches Guristersigo crossed
tbe whole territory of Georgia undetected and reached
the vicinity of Savannah. Finding a picquet of Gen.
Wayne's command stationed nearly in his path near
Savannah, he made arrangements to attack the picquet.
He was not aware that Gen. Wayne never caraped on
the sarae ground two successive nights and had changed
positions on the evening of June 22nd, his main force
occupying that of the picquet. Nor was Wayne
aware of the proximity of the Indian force, believing
that no attack Avould come except from the direction
of Savannah, he had posted but one sentinel in his
rear. Capt. Parker's Light Infantry, which had corae
in late, fatigued by several days' duty, Avas ordered to
the rear near the artillery. In the meantime, soon
after nightfall June 23, 1782, Guristersigo comraenced
his silent raarch ; about three o'clock in the raorning
he had reached the vicinity ofthe Araerican carap and
forraed his order of attack. He expected to find no re
sistance, the solitary sentinel was slain and the whole
force of Guristersigo at once assailed the carap. The
Araericans were encaraped on the Gibbons plantation,
near Savannah, the house being occupied by Gen.
Wayne. They were promptly aroused on finding an
eneray among thera, and Capt. Baker fell back to the
Gibbons house, behind which Avas the quarter guard.

93
The general ordered the guard to attack Avith bayonets
and before the main force, under Col. Posey, could
come up from the camp the Indians had been driven
from the cannon, Avhich they Avere trying to turn upon
the Americans. This advantage Avas gained by the lib
eral use of the bayonet and SAvord. Orders had been
given to depend exclusively on these Aveapons, and that
this might be complied Avith the fiints Avere taken out
of the muskets of the infantry. Gen. Wayne, whose
horse had been killed under him, participated in the
militia with his light troops. Guristersigo, Avith his
white guides and seventeen of his Avarriors, AViis killed,
the remainder fled. In the pursuit tAvelve men Avere
taken and executed. The American loss did not ex
ceed twelve killed and wounded. This extraordinary
conflict was the last battle of the Avar on Georgia soil,
occurring at a time after Gov. Wright had informed
Gen. Wayne ofthe proceedings in Parliament looking
to an adjustment between England and the United
States and a cessation of hostilities. This proposition
had been forAvarded to Gen, Greene and by him to
Congress a month before the battle of June 23rd. Sir
Guy Carleton had dated his order from Ncav York
for the evacuation of both Savannah and Georgia on
the afternoon of July 11, 1782.
The British having evacuated Savannah in the
morning. Gen Wayne took possession of the tOAvn with
his troops. The preliminary treaty of peace was Nov.

94
20th, 1782, and the final treaty Sept. 3rd, 1783. Soon
after Gen. Wayne joined Gen. Greene, leaving Col.
Jackson with his legion at Savannah.
Jones' History says : "The whole population of
Georgia at that time, bond and free, did not exceed
thirty thousand souls. Deplorable Avas the condition of
Georgia; for forty-tAvo long months had she been a prey
to rapine, oppression, fratricidal strife and poverty.
Fear, unrest, the brand, the sword, the tomahawk had
been her portion. In the abstraction of negro slaves,
in the burning of dwellings, in the obliteration of plan
tations, by the destruction of agricultural implements,
and by theft of domestic animals and personal effects,
it is estimated that at least one-half of the available
property ofthe inhabitants had during tbis period been
swept away. Real estate had depreciated in value;
agriculture Avas at a standstill, and there vvas no raoney
with Avhich to repair the losses and inaugurate a ncAV
era of prosperity. The laraentations of the widow and
orphan were heard in the land. These not only be-
raoaned their dead, but cried aloud for food."

CHAPTER XVIL
Araid scenes like these Jonathan Bryan's last years
were spent; but his heart was full of gratitude, as once
again he sat by his hearthstone at Brampton with his

06
daughter— Mrs. Richard Wylly, formerly Mrs. John
Morel, and his sons James and Dr. William Bryan,
The Avill of Jonathan Bryan, the first on record in
Chatham county, shows that he owned forty-eight
slaves at the time of his death. These must have been
truly loyal and remained with the faraily of their own
choice, as both the Indians and the British Avould glad
ly have aided their departure from Brampton had they
wished to leave the place
In 1784 we find Jonathan Bryan a trustee Avith
Robert Bolton of the Presbyterian church in Savannah.
Involuntarily the thought arises that it Avas of such as
he that Christ said: "Well done good and faithful
servant; thou hast been faithful over a fcAV things, I
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord."
From the Georgia Gazette of March 13th, 1788, Ave
quote the following: "On Sunday last died at his
place, near Savannah, in the eightieth year of his age,
the Hon. Jonathan Bryan, Esq., Avho had been for fifty
years an inhabitant of this State ; both under forraer
and present governments he filled several important
stations. The many virtues which this gentleman pos
sessed, both of a social and private nature, will not be
readily forgotten. Having at an early day removed
into this State, he acquired a thorough and accurate
knowledge of the country. This enabled him, and his
generous heart always inclined him, to render that aid

96
to the new settlers that he may be justly styled as one
of the principal Fathers and Founders of Georgia.
Zealous in the cause of Christ, he considered modes of
worship but a secondary, Avhile a great first principle
with him in all true religion was universal charity.
Being in the late war taken prisoner, he was made to
undergo a series of persecutions and hardships scarcely
to be paralleled, and never to be justified ; but the
strength of his constitution, and the unshaken firm
ness of his mind, even at the advanced age of seventy
years, rose superior to all difficulties, and at length
brought him to die in the arms of peace. Thus having
spent a life marked Avith many private trials, and lit-^
erally exhausted his days chiefly in the service of his
country, he expired, or rather ceased to breathe with
out a pain, a murmur or a groan." His remains Avere
interred in the faraily vault at Brampton.
In December, 1864, war's rude alarms once more
swept over Georgia. Just in proportion to the greater
numbers engaged in the conflict was the destruction
wrought. From peaceful homes on Georgia planta- '
tions, Sherman, with an army of 65,000 men, drove tens
of thousands of defenseless negroes for a breastwork
before him, and reached Savannah, December 22nd.
Before the capitulation of the city, as in the daysof the
revolulion, all that was evil in man seemed to triumph.
It is beyond the power of words to express the fiendish
outrages perpetrated in the vicinity of the city. The

97
old church of the Salzburgers at Ebenezer, built in
1767, Avas used as a stable and the records destroyed.
Many ncAV made graves Avere unearthed in search for
hidden treasure, the bodies rolled out of coffins and
often left uncovered. The vault at Brampton did not
escape desecration.
Truly Georgians Avho have learned well the lessons
history has taught, count not her wealth or greatness
in the things that perish. Her priceless heritage is the
character of her sons who have shed lustre on the pages
of history, or in the quiet avocations of life been to her
a bulwark of strength. Though being dead they yet
speak, to teach those for Avhom the drama of life is
opening, that "there are heroes Avithout the laurel, and
conquerors Without the triumph." That the clarion
still sounds that calls them into service for God and
Home and Native land. Problems of governraent,
social, domestic and coraraercial conditions have as
sumed new relations. These call for thesame courage,
wisdom and noble impulse that impelled her loyal sons
of other days to action, in field or forura, whenever her
peace was disturbed or her rights were threatened.
ISABELLA REMSHART REDDING.
Waycross, Ga., September, 1901-

YALE