There is an Island call’d Peeper, lying in the Mouth of the Savannah River, between
which and Tybee there is a very good Harbour. In the
Evening we came to Anchor there, where lay the following Ships: The Prince of Wales, Capt. Dunbar, the Two Brothers, Capt. Thomson, and the Peter and James, Capt. Dymond, who were all
on
1735-6.
February.
the Trustees Account, with Stores and Men
for the Southward Settlement, and obliged to stay on Demurrage, by reason of
our being unluckily delay’d by contrary Winds at Cowes. Mr. Oglethorpeemploy’d all Hands to discharge them, that
he might stop the Expense of Demurrage as soon as possible. All the Ships
saluted Mr. Oglethorpe with their Cannon on our coming to Anchor;
after which he sent an Express to Charles-Town, and to Lieut. Delegal, (who commanded the King’s Independent Company at Port Royal) for the Company to repair to St. Simon’s.
We learnt from Capt. Dunbar, who had brought over 170 Highlanders, that Capt. Hugh Mackay was set out for
the Alatamaha River; he being gone first with Part of
the Men, and having left the Families to follow after.
That there had been several Reports spread
amongst the Highlanders, by the Suttlers who brought them
Provisions, that the Spaniards and Indians would certainly
destroy them; notwithstanding which they went up.
On the 6th, early, Mr. Oglethorpe set out for Savannah; but he first carried the People on shore upon Peeper Island, and shew’d them where to dig a Well, which they did, and found
Plenty of fresh Water. He was received at Savannah by the
Freeholders under Arms, and under the Salute of 21 Cannons, which we heard
plainly, being about ten Miles distance.
After Mr. Oglethorpe was gone to Savannah, most of the
Colony went ashore upon Peeper Island, where I found an Eagle’s Nest on a
Fir-tree; we cut it down, and found an Egg in it, in which was a young
Eagle. In the Evening the People found another Spring, and also a Pond of
fresh Water, which they used for washing their Linnen.
1735-6.
February.
A small Sloop passed by us for Savannah, bound thither with Provisions from Carolina.
On the 7th, all our Women went ashore on Peeper Island to wash their Linnen., A Boat came
down from Savannah with some fresh Beef, Pork, Venison and
other Refreshments, sent by Mr. Oglethorpe for the People on board this Ship and the London Merchant. In the Evening we had a smart
Shower of Rain, which wetted our good Women to the Skins before they could get
aboard.
On the 8th some Boats with
Suttlers came on board with Provisions to sell to the Passengers. They
privately brought some Rum; which being discover’d, the Officers who were left
by Mr.Oglethorpe to keep Orders
on board, during his Absence, order’d the same to be staved; which was
accordingly complied with. The Boat returned which had been sent to Port Royal, with Answer, that the Refreshments which
had been bespoke from England, for the Use of the Colony, were not
ready. She immediately proceeded up to Savannah, having
Packets of Letters for Mr.Oglethorpe, who in the Evening return’d from
thence in a Scout-boat. This was a strong-built swift Boat, with three
swivel Guns and ten Oars, kept for the visiting the River-Passages, and
Islands, and for preventing the Incursions of Enemies, or Runaways, from whence
it is call’d Scout-boat. The Crew is composed of Men bred in America, bold and hardy, who lie out in the Woods, and upon the Water Months
together, without a House or Covering. Most of them are good Hunters or
Fishers. By killing Deer and other Game they can subsist themselves, in
café their Provisions should fail; but indeed, on these Sea-islands, no one can
starve, since if, at the worst, a Man was lost, there are Oysters and
Shell-fish enough to subsist him.
1735-6.
February.
Mr. Oglethorpe brought with him fresh Meat, and other
Refreshments in Plenty, which he distributed to the new Comers, consisting of
fresh Beef, fresh Pork, Venison, wild Turkeys, soft Bread (the Word soft is put
to distinguish it from Biscuit, because at Sea they call Biscuit, Bread)
Strong-beer, Small-beer, Turnips, and Garden-greens; and this in such Plenty,
that there was enough for the whole Colony for some Days. This was doubly
agreeable to the Colony, both because they found the Comfort of fresh Food
after a long Voyage, and also that a Town begun within these three Years, by
People in their own Circumstances, could produce such Plenty; from whence they
hoped themselves should be in as good or better a Condition within that
Time. The People were not a little surprised at the News, which came by
the Boat, that Mr. Vonreck and the Germans did not go to
the Southward with them. This is the more extraordinary, because Mr. Vonrecksaid, that he went up to Ebenezer to get some more Men from thence, who are
acquainted with the Colony, to increase the Strength of the new Town. But
this did not daunt our Inhabitants (that were to be) of Frederica (for so our Town was to be called) though
to be sure, the losing half our Number was a great Lessening of our
Strength. The Reason, we heard, he gave for the Germansgoing up to Ebenezer and not with us, was, that they might have
the Benefit of the two Ministers, who were settled at Ebenezer and that they might not divide the Congregation. Others of theGermans did not care to go to the Southward,
because, they said, Fighting was against their Religion, and they apprehended
Blows might happen there. But Captain Hermsdorf came to Mr.Oglethorpe,
and desired that he might be put upon every Occasion of Service, if there
