some of the early records, this river is written _Medway_. It may be
fairly stated, however, that while by some the river may have been called
Medway, the district was universally known as _Midway_. The time-honored
church, which still stands, and its predecessor which so long stood near
the intersection of the Savannah and Darien, and the Sunbury roads, are
both remembered as the _Midway_ and not _Medway_ congregational meeting
houses. We are persuaded that the river as well as the district were both
named _Midway;_—the former being called for the latter.
By an act dividing the several districts and divisions of the Province of
Georgia into Parishes, passed the 15th day of March, 1758,[175] it was
provided that “the town of Hardwick and district of Ogechee, on the south
side of the river Great Ogechee, extending northwest up the said river
so far as the Lower Indian trading path leading from Mount Pleasant, and
southward from the town of Hardwick as far as the swamp of James Dunham,
including the settlements on the north side of the north branches of the
river Midway, with the islands of Ossabaw, and from the head of the said
Dunham’s Swamp in a north-west line, shall be and forever constitute a
parish by the name of ‘The Parish of St. Philip’: from Sunbury in the
district of Midway and Newport from the southern bounds of the parish
of St. Philip, extending southward as far as the north line of Samuel
Hastings, and from thence southeast to the south branch of Newport,
including the islands of St. Katharine and Bermuda, and from the north
line of the said Samuel Hastings northwest, shall be and forever continue
a parish by the name of ‘The Parish of St. John’: the town and district
of Darien, extending from the south boundary of the parish of St. John to
the river Alatamaha, including the islands of Sapelo and Eastwood, and the
sea islands to the north of Egg island northwest up the river Alatamaha
to the forks of the said river, shall be and forever continue a parish
by the name of ‘The Parish of St. Andrew:’ and the town and district of
Frederica, including the islands of Great and Little St. Simons, and the
adjacent islands shall be and forever continue a parish by the name of
‘The Parish of St. James.’”
Such were the territorial limits of the four southern parishes of the
province, approved by Governor Ellis, and designed to promote the
establishment of religious worship according to the rites and ceremonies
of the Church of England.[176]
As the early population of Sunbury was largely drawn from the members of
the Midway congregation,—the most pronounced society existing within the
limits of St. John’s parish at the time of its formation,—a brief sketch
of that congregation and its establishment in Georgia, may not be deemed
irrelevant.
Early in 1697 a body of Puritans from the Towns of Dorchester, Roxbury,
and Milton, in Massachusetts, taking with them their pastor,—the Reverend
Joseph Lord,—and proclaiming as a leading object the encouragement of
churches and the promotion of religion in the Southern plantations,
removed with their families and personal effects and formed a new home at
Dorchester, in the province of South Carolina. The church which they there
established was the first Congregational or Independent Church within the
confines of that Colony. All the other religious societies belonged to the
established Church of England.
After a residence of more than fifty years, finding their lands
impoverished and insufficient for the rising generation,—Dorchester and
Beach-Hill proving very unhealthy,—the good reports of the lands in
Georgia having been confirmed upon the personal inspection of certain
members of the Society who had been sent for that purpose, and a grant
of 22,400 acres of land having been secured from the authorities in
Georgia,—which grant was subsequently enlarged by the addition of 9,950
acres,—the members of the Dorchester Society commenced moving in 1752 into
what is now the swamp region of Liberty County. The settlement lay between
Mount Hope Swamp,—the head of Midway river,—on the North, and Bull-Town
Swamp on the South. At first, however, it was not so comprehensive. It
extended neither to the pine barrens on the West, nor to the salt water
on the East. This immigration, begun in 1752, was continued until 1771,
when it ceased.[177] According to the records of the Society, there were
forty-four removals in all, of which one family came from Charlestown,
four from Pon-Pon, and the remaining thirty-nine from Dorchester and
Beach-Hill. These removals were most numerous during the years 1754,
1755, and 1756. These immigrants brought their negroes with them, and it
appears probable, from the best lights before us, that the population of
this colony, after its full establishment, consisted of about 350 whites,
and 1500 negro slaves.
The region into which the Dorchester Congregation immigrated was already
known as the _Midway District_. To the General Assembly which convened in
Savannah in 1751, Audley Maxwell, Esquire, was sent as a delegate;—its
population then entitling it to such representation. It would appear that
a number of families residing in the Midway District previous to the
arrival of the Dorchester Congregation, united with that Society after it
was regularly domiciled in its new home. The Dorchester Colony did not
immigrate, in its entirety, to Georgia. Some families continued to dwell
at Dorchester and Beach-Hill, where their descendants may yet be found.
Others removed elsewhere. With the formation of the new settlement in St.
John’s parish, however, the old Dorchester colony in South Carolina lost
its integrity and distinctive characteristics.
In locating their plantations amid the swamps of St. John’s parish, the
following plan was adopted: After laying by their crops in Carolina in the
fall of the year, the planters came with able-bodied hands, and, during
the winter, cleared land and built houses. In a season or two having thus
sufficiently prepared the way, they brought their families and servants in
the early spring, and at once entered upon the cultivation of the soil.
Thus was the removal rendered as safe and comfortable as the nature of the
case permitted.
Strange to say, their dwellings and plantation quarters were invariably
located on the edges of the swamps, in utter disregard of the manifest
laws of health. In such malarial situations was the entire year passed.
Their houses at first were built of wood, one story high, with dormer
windows in the roofs, small in size, without lights, with no inside
linings, and with chimneys of clay. The negro-houses were made either of
clay or poles. For market, rice was the only article cultivated. While
corn was planted on the upland, chief attention was bestowed upon the
clearing, ditching, and drainage of the swamps. A miasmatic soil was thus
exposed to the action of the sun, at their very doors. The consequence
of such injudicious location, and of a general inattention to domestic
comfort, was violent sickness and considerable mortality. So frequent were
the deaths among children that they seldom arrived at puberty. Those who
attained the age of manhood and womanhood possessed feeble constitutions.
According to the register kept by the Society, from 1752 to 1772,—the
period during which this settlement was being formed,—193 births and
134 deaths occurred. The mortality was greatest during the months of
September, October, and November. April, May, June, and August appear to
have been the healthiest months:—June particularly so. Bilious fevers in
the fall, and pleurisies in the winter and spring, were the diseases which
proved most fatal. It used to be said of such as survived a severe attack
of bilious fever in the fall, that they would certainly die of pleurisy in
the winter or spring.
The Indians being in the vicinity, and at times indulging in acts of
hostility, some of the houses of these early settlers were made of hewn
cypress logs after the fashion of block houses, and were bullet proof.
The style of agriculture in vogue was of the most primitive sort. The
ground was tilled with hoes only. Ploughs were not in use. All rails for
fencing were carried on the heads and shoulders of the negroes, and in
the same manner was rice transported from the fields. This grain was not
only threshed but also beaten by hand: and thus was the crop prepared for
market. At first some of the planters sold their crops in Savannah. A
trip to that place was the event of the year, and the anticipated journey
was talked of in the neighborhood for some time before it was undertaken.
Horses were specially fed and carefully attended for a week or more
preparatory to the jaunt. Ordinary journeys to church, and of a social
character, were performed on horseback. Hence horse-blocks were to be seen
at every door. When he would a-wooing go, the gallant appeared mounted
upon his finest steed and in his best attire, followed by a servant on
another horse, conveying his master’s valise behind him.
Shortly after the Revolutionary war stick-back gigs were introduced. If
a woman were in the vehicle and unattended, the waiting man rode another
horse, keeping along side of the shaft horse and holding the check rein in
his left hand. When his master held the lines, the servant rode behind.
Men often went armed to church for fear of the Indians.
The country was filled with game. Ducks and wild geese in innumerable
quantities frequented the rice-fields. Wild turkeys and deer abounded.
Bears and beavers were found in the swamps, and buffalo herds wandered
at no great remove to the southward and northward. There was no lack of
squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, snipe, wood-cock, and quail.
Wildcats and hawks were the pest of the region, while the cougar was
sometimes heard and seen in the depths of the vine-clad swamps. The waters
which they held were alive with fishes, alligators, terrapins, and snakes.
Such, in a few words, was the condition of the swamp region of the Midway
District when the town of Sunbury was located. Responding to the trust
reposed in them by the conveyance from Mark Carr, Messrs. James Maxwell,
Kenneth Baillie, John Elliott, Grey Elliott, and John Stevens, with due
dispatch set about laying off the town upon the “westermost bank” of
Midway river. The plan, as matured and carried out by them, embraced
three public squares,—known respectively as _King’s_, _Church_, and
_Meeting_,—and four hundred and ninety-six lots. These lots had a uniform
front of seventy feet, and were one hundred and thirty feet in depth. Lots
numbers one to forty, inclusive, fronting on the river, were denominated
_Bay Lots_, and carried with them the ownership of the shore to low-water
mark. Four lots constituted a block, bounded on three sides by streets,
and on the fourth by a lane. The streets were seventy-five feet broad, and
the lanes twenty feet wide. The plan of the town was entirely regular. The
streets in one direction ran at right angles to the river, and were, at
right angles, intersected by the cross streets and lanes. From north to
south the length of Sunbury, as thus laid out, was 3430 feet. Its breadth
on the south side was 2230 feet, and on the north, 1880 feet.
Within a short time substantial wharves were constructed, the most marked
of which were subsequently owned and used by the following merchants:
Kelsell & Spalding, Fisher, Jones & Hughes, Darling & Co., and Lamott.
That Sunbury must rapidly have attracted the notice of the colonists
and quickly secured a population by no means insignificant or destitute
of influence in that day of small things, is evidenced by the fact that
as early as 1761 the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of his
council, established and declared it to be a port of entry, and appointed
Thomas Carr, Collector, John Martin, Naval Officer, and Francis Lee,
Searcher. These appointments were confirmed by the Commissioners of his
Majesty’s Customs.[178]
By deed prepared by Thomas Bosomworth, Malatche Opiya, Mico, Emperor of
the Upper and Lower Creeks, in consideration of ten pieces of stroud,
twelve pieces of duffles, two hundred weight of powder, two hundred weight
of lead, twenty guns, twelve pairs of pistols, and one hundred weight
of vermilion, on the 14th day of December, 1749, conveyed to Thomas and
Mary Bosomworth [formerly Musgrove] Hussoope or Ossabaw island, Cowleggee
or St. Catherine island,[179] and Sapelo, with their appurtenances,
warranting the same to them, their heirs, and assigns, so long as the sun
should shine, or the waters flow in the rivers.[180] This claim to the
ownership of these valuable islands proved a very annoying one to the
colonists. After years of litigation, the dispute was finally settled in
1759, by Royal command, by admitting a demand of Mrs. Bosomworth for £450
for goods alleged to have been expended by her in his Majesty’s service
during the years 1747 and 1748, by allowing her a back salary at the rate
of £100 per annum for sixteen years and a half, during which she had acted
in the capacity of government agent and interpreter, and by confirming
to her and her designing husband full right and title to St. Catherine
island, in consideration of the fact that they had fixed their residence
and planted there.[181]
St. Catherine island was the home of the Bosomworths when Sunbury
was settled. Some fourteen years afterwards it formed the residence
of the honorable Button Gwinnett, who, having disposed of his stock
of merchandise in Charleston, South Carolina, with the proceeds
purchased some negroes and a tract of land on St. Catherine, where he
devoted himself to agricultural pursuits until, on the outbreak of the
Revolutionary war, he was summoned from his retirement by the voice of his
fellow-citizens.[182]
Captain McCall, in alluding to the early history of Sunbury, says: “Soon
after its settlement and organization as a town, it rose into considerable
commercial importance; emigrants came from different quarters to this
healthy maritime port, particularly from Bermuda: about seventy came from
that island, but unfortunately for them and the reputation of the town, a
mortal epidemic broke out and carried off about fifty of their number the
first year: it is highly probable they brought the seeds of the disease
with them. Of the remainder, as many as were able, returned to their
native country. This circumstance, however, did not very much retard the
growing state of this eligible spot: a lucrative trade was carried on with
various parts of the West Indies in lumber, rice, indigo, corn, &c. Seven
square-rigged vessels have been known to enter the port of Sunbury in one
day, and about the years 1769 and 1770 it was thought by many, in point
of commercial importance, to rival Savannah. In this prosperous state it
continued with very little interruption until the war commenced between
Great Britain and America.”[183]
In his report on the condition of the Province of Georgia, dated the 20th
of September, 1773, Sir James Wright mentions Savannah and Sunbury as
being the only ports in the Province. The inlet to the latter he describes
as “very good; and, although the river is not more than twenty two miles
in length, fifteen feet of water may be carried up to the town distant
twelve miles from the sea.” From the same source we learn that during the
year 1772 fifty-six vessels of various sorts were entered and cleared at
the custom house in the port of Sunbury.[184] The collector of the port at
this time was James Kitchen, with a salary of £65 stg, and fees of office
amounting to £90. The comptroller and searcher was Isaac Antrobus: salary
£60: fees of office amounting to a like sum.
Sunbury soon commanded the rice crop from the adjacent swamp regions.
Indigo was planted on the island just below, then called Bermuda, and now
known as the Colonel’s Island. The principal trade was with the West
Indies and with the Northern Colonies. From the former, supplies of rum
and sugar were obtained, and from the latter rum, flour, biscuits, and
provisions. To the West Indies were shipped rice, corn, peas, indigo,
lumber, shingles, live stock, and barreled beef and pork. Governor Wright
regarded the trade with the Northern Colonies as injurious to the Province
of Georgia, because, says he, “they take of but little of our produce,
and drain us of every trifle of Gold and Silver that is brought here,
by giving a price for Guineas, Moidores, Johannes’s Pistols and Dollars
far above their real and intrinsic value, so that we can never keep any
amongst us.” So anxious was Sunbury to concentrate all the trade of the
interior, that at one time it was proposed to connect Midway and North
Newport rivers by a canal running between Bermuda island and the main.
This project, however, was never consummated. Occasionally vessels arrived
from English ports bringing manufactured goods, but such generally sought
Savannah as the port of entry and discharge. The purchases of the Sunbury
merchants were largely made in or through Savannah, and were thence
conveyed in coasting sloops and schooners through the inland passages.
Below the town, and on the road to the Colonel’s island, is a locality
to this day known as the _stave landing_, whence, in these early days,
constant shipments of staves and shingles were made. On the eastern side
of that island, the site of the old shipyard is still pointed out where
vessels were repaired and new ones built. It was here that the British
landed during the Revolutionary war, when, under Lieut. Col. Fuser, they
attempted the reduction of Sunbury.
The health of Sunbury from the time of its settlement until, and even
after the Revolutionary war, was good. It became a pleasant residence for
the families of many planters whose plantations were located in the swamp
regions.
The following is a “list of the Proprietors of the Town of Sunbury in
Georgia,” and of the Lots owned by them or their representatives about the
period of the war of the Revolution:
Lot No. 1. Mark Carr.
” ” 2. Arthur Carnaby.
” ” 3. Grey Elliott.
” ” 4. Do.
” ” 5. Francis Arthur.
” ” 6. William Graves.
” ” 7. Francis Arthur.
” ” 8. John Cubbidge.
” ” 9. James Maxwell.
” ” 10. Mary Spry.
” ” 11. Samuel Bennerworth.
” ” 12. Stephen Dickinson.
” ” 13. James Fisher. Schmidt & Mölich.
” ” 14. Do. Do.
” ” 15. Swinton & Co.
” ” 16. Darling & Munro.
” ” 17. Francis Arthur.
” ” 18. James Derwell.
” ” 19. Swinton & Co.
” ” 20. Thomas Peacock.
” ” 21. Andrew Darling.
” ” 22. Thomas Young.
” ” 23. Do.
” ” 24. Roger Kelsall.
” ” 25. John James.
” ” 26. Joseph Bacon.
” ” 27. John Stewart, Sen’r.
” ” 28. John Lupton.
” ” 29. Dunbar, Young & Co.
” ” 30. Do.
” ” 31. John Elliott.
” ” 32. James Dunham.
” ” 33. Lyman Hall.
” ” 34. Do.
” ” 35. Samuel Miller.
” ” 36. Kenneth Baillie, Sen’r.
” ” 37. Samuel Bennerworth.
” ” 38. Do.
” ” 39. William Sererson.
” ” 40. Do.
” ” 41. Mark Carr.
” ” 42. Tabitha Bacon.
” ” 43. Do.
” ” 44. John Winn.
” ” 45. David Jervey.
” ” 46. Do.
” ” 47. Francis Arthur.
” ” 48. Francis Lee.
” ” 49. John Quarterman, Jr.
” ” 50. James Dowell.
” ” 51. John Irvine.
” ” 52. Jeremiah Irvine.
” ” 53. Darling & Co.
” ” 54. Matthew Smallwood.
” ” 55. William Peacock.
” ” 56. Isaac Lines.
” ” 57. John Osgood.
” ” 58. Rebecca Way.
” ” 59. John Stewart, Sr.
” ” 60. John Lupton.
” ” 61. James Dunham.
” ” 62. John Shave.
” ” 63. Jacob Lockerman.
” ” 64. Paynter Dickinson.
” ” 65. John Lawson.
” ” 66. Do.
” ” 67. Thomas Ralph.
” ” 68. John Quarterman, Sr.
” ” 69. Thomas Gouldsmith.
” ” 70. James Houstoun.
” ” 71. John Stevens.
” ” 72. Mark Carr.
” ” 73. Hugh Clark.
” ” 74. Do.
” ” 75. Kenneth Baillie, Sr.
” ” 76. Do.
” ” 77. Paris Way.
” ” 78. Nathaniel Yates.
” ” 79. William Dunham.
” ” 80. Charles West.
” ” 81. Daniel Slade.
” ” 82. Jacob Lockerman.
” ” 83. Samuel West.
” ” 84. Thomas Carter, P. Schmidt.
” ” 85. John Elliott.
” ” 86. Do.
” ” 87. William Baker.
” ” 88. Do.
” ” 89. Audley Maxwell.
” ” 90. Elizabeth Simmons.
” ” 91. John Graves.
” ” 92. Do.
” ” 93. Robert Bolton.
” ” 94. John Baker.
” ” 95. John Humphreys.
” ” 96. James Fisher, Francis Guilland.
” ” 97. John Lupton.
” ” 98. Do.
” ” 99. Henry Saltus.
” ” 100. Donald McKay.
” ” 101. Stephen Dickinson.
” ” 102. Do.
” ” 103. William Clark.
” ” 104. Thomas Christie.
” ” 105. Samuel Jeanes.
” ” 106. Moses Way.
” ” 107. William David.
” ” 108. Paynter Dickinson.
” ” 109. Francis Lee.
” ” 110. Do.
” ” 111. James Harley.
” ” 112. Samuel Bacon.
” ” 113. Tabitha Bacon.
” ” 114. John Stewart, Snr.
” ” 115. Do.
” ” 116. Do.
” ” 117. Stephen Dickinson.
” ” 118. Do.
” ” 119. John Elliott.
” ” 120. Do.
” ” 121. Benjamin Stevens.
” ” 122. John Lynn.
” ” 123. Do.
” ” 125. John Sutherland.
” ” 126. Do.
” ” 127. Samuel Jeanes.
” ” 128. Do.
” ” 129. Joseph Tickener.
” ” 130. William Miller.
” ” 131. Richard Mills.
” ” 132. Do.
” ” 133. Peter McKay.
” ” 134. James Miller.
” ” 135. Do.
” ” 136. David Jervey.
” ” 137. William Davis.
” ” 138. Do.
” ” 139. Joseph Serjeant.
” ” 140. John Jones.
” ” 141. Strong Ashmore.
” ” 142. Francis Arthur.
” ” 143. Donald McKay.
” ” 144. Do.
” ” 145. Andrew Way.
” ” 146. James Fisher.
” ” 147. George Monis.
” ” 148. Thomas Way.
” ” 149. James Hatcher.
” ” 150. Do.
” ” 151. Francis Arthur.
” ” 152. Do.
” ” 153. Do.
” ” 154. Do.
” ” 155. John Perkins.
” ” 156. Do.
” ” 157. William Lowe.
” ” 158. Do.
” ” 159. Charles West. Schmidt & Mölich.
” ” 160. Do. Do.
” ” 161. Do.
” ” 162. Do.
” ” 163. William Peacock.
” ” 164. Do.
” ” 165. Charles West.
” ” 166. Do.
” ” 167. William Davis.
” ” 168. Do.
” ” 169. Francis Lee.
” ” 170. Do.
” ” 171. Thomas Vincent.
” ” 172. Benjamin Baker.
” ” 173. Grey Elliott.
” ” 174. Do.
” ” 175. Do.
” ” 176. Do.
” ” 177. John Lupton.
” ” 178. Do.
” ” 179. Do.
” ” 180. Do.
” ” 181. T. Quarterman.
” ” 182. Joseph Bacon.
” ” 185. Susannah Jones.
” ” 186. Do.
” ” 189. Barnard Romans.
” ” 190. Do.
” ” 191. Barnard Romans.
” ” 192. Do.
” ” 200. John K. Zubley.
” ” 205. Edward Way.
” ” 206. Do.
” ” 207. James Fisher.
” ” 208. Do.
” ” 209. Edward Maham.
” ” 210. Do.
” ” 211. Richard Spencer.
” ” 212. Do.
” ” 213. William Swinton.
” ” 214. Do.
” ” 215. Do.
” ” 216. Do.
” ” 217. Samuel Jeanes.
” ” 218. Do.
” ” 219. Do.
” ” 220. Henry Saltus.
” ” 221. James Read.
” ” 222. Do.
” ” 223. Charles West.
” ” 224. Do.
” ” 225. John Shave.
” ” 226. Do.
” ” 227. Richard Baker.
” ” 228. Do.
” ” 229. Marn’k Perry.
” ” 230. Do.
” ” 231. Thomas Dunbar.
” ” 232. Joshua Snowden.
” ” 233. Samuel Burnley. Schmidt & Mölich.
” ” 234. Do.
” ” 235. Do.
” ” 236. Do.
” ” 237. John Milchett.
” ” 238. Do.
” ” 239. James Andrew.
” ” 240. Do.
” ” 241. William Dunham.
” ” 242. Do.
” ” 243. Samuel Jeanes.
” ” 244. Winw’d McIntosh.
” ” 245. David Jervey.
” ” 246. Do.
” ” 247. Francis Lee.
” ” 248. Samuel Morecock.
” ” 249. Mark Carr.
” ” 250. Do.
” ” 251. George Bodington.
” ” 252. Mary Bateman.
” ” 253. John Goff.
” ” 257. Robert Bolton.
” ” 258. Do.
” ” 265. Mark Carr.
” ” 266. Do.
” ” 267. John Bryan.
” ” 268. Do.
” ” 269. Patrick M. Kay.
” ” 270. Do.
” ” 271. Benjamin Andrew.
” ” 272. Do.
” ” 273. Morgan Tabb.
” ” 274. Do.
” ” 275. Morgan Tabb.
” ” 276. Do.
” ” 277. James Watcher.
” ” 278. Do.
” ” 279. Francis Arthur.
” ” 280. Do.
” ” 281. John Bryan.
” ” 282. Samuel Richardson.
” ” 283. John Gaspar Stirkey.
” ” 284. Do.
” ” 285. John Jones (mulatto.)
” ” 289. Thomas Carter.
” ” 290. Do.
” ” 305. Do.
” ” 306. Do.
” ” 307. Do.
” ” 308. Do.
” ” 309. Do.
” ” 313. Samuel Tomlinson.
” ” 314. Do.
” ” 315. Do.
” ” 317. William Swinton.
” ” 318. Do.
” ” 319. Do.
” ” 320. Do.
” ” 340. Peter McKay.
” ” 341. Do.
” ” 342. Do.
” ” 343. Do.
” ” 344. Do.
” ” 345. Do.
” ” 346. Do.
” ” 347. Peter McKay.
” ” 348. Do.
” ” 349. Do.
” ” 350. Do.
” ” 351. Do.
” ” 352. Thomas Quarterman.
” ” 353. Barrack Norman.
” ” 354. Do.
” ” 355. Do.
” ” 356. Tarah, Senior.
” ” 357. Francis Arthur.
” ” 358. Do.
” ” 359. Frederick Hobrendorff.
” ” 360. Do.
” ” 361. Joseph Richardson.
” ” 362. Do.
” ” 373. John Ford.
” ” 403. Thomas Christie.
” ” 404. Do.
” ” 431. Marmaduke Gerry.
” ” 432. Do.
” ” 433. Do.
” ” 434. Robert Smallwood.
” ” 435. Do.
” ” 436. John Winn.
” ” 437. Francis Arthur.
” ” 438. Do.
” ” 473. Do.
” ” 474. Do.
” ” 475. Do.
” ” 476. Do.
” ” 477. Do.
” ” 478. Samuel Bacon.
” ” 479. Francis Lee.
” ” 480. John Tutes.