Description

This document is the journal of Peter Gordon, Chief Bailiff of Savannah, Georgia. Gordon details the voyage and early British settlement of the Georgia colony, paying particular attention to the figure of James Oglethorpe, founder of the colony, and his function as diplomat, administrator and commander. Gordon also discusses early relations with the Creek Indians at Yamacraw, mentioning Tomochichi, as well as referring to Indian trader John Musgrove and his wife, Mary. In addition to chronicling the early establishment of the town of Savannah, Gordon presents his opinions regarding the various shortcomings of the planned colony and enumerates reasons for its stagnancy, including the prohibition of African slavery, the appointment of inexperienced officials, and the requirement that land and improvements must pass only to a male heir or else revert to the Trustees in England. The journal appears to be incomplete as it ends just as Gordon narrates his return to the colony from a medically motivated trip to England.Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Record Contributed By

Hargrett Library

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia