General James Oglethorpe, The Founder Virtual Cache

On August 24, 2017 I was given the opportunity to create a Virtual Cache through the Virtual Reward Release. This was a very gracious offer on the part of Geocaching HQ and as a result I have spent longer than I probably should have creating a cache worthy of this honor. Even though I have spent most of my adult life, and all of my Geocaching life, living in Florida and South Carolina, I still consider Savannah and Georgia my home town and home state. As a result, I wanted to create a cache which would be educational to my fellow Geocachers in regards the founding of Savannah and the Colony of Georgia. This Cache will bring you to Chippewa Square and the statue of General James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony of Georgia.

My desire is for you to be more informed and educated about this extraordinary individual and the early history of Savannah and the Colony of Georgia upon completing this Geocache. Please do not be dismayed by the volume of information. The extensive write up which follows the logging requirements is purely OPTIONAL reading and is for those interested in a more in-depth history of General James Oglethorpe, the founding of the Colony of Georgia and Savannah, and Chippewa Square. The only requirements for logging this cache is to visit the cache site and answer a few question related to the monument and Chippewa Square.

You will need to email me the answers to several questions based on findings located in and around Chippewa Square.

Send me a message using the Geocaching.com messaging feature (not my email) that contains the answers to the questions. You may send a single message for your caching group. however, please include everyone's caching names. Pictures are not required but appreciated, just do not include spoiler pictures. Of course everyone knows not to include the answers in their log and logged "Finds" without confirmation email will be deleted.

The Cache Questions:

James Edward Oglethorpe was a British soldier, member of Parliament, and philanthropist. He wished to create a utopian society where people of all kinds lived together peacefully in neighborhoods centered around public squares. It was largely through his initiatives that the British Government, in 1732, authorized the establishment of the first new North American colony in over 50 years. The Colony of Georgia was named in tribute to King George II. In 1733 Oglethorpe lead an expedition of colonist to North America and founded the city of Savannah. He spent the next 10 years developing the colony of Georgia and defending it against the Spanish.

The Early Years

Oglethorpe was born on December 22, 1696 in London, England. He was the youngest of 10 children born to Eleanor and Theophilus Oglethorpe. His was a wealthy English family with controversial ties to the Jacobite movement. Despite attempting to distance himself from these family ties, he was often treated suspiciously throughout his life, even facing court martial later in life because of these former family ties. His father died when he was 6 years old. Very little is known of his childhood. He was admitted to Corpus Christi College at Oxford University at the age of 17. However, due to the threat to Europe by the Ottoman Empire Turks he dropped out and enrolled in a military academy in France. During this time, his travels to Austria resulted in him becoming an aide to Prince Eugene of Savoy. During the Austro-Turkish War of 1716-1718 he led a victorious campaign against the Turks. He would have been at most in his early 20’s.

He ultimately returned to England and reentered Corpus Christi College. Though he never graduated the college, Oglethorpe could read and speak Latin and he loved to read classical literature and could quote Roman poetry. His readings about ancient Greece and Rome help form his future ideas about governing the Georgia colony. He was ultimately awarded a special M.A. in 1731.

The Reformer

After spending a short time in Academics, he was elected in 1722 to the Haslemere seat in the Parliament House of Commons previously held by his father and two older brothers. Here he devoted his energies to Britain’s national and international interest and he became a leading humanitarian. It was in 1729 that his life changed and he became an active humanitarian. The death of a close friend, architect Robert Castell, to smallpox while imprisoned for indebtedness, led Oglethorpe to launch a national campaign to reform England’s prisons and ultimately to the establishment of the colony of Georgia.

As a result of Castell’s death, Oglethorpe formed and chaired a Parliamentary committee on prison reform in early 1729. It was through the investigations of this committee that he was made aware of the horrible conditions, abuses, and extortions prisoners faced. His findings resulted in numerous reforms of London’s prisons. Also, in 1728 he published an anonymous pamphlet (The Sailors Advocate) in which he advocated reform of the terrible conditions experienced by sailors in the British Royal Navy. These efforts gained him national attention as one of Britain’s most active humanitarians.

However, his prison reform did not solve the plight of the large number of poor people in England. Along with several colleagues, Oglethorpe began exploring the possibility of creating a new colony in America. In fact, within 2 weeks of being named chairman, on March 5, 1729, he proposed applying for money “for Establishing a charitable Colony for the better Maintainence of the poor of the city of London, and elsewhere within these Kingdoms”. This colony would give the “worthy/deserving poor” the opportunity to become farmers, merchants, and artisans. In hopes of preventing the class divisions that plagued English society he proposed that the settlers would work their own land and slavery and large land holdings would be prohibited. The initial emphasis was on small family-owned farms. Land ownership was to be limited to 50 acres including a town lot, a garden plot near town, and a forty-five acre farm. No one was allowed to acquire additional land through purchase or inheritance.

In 1730, Oglethorpe and his associates petitioned to form the Trustees for the Establishment of the Colony of Georgia in America (more simply the Georgia Trustees). On November 12, 1730, these like minded humanitarians resolved “that a Treatise be drawn up in order to be printed, to encourage all charitable Persons to contribute towards the charitable Colony intended to be fixed in some one of the American Plantations belonging to the king of Great Britain” and they ask Oglethorpe to prepare the treatise. On February 4, 1731, Oglethorpe’s prepared treatise not only appealed for contributions, but also detailed plans for the colony. Included was a discussion of the principles which should govern the selection of the site for the first town. It is believed he used an unpublished manuscript (The Villas of the Ancients Illustrated, 1728) by his deceased friend Robert Castell in making his recommendations. Thus, it appears the Robert Castell was also instrumental in the selection of the site for the first Georgia city, Savannah.

The Prime Minister was initially hesitant to place a new colony south of South Carolina out of fear it would provoke the Spanish in Florida who also had interest in these lands. However, after nearly two years, the petition was finally granted and the charter to create the colony and the governing Georgia Trustees was signed by King George II on April 21, 1732. The Georgia Trustees was a corporate entity and allowed for a governing body of Trustee’s to serve and govern Georgia from England.

The Trustee

Humanitarian beliefs had been the initial motivation for the formation of the new colony of Georgia and Oglethorpe had been named one of the twenty-one Trustees. However, by 1732 economic and military considerations became the principle factors. Changes were made to the charter so that the colony would comprise “the deserving poor”, not debtors from prison. These original colonists would be chosen by the Trustees based on their skills. They would include carpenters, tailors, bakers, farmers, merchants and others with the skills needed to make the new colony successful. They envisioned a society structured on hard work, equality, and morality. Their desire was for the colonist to achieve a comfortable living rather than an enormous personal fortune as was the case in the large plantations in other parts of British America. Several restrictions were imposed such as the banning of slavery, sell and use of rum, and the practice of Roman Catholicism due to the colonies proximity to the hostile settlements in Spanish Florida.

Economically, they thought the climate was suitable to the production of Mediterranean-type products such as silk from silkworm harvesting, wine, etc. Ultimately, it was the cotton seeds brought along with the colonist which provided the largest economic success in the southern colonies.

The new colony was also promoted by the Trustees as a defense barrier between the growing Spanish military presence in Florida and English South Carolina. Each male colonist was issued a musket and bayonet and was expected to be part of the militia defending the southern colonies. It should be noted that the lands south of the Savannah River was considered the wild frontier inhabited by native Americans and unlawful individuals who had fled other colonies.

Unlike other colonies which were governed by Royal Governors, the Colony of Georgia was to be governed by the Trustees with no elected officials. Despite having no official title, Oglethorpe is almost universally regarded as the first governor of Georgia. However, by policy, he was not permitted to own land in the colony. Despite this, he worked tirelessly on the behalf of the colony. He even violated Trustee policy on several occasions by allowing persecuted religious minorities such as Jews and Lutheran Salzburgers to settle in Georgia. However, he never wavered on his opposition to slavery and the sale of rum in Georgia. He was also always respectful of the native Indians and their customs and needs. All land cessions were agreed to by treaty according to Indian customs. He even protected the Indians against unscrupulous white traders and treaty violators. He was the epitome of the Georgia Trustees motto, Non sibi sed aliis (Not for self, but for others).

Oglethorpe was the only Trustee to ever set foot in Georgia during their 21-year governance. He spent 10 years in the Georgia colony. His later years were spent focusing on defending the colonies of Georgia and South Carolina from the Spanish. After returning to England for good in 1744, he remained a Trustee for several years. He ultimately withdrew from the organization due to his opposition to the changing practices by other Trustees, such as allowing slavery.

The Founder

On November 17, 1732, Oglethorpe set sail from England on the ship Anne with 114 men, women and children. The trip across the Atlantic took 2 months. The colonist arrived in South Carolina and waited while Oglethorpe and a band of Carolina Rangers searched for a suitable site for a settlement. He found this site 17 miles up the Savannah River at Yamacraw Bluff. Here he struck up a lasting friendship with the Yamacraw Village chief, Tomachichi. He returned with the colonist on February 12, 1733.

Oglethorpe laid out his distinctive town plan which included individual houses and public buildings surrounding a central public square. (Please see ‘The Oglethorpe Plan’). Each town lot was identical and measured 60 feet wide and 90 feet deep. Each adult male colonist was given a total of 50 acres. Women were not allowed to own land or inherit her deceased husbands land. It was the belief of the Trustees that each plot of land required a male worker and armed defender.

Oglethorpe did travel back and forth to England on several occasions. On one trip to England he took along his friend Tomachichi and a delegation of Yamacraw Indians. On return trips he brought more colonist to form settlements along the Georgia coast, i.e. St. Simons Island, and along the Savannah River, i.e. Augusta. On a return trip in October 1735 he brought with him ministers John and Charles Wesley, the ultimate founders of Methodism.

I feel obligated to take the time to also pay tribute to Tomachichi. Some consider him a co-founder of the Colony of Georgia. He was the Mico (Chief) of the Yamacraw, a tribe of the Creek Indian Nation. He was a close friend, advisor, and a staunch ally to Oglethorpe and the British. He relinquished part of his land for the establishment of Savannah. Being the principle mediator between the native population and the new English settlers, he contributed much to the establishment of peaceful relations between the native Indian tribes and the English settlers and ultimately to the success of the Colony of Georgia. He desired a Christian education for his tribe and ultimately helped open a school for Native American children in 1736. He was even able to meet King George II on his trip to England.

Tomachichi died on October 5, 1739. He was in his late 90’s (approximately 95). He requested to be buried among his English friends and Oglethorpe buried him in the middle of Percival Square (now Wright Square) with full military honors, Oglethorpe himself was a pall bearer. His actual grave site was ultimately desecrated and destroyed in 1883 by the Central of Georgia Railroad when they constructed a monument to their founder, William Gordon. He lies in rest under this monument and not under his large commemorative granite boulder in the corner of Wright Square. Interestingly, it was Gordon’s daughter-in-law who was outraged by this insult to Tomachichi’s legacy who was instrumental in the placement of this granite boulder.

The Military Leader

Oglethorpe spent a great deal of his time fortifying the colony. In November 1736, he returned to England to lobby for troops and funds to build forts to defend against the Spanish. He returned with a regiment of British soldiers and the title: “Colonel of the Regiment of His Majesty’s Plantations in America”, this despite being a civilian. He later received a field commission as General in order to command all allied forces (Carolina Rangers, British Regulars, civilian militia, Indian allies, etc.) during the hostilities with Spain.

The colony’s existence was one of several disputes worsening Anglo-Spanish relations during the 1730’s. In January 1740, as part of the War of Jenkins Ear (one of many conflicts incorporating the War of Austrian Succession), Oglethorpe led several successful military incursions into Florida. During these incursions he captured two Spanish forts west of St. Augustine. However, he led an unsuccessful siege on the fort at St. Augustine in May 1740. This siege failed largely due to an unsuccessful naval blockade, which was not under his command. However, Oglethorpe’s reputation as a military leader suffered in the defeat. He retreated to Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island and waited for a retaliatory Spanish invasion. The Spanish finally invaded two years later in July 1742 with approximately 2000 trained Spanish soldiers. His force included only approximately 1000 men consisting of a mixture of civilian militia, Carolina Rangers, southeastern Indians, and British Regulars. He successfully defended Georgia and the other southern British colonies with a victory on St. Simons Island, the Battles of Bloody Marsh and Gully Hole Creek. This was the last major Spanish offensive into Georgia and reestablished Oglethorpe’s military leadership, made him and national hero, solidified English claims on the American Continent, and ultimately resulted in his promotion to the rank of Brigadier General in the British army in September 1743. It was through his effective military tactics and leadership that the nearly 200-year conflict between the Spanish and English over the land between South Carolina and Florida was ended. With the Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle in 1748, The St. Johns River was unofficially agreed upon as the boundary between Georgia and Florida.

The English Gentleman

In July 1743, Oglethorpe returned to England to answer unfounded charges of military misconduct during his Florida invasions. All accusations were dismissed and his honor restored. However, he never returned to America. In Sept 1744 he met and married the heiress to Cranham Hall, Elizabeth Wright. In December 1745 he returned to military duty and lead a military force of 600 men against a Jacobite force attempting to take over the British throne. Probably because of his family’s prior ties to the Jacobite movement, he again faced court martial allegations related to his strategy during the campaign. He was once again exonerated.

He continued to serve on the Georgia Trustees board. However, due to his objections to the Trustees gradual relaxation on restrictions on land ownership, inheritance, rum and slavery he attended his last meeting on March 16, 1749. In 1752, the Georgia Trustees surrendered their charter and Georgia became the 13th and last royal colony. Georgia was the only American colony founded from its beginning with Enlightenment ideals and the first to embody the principles later embraced by the Founders of the United States of America.

He remained in Parliament until 1754 when he was defeated for reelection. He ultimately became the senior general in the British army. Though he never served on active duty again, it has been rumored that he was offered, but refused, the command of a British force at the beginning of the American Revolution. However, he did secretly fight for Prussia against France under the pseudo name John Tebay along with his friend Field Marshal James Keith in the Severn Years War (1756-1763).

Oglethorpe returned to England in 1760 and he and Elizabeth enjoyed an active social life. They never had children. He did live to see the colony he founded become part of the United States of America. It is uncertain how he felt about the American Revolution, however, on July 4, 1785 he met with John Adams, the first U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain. During this meeting he expressed “great esteem and regard for America” and his sadness at the ill will that existed between the two countries.

General James Edward Oglethorpe died on June 30, 1785 after a brief illness. He was buried in a vault beneath the chancel floor at the Parish Church of All Saints in Cranham, England.

The Legacy

Georgian’s remember General James Edward Oglethorpe in many ways. He is considered the founder of Georgia and its first governor. He is considered the founder of Savannah and Augusta, Georgia. His name adorns Oglethorpe County, the town of Oglethorpe, Oglethorpe University, and numerous schools, streets, parks, and businesses. However, he maybe best honored by remembering him as a man who lived by the profound philosophy that life is not about self, but about others.

The Square

Chippewa Square was laid out in 1815 on Bull Street between Hull and Perry Streets. It was named in honor of the American Soldiers killed in the Battle of Chippewa in upper Canada during the War of 1812. It is often referred to as Oglethorpe Square due to the statue of General James Edward Oglethorpe being located here. However, Oglethorpe Square is actually to the northeast. In addition to Oglethorpe’s statue, the square is home to the First Baptist Church (1833), the Independent Presbyterian Church (1817), the Philbrick-Eastman House (1844), and the Savannah Theater (1818). More recently, the square has been immortalized by the “park bench” scene which opens the 1994 film Forrest Gump. This scene was filmed on the north side of the square. The prop bench was not, and is not, one of the parks actual benches. The movie bench is apparently on display in the Savannah Visitors Center.

The Statue

Oglethorpe’s 9-foot bronze statue stands in Chippewa Square. The statue was created by sculptor Daniel Chester French and unveiled in 1910. Oglethorpe is depicted in full military dress of a British General with sword drawn. He faces south, toward Georgia’s one-time enemy in Spanish Florida. A Florida Palmetto frond lies at his feet. The pedestal and base of the monument were designed by New York architect Henry Bacon, who also collaborated with French to create the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The four lions on the corners of the base hold shields representing Oglethorpe's Coat of Arms, the Great Seal of the Colony of Georgia, the Great Seal of the State of Georgia, and the Great Seal of the City of Savannah. A portion of the original charter granted by Parliament in 1732 is engraved into the pedestal.

The First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church was chartered in 1800 and the current sanctuary was built in the Greek Revival style in 1833. It is the oldest surviving sanctuary in Savannah.

The Savannah Theater

Savannah Theater opened in 1818 and was designed by noted architect William Jay. It is one of the oldest continually operating theaters in America.

The Eastman-Stoddard House

The Eastman-Stoddard House is a Greek revival mansion. Construction began in 1844 and was not completed until 1847. It is located on the southwest corner of the square. It is one of several large homes in Savannah which now occupy a “trust” lot rather than a “tything” lot. A notable feature of this house is the “Poets and Presidents” iron fence with medallions of busts of famous men. This fence originally graced the upstairs balconies of the Wetter House which was torn down in 1951. Some of this ornamental railing also surrounds the terracotta lion statue and fountain at Bay and Drayton Streets in front of the Cotton Exchange building. And is the focus of another Virtual Geocache in Savannah (WASHINGTON'S NEIGHBORS, GCA260).

The Independent Presbyterian Church

The Independent Presbyterian Church was chartered in 1755 and originally built in 1817. It was destroyed by fire in 1889 and replaced by an exact duplicate 2 years later in 1891. It is unique in that it occupies “tything” lots rather than a “trust” lot. It is also the church in front of which the feather floats in the opening scene of the movie Forrest Gump.

The Oglethorpe Plan

James Oglethorpe laid out the city of Savannah in 1733. The original plan, known as the Oglethorpe Plan, included six open Squares with each surrounded by four residential (“tything”) blocks and four civic (“trust”) blocks. The square and it’s eight surrounding blocks was known as a “ward”. The lots to the east and west of the square were considered “trust” lots and were intended for large public buildings such as churches, school, or markets. The remainder of the ward was divided into four areas called “tythings” and each “tything” was divided into 10 residential lots. These wards were part of a larger regional plan that included gardens, farms, and out-lying villages. Today, many “trust” lots contain large homes such as the Mercer House and many of the “tything” lots are home to commercial properties.

The first four squares were Johnson, Percival (now Wright), Ellis, and St. James (now Telfair). The latter two squares were the Lower New Square (now Reynolds Square) and Upper New Square (now Oglethorpe Square). These two squares were laid out in 1734 and 1742, respectively. Oglethorpe square actually contains a pedestal honoring Moravian Missionaries who sailed to Savannah with John Wesley in 1735.

Additional squares were added in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s and by 1851 there were 24 squares. During the 1900’s 3 of these squares were demolishes or significantly altered. However, in 2010, one of these three “lost” squares, Ellis, was reclaimed. Further information on all Savannah squares can be found at VISIT HISTORIC SAVANNAH.

Today, the squares are cherished for their aesthetic beauty. However, the first squares were originally intended to provide colonist space for practical reasons such as communal activities, militia training exercise, and a protective refuge for villagers and their livestock if the area came under attack. In fact, the original plan resembles the layout of a contemporary military camp.

Savannah’s city plan has been called “the most intelligent grid in America, perhaps the world” and it has been stated that “it remains as one of the finest diagrams for city organization and growth in existence”.

This is a Virtual Reward Cache - 2017/2018