1738-12-9 FREE-HOLDERS REPRESENTATION TO THE TRUSTEES From 1741 A True and Historical Narrative edited by Amy To the Honorable the Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia in America. May it please Your Honors; WE whose Names are under-written, being all Settlers, Free-holders and Inhabitants in the Province of Georgia, and being sensible of the great Pains and Care exerted by You in Endeavoring to settle this Colony, since it has been under Your Protection and Management, do unanimously join to lay before You, with the utmost Regret, the following Particulars: You haven’t acknowledged our previous complaints But first, we must beg Leave to observe that it has afforded us a great deal of Concern and Uneasiness that former Representations made to You of the same Nature have not been thought worthy of due Consideration, nor even of an Answer. Most of us settled in this Colony in Pursuance of the Description and Recommendation you gave it in Britain. From the Experience of residing here several Years, we find it impossible for the colony to succeed according to the Measures laid down and pursued up till now. This place cannot be farmed according to your terms No one who has planted their Land has been able to raise Sufficient Produce to maintain their Families in Bread kind only, even though as much Application and Industry as possible have been exerted by Men who believed their Welfare and Posterity depended on it and required extraordinary Pains to achieve. Several have expended all their Money on the accumulated Expenses every Year of Provisions, Clothing, and Medicines for themselves, Families, and Servants. Some have even run considerably in Debt and had to quit Planting and making further Improvements. Those who do continue are daily exhausting more and more of their Money, and some are daily increasing their Debt, without a Possibility of being reimbursed according to the present Constitution. The current State of the Colony must make it obvious that People cannot subsist by their Land according to the present Establishment. This Truth resulted from Trial, Practice, and Experience, and therefore cannot be contradicted by any theoretical Scheme or Reasoning. Our only trade commodity is timber, and we can’t compete in that market without negroes Unable to maintain themselves off the Land according to the present Constitution, the Settlers here must unavoidably have recourse to and depend upon Trade. But to our woeful Experience, the same causes that prevented the first obstruct the latter. Though the location of this Place is exceeding well-adapted for Trade and if it was encouraged, might be much more improved by the Inhabitants, yet the Difficulties and Restrictions which we labor under debar us of that Advantage. Timber is the only Thing we have here which we might export, and we already have to cut it to Plant our Land. However, we cannot manufacture it for a Foreign Market except at double the Expense of other colonies. For example, the River of May, just twenty Miles from us, with the Allowance of Negroes, loads Vessels with that Commodity at one Half of the Price that we can do. What would motivate Persons to bring Ships here, when they can be loaded for Half the Expense so near us? Therefore, the Timber on this Land is only a continual cost to the Possessors of it, while it brings great profit to all the Northern Colonies where Negroes are allowed and Labor cheap. Even silk and wine production requires continuous clearing as the land wears out We do not in the least doubt that in Time, Silk and Wine ‘may be produced here, especially the former. But since the Cultivation of Land with white Servants only cannot raise Provisions for our Families as before mentioned, it is again impossible to carry on these other Manufactures according to the present Constitution. It is very well known that Carolina can raise everything that this Colony can. Having their Labor so much cheaper will always ruin our Market unless we are somewhat on a Footing with them. Because the Land is worn out in four or five Years, and then fit for Nothing but Pasture, we will always have a great deal more Expense than they do in Clearing new Land for Planting. Merchants can’t sell to us on credit because we have no titles for collateral The Importation of the Necessaries of Life come to us at the most extravagant Rate. Merchants in general, especially of England, are not willing to supply the Settlers here with Goods on credit because no Person here can make them any Security of their Lands or Improvements, as is commonly practiced in other Places to promote Trade, when some of the Employers Money is laid out in necessary Buildings and Improvements fitting for the Trade intended, without which it cannot be carried on. Importation drains our cash rather than stimulates our economy Therefore, importation only benefits transient Persons who do not lay out any Money amongst us, but rather carry every Penny out of here. The chief Reason they raise the Price is because they cannot get any tangible Goods here, either on Freight or Purchase for another Market. If the Advantage accruing from Importation centered in the Inhabitants, the Profit would naturally circulate amongst us and be laid out in Improvements in the Colony. Bankrupt settlers are leaving and no one wants to come here Surely your Honors are aware of the numbers that have left this Province, unable to support themselves and Families any longer. Those still remaining, who had Money of their own and Credit with their Friends, have spent most of the former in Improvements and lost the latter for doing it on such precarious Titles. Due to the present Establishment, no more than two or three People (except those brought on Charity and Servants sent by You) have come here in the last two years, either to settle Land or encourage Trade. Nor do we hear of any such likely to come until we are on better Terms. The regiment is a help for defense, but does nothing for our economy It is true, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant a regiment for the Defense of this Province and our neighboring colony, which indeed will very much assist us in defending ourselves against all Enemies. However, this does not contribute in the least to our Support. The portion of their Pay which is spent here is spent with transient People and our Neighbors in Carolina, who can supply them with Provisions and other Necessaries at a moderate Price. We are not at all capable to do so under the present Establishment. This then being our present Condition, it is obvious what the Consequences must be. We have two main reasons and remedies for the failure of this colony But we for our Parts have entirely relied on and confided in your good intentions, believing You would redress any Grievances that should appear. Now by our long Experience of Industry and continued work to improve land here, we find it impossible to pursue it or even to subsist ourselves any longer according to the present Nature of the Constitution. Believing You will agree to those Measures that are found from Experience capable to make this Colony succeed, and to promote which we have consumed our Money, Time and Labor, with sincere Regard to its Welfare and in Duty both to You and ourselves, we beg Leave to lay before Your immediate Consideration the Two following chief Causes of our present Misfortunes and the deplorable State of the Colony, and which we are certain, if granted, would be an infallible Remedy for both. Give us property titles and we will be loyal and more will join us 1st, The lack of a free Title or Fee-simple to our Lands. If granted, this would induce great Numbers of new Settlers to come amongst us, and likewise encourage those who remain here to proceed cheerfully in making further Improvements to retrieve their sunk Fortunes and make Provisions for their Posterity. Allow us to use negroes and we will be productive 2nd, The lack of the Use of Negroes. If granted with proper Limitations, this would cause great Numbers of white People to come here, and also enable us to support ourselves by raising Provisions upon our Lands until we could make some Produce fit for Export to somewhat Balance our Importation. We are very aware of the Inconveniencies and Mischiefs that have already and do daily arise from an unlimited Use of Negroes. However, we are as aware that these may be prevented by a due Limitation, such as so many to each white Man, or so many to such a Quantity of Land, or in any other Manner Your Honors shall think most proper. You can go down in history as authors of the biggest success or the biggest failure Gentlemen, by granting us these Two Particulars and similar other Privileges as His Majesty's most dutiful Subjects in America enjoy, you will not only prevent our impending Ruin, but we are convinced you also will soon make this the most flourishing Colony possessed by His Majesty in America, and Your Memories will be perpetuated to all future Ages, our latest Posterity sounding Your Praises as their first Founders, Patrons, and Guardians. On the other hand, if by denying us these Privileges, we and our Families are not only ruined but our Posterity as well, you will always be mentioned as the Cause and Authors of all their Misfortunes and Calamities, which we hope will never happen. We are, with all due Respect, Your Honors most dutiful and obedient Servants. Savannah, 9th December, 1738. his R G. Mark. Magistrates: Henry Parker Robert Gilbert Thomas Christie John Fallowfield John Brownfield William Woodroofe Patrick Tailfer Andrew Grant Robert Williams Samuel Mercer Patrick Grhame David Douglass Thomas Bailie Hugh Anderson James Williams Edward Jenkins Thomas Ormston Joseph Wardrope George Bunckle Adam Loyer Peter Joubart John Burton Robert Hows William Meers Thomas Salter James Bailow James Anderson Thomas Trip Samuel Holms James Muer William Parker John Grhame James Papot John Smith William Calvert Stephen Marrauld Richard Mellechamp Isaac Young, sen. James Dormer William Carter Henry Moulton Jacob Watts Henry Manley Samuel Parker Stephen Mounfoord David Gender James Chainsae James Landry Lewis Stamon William Starflichet Simon Rieuwere John Young Samuel Lacy Peter Baillow Peter Emry William Elbert William Greenfield Christopher Greenfield Thomas Young, sen. Henry Green Peter Tector Hugh Frazer John Sallie James Carwells John Lyndall Joseph Fitzwater Elisha Foster Walter Fox John Penrose David Snook Edward Townsend John Desborough — Gorsand Andrew Duchee James Gallway John Kelly Joseph Stanley Thomas Young Thomas Cross Richard Davis Thomas Tibbet James Dean Donald Stewart John Dudding William Ewen Henry Loyd John Amory James Houston Isaac Young Robert Hanks Archibald Glen Thomas Neal Stephen Tarrien James Smith Samuel Ward Pierre Morelle John Desborough, jun. Edward Bush Benjamin Adams Charles Britain John Rae William Coltbred Thomas Wattle Thomas Bailie James Corneck James Burnside John Teasdale Giles Becou Francis Brooks John Clark George Rush Andrew Walker John Miller Thomas Andrews William Sterling Thomas Gantlet Richard Rogers In all 117.