58 Salzburg Germans (1734)

Savannah, Tuesday, March 12.

At the place of our landing, almost all the inhabitants of the town of Savannah were gathered together. They fired off some cannons and cried Huzzah! Which was answered by our sailors and other English people in our ship in the same manner. Some of us were immediately fetched on shore in a boat and carried about the city, into the woods, and the new garden belonging to the trustees. In the meantime, a very good dinner was prepared for us. And the Salzburgers, who had yet fresh meat in the ship, when they came on shore they got very good and wholesome English strong beer. And besides the inhabitants showing them a great deal of kindness and the country pleasing them, they were full of joy and praised God for it. We, the Commissary, and Mr. Zwefler the Physician were lodged in the house of the Reverend Mr. Quincy, the English Minister here.

Wednesday, March 13.

Our Saltzburgers were lodged in a tent pitched on purpose for them, till Mr. Oglethorpe’s arrival from Charlestown. A Jew invited our Salzburgers and treated them with a good rice soup for breakfast. And God has also moved the hearts of several others here to be very good and hospitable to us. The country, as the inhabitants say, is very fruitful. And the land chosen by us, which is about 21 English miles from hence, is still better. All that is sowed grows in a short time.

Thursday, March 14.

Last night we prayed on shore for the first time in the English chapel, made of boards and used for divine worship till a church can be built. The use of which is allowed us during our stay here. The inhabitants join with us and show much devotion. The Jews likewise, of which there are 12 families here, come to church and seem to be very devout. They understand the German tongue. Though the chapel is but of boards, it is very convenient and pleases the Saltzburgers.

Friday, March 15.

This day Mr. Oglethorpe arrived here and received our Saltzburgers and us in a very friendly manner, and we dined with him. He will speedily give orders that our people shall go to the place intended for their settlement. He being very solicitous that these poor Indians should be brought to the knowledge of God, has desired us to learn their language. And we, with the blessing of God, will joyfully undertake the task.

Our Saltzburgers have often been admonished very earnestly to abstain from drinking a certain intoxicating liquor like brandy, called rum, which is made of molasses in the islands of the West Indies etc. because this liquor has occasioned the death of many people. Some good persons who lately visited our Saltzburgers are much pleased with their devotion and with the whole of their behavior and on that account, prophesy much good to the country.

Tuesday, March 19.

Mr. Oglethorpe went last Friday with the Commissary, Mr. Zwefler, Mr. Gronau, and a Saltzburger to the Place where we are to live with our Saltzburgers, in order to show them the ground where they are to build their houses. This day the Commissary and Mr. Zwefler returned back and informed us much of the goodness and fertility of the ground, as also of the goodness of the Indians.

Wednesday, March 20.

The Saltzburgers have (as the other settlers in Georgia) received a gift from the Trustees of arms, household goods, and working tools, viz. kettles, pots, dishes, saws, axes, shovels, etc.

Tuesday, March 26.

It is a great pleasure to us that Mr. Oglethorpe approved of our calling the river and the place where our houses are to be built, Ebenezer. Which denomination is already known among the people that live hereabout. This word has at our arrival here and when we were yet on board the ship, made us joyful to the praise of God, and will do it for the future as often as we name the name of our town or river or hear it named.

Saturday, March 30.

As by the help of God we are now at more ease and in better order, we can take more care of the education of the children. Who come daily several times to our room, where they are taught proper texts out of the Holy Scripture and are catechized. At prayers all is repeated in the presence of the grown people, whereby they are edified, as well as by the catechism and texts of the Holy Scripture that are explained unto them. As soon as we come to our Ebenezer, we shall also begin to teach them reading and writing.

Source: An Extract of the Journals of Mr. Commissary Von Reck . . . and of the Reverend Mr. Bolzius (1734), 32-50. https://archive.org/details/toldcontemporari02hartrich/page/114/mode/2up