October 1737

OCTOBER  1737

October 1737 

Wesley's Warming Journey

By Brenda Rees © All Rights Reserved

October 1737  Wesley’s trial was over, no Indians were saved, someone else had been appointed to perform ecclesiastical duties at Savannah, and Wesley’s departure from the Colony of Georgia and Spanish Florida was imminent.  His interpretation that no Indians of America had “the least desire of being instructed” reflected the Protestant/Catholic clash prevalent in the Atlantic Zone of Conflict among warring European nations.  The Spanish had been in Spanish Florida and this area now called “The Colony of Georgia” for several hundred years along with their Catholic priests.   Wesley faced diverse, multicultural peoples in this geographical space and new world.  Wesley preached to English, German, French, Spanish and Italians in their own languages.   

If you are new to this blog, consider starting with the Introduction of Wesley’s Warming Journey Blog and then each month from February 1736.  Earliest months were grouped together, but Blog is now by month.  This blog carries you from Wesley’s landing at Tybee Island in 1736 eventually through his warming at Aldersgate back in London in 1738.  You might see signs that Wesley’s warming began in America, the Colony of Georgia and Spanish Florida.

SIXTH SAVANNAH JOURNAL cont.

Picture of John Wesley attempting to instruct the Indians and fulfill his reason for leaving England for the New World.   Courtesy of the Lane Rees collection.  See additional notes from my academic paper on John Wesley in Spanish Florida at end of this blog.   Even the various Indian tribes disputed the transfer of land. Photograph by Brenda Rees ©

Friday, October 7, 1737 – “I consulted my friends whether God did not call me to return to England,” Wesley wrote.  He continued, “The reason for which I left it had now no force, there being no possibility, as yet, of instructing the Indians; ….”  Wesley also mused that he might have better luck back in England.  Soon, Wesley received a unanimous affirmation that he should  leave.  Wesley stated he would leave this timing up to God.

 Tuesday October 11, 1737 – Wesley went to Ebenezer “to inquire of Mr. Boltzius and Gronau whether I could do them any service, ….”

Thursday, October 13, 1737 – Wesley had a conversation with the Scotch at Savannah.

Saturday, October 17, 1737 – The French at Highgate were read to in French by Wesley.

Saturday, October 22, 1737 – Wesley read to the Germans at Hampstead.  He wrote, “We began the service both at Highgate and Hampstead with singing a psalm.  Then I read and explained a chapter in the French or German Testament, and concluded with prayers and another psalm.” 

Sunday, October 23, 1737 – “Having ended Fleury’s Manners of the Ancient Christians, we began to instruct the children, in public as well as private, in a short paraphrase of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, “ Wesley added.

Saturday, October 29, 1737 – The French at Highgate wised Wesley would read to the larger number of French in Savannah.

Sunday, October 30, 1737 – Wesley wrote, “I began so to do; and now I had full employment for that holy-day.  The first English prayers lasted from five till half an hour past six.  The Italian, which I read to a few Vaudois, began at nine. The second service for the English, including the sermon and the Holy Communion, continued from half an hour past ten till about half an hour past twelve.  The French service began at one.  At two I catechized the children.  About three began the English service.  After this was ended, I had the happiness of joining with as many as my largest room would hold, in reading, prayer, and singing praise.  And about six the service of the Moravians, so called began; at which I was glad to be present, not as a teacher, but a learner.”

Monday, October 31, 1737 – Wesley ended this month’s journal with, “The Grand Jury sitting in the court-house, we had the evening prayers in the school, which held upwards of thirty persons conveniently.  The rest stood without, but I hope not so far off as to fail of that blessing which God giveth to all that diligently seek Him.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES:  The following is an excerpt from my academic paper presented at the 2006 Gulf South History and Humanities Conference in Pensacola

THE FLORIDA – GEORGIA BORDER DISPUTE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE HISTORICAL TRAVELS OF JOHN WESLEY IN THE COLONY OF GEORGIA AND SPANISH FLORIDA DURING 1736 – 1737

© Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved

As early as 1735, Oglethorpe was setting up colonists in Frederica.[1]  Land titles from the list of original settlers are somewhat sketchy from the Frederica area.  Mrs. Pat Bryant noted in A List of the Early Settlers of Georgia, “Fee simple titles to the land were not given by the trustees.”[2]  Whether and how Oglethorpe had attained additional land from native peoples might also be questioned.  One treaty for South Carolina “forbade the establishment of trading posts south of the Savannah River.”[3]  Wesley’s first contact with native people came on Saturday, February 14, 1736.   The day before he had word he was to meet “Tomo-chachi.”[4]   Tomochichi “was chief of a small party of Creek Indians settled four miles from Savannah and four hundred miles from the main body of the Creek Tribes.”[5]  Yamacraw chief Tomochichi admitted he had been banished and had just moved into the area.[6]  Tomochichi’s ability to cede anything might be questioned.  Oglethorpe continued “… to increase his power surreptitiously….”[7]  There is evidence of a later cession by native peoples to Georgia concerning the Altamaha, but well after Wesley left.  “In 1782 at Augusta and 1785 at Galphinton, certain Creek tribes ceded lands between the Altamaha River and the Florida boundary to the Georgians. These treaties were disputed by other Indians, led by Alexander McGillivray.”[8]    Notwithstanding, disputed cessions are used by Oglethorpe to justify expansion into Spanish Florida. 

---

      [1]E. Merton Coulter and Albert B. Saye, eds., A List of the Early Settlers of Georgia, 2^nd edition (Athens: The University of Georgia Press, 1967), 1.

      [2]Mrs. Pat Bryant, comp. Entry of Claims for Georgia Landholders 1733-1755 (Atlanta: State Printing Office, 1975), xi.

                                                                            

      [3]Jones, Georgia History, 119.

      [4]The Journal of John Wesley, 156.

      [5]Ibid., 159.

      [6]Jones, Georgia History, 134, 138.

      [7]Arnade, “Raids, Sieges, and International Wars,” 111.

      [8]

Mills Lane

,  The People of Georgia, An Illustrated History 2^nd ed. (Savannah: Library of Georgia, 1992), 97.