Colonial life on the georgia coast publications fort. Local residents took a lead in preserving the site as a reminder of americas colonial past. She was buried on may 30 in christ church, frederica cemetery under the. Mehrmals pro monat finden living historyvorfuhrungen in historischen. The fort at the mouth of the altamaha honored king george iis son frederick, the prince of wales. Colonial life on the georgia coast publications fort frederica association. Under the name of fort defiance, this bulwark was once again used against the british during the war of 1812, and sunburys harbor was guarded by armed barges. To write this book, to research the island families entwined in the story, genie spent. Sea island forms the eastern edge of this cluster, with little st. Aaa travel guides fort frederica national monument, ga.
Fort king george, the first british garrison of the georgia colony, is located in darien, at the mouth of the altamaha river. Simons, interested in preserving the history of the town and the fort. Born on 24 november 1888 to john benston davis i and ida rebecca stafford, margaret davis was a lifelong resident of glynn county. Archaeological excavations were done in time that uncovered fredericas past and allowed its story to be. Audio recording interview with wallace quarterman, fort frederica, st. These soldiers added muscle to georgia s defense and. The names of the community and the island are interchangeable, known simply as st. James oglethorpe founded fort frederica to protect the southern british boundary. The entire colony of georgia remained under english rule. Simons island ive added two new pages to my site that focus on war of 1812 actions on the georgia coast.
Simons is a barrier island and censusdesignated place cdp located on st. Including its history, the jekyll island museum, the fort frederica national monument, and more violette verne on. This clash of cultures pitted british redcoats, the highland independent company of foot, and coastal rangers. The 1742 invasion of georgia was a military campaign by spanish forces, based in florida, which attempted to seize and occupy disputed territory held by the british colony of georgia. Fort frederica national parks conservation association. Simons island history guide to local historic sites. One of his primary concerns involved georgias defense. During its heyday, from 1736 to 1758, general james oglethorpes town and fort played a pivotal role in the struggle for empire between the competing interests of england and spain. An annual festival march commemorates the areas history. General james oglethorpe founded the colony of georgia and named jekyll island in honor of sir joseph jekyll, his friend and financier from england. The entry tower is all that remains of the barracks, which were built to house 100 men. Established in 1736, the fort guarded georgia s southern frontier. Overview of the history of frederica and early colonial georgia history. In the 1700s, it was a central battleground between spain and britainbefore the united states decided to make its own move and become independent.
A fire in 1758 destroyed most of the town, and the last soldiers left the fort in 1763. Today in georgia history may 17, 1749 slavery in colonial georgia july 07, 1742 battle of. A town of up to 500 colonial residents had grown up outside the fort. Fort frederica was established in 1736 by james oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of georgia. Established in 1721 as the southernmost outpost of british north america, the post became the stronghold for the coveted southeastern region. Colonists from england, scotland, and the germanic states came to frederica to support this endeavor. Fort frederica magazine, made of tabby, north of st. Welcome to frederica, the finest private golf, tennis and lake community in the southeast.
Simons island one of the sea islands, southeastern georgia, u. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Simons island, georgia, preserves the archaeological remnants of a fort and town built by james oglethorpe between 1736 and 1748 to protect the southern boundary of the british colony of georgia from spanish raids. Fort frederica national monument saint simons island. Fort frederica national monument historic site, georgia, united. Click to read more about frederica, colonial fort and town. Simons island history guide to local historic sites and attractions including st. In 1733, british general james edward oglethorpe established the colony of georgia in the region between the britishruled colony of south carolina and the spanishruled colony of florida. Although oglethorpe excelled at frontier defense and indian negotiation, and his plan for the city of savannah remains famous for its grid pattern and open spaces, he failed to see the consequences of trying to conquer nature with inexperienced settlers, most of whom had no knowledge of agriculture, townbuilding, or soldiering. Published by the fort frederica association in 1969. Today, visitors can stand within the earthwork remains and view scenic saint catherines sound.
Georgia historical society educator web guide table of contents precolonial. Probate records may give the decedents date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, inlaws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence. Simons island played an important role in georgias history and the tale is. Simons island served as the british military headquarters in colonial america. Georgias fate was decided in 1742 when spanish and. The official facebook page of fort frederica national monument. Frederica is a 1,700 acre private community that blends st. Long before the worlds largest outdoor cocktail party in jacksonville, georgia has always kept an eye on florida. Its easy to forget that georgia was the center of much conflict before it became a state. Simons island real estate with topoftheline luxury amenities, all surrounded by the natural splendor of coastal georgia s unique landscape. The first families of frederica national park service. Early settlers in georgia the story of georgia and the georgia people 1736 1860 by george gillman smith, d. He created a plantation from which he provided food to the soldiers and families of ft.
Early settlers in georgia genealogy trails history group. Fort frederica s troops defeated the spanish, ensuring georgia s future as a british colony. Fort frederica frederica is a story of dreams, struggle, victory, and defeat. Georgia s fate was decided in 1742 when spanish and british forces clashed on st. James oglethorpe would use frederica to defeat a superior force of spanish who attacked georgia in retaliation for the. Oglethorpe built fort frederica just three years later to protect this new colony from spanish attack. Simons island by the military road, a narrow path that led through the islands dense forests. Discover fort frederica in saint simons island, georgia. Simons is part of the brunswick, georgia metropolitan statistical area, and according to.
Simons island in glynn county, georgia, united states. Colonists from england, scotland, and the germanic states came to frederica to support the endeavor. Simons, he withdrew before an attack in order to concentrate all his forces at frederica. A museum and film describe the colonial port of sunbury and the sites history. Simons on the north, and the marshes of glynn plus the intracoastal waterway to the west st. Simons island, georgia, june 1935 part 2 of 2 audio controls for interview with wallace quarterman, fort frederica, st. Simons island and the other the virtually unknown story of the battle of the st. About 630 british troops were stationed at the fort. The campaign was part of a larger conflict which became known as the war of jenkins ear. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. Fort frederica national monument, historic site on st. Military park history and description fort frederica s troops defeated the spanish, ensuring georgia s future as a british colony. Colonial life on the georgia coast publications fort frederica association honerkamp, nick on. More than a fort, the town of frederica was home to colonists seeking to start a new life.
Simons island is part of a cluster of barrier islands and marsh hammocks between the altamaha river delta to the north, and st. Chronological history of the civil war in america and hand. Ellen strojan, national park ranger, fort frederica national monument. The first half of the film deals with the founding of frederica by james oglethorpe, his soldiers, and an assortment of british and scottish families. It is through her mothers family that many of the records located at this site, were donated. James oglethorpes military operations against the spanish in florida during the war of jenkins ear 173942, a part of the anglospanish struggle for control of the southeastern part of the present united states.
Simons island in 1736 to defend the threeyearold colony from the spanish in florida. United states history civil war, 18611865african americanspersonal narratives. On a trip home to britain in 1737, oglethorpe secured command of a 630man regiment of regulars, the 42 nd regiment of foot. Local british forces under the command of the governor james oglethorpe rallied and defeated the spaniards at the battle of. Colonial fort and town its place in history by trevor r reese. The bloody marsh memorial site, a separate area 6 miles south, is open daily 8.
Fort morris state historic site department of natural. History uncovered, a 23minute film about both the town and the actual fort at frederica, plays every half hour. Fort frederica national monument historic site, georgia. Fort frederica saint simons island, georgia atlas obscura. Many probate records to the 1930s and 1940s are at the georgia department of archives and history and the family history library on microfilm. Georgia founder james oglethorpe built fort frederica and the surrounding town on st.
Today, the archeological remnants of frederica are protected by the national park service. Frederica history in brief building fort frederica. The building took the form of square with rooms surrounding an open parade. Jones heritage center, bloody marsh battle site, first african baptist church, fort frederica national monument, gascoigne bluff, hofwyl broadfield plantation, and the marshes of glynn in saint simons island, georgia. Simons island georgia georgia s fate was decided in 1742 when spanish and british forces clashed on st. This land which we call georgia today was the epicenter of a centuriesold imperial conflict between spain and britain. In the early days when frederica was the most important military settlement in the colony of georgia, the religious work at frederica was a part of the missionary work of christ church, savannah. Our todays and yesterdays by margaret davis cate book. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Simons island, georgia, preserves the archaeological remnants of a fort and town built by james oglethorpe between 1736 and 1748 to.
Oglethorpes regiment disbanded in 1749, ruining frederica s economy. The first protestant minister that labored at frederica was charles wesley, who with john wesley came to america in 1736. Fort frederica was connected to a sister fort on the south end of st. Interview with wallace quarterman, fort frederica, st.
Nature finished the process of reclaiming frederica with vines overgrowing the few tabby ruins still standing and in time little was left but a memory. Fort frederica s military days ended when spain and england declared peace in 1748. James edward oglethorpe, born december 22, 1696, london, englanddied june 30july 1, 1785, cranham hall, essex, england, english army officer, philanthropist, and founder of the british colony of georgia in america educated at the university of oxford, he. During the campaign of 1742, the barracks served as. Fort frederica was established in 1736 by james oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of georgia from the spanish in. Has 78 pages of info, illustrations and maps about the history of fort frederica on st simons island, georgia. If you enjoy exploring history and visiting historical monuments, then you wont. It was established by general oglethorpe in 1736 and was instrumental in protecting the island during the war of jenkins ear. Fort frederica, shaded by old live oaks, overlooks the frederica river.
The monument is accessible via a bridge from brunswick. The monument authorized 1936 covers 284 acres 115 hectares and consists of the remains of a fort and surrounding town built by georgia colony founder james edward oglethorpe in 1736 to defend georgia from the spanish in florida. This beautiful park was the site of one of the first british colonies. Fort frederica national monument, a unit of the national park system, is located at 6515 frederica rd. The following individuals referred to as malcontents by the author.
The remnants of the fortress that saved georgia from the spanish still stand guard on their swampy island. Visit the fort frederica national monument lilmar propeties. It didnt then take them long to find the military road which led up the island to frederica, and a detachment made it to within a few miles of the town before the. The first tells the story of the british raid on st. Fort frederica national monument, 6515 frederica road, st. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
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