Page 38 - Pilgrims in Georgia

V King George II Signs the Charter!

In 1732 the charter for the colony of Georgia was made official. The charter listed its purposes to be
for charity to help British citizens, for economic growth for Britain, and for defense. Although it did
not name the Spanish and French in the charter it was understood that the colony would act as a
buffer settlement to help protect the important British colony of Charlestown South Carolina. Also,
“Though not stated in the charter, religion was a fourth reason for Georgia’s creation. England saw
the new American colony as a home for Protestants being persecuted in Europe” (GSB) So no state
church would be required as in the other southern colonies but “liberty of conscience allowed in the
worship of God.” The only religious group specifically not allowed by the charter in the colony were
Catholics due to the fear of the ongoing competition with Catholic Spain. The charter said this:

“And for the greater ease and encouragement of our loving subjects and such others as shall come to
inhabit in our said colony, we do by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, grant, establish
and ordain, that forever hereafter, there shall be a liberty of conscience allowed in the worship of
God, to all persons inhabiting, or which shall inhabit or be resident within our said provinces and that
all such persons, except papists, shall have a free exercise of their religion, so they be contented with
the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the same, not giving offence or scandal to the government.”

Further, It would not be like any other British colony before, humanitarian pains were taken to
prevent conditions that would lead to inequities and problems present in the Britain. The
government would be that of a Charitable Trust composed of a group of 21 trustees (someone who
acts on behalf and for the good of someone else). The trustees would include Oglethorpe and some
of the other associates of Dr. Bray. These men would all govern without pay and without the ability
to own land or hold office in the colony. It would be an effort to envision and create a better society. General Oglethorpe at the Battle of Bloody Marsh

Large land ownership would be restricted, all the settlers would work their own land so a rich upper class could not come in or develop and
there were limitations on inheritance too. Slavery also would be prohibited; Oglethorpe and some other of other Trustees were abolitionists.
Whereas beer and wine were allowed, hard liquors and rum were not. Also, “Georgia’s trustees had been concerned about the religious life of
the settlers. Hundreds of Bibles, prayer books, and other religious works were sent with the first group of colonist. The trustees also sent
clergymen to the colony.” (GSB) Finally, they would send one of their own, Oglethorpe, who volunteered to go knowing he could not as a trustee
receive and income, own land in the colony of his conception, or hold a public office aside from acting as governor on behalf of the trustees. As
the Trustees began interviewing potential colonists, they looked for carpenters, tailors, bakers, farmers, merchants, and others with the skills
necessary for the colony's success. By this time any ideas of Georgia's being a haven for debtors in English prisons had long vanished and not
one formerly jailed debtor was among the first colonists selected. In November 1732 a total of 114 men, women, and children gathered at
Gravesend on the River Thames to set sail for the new colony of Georgia. Oglethorpe understood that Georgia's charter prohibited him from
holding office, owning land, or receiving a salary in the new colony, yet he gave up the comforts of home to accompany the settlers.