Georgia Historical Society

An Early Melting Pot

 
Throughout the state's history, one of the most serious encounters in Georgia has been between the residents and the environment. Often this exchange cost lives. 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 many of the consequences of trying to conquer nature with inexperienced settlers, most of whom had no knowledge of agriculture, town-building, or soldiering. As the colonists struggled to maintain their meager existence on Yamacraw Bluff, the Trustees struggled to find additional worthy settlers who could provide experience and labor. This not only brought in a myriad of peoples, it also required bending or changing the original principles on which Georgia was established.
 
Jewish Colonists
The summer of 1733 proved to be extremely harsh on Georgia's first arrivals. Heat and polluted river water combined to sicken and kill many of the residents. It was into this situation that Georgia's first Jewish immigrants flung themselves, arriving unexpectedly aboard the William and Sarah. Neither the Trustees in England nor Oglethorpe knew that the forty-three Jewish men, women, and children set out for Georgia, but, despite the Trustees' anti-Semitism, the pragmatic Oglethorpe did not deny the Jewish landing.
 
Immediately, Georgia's first English settlers were rewarded by Oglethorpe's decision. With the death of Dr. Cox, the illness of his replacement Noble Jones, and the failure of folk and Indian remedies, the colonists held little hope for survival until the timely arrival of the Jewish physician, Dr. Samuel Nunez. No one under his care died, and Oglethorpe soon informed the Trustees of this fortuity. Although the Trustees responded in typical anti-Semitic fashion by instructing Oglethorpe not to deed any land to the Jews, Oglethorpe again applied common sense to the situation. He needed farmers, soldiers, and experienced tradesmen. Oglethorpe granted property in Savannah to fourteen Jewish males. Savannah's first Jews established the Congregation Mickve Israel soon after their arrival, and their Gothic Revival synagogue, dedicated in 1878, stands on Monterey Square, still serving the congregation.
 
The Jewish community quickly asserted themselves as important, productive members of the new colony. Oddly enough, the Trustees, who held high hopes for grape and wine production, did not send anyone trained to do so. Among the first Jewish settlers, however, was Abraham De Lyon who was raised in Portugal and well-acquainted with grape-growing and wine making. For the militia, Oglethorpe found his first lieutenant, Benjamin Sheftall. Other Jews, initial and later arrivals, became successful planters, store owners, tavern keepers, and shipping merchants.

The Petition of Mordecai Sheftall, Mordecai Sheftall Papers, 1780-1796, MS 725. Mordecai, among the earliest of children born in Savannah (December 2, 1735) was the son of Benjamin Sheftall. This letter is representative of not only the Jewish, but all of Georgia's earliest arrivals and their descendants, who contributed, in one way or another, to the fight for independence.

Transcription 

Teaching Tip
Anti-Semitism is a theme found throughout history. The Trustee's attitudes toward the Jews landing at Savannah might be a good place to begin a discussion of this prejudice.

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