November 30, 1732

1732 The Earl of Egmont, a key member of the Georgia Trustees, recorded in his diary his concern that Roman Catholics not be allowed to settle in the new colony of Georgia. His opposition principally was tied to the existence of official state religions -- namely the fact that England was Protestant, while traditional rivals Spain and France were Catholic. Thus, argued Egmont, "Papists . . . would only be spies upon our colony to inform the French or Spaniards of the conditions of the colony." The other Trustees agreed with Egmont, and a ban was subsequently imposed on allowing Catholics to settle in Georgia. Trustee James Oglethorpe did not participate in the vote, as he had sailed with the first Georgia colonists over two weeks earlier.

November 30, 1782

1782 American and British negotiators finally agreed to preliminary articles for a treaty to end the American Revolution. Those articles included a cessation of hostilities, British recognition of the independence of the American states, and agreement on the boundaries of the United States. The two sides also agreed to a secret article that affected Georgia’s southern boundary west of the Chattahoochee River. If Spain allowed Britain to retain her two Florida colonies, the northern boundary of West Florida would continue as it was prior to the American Revolution -- a line marked at latitude 32?? 22’ N stretching from the Chattahoocee River to the Mississippi River. If, however, Spain insisted on the return of the two Floridas, West Florida’s norther boundary would return to 31?? (as originally stipulated in the Treaty of Paris of 1763). Thus, a substantial area of Georgia’s western territory was at stake. Unfortunately, no one consulted Spain, which expected to claim the entire area of West Florida for its role in defeating the British. The secret agreement would plague U.S.-Spanish relations until 1795, when Spain finally agreed to give up its claim to western Georgia north of the 31st parallel.

November 30, 1819

1819 The steamship Savannah returned to Savannah after being the first steam-powered vessel to cross Atlantic.

November 30, 1858

1858 Gov. Joseph E. Brown signed legislation creating Clayton County as Georgia’s 127th county. Created from portions of Fayette and Henry counties, the new county was named for former congressman and judge Augustin Clayton.

November 30, 1894

1894 Former Georgia governor Joseph E. Brown died in Atlanta at age 73. [See Apr. 15 entry for biographical information on Brown.]

November 30, 2001

2001 Former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, and two other men, where charged with the murder of Derwin Brown, who had defeated Dorsey in an August election.

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FEB
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Today in History

1854 Gov. Herschel Johnson signed legislation creating Coffee County as Georgia’s 108th county. Created from portions of Clinch, Irwin, Telfair, and Ware counties, the new county was named for Gen. … read more