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others came the cows had again escaped to the woods； and the swine had
been drowned！
In July Spangenberg wrote to Herrnhut that he had given his fifty acres
of land； including the town lot； to the Moravian Congregation at Savannah；
and that he would at once apply to the Trustees to vest the title in that body；
and if he left Georgia before this was accomplished he would give a full
Power of Attorney to Toeltschig。 From the first his land had been used as
the common property of the party； and he desired that the nine men； who；
with him； were bound to the repayment of the 60 Pounds； borrowed from
the Trustees； should have the use of it until that obligation was met； and
then it should be used as the Savannah Congregation thought best。
Nitschmann's land seems to have been held in a different way；
although granted at the same time； and under similar circumstances。 July
11th； Spangenberg sent him a detailed description of the town and garden
lots； explaining the advantages and difficulties of cultivation； suggesting
several methods by which it could be done； and giving the approximate
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cost； urging that instructions be sent as to his wishes。Later he wrote that
the company had decided not to wait for Nitschmann's reply； but to clear
the garden on the terms usual in Georgia； e。g。； that the man who cleared a
piece of ground held it rent free for seven years； when it reverted to the
owner。 This had been done； and the garden was ready to plant and fence；
and if Nitschmann approved they intended to clear the farm； and would
build a small house on the town lot。Zinzendorf had suggested that negroes
be employed on Nitschmann's land； but at that time slavery was prohibited
in Georgia； and any negroes who ran away from Carolina were at once
returned to their masters。
The two farms lay side by side about four miles from Savannah； the
gardens； also adjoining； were about two miles from town； so it was
necessary to build cabins at both places； as shelters from sun and storm；
which the settlers found equally trying。 Two additional cabins had been
built in Savannah on Spangenberg's lot； and by the end of the year a house；
thirty…four by eighteen feet in size； was under roof； though not yet
finished。This gave an abundance of room； not only for themselves； but for
the second company to whose arrival they were looking forward with such
eagerness。
When this reinforcement came they hoped to move to Zinzendorf's
tract； and then； as soon as they could be spared； Demuth； Haberecht；
Waschke and the two Haberlands wished to claim the twenty acres apiece
which the Trustees had promised to the Count's 〃servants〃。 Riedel was of
the same mind； but he did not live to see the arrival of the second
company。Some months after reaching Georgia； he was dangerously ill
with fever； but passed the crisis successfully； and recovered his full
strength。He was one of the party who went to survey Zinzendorf's tract；
but was taken sick again three days after the boat left Savannah； and by
the time they returned he was obliged to go to bed； and soon became
delirious。 The other Moravians were greatly distressed； but could do
nothing except nurse him carefully and pray for him earnestly； and toward
the end his mind cleared； though his body had lost the power to recuperate。
He died on the 30th of September； the first Moravian to 〃fall asleep〃 in the
United States； though others had given up their lives for the mission work
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in the West Indies。His spiritual condition had at times caused much
concern to Toeltschig； who was especially charged with the religious
welfare of the first company； many of whom had been under his care in
Germany； but in the main he had been an earnest man； a willing and
industrious partaker in the common toil； and his death caused much
regret。The burial customs in Savannah included the ringing of bells； a
funeral sermon； and a volley of musketry； but learning that these
ceremonies were not obligatory the Moravians declined the offer of the
citizens to so honor their Brother； and laid him to rest in the Savannah
cemetery with a simple service of hymns and prayer。
As they were robing Riedel for his burial； a young man came to the
door； and asked if he could not make them some pewter spoons。In the
conversations that followed it developed that he was a native of
Switzerland； the son of a physician； and after his father's death he had
sailed for Pennsylvania； intending there to begin the practice of medicine。
But his fellow…passengers stole his books and everything he had； he was
unable to pay for his transportation； and forced to sell his service for seven
years as a redemptioner。At the end of five years he had become quite ill；
and his master； having waited six months for his recovery； heartlessly
turned him out； to live or die as the case might be。Instead of dying； his
strength returned； and then his former master demanded 10 Pounds
Pennsylvania currency； for his unexpired term； although only 5 Pounds
had been paid for him； and he had served five years。The young man was
obliged to promise to pay this； and Spangenberg encouraged him to push
his spoon…making； in order to do it as speedily as possible。Meanwhile the
Moravians were so much pleased with his appearance and speech； that
they agreed to receive him into their company for as long as he chose to
stay； and John Regnier soon became an important factor in their comfort。
Spiritually he was somewhat at sea。At one time he had desired to be a
hermit； and then he had drifted from one sect to another； seeking
something which he could not find； but acquiring a medley of odd customs。
Spangenberg advised him to turn his thoughts from men to God； learning
from Him 〃what was better and higher； Faith； Love； Hope； etc。〃； and under
the Moravian influence he gradually laid aside his unwise fancies； giving
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The Moravians in Georgia
them encouragement to believe that he would eventually come into the
clearer light； as they knew it。
In material things John Regnier was of great assistance； owing to his
ability to turn his hand to almost anything。The shoes of the party were
badly torn； but though they had brought leather and tools from England
none of them knew the cobbler's trade。John Regnier had never made a
shoe； but he took it up； and soon provided for them all； and then he
mended their clothing； and added new garments。He also showed much
aptitude for nursing； and Spangenberg put him in charge of several cases。
A man from a neighboring village sent word that he had severed an artery
and could not check the bleeding； and asked for help。Regnier went to him；
and was so successful in his treatment that in two weeks the man was
entirely restored。Some one discovered a poor Scotchman； dying with
dropsy； lying utterly neglected upon the floor of a miserable hut； and
appeal was made to the Moravians to take him and care for him。 They did
so； moving him to one of their cabins； where they made him a bed； and
Regnier nursed him until death ended his sufferings。 Another man had
high fever； and no friends； and him also the Moravians took； and cared for；
the Trustee's agent furnishing food and medicine for the sick； but offering
no recompense for the care they received。
Indeed； as the months passed by； the Moravians established a
reputation for charity and for hospitality。Not only had they kept free of
dispute with the Salzburgers； but the friendliest relations existe