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two men to be stationed in Augusta； either as licensed Traders； for many
Indians came there； or as Schoolmasters。
Zinzendorf thought well of the plan； and accepted the tract； which
Oglethorpe deeded to him Nov。 1st； 1746； the land lying on the Carolina
side of the Savannah River； adjoining the township of Purisburg； where
Boehler and Schulius had made many friends。
No colonists； however； were sent over； and the title to the land lapsed
for lack of occupancy； as that to Old Fort； on the Ogeechee； had already
done。
1774。
Early in 1774； Mr。 Knox； Under…Secretary of State in London； asked
for missionaries to preach the Gospel to the slaves on his plantation in
Georgia。 He offered a small piece of land； whereon they might live
independently； and promised ample store of provisions。
This time the plan was carried into execution； and Ludwig Mueller；
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formerly teacher in the Pedagogium at Niesky； with John George Wagner
as his companion； went to England； and sailed from there to Georgia。 They
settled on Mr。 Knox's plantation； and at once began to visit and instruct the
slaves； and preach to the whites living in the
neighborhood。〃Knoxborough〃 lay on a creek about sixteen miles from
Savannah； midway between that town and Ebenezer。 The land had been
settled by Germans； Salzburgers and Wittenbergers； and Mr。 Knox had
bought up their fifty acre tracts； combining them into a large rice
plantation。The homes of the Germans had been allowed to fall into ruin；
the overseer occupying a three…roomed house； with an outside
kitchen。Mueller was given a room in the overseer's house； preaching there
to the white neighbors who chose to hear him； and to the negroes in the
large shed that sheltered the stamping mill。 Wagner occupied a room cut
off from the kitchen。
In February； 1775； Frederick William Marshall； Agent of the Unitas
Fratrum on the Wachovia Tract in North Carolina； （with headquarters at
Salem） visited Georgia to inspect the Moravian property there；
accompanied by Andrew Broesing； who joined Mueller and Wagner in
their missionary work。It had been suggested that the Moravians preach in
a church at a little place called Goshen； near 〃Knoxborough〃； a church
which had been built by subscriptions of Germans and English living in
the neighborhood； and had been used occasionally by a preacher from
Ebenezer。
At this time the Salzburgers were in a very bad condition。 Bolzius had
died in 1765； and Rabenhorst and Triebner； who shared the pastorate； were
greatly at variance； so that the entire settlement was split into factions。 Dr。
Muehlenberg； 〃the father of Lutheranism in Pennsylvania〃； had come to
settle the difficulties； and heard with much displeasure of the plan to have
the Moravians preach at Goshen。He declared； 〃I doubt not； according to
their known method of insinuation； they will gain the most； if not all the
remaining families in Goshen； and will also make an attempt on Ebenezer；
for their ways are well adapted to awakened souls。I have learned by
experience that where strife and disunion have occurred in neighborhoods
and congregations among the Germans in America； there black and white
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apostles have immediately appeared； and tried to fish in the troubled
waters； like eagles which have a keen sight and smell。〃
Dr。 Muehlenberg was too much prejudiced against the Moravians to
judge them fairly； for he belonged to the Halle party in Germany； and in
Pennsylvania had clashed with Zinzendorf during the latter's residence
there。The Lutheran Church was in no way endangered by the preaching of
the missionaries； for their instructions were explicit：〃If you have an
opportunity to preach the Gospel to German or English residents use it
gladly； but receive none into your congregation； for you are sent expressly
to the negroes。〃 〃You will probably find some of the so…called Salzburgers
there； with their ministers。With them you will in all fairness do only that to
which you are invited by their pastor。You will do nothing in their
congregation that you would not like to have another do in yours。〃 Dr。
Muehlenberg； therefore； might safely have left them free to preach the
Gospel where they would； even to his own distracted flock； which was
weakened by dissensions； suffered severely in the Revolutionary War； and
gradually scattered into the adjoining country。
In accordance with his instructions； Mueller at once gave up all idea of
using the Goshen church； and occupied himself with those who heard him
gladly at Knoxborough。After a careful examination of the land； the
Moravians decided not to build a house for themselves； but to continue
with the overseer； who was kind to them； and gave Mueller the use of a
horse for his visits to adjoining plantations。
James Habersham； who had come over with George Whitefield in
1738； was one of the most prominent men in Savannah at this time。 In
1744 he had established a commercial house in Georgia； the first of its
kind； to ship lumber； hogs； skins； etc。； to England； and this business had
been a success。He had taken a great interest in Whitefield's Orphan House；
and had been active in governmental affairs； having served as Secretary of
the Province； President of the Council； and Acting Governor of
Georgia。For many years he had been the Agent in charge of the Moravian
lots in and near Savannah； and now； in failing health； and a sufferer from
gout； he asked that one of the missionaries might be sent to his three
estates on the Ogeechee River； partly as his representative and partly to
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instruct the slaves。 It was decided that Wagner should accept this
invitation and go to 〃Silkhope〃； while Mueller and Broesing remained at
Knoxborough； Mueller preaching at 〃Silkhope〃 every two weeks。
Marshall was much pleased with the reception accorded him and the
missionaries； and hoped the time was coming for again using the lots in
Savannah； but the hope again proved to be fallacious。The missionaries all
suffered greatly from fever； always prevalent on the rice plantations in the
summer； and on Oct。 11th； 1775； Mueller died。The outbreak of the
Revolutionary War made Wagner's and Broesing's position precarious； for
the English Act exempting the Moravians from military service was not
likely to be respected by the Americans； and in 1776 Broesing returned to
Wachovia； where the Moravians had settled in sufficient numbers to hold
their own； though amid trials manifold。Wagner stayed in Georgia until
1779； and then he too left the field； and returned to England。
The Savannah Lands。
In January； 1735； fifty acres of Savannah land was granted by the
Trustees of Georgia to August Gottlieb Spangenberg； who was going to
Georgia as the leader of the first company of Moravian
colonists。Spangenberg had the habit of speaking of himself as 〃Brother
Joseph〃 in his diaries； and in the records he sometimes appears as Joseph
Spangenberg； sometimes as Joseph Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg； and
sometimes by his true name only。According to custom； the fifty acre grant
embraced three lots； Town Lot No。 4； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in
the town of Savannah； Farm Lot No。 2； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in
the township of Savannah； and Garden Lot No。 120； East。 （Office of the
Secretary of State of Georgia； Book D of Grants； Folio 208。）
A few days later a similar grant was made to David Nitschmann；
〃Count Zinzendorf's Hausmeiste