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fifteen men； reinforced by those who followed them； would have been
able to make a home in the heart of the forest； will never be known； for
from various reasons the town on the five hundred acre tract was never
begun。In short； while the Moravians were risking much personal
discomfort； there was nothing in their plan which could possibly injure
others； and the cavil and abuse of their opposers was as uncalled for as is
many a 〃private opinion publicly expressed〃 to…day。
Hearing of the many obstacles which were being thrown in their way；
Mr。 Coram； who was a man of wide charities； and interested in other
colonies besides Georgia； suggested to Spangenberg that his company
should go to Nova Scotia； where the climate was milder； and offered them
free transportation and aid in settling there； but this proposal Spangenberg
at once rejected； and pinned his faith on the kindness of Gen。 Oglethorpe；
whose return from Georgia the preceding July； explained the more
favorable tone of the Trustees' letters after that date。 Oglethorpe asked him
numberless questions about the doctrine and practice of the Moravians；
and their reasons for wishing to go to Georgia； and promised to lay the
matter before the Trustees； using all his influence to further their designs。
The 〃First Company〃。
On the 14th of January； 1735； the first company of Moravian colonists
arrived in London。At their head was David Nitschmann； variously
called 〃the III〃； 〃the weaver〃； 〃the Syndic〃； and Count Zinzendorf's
〃Hausmeister〃； who was to stay with them until they left England； and
then return to Germany； resigning the leadership of the party to
Spangenberg； who was instructed to take them to Georgia and establish
them there； and then go to Pennsylvania to the Schwenkfelders。The other
nine wereJohn Toeltschig； Zinzendorf's flower…gardener。 Peter Rose； a
gamekeeper。 Gotthard Demuth； a joiner。 Gottfried Haberecht； weaver of
woolen goods。 Anton Seifert； a linen weaver。 George Waschke； carpenter。
Michael Haberland； carpenter。 George Haberland； mason。 Friedrich Riedel；
mason。
They were 〃good and true sons of God； and at the same time skillful
workmen；〃 with such a variety of handicrafts as to render them largely
independent of outside assistance in the settlement which they proposed to
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The Moravians in Georgia
make； and all but Haberecht were religious refugees from Moravia and
adjacent parts of Bohemia。
Nitschmann and Toeltschig were two of the five young men in
Zauchenthal； Moravia； who had set their hearts on the revival of the
ancient Unitas Fratrum。Toeltschig's father； the village burgess； had
summoned the five comrades before him； and strictly forbidden their
holding religious services； warning them that any attempt at emigration
would be severely punished； and advising them to act as became their
youth； frequent the taverns and take part in dances and other amusements。
They were sons of well…to…do parents； and little more than boys in years；
（Nitschmann was only twenty）； but their faith and purpose were dearer to
them than anything else on earth； so they had left all and come away；
commending their homes and kindred to the mercy of God； and singing
the exile hymn of the ancient Unitas Fratrum； sacred through its
association with those brave hearts who had known the bitterness and the
joy of exile a hundred years before。
〃Blessed the day when I must go My fatherland no more to know；My
lot the exile's loneliness；
〃For God will my protector be； And angels ministrant for meThe path
with joys divine will bless。
〃And God to some small place will guide Where I may well content
abideAnd where this soul of mine may rest。
〃As thirsty harts for water burn； For Thee； my Lord and God； I yearn；If
Thou are mine my life is blest。〃
Though holding positions as Count Zinzendorf's hausmeister and
gardener； both Nitschmann and Toeltschig were actively employed in the
affairs of the renewed Unitas Fratrum； and had been to England in 1728 to
try to establish relations with the Society for the Propagation of Christian
Knowledge； though without success。They were the better fitted； therefore；
to conduct the party to England； and to share in the negotiations already
begun by Spangenberg。
This 〃first company〃 left Herrnhut on the 21st of November； 1734；
traveling by Ebersdorf （where Henry XXIX； Count Reuss； Countess
Zinzendorf's brother； gave them a letter of recommendation to any whom
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The Moravians in Georgia
they might meet on their way）； to Holland； whence they had a stormy and
dangerous voyage to England。
The day after they reached London they called on Gen。 Oglethorpe
and having gained admittance with some difficulty they were very well
received by him； carrying on a conversation in a mixture of English and
German； but understanding each other fairly well。Spangenberg coming in
most opportunely； the Moravian affairs were fully discussed； and the new…
comers learned that their arrival had been fortunately timed； for the
Georgia Trustees were to hold one of their semi…annual meetings two days
later； when Oglethorpe could press their matter； and a ship was to sail for
Georgia the latter part of the month。 Oglethorpe was disturbed to find that
the colonists had failed to raise any money toward their expenses； but
promised to try and assist them in that also。
On the 18th the colonists were formally presented to the Trustees；
heard the lively argument for and against their cause； and had the
satisfaction of seeing the vote cast in their favor。 It was contrary to the
custom of the Trustees to grant lands to any who did not come in person to
apply for them and declare their intention of going to Georgia to settle； but
Oglethorpe's argument that the high rank of Count Zinzendorf was entitled
to consideration was accepted and five hundred acres of land were granted
to the Count and his male heirs。
The Indenture bore date of Jan。 10； 1734； Old Style； （Jan。 21； 1735；）*
and the five hundred acres were 〃to be set out limited and bounded in
Such Manner and in Such Part or Parts of the said Province as shall be
thought most convenient by such Person or Persons as shall by the said
Common Council be for that Purpose authorized and appointed；〃 there
being a verbal agreement that the tract should be in the hilly country some
distance from the coast； which； though less accessible and less easily
cultivated； lay near the territory occupied by the Indians。Five pounds per
annum was named as the quit rent； payment to begin eight years later； and
such part of the tract as was not cleared and improved during the next
eighteen years was to revert to the Trustees。 The Trustees also agreed that
they would reserve two hundred acres near the larger tract； and whenever
formally requested by Count Zinzendorf； would grant twenty acres each
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The Moravians in Georgia
〃to such able bodied Young Men Servants as should arrive and settle with
him in the said Province of Georgia。〃
* This IS written correctly。See the author's explanation of the
calendar in Chapter IV。 A。 L。； 1996。
In addition to the five hundred acres granted to Zinzendorf； fifty acres
were given to Spangenberg； and fifty acres to Nitschmann； although as the
latter was not going to Georgia； and the former did not intend to stay； this
alone was a departure from the custom of the Trustees。Each of the fifty
acre grants was in three parts； a lot in the town of Savannah； a five acre
garden