GEORGIA-L Archives

Archiver > GEORGIA > 2004-06 > 1086735938


From: "Phil Smith" <>
Subject: Re: [GEORGIA] Re: Volunteer Lists
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 16:05:38 -0700
References: <410-2200464316103130@earthlink.net> <003901c449f3$15448870$4f7af842@donsd7wz1qya5r> <000101c44dab$aaeb24e0$b4592c42@hp>


My first family was sent to America as a reprieved convict......and had to
work 7 years in the tobacco fields (1750s) what does that mean??
phil
----- Original Message -----
From: "JIM MOORE" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: [GEORGIA] Re: Volunteer Lists


> At the risk of starting something, which IS NOT my intent, I thought I'd
> post the following
> exchange I had with Pamela W. Coleman, Senior Archivist at the Georgia
> Department of
> Archives and History, about 5 years ago, for information's sake.
>
> Don stated, "Well as I know the history of Georgia, and of many counties
in
> Georgia, I
> completely missed the fact that Georgia was at first peopled by penal
> types."
> Most people seem to read "penal" as "criminal"... "something like
Australia
> I think."
> I erroneously held that view until Pamela disabused me of it. Debtors,
> yes; criminals, no.
>
> JIM MOORE
>
> #################################################################
>
> Dear Mr. Moore,
>
> It is true that some debtors were sent, but not criminals. Remember that
> there were debtor prisons at that time period, so technically, some came
> from the debtor prisons. According to Amanda Johnson's "Georgia as Colony
> and State" (Atlanta, Ga: Cherokee Publishing Co, 1938 [Reprinted 1970]):
> "Many were anxious to join the colony, but scrupulous care was exercised
in
> choosing those who might go. No debtor was taken without the consent of
his
> creditor; no criminals; and no man leaving behind wife or children
dependent
> upon him for support. Four months were devoted to the selection of these
> first settlers of Georgia. Only the most worthy from the debtor prisons
> were taken. Those, recommended by clergymen, were given preference, and
> Catholics, Spanish, and French were barred." (p. 47). Another interesting
> question we receive from time to time is: "Is it true that rum, slaves and
> lawyers were originally banned from the colony of Georgia?". You can find
> the answer on our web site at:
> http://www.sos.state.ga.us/archives/rs/ghfaq.htm#colonial
>
> Have a good day!
>
> Sincerely,
> Pamela W. Coleman, Senior Archivist
> Georgia Department of Archives and History
> Web Site: http://www.sos.state.ga.us/archives
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: JIM MOORE [mailto:]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 10:49 PM
> > To: Coleman, Pamela
> > Subject: Debtors Prisoners to GA>
> >
> > But Pamela...
> > I think your e-mail may beg the real question.
> > Not so much the "principle objectsof the province", but exactly who did
> > settle Georgia? I, like others, have heard/read that no
> debtors/criminals
> > were shipped.
> > Is that so, or just wishful hoping to "erase" a perceived stigma?
> > Thanks for jumping in and keeping the list "educated"...BTW, I'm not
> > sure if I ever thanked you for sending me the information on railroads
in
> GA
> > several months ago. I do appreciate that information, too!
> > JIM MOORE
> >
> >
> > Subject:
> > [GA] RE: [GA] Debtors Prisoners to GA
> > Date:
> > Thu, 15 Apr 1999 08:50:02 -0400
> > From:
> > "Coleman, Pamela" <>
> > To:
> >
> >
> > Good morning,
> >
> > The question of debtors and prisoners being shipped to
> > Georgia comes up quite bit here at the Georgia Department of Archives.
> > According to the original charter, the principle objects of the province
> were:
> >
> > "(1) the relief of poor subjects who through misfortune and want of
> > employment were reduced to great necessity; (2) the increase of trade,
> > navigation, and wealth of the realm; and (3) the establishment of a
> > barrier for the defense of South Carolina and the provinces further
north
> > against the ravages of the Indians." (Colonial Records of Georgia, Vol.
> I, p.
> > 11)
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Pamela W. Coleman, Senior Archivist
> > Georgia Department of Archives and History
> > Web Site: http://www.sos.state.ga.us/archives
> > E-mail Reference:
>
> ###############################################################
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Don Kelly" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 1:15 AM
> Subject: [GEORGIA] Re: Volunteer Lists
>
>
> > I really like these resources and will support them any way I can. I own
> > many books, most on Ireland and Scotland, but also a couple of books
about
> > the people of Georgia.
> >
> > Well as I know the history of Georgia, and of many counties in Georgia,
I
> > completely missed the fact that Georgia was at first peopled by penal
> > types...........something like Australia I think. I imagine the first
> colony
> > may have been Savannah or one of the other three seaports. It makes
sense
> > that settlements would have grown from there both northward and
westward.
> >
> > Don Kelly
>
>
>
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