Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-14

Mr.. Beckett Gives some Interesting
Facts Concerning Colonisl Lands

Mr.. Beckett Gives some Interesting
Facts Concerning Colonial Lands
Mr.. Isaac Beckett, who has been in At
lanta several weeks examining the colo
+ NAL records ia the office of the Secretary
/ Of State, with view TO locating the I'M
/ granted lands in Chatham county belong
/ ing to the Chatham Academy and Union
/ Society, returned yesterday, having made
+ a digest of the grants from l1S5 back to
/ 1863. He will return in few weeks TO
! complete his work, which includes
/ the tracing OF all grants from the latter
date as far back as 1884. Mr.. Bscketts
I Investigations have brought to light many
interesting facts in regard to the early
history Of Georgia.
There are so many things that ! might
tell you about the colony in its infancy
that have never been written that |
hardly know where to begin" said he
to a NEWS reporter, speaking Of the
progress Of his investigations. In reply
TO inquiries, however, be gave an inter
estng description Of how the lands We're
divided under the charter OF the KING
during the first twenty years Of the col
Ony's existence. "The grants" said Mr..
Beckett, "were limited TO tracts not eX-
eeeding 500 acres, and were coupled with
MANY conditions that TO the present gen
GRAFTON seem extremely harsh and not
entirely free from absurdity. For ex-
ample, the grants were limited to the
male heirs OF the grantees. The object Of
this seemingly unfair regulation was to
preserve the military strength OF the
province, as a female heir might be I'M
married and thus withdraw from the gar
rison the portion which should belong to
a soldier. Nor were the grantees at frat
allowed to sell their grants, because
this privilege being permitted the
lands Whicd should be apporti0ned among
many. might become centered IN a few.
On failure OF male heirs, the lands at
once reverted to the trustees, to be again
granted TO such persons az the common
council should think most advantageous
to the colony. The rules, however, con-
tanned at least one element Of justice, as
the widows OF grantees dying without
male issue were, during their lives, en-
titled to the enjoyment Of the house and
one-haf the improved lands which their
joint labOrs had created, and special re-
gard WIS had tor daughters presumably
those with husbands Of those who had
made Improvements upon their lots.
at was also provided that the land
granted should be cultivated, planted,
cleared, improved or fenced within ten
years from date of the grant. else such
grant should be void and the land so un-
improved should revert to the trustees.
Another condition attached to the
earlier grants WAS that each person should
plant 100 white mulberry trees. TIE pro-
jectOrs OF the future great State OF Geor-
Ria regarded t1e cultivation of silk as the
foundation of her future wealth.
LAS the years rolled by it became more
and more apparent that the silk worm
would prove failure, hence that indus
try ceased to be tostered by the cOlonists
One large truet lot in the present city Of
savannah was set apart in the 'hlature
lot whereon was erected a huge wooden
structure, specially appropriated to the
promotion OF silk culture. This lot is now
covered by a range OF brick tenements.
In the earlier period OF her history, the
known Georgia." SO far as the records
disclose, was confined to the low lands
along the coast and the banks the Savan-
nah. The deeds all describe the land as
in the province of Georgia, and in the
districts OF Savannah, Ebenezer, Ogee-
chez, etc. After the termination of the
charter, in 1853 or Whereabouts, all grants
emanated from TIE crown, and were
tested by the Goyernor-General and Com
mander in Chief for the time being. The
records render notorious the fact that
each of these Governors took care to
Heather bis own nest" as large tracts Of
the most valuable lands in the province
were set aside to them.
"In 1903 the charter Of the colony ex-
PRED, but two years prior to that date the
trustees deemed it expedient to surrender
their trust, which, after various negOtia-
tons, was accomplished in 1852. Their
last meeting was held on June % of that
year, when they executed formal deed
OF surrender TO the crown.
The records of deeds, mortgages, wills,
etc, which are now preserved in the
offices Of the Clerks of Superior Courts
and Ordinaries, were during the colonial
era kept in an office which was equiya-
lent to that of Secretary Of State OF to-day.
These records are now in the capitol and
in an excellent state Of preservation.
They cover the entire period from 1884 10
the organization OF the State government"