The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-09
A VILLAGE WIPED OUT.
IT CONSISTED OF THREE HOUSES
AT NEW DEPTFORD.

AT NEW DEPTFORD.
The Claimants Of a Part OF the De-
fuuct Towns Site Put Up q Row o.
Houses and Prepare to Take Posses
sion, but the Present Owners Of
Deptford Demolish the Houses and
They Float of With the Tide-The
Story ofthe Dead Town-An Historic
Site Under Oglethorpe's Guns
A few days ago three portable houses
were erected on the Depttord plantation,
near Fort Oglethorpe, and yesterday they
were summarily demolished by a number Of
negro workmen. under the direction of the
owners Of the plantation. The houses
were put up by Mr.. James W. McAlpin,
who claims to be the owner of three lots
in the defunct town of New Deptford. The
lots claimed are Nos. 4, Is and IA, the lOca-
zion of which it is difficult to determine ex-
actly, as Fort Oglsthorpe now occupies a
part of the site of the old settlement, and
no landmarks remain TO show their metes
and unds The old confederate earth
works east of the fort, known as Battery
Lee, is also partly in the limits Of the old
town.
Two Of the houses were erected east Of
Fort Oglethorpe, and when they were pulled
down Yesterday the tide covered the ground
to the depth of about four feet. The other
house as erected to the west of the fortress.
The claim Of ownership of the land is based
on purchase made at a sheriff's sale Ia
1917 by the late Henry McAlpin.
THE STORY OF NEW DEPTFoRD.
The story of the settlement Of New Dept
ford and the subsequent disposition of the
lots, and the eventual abandonment of the
town. is part of the history of the port Of
Savannah.
During the seige Of the town by the
French and American armies in 1779, the
British sank several Of their war vessels
across the channel opposite Fig Island, to
prevent the French fleet from coming up to
the city. These sunken vessels caused the
To- nation Of a sand bar which was known
for years as 1.-THE Wrecks Although the
obstruc ion has long since been removed,
the location is still designated by that name.
Owing 70 this bar or shoal, vessels of heavy
aft were prevented from coming up to
the town wharves, aud some enterprising
mercha is in 1894 es ablished the town of
New Deptford, where there was-and Is
still-sx fathoms Of water
BUILT TO STAY.
The plat of the town shows that it was
regularly laid out into lots, and wharves were
built, one of which Is still in fair state of
preservation, ID warehouses, stores, and
other buildings were erected Apparently
the town did fiourishing business, aud the
court records ow that property was very
valuable, one lot having changed hands
at 5000. The improvement of the
river, however, eventually gave sufficient
depth of water for large vessels to come up
to the town of Saya nah, aud the embryo
seaport of New Deptford, two and ona-haf
miles below, died for want Of business and
the lots lost their value. At exactly what
time disas. er overlook this ancient town lot
speculation is not now known, nor is it a
matter OF much Importance, but in 1889 the
limits Of the town had been absorbed in
those Of the adjacent rice plantation, known
then as "Lapithrowly,h but now as
"Deptford."
THE TOWN SOLD OUT.
In that year the plantation was sold by
the late James L. Petigru of Charleston, a
lawyer whose fame will last as long as that
OF any American jurist, to Thomas Higham,
the younger, of the same city. Tbs deed
shows that the plantation embraced the
land to the bank of the Savannah river. In
1S49 Higham sold the property to the late
Robert Habersham of this city, whose he rs,
in 1873, sold 1t to w. r. Carmichael. Mr.
Oarmlchael, IN 1888, sold the DeptfOrd plan
tation to ID. G. Purse and J. c. Rowland.
the present owners.
The rapid growth of the commerce of
Savannah has made the Deptford property
very valuable, for the reason that the dav
is not far distant when wharves aud ware
houses will again occupy the site of the old
town of 1874, and what is now rice field
will be crossed and recrossed by railroad
tracks.
TO DEFEND THEIR CLAIMS.
Of course, those who have old titles to
such valuable property are oking them up
and preparing to defend them. The fact,
however, that a distinguished lawyer like
Mr.. Peugru gave a warranty title to the
entire property appears to be in itself very
strong proof that as far back as 1889 all
claims for the Deptford town lots had been
extinguished. What will be the outcome of
the latest at empt to take possession of a
part OF the prouerty it is not possible to
determine, but the present owners are very
conhdsnt OF their rights and propose to
maintain them against all claimants.
Henry McAlpin, Esq, said last night that
he had received no official notification that
the houses hich his father had put up have
been torn down, but if such is the case the
matter will be looked after at once.