The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-09-04
CREEK MARY'S CAREER.
INTERESTING INCIDENTS OF
EARLY GEORGIA HISTORY.
Atlanta Journal.

Atlanta Journal.
In l7le Colonel John Musgroye was
sent from South Carolina to the Indian
Nation to form, IL possible, o treaty !
with the Creek Indians. On this mis-
sion he was accompanied by his son,
John. In The nation they found q young |
Indian woInsn, named ConsaponakeesO,
who hadibeen taken in early childhood
to Ponpon, South Carolina, and there
educated and instructed in the prin-
ciples of the Christian religion. AT
school she was ~giventhe name OF Mary.
Mary's father was a white man, and on
her maternal side she was directly
descended from Tomo Chachi, the
chief of the Greeks.
Young Musgrove became infatuated
with this young Indian girl, married
her, and for several years lived in the
nation. In 1852, recognizing the fact
that Yamacraw bluff, the present site
OF Savannah, was IL good trading point,
he established q s~tore-house there,
and then, with the aid of his wife, he
soon began o prosperous business.
Here, in 1888, General Oglethorpe
found them, and quickly recognizing
Mary's accomplishments and influence
acquaintance and friendship by making
her numerous presents. In this effort
he was successful, and she soon proved
herself u useful and faithful friend.
1t was through her that the treaty
with Tomo Chachi was effected, which
secured to the first settlers of Georgia
friendly and peaceful reception.
Seeing that the trading post at
Yamacraw was q benefit both TO the
settlers and the Indians, General
Oglethorpe persuaded Mary Musgrove
RI cato hltch onnfhan 1Sn ,~slo H.
Altamaha river, at The Forks, an inn
portant Indian and Dutch settlement.
This Mary did and with her husband
removed thence. Here she traded in
peltry, bartering for it such things as
the Indians needed, and some things
they did not need, notably, whisky.
While she resided at "The Forks
General Oglethorpe often needing her
services ut Yamacraw and the lower
settlement, would send for her, and
these long journeys of one hundred
and fifty to two hundred miles would
be made alone by boat down the river.
These official trips, so to speak, would
keep her from her home sometimes for
two or three months, and in the mean
time her business often suffered serious
loss. She owned a large cattle pen on
the river and her chief ranchman was
q noted swordsman, Il native. Whom
ST.. Augustine was besieged General
Oglethorpe, needing his services, or
dered him to the defence of the place.
The Indian lost his life in this fight
together with Mary's own brother, and
she lost her cattle for want of q her
der.
While living at the "The Forks ~
Mr.. Musgrove died. Afterward Mary
married q Captain Jacob Matthews.
who only lived two years. During her
widowhood she carried on her trading
interests in behalf of tho colonial gov
eminent, often with loss to herself.
But General Oglethorpe constantly
assured her that she would be re-
imbursed for all such losses. Mary
was to him an invaluable ally. :
About TAB Mary married the Rev.
t,Thomas BQsomworth, a Clergyman of
me Church of England, who was
then in the employment OF the" Trus-
tees for the Propagation of Christian
knowledge" This alliance proved a
serious n for the settlers. From this
on Mary changed in her conduct and
feelings toward His Majesty's subject.
Mr.. Bosomworth's motives for marry
ing this Indian be~nefactress were soon
made known In a clamOrOus demand
for pay or all his wife's services and
losses for the thirteen years that she
had befriended the settlers. Owing to
the then straitened c .ditions of the
finances of the colony, this payment
had long been deferred, The debt now
had to be referred to the crown itself.
And In l745 MI. Bosomworth went to
England himself to see if he could
effect o more speedy settlement of this
claim. His visit resulted in the matter
being referred back to Oglethorpe,
who made him the usual good promises
to pay when they had the money.
Bosomworth had become heavily
involved in debt in South Carolina,
~3uying cattle with which to stock St.
GATHERINGS Island. If Mary could be
paid what the English government
owed her, he could be relieved of his
embarrassment. He became desperate
and daring in his plans to collect this
claim. At last, he melted many to
hostile action against the settlers and
government officials and planned q
chimercial usurpation, which, of
course, ended in defeat. Mary called
together her people at THE Forks"
and laying the story of her wrongs
(Which were by no means Imaginary
before them, she declared her right to
the possession of the country then in
possession of the settlers, and urged
that If they would follow her, She
would 1orclDly take possession of it,
lntiamed by her %eloquence and an
parent wrongs, many of the chiefs
swore allegiance to her and declared
that they would shed their last drop
of blood or see her rightfully enthroned
empress Of the Creeks.
Consequently, about the year 1857.
heading q party of excited savages,
accompanied by her intriguing Rus-
band, dressed in his clerical robes.
Mary set out for Savannah to make q
demand OF President Stephens for the
surrender of the place. The council
men, thoroughly frightened at her APP
proach. and threats, and knowing
her power among her people,
sought an amicable settlement of
her demands. But Mary was bitter,
defiant and infexible in her purposes
So the town was put in the best posi-
tion OF defense possible, with only one
hundred and fifty arms-bearing men.
A council was held. The warriors,
being previously instructed, declined
to talk, saying that Mary would talk
for them and they would abide by her
words. The president, seeing that no
terms could be made, seized Mary and
o husband and placed them in con
finement. Afterwards q feast was
made, to which all the chiefs were
invited, and the facts of Bosomworth's
designs were exposed. The president
told them how Bosomworth was only
trying to get possession oftheir rightfnl
lands fn nnprOprinfa than IN b;g,aole, |