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The Province of Georgia (also Georgia Colony) was one of the Southern colonies in British America. It was the last of the thirteen original colonies established by Great Britain in what later became the United States. In the original grant, a narrow strip of the province extended to the Mississippi River.
The colony's corporate charter was granted to James Oglethorpe, a man who worked his whole life to make a colony for debtors, on April 21, 1733, by George II, for whom the colony was named. Oglethorpe made very strict laws that many colonists disagreed with. Oglethorpe envisioned the province as a location for the resettlement of English debtors and "the worthy poor", although no debtors or convicts were part of the organized settlement of Georgia. Another motivation for the founding of the colony was as a "buffer state" (border), or "garrison province" that would defend the southern part of the British colonies from Spanish Florida. Oglethorpe imagined a province populated by "sturdy farmers" that could guard the border; because of this, the colony's charter prohibited slavery.
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Oglethorpe, accompanied by the first settlers arrived on February 12, 1733, at Yamacraw Bluff, in what is now Savannah. A Yamacraw Native American village had occupied the site, but Oglethorpe arranged for the Native Americans to move. The day is still celebrated as Georgia Day. One plan had called for Georgia to be created to be a safe home for debtors. However, this purpose was never fulfilled and 116 men, women, and children were selected to become the original colonists. No debtors or prisoners were involved in the founding of the colony.
The original charter specified the colony as being between the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers, up to their headwaters (the headwaters of the Altamaha are on the Ocmulgee River), and then extending westward "sea to sea." The area within the charter had previously been part of the original grant of the Province of Carolina, which was closely linked to Georgia. South Carolina had never been able to gain control of the area, but after the Yamasee War the Georgia coast was effectively cleared of Indians, excepting a few villages of defeated Yamasee, who became known as the Yamacraw to distinguish them from the still-hostile Yamasee in Florida and among the Creek.
The Privy Council finalized the document on June 9, 1732, and the council of trustees governed the province, with the aid of annual subsidies from Parliament, for the next two decades. However, after many difficulties and the departure of Oglethorpe, the trustees proved unable to manage the proprietary colony and on June 23, 1752, the trustees submitted a deed of reconveyance to the crown, one year before the expiration of the charter. On January 7, 1755, Georgia officially ceased to be a trustee colony and became a crown colony.
From 1732 until 1758, the minor civil divisions were districts and towns. In 1758, the province of Georgia was divided into eight parishes, plus another four added in 1765; in 1777, the original eight counties of the State of Georgia were created.
In practice, settlement in the colony was limited to the near vicinity of the Savannah River. The western area of the colony remained under the control of the Creek Indian Confederation until after the American Revolutionary War.
In the beginning, the colony had a slow start. James Oglethorpe would not allow liquor and colonists weren't allowed to own more than 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land. People were starting to get upset, so Oglethorpe finally bent the rules and the colony started to grow much faster.
Slavery had been permitted from 1749. [1] There was some internal opposition, particularly from Scots settlers.s:Petition against the Introduction of Slavery. But by the time of the War of Independence, Georgia was much like the rest of the South.
On February 30, 1802, Georgia handed over to Congress parts of their western territories. These became the Mississippi Territory and later (with other adjoining lands) the states of Alabama and Mississippi
| Georgia Charter of 1732 |
| Text is from a copy of the original charter in the British
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George the Second by the Grace of God To all To whom these Presents
shall come Greeting Whereas wee are Credibly Informed that many of
our Poor Subjects are through misfortunes and want of Employment
reduced to great necessities insomuch as by their labour they are
not able to provide a maintenance for themselves and Families and
if they had means to defray the Charge of Passage and other
Expenses incident to new Settlements they would be Glad to be
Settled in any of our Provinces in America whereby Cultivating the
lands at present wast and desolate they might not only gain a
Comfortable Subsistence for themselves and families but also
Strengthen our Colonies and Encrease the trade Navigation and
wealth of these our Realms And whereas our Provinces in North
America have been frequently Ravaged by Indian Enemies more
Especially that of South Carolina which in the late war by the
neighbouring Savages was laid wast with Fire and Sword and great
numbers of the English Inhabitants miserably Massacred And our
Loving Subjects who now Inhabit these by reason of the Smallness of
their numbers will in case of any new war be Exposed to the like
Calamities in as much as their whole Southern Frontier continueth
unsettled and lieth open to the said Savages And whereas wee think
it highly becoming Our Crown and Royal Dignity to protect all our
Loving Subjects be they never so distant from us to Extend our
Fatherly Compassion even to the meanest an most unfortunate of our
people and to relieve the wants of our abovementioned poor Subjects
And that it will be highly Conducive for the accomplishing those
Ends that a Regular Colony of the said poor people be Settled and
Established in the Southern Frontiers of Carolina and whereas wee
have been well Assured that if wee would be Graciously pleased to
Erect and Settle a Corporation for the receiving managing and
Disposing of the Contributions of our Loving Subject divers persons
would be Induced to Contribute to the uses and purposes aforesaid
Know yee therefore that wee have for the Considerations aforesaid
and for the better and more Orderly Carrying on the said good
purposes of our Especial Grace certain Knowledge and Meer Motion
Willed Ordained Constituted and Appointed And by these Presents for
us our Heirs and Successors Do Will Ordain Constitute Declare and
Grant that our Right Trusty and Wellbeloved John Lord Viscount
Percival of our Kingdom of Ireland Our trusty and Wellbeloved
Edward Digby George Carpenter James Oglethorpe George Heathcote
Thomas Tower Robert More Robert Hucks Rogers Holland William Sloper
Francis Eyles John Laroche James Vernon William Belitha Esquires
Stephen Hales Master of Arts John Burton Batchelor in Divinity
Richard Bundy Master of Arts Arthur Bedford Master of Arts Samuel
Smith Master of Arts Adam Anderson and Thomas Coram Gentlemen and
Such other persons as shall be Elected in the manner hereinafter
mentioned and their Successors to be Elected in manner as
hereinafter is directed be and shall be one Body Politick and
Corporate in Deed and in name by the Name of The Trustees for
Establishing the Colony of Georgia in America and them and their
Successors by the same name wee do by these Presents for us our
Heirs and Successors Really and fully make Ordain Constitute and
declare to be one Body politick and Corporate in Deed and in name
for ever And that by the same name they and their Successors shall
and may have perpetual Succession And that they and their
Successors by that name shall and may forever hereafter be persons
able and capable in the law to purchase have take receive and Enjoy
to them and their Successors any Mannors Messuages lands Tenements
Rents Advowsons liberties priviledges Jurisdictions Franchises and
other hereditaments whatsoever lying and being in any part of Great
Britain of whatsoevernature kind and quality they be in Fee and in
Perpetuity not Exceeding the Yearly value of One thousand pounds
beyond Reprises also Estates for lives and for years and all other
manner of Goods Chattels and things whatsover of what name nature
quality or value soever they be for the better Settling Supporting
and maintaining the said Colony and other uses aforesaid and to
Give Grant Let and Demise the said Mannors Messuages Lands
Tenements Hereditaments Goods Chattells and things whatsoever
aforesaid by lease or leases for Term of years in possession at the
time of Granting thereof and not in Reversion not Exceeding the
Term of one and thirty years from the time of Granting thereof on
which in case no Fine be taken shall be reserved the full value and
in case a Fine be taken shall be reserved at least a Moyety of the
full value that the same shall reasonably and bonafide be worth at
the time of such demise And that they and their Successors by the
name aforesaid shall and may for ever hereafter be persons able and
capable in the law to purchase have take receive and Enjoy to them
and their Successors any lands Territories possessions Tenements
jurisdictions Franchises and other herditaments whatsoever lying
and being in America of what quantity quality or value Soever they
be for the better Settling Supporting and maintaining the said
Colony And that by the name aforesaid they shall and may be able to
Sue and be Sued Plead and be Impleaded Answer and be Answered unto
Defend and be Defended in all Courts and places whatsoever and
before whatsoever Judges Justices or other Officers of us our Heirs
and Successors in all and Singular Actions Plaints Pleas matters
suits and demand of what Kind nature quality Soever they Be and to
Act and do all other matters and things in as ample manner and form
as any other our Liege Subjects of this our Realme of Great Britain
And that they and their Successors forever hereafter shall and may
have a Comon Seal to serve for the Causes and business of them and
their Successors And that it shall and may be lawful for them and
their Successors to Change break alter and make new the said Seal
from time to time and at their pleasure as they shall think best
And wee do further Grant for us our Heirs and Successors that the
said Corporation and the Comon Council of the said Corporation
hereinafter by us appointed may from time to time and at all times
meet about their Affairs when and where they please and transact
and carry on the business of the said Corporation And for the
better Execution of the purposes aforesaid wee do by these Presents
for us our Heirs and Successors Give and Grant to the said
Corporation and their Successors that they and their Successors
forever may upon the third Thursday in the month of March Yearly
meet at some convenient place to be appointed by the said
Corporation or the Major part of them who shall be present at any
meeting of the said Corporation to be had for the appointment of
the said place and that they or two thirds of such of them that
shall be present shall at such Yearly meeting and at no other
meeting of the said Corporation between the hours of Ten in the
morning and four in the afternoon of the Same Day Chuse and Elect
such person or persons to be members of the said Corporation as
they shall think beneficial to the good Designs of the said
Corporation And our further will and pleasure is that if it shall
happen that any of the persons hereinafter by us appointed as the
Comon Council of the said Corporation or any other persons to be
Elected and admitted members of the said Comon Council in the
manner Hereinafter directed shall die or shall by writing under his
and their hands respectively resign his or their Office or Offices
of Comon Council man or Comon Council men the said Corporation or
the Major part of such of them as shall be present shall and may at
such meeting on the said last Thursday in March Yearly in manner as
aforesaid next after such death or Resignation and at no other
meeting of the said Corporation Elect and Chuse one or more person
or persons being members of the said Corporation into the Room or
place of such person or persons so dead or so resigning as to them
shall seem meet And Our Will and pleasure is that all and every the
person or persons which shall from time to time hereafter be
Elected Comon Council men of the said Corporation as aforesaid do
and shall before he or they Act as Comon Council men of the said
Corporation take an Oath for the Faithful and due Execution of
their Office which Oath the President of the said Corporation for
the time being is hereby Authorized and required to Administer to
such person or persons so Elected as aforesaid And Our will and
pleasure is that the First President of the said Corporation shall
be our Trusty and Wellbeloved the said John Lord Viscount Percival
and that the said President shall within thirty days after the
passing of this Charter cause Summones to be Issued to the several
members of the said Corporation herein particularly named to meet
at such time and place as he shall appoint to consult about and
transact the business of the said Corporation And our will and
pleasure is And wee do by these Presents for us our Heirs and
Successors Grant Ordain and Direct that the Comon Council of the
said Corporation shall consist of fifteen in number And wee do by
these Presents Nominate Constitute and appoint Our Right Trusty and
Wellbeloved John Lord Viscount Percival Our Trusty and Wellbeloved
Edward Digby George Carpenter James Oglethorpe George Heathcote
Thomas Tower Robert More Robert Hucks Rogers Holland William Sloper
Francis Eyles John Laroche James Vernon William Belitha Esquires
and Stephen Hales Master of Arts to be the Comon Council of the
said Corporation to continue in their Said Offices during their
good behavior and Whereas it is our Royal Intention that the
members of the said Corporation should be Increased by Election as
soon as Conveniently may be to a greater number than is hereby
nominated Our further will and pleasure is And wee do hereby for us
our Heirs and Successors Ordain and direct that from the time of
Such Increase of the members of the said Corporation the number of
the said Common Council shall be Increased to Twenty four And that
at the same Assembly at which such Additional members of the said
Corporation shall be Chosen there shall likewise be Elected in the
manner thereinbefore directed for the Election of Comon Council men
nine persons to be of the said Comon Council and to make up the
number thereof twenty four And our further will and pleasure is
that our trusty and wellbeloved the said Edward Digby Esquire shall
be the First Chairman of the Comon Council of the said Corporation
And that the said Lord Viscount Percival shall be and continue
President of the said Corporation And the said Edward Digby shall
be and continue Chairman of the Comon Council of the said
Corporation respectively until the meeting which shall be had next
and imediately after the first meeting of the said Corporation or
of the Comon Council of the said Corporation respectively and no
longer at which said Second meeting and at every other Subsequent
and future meeting of the said Corporation or of the Comon Council
of the said Corporation respectively in Order to preserve an
Indifferent Rotation of the several Offices of President of the
Corporation and of Chairman of the Comon Council of the said
Corporation wee do direct and Ordain that all and every the person
and persons members of the said Common Council for the -- being and
no others being present at such meetings shall severally and
respectively in their Turns preside at the meetings which shall
from time to time be had and held of the said Corporation or of the
Common Council of the said Corporation respectively And in case any
doubt or question shall at any time arise touching or concerning
the Turn or Right of any member of the said Comon Council to
preside at any meeting of the said Corporation or of the Comon
Council of the said Corporation the same shall be respectively
determined by the Major part of the said Corporation or of the
Comon Council of the said Corporation respectively who shall be
present at such meeting Provided always that no member of the said
Comon Council having served in the Office of President of the said
Corporation or of Chairman of the Comon Council of the said
Corporation shall be capable of being or of serving as President or
Chairman at any meeting of the said Corporation or of the Comon
Council of the said Corporation next and imediately ensueing that
in which he so Served as President of the said Corporation or
Chairman of the Comon Council of the said Corporation respectively
unless it shall soe happen that at any such meeting of the said
Corporation there shall not be any other member of the said Comon
Council present And our will and pleasure is that all and every the
meetings of the said Corporation or of the Comon Council of the
said Corporation the President or Chairman for the time being shall
have a voice and shall vote and Act as a Member of the said
Corporation or of the Common Council of the said Corporation at
such meeting And in Case of an Equality of Votes the said President
or Chairman for the time being shall have a Casting vote And our
further will and pleasure is that no President of the said
Corporation or Chairman of the Comon Council of the said
Corporation or member of the said Comon Council or Corporation by
us by these Presents appointed or hereafter from time to time to be
Elected or appointed in manner as aforesaid shall have take or
receive directly or Indirectly any Salary Fee perquisite benefit or
profit whatsoever for or by reason of his or their serving the said
Corporation or Comon Council of the said Corporation as President
Chairman or Comon Council man or as being a member of the said
Corporation And our will and pleasure is that the said herein
before appointed President Chairman and Comon Council men before he
and they Act respectively as such shall severally take an Oath for
the Faithful and Due Execution of their Trust to be Administered to
the President by the Chief Baron of our Court of Exchequer for the
time being and by the President of the said Corporation to the rest
of the Comon Council who are hereby Authorized Severally and
respectively to Administer the same And our will and pleasure is
that all and every person and persons who shall have his or their
own name or names or in the name or names of any person or persons
In trust for him or them or for his or their benefit any Office
place or Employment of profit under the Corporation shall be
incapable of being Elected a Member of the said Corporation And if
any member of the said Corporation during such time as he shall
continue a member thereof shall in his own name or in the name of
any person or persons In trust for him or for his benefit have hold
Exercise accept possess or Enjoy any Office place or Employment of
profit under the said Corporation or under the Comon Council of the
said Corporation such Member shall from the time of such having
holding Exercising accepting possessing and Enjoying such Office
Place or Employment of profit cease to be a Member of the said
Corporation And wee do for us our Heirs and Successors Grant unto
the said Corporation and their Successors that they and their
successors or the Major part of such of them as shall be present at
any meeting of the said Corporation Convened and Assembled for that
purpose by proper and Convenient notice thereof shall have power
from time to time and at all times hereafter to Authorize and
appoint such persons as they shall think fit to take Subscriptions
and to gather and Collect such moneys as shall be by any person or
persons Contributed for the purposes aforesaid and shall and may
Revoke and make void such Authorities and appointments as often as
they shall see cause so to do And wee do hereby for us our Heirs
and Successors Ordain and direct that the said Corporation shall
every Year lay an Account in writing before the Chancellor or
Keeper or Commissioners for the Custody of the Great Seal of Great
Britain of us our Heirs and Successors the Chief Justice of the
Court of Kings Bench the Master of the Rolls the Chief Justice of
the Court of Comon Pleas and the Chief Baron of the Exchequer of us
our Heirs and Successors for the time being or any two of them of
all moneys or Effects by them received or Expended for the carrying
on the good purposes aforsaid And wee do hereby for us our Heirs
and Successors Give and Grant unto the said Corporation and their
Successors full power and Authority to Constitute Ordain and make
such and so many By-laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances as to
them or the greater part of them at their General meeting for that
purpose shall seem meet necessary and convenient for the Well
Ordering and Governing of the said Corporation And the said By-laws
Constitutions Orders and Ordinances or any of them to alter and
annull as they or the Major part of them then present shall see
requisite And in and by such By-laws Rules Orders and Ordinances to
sett Impose and Inflict reasonable pains and penalties upon any
Offender or Offenders who shall transgress break or violate the
said By-laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances so made as
aforesaid and to mitigate the same as they or the Major part of
them then present shall find Cause which said pains and penalties
shall and may be levyed sued for taken and retained and recovered
by the said Corporation and their Successors or by their Officers
and Servants from time to time to be appointed for that purpose by
Action of Debt or by any other Lawful Ways and means to the use and
behoof of the said Corporation and their Successors all and
singular Which By-laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances so as
aforesaid to be made wee will shall be duly Observed and kept under
the pains and penalties therein to be contained so always as the
said By-laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances pains and
penalties from time to time to be made and Imposed to be reasonable
and not contrary or repugnant to the laws or Statutes of this our
Realm And that such By-laws Constitutions and Ordinances pains and
penalties from time to time to be made and Imposed and any repeal
or alteration thereof or of any of them be likewise agreed to be
Established and Confirmed by the General meeting of the said
Corporation to be held and kept next after the same shall be
respectively made And whereas the said Corporation intend to settle
a Colony and to make an habitation and plantation in that part of
our Province of South Carolina in America hereinafter described
Know yee therefore that wee greatly desiring the happy Success of
the said Corporation for their further Encouragement in
accomplishing so Excellent a work have of our Especial Grace
certain Knowledge and Meer Motion Given and Granted And by these
Presents for us our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant to the
said Corporation and their Successors under the Reservations
limitations and Declarations hereafter Expressed seven undivided
parts the whole into Eight equal parts to be divided of all those
lands Countries and Territories Situate lying and being in that
part of South Carolina in America which lies from the most Northern
Stream of a River there comonly called the Savannah all along the
Sea Coast to the Southward unto the most Southern Stream of a
certain other great water or River called the Alatamaha and
Westward from the heads of the said Rivers respectively in Direct
Lines to the South Seas and all that space Circuit and Precinct of
land lying within the said boundaries with the Islands in the Sea
lying opposite to the Eastern Coast of the said lands within twenty
leagues of the same which are not already inhabited or settled by
any Authority derived from the Crown of Great Britain together with
all the Soils Grounds Havens Ports Gulfs and Bays Mines as well
Royal Mines of Gold and Silver as other Minerals Precious Stones
Quarries Woods Rivers waters Fishings as well Royal Fishings of
whale and Sturgeon as other Fishings Pearls Comodities
Jurisdictions Royalties Franchises Priviledges and Prehemmences
within the said Territories and the Precincts thereof and thereunto
in any Sort belonging or appertaining and which wee by our letters
Patents may or can grant and in as Simple manner and Sort as wee or
any our Royal Progenitors have hitherto Granted to any Company Body
politic or corporate or to any Adventurer or Adventurers Undertaker
or Undertakers of any Discoveries Plantation or Traffick of in or
unto any Foreign parts whatsoever and in as large and ample manner
as if the same were herein particularly mentioned and Expressed To
have hold possess and Enjoy the said Seven undivided parts the
whole into Eight equal parts to be divided as aforesaid of all and
Singular the said lands Countries and Territories with all and
singular other the Premisses hereinbefore by these Presents Granted
or mentioned or intended to be Granted to them the said Corporation
and their Successors for ever for the better support of the said
Colony to be holden of us our heirs and Successors as of our honour
of Hampton Court in our County of Middlesex in Free and Comon
Soccage and not in Capite Yeilding and paying therefore to us our
heirs and Successors yearly for ever the sume of Four shillings for
every Hundred acres of the said lands which the said Corporation
shall Grant Demise Plant or settle the said payment not to Comence
or be made until ten Years after such Grant Demise Planting or
Settling and to be Answered and paid to us our Heirs and Successors
in such manner and in such Species of money or Notes as shall be
Current in payment by Proclamation from time to time in our said
Province of South Carolina All which lands Countries Territories
and Premisses hereby Granted or mentioned or intended to be Granted
wee do by these Presents make Erect and Create one Independent and
seperate Province by the name of Georgia by which name wee will the
same henceforth to be called And that all and every person and
persons who shall at any time hereafter Inhabit or reside within
our said Province shall be and are hereby declared to be Free and
shall not be Subject to or bound to obey any laws Orders Statutes
or Constitutions which have been heretofore made Ordered or Enacted
or which hereafter shall be made Ordered or Enacted by for or as
the laws Orders Statutes or Constitutions of our said Province of
South Carolina save and Except only the Command in Chief of the
Militia of our said Province of Georgia to our Governor for the
time being of South Carolina in the manner hereinafter declared but
shall be Subject to and bound to obey such laws Orders Statutes and
Constitutions as shall from time to time be made Ordered and
Enacted for the better Government of the said Province of Georgia
in the manner hereinafter directed And wee do hereby for us our
Heirs and Successors Ordain Will and Establish that for and during
the Term of one and twenty years to Comence from the date of these
our letters Patent the said Corporation Assembled for that purpose
shall and may form and prepare laws Statutes and Ordinances fit and
necessary for and concerning the Government of the said Colony and
not repugnant to the laws and Statutes of England and the same
shall and may present under their Comon Seal to us our Heirs and
Successors in our or their Privy Council for our or their
Approbation or Disallowance And the said laws Statutes and
Ordinances being approved by us our Heirs and Successors in our or
their Privy Council shall from thenceforth be in full force and
virtue within our said Province of Georgia And for as much as the
Good and prosperous Success of the said Colony cannot but cheifley
depend next under the blessing of God and the support of our Royal
Authority upon the provident and good direction of the whole
Enterprise And that it will be too great a burthen upon all the
Members of the said Corporation to be Convened so often as may be
requisite to hold meetings for the settling supporting Ordering and
maintaining Such Colony Therefore wee do will Ordain and Establish
that the said Comon Council for the time being of the said
Corporation being Assembled for that purpose or the Major part of
them shall from time to time and at all times hereafter have full
power and Authority to dispose of Expend and apply all the monies
and Effects belonging to he said Corporation in such manner and
ways and in such Expences as they shall think best to Conduce to
the carrying on and Effecting the good purposes herein mentioned
and intended and also shall have full power in the name and on the
Account of the said Corporation and with and under their Comon
Seale to Enter into any Covenants and Contracts for carrying on and
Effecting the purposes aforesaid And our further will and pleasure
is that the said Comon Council for the time being or the Major part
of such of the said Comon Council which shall be present and
Assembled for that purpose from time to time and at all times
hereafter shall and may Nominate Contribute and appoint a Treasurer
or Treasurers Secretary or Secretarys and such other Officers
Ministers and Servants of the said Corporation as to them or the
Major part of such of them as shall be present shall seem proper or
requisite for the good management of their Affaires and at their
will and pleasure to displace remove and put out such Treasurer or
Treasurers Secretary or Secretarys and all such other Officers
Ministers or Servants as often as they shall think fit so to do and
others in the Room Office place or Stead of him or them so
Displeased removed or put out to nominate Constitute and appoint
and shall and may Determine and appoint such reasonable Salaries
perquisites or other Rewards for the labour or Service of such
Officers Servants and persons as to the said Comon Council shall
seem meet and all such Officers shall before they Sit in their
respective Offices take an Oath to be to them Administered by the
Chairman for the time being of the said Comon Council of the said
Corporation who is hereby Authorized to Administer the same for the
faithful and Due Execution of their respective Offices and places
And our will and pleasure is that all and every person and persons
who shall from time to time be Chosen or appointed Treasurer or
Treasurers Secretary or Secretarys of the said Corporation in
manner hereinbefore directed shall during such time as they shall
serve in the said Offices respectively be incapaable of being a
member of the said Corporation And wee do further of our Especial
Grace certain Knowledge and Meer Motion for us our Heirs and
Successors Grant by these Presents to the said Corporation and
their Successors that it shall be lawful for them and their
Officers or Agents at all times hereafter to transport and Convey
out of our Realm of Great Britain or any other our Dominions into
the said Province of Georgia to be there settled all such and so
many of our Loving Subjects or any Foreigners that are willing to
become our Subjects and live under our Allegiance in the said
Colony as shall willingly go to Inhabit and reside there with
sufficient shipping Armour weapons Ordnance Munition Powder Shot
Victuals and such Merchandize or wares as are Esteemed by the Wild
people in those parts Cloathing Implements Furniture Cattle Horses
Mares and all other things necessary for the said Colony and for
their use and Defence and trade with the people there and in
passing and returning to and from the same Also wee Do for us our
Heirs and Successors declare by these Presents that all and every
the persons which shall happen to be born within the said Province
and every of their Children and Posterity shall have and Enjoy all
Liberties Franchises and Immunities of Free Denizens and natural
born Subjects within any of our Dominions to all intents and
purposes as if they had been abiding and born within this our
Kingdom of Great Britain or any other of our Dominions And for the
greater Ease and Encouragement of our Loving Subjects and such
others as shall come to Inhabit in our said Colony wee do by these
Presents for us our Heirs and Successors Grant Establish and Ordain
that for ever hereafter there shall be a liberty of conscience
allowed in the Worship of God to all persons Inhabiting or which
shall Inhabit or be Resident within our said Province And that all
such persons Except Papists shall have a Free Exercise of their
Religion so they be contented with the quiet and peaceable
Enjoyment of the Same not giving Offence or Scandal to the
Government And our further will and pleasure is And wee do hereby
for us our Heirs and Successors declare and Grant that it shall and
may be lawful for the said Comon Council or the Major part of them
Assembled for that purpose in the name of the Corporation and under
their Comon Seal to Distribute Convey Assigne and Settover such
particular portions of the lands Tenements and hereditaments by
these Presents Granted to the said Corporation unto such of loving
Subjects Natural born or Denizens or others that shall be willing
to become Subjects and live under our Allegiance in the said Colony
upon such Terms and for Such Estates and upon such Rents
Reservations and Conditions as the same may lawfully be Granted and
as to the said Comon Council or the Major part of them so present
shall seem fit and proper Provided always that no Grant shall be
made of any part of the said lands unto any person being a member
of the said Corporation or to any other person In Trust for or for
the benefit of any Member of the said Corporation And that no
person having any Estate or Interest in law or Equity in any part
of the said lands shall be capable of being a member of the said
Corporation During the continuance of such Estate or Interest
Provided also that no greater quantity of the said land be Granted
either entirely or in parcels to or to the use of or In trust for
any one person than Five Hundred Acres And that all Grants made
contrary to the true intent and meaning hereof shall be absolutely
null and void And we do hereby Grant and Ordain that such person
and persons for the time being as shall be thereunto appointed by
the said Corporation shall and may at all times and from time to
time hereafter have full power and Authority to Administer and give
the Oaths appointed by an Act of Parliament made in the First year
of the Reign of our late Royal Father to be taken instead of the
Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and also the Oath of Abjuration
to all and every person and persons which shall at any time be
Inhabiting or residing within our said Colony And in like Cases to
Administer the solemn Affirmation to any of the persons comonly
called Quakers in such manner as by the laws of our Realm of Great
Britain the same may be Administered And wee do of our further
Grace certain Knowledge and Meer Motion Grant Establish and Ordain
for us our Heirs and Successors that the said Corporation and their
Successors shall have full power and Authority for and during the
Term of one and twenty years to Comence from the Date of these our
letters Patents to Erect and Constitute jurisdictions and Courts of
Record or other Courts to be held in the name of us our Heirs and
Successors for the hearing and determining of all manner of Crimes
Offences Pleas processes Plaints Actions matters Causes and things
whatsoever arising or happening within the Province of Georgia or
between persons Inhabiting or residing there whether the same be
Criminal or Civil And whether the said Crimes be Capital or not
Capital And whether the said Pleas be Real personal or mixed and
for Awarding and making out Executions thereupon to which Courts
and Judicatures wee do hereby for us our Heirs and Successors Give
and Grant full power and Authority from time to time to Administer
oaths for the Discovery of truth in any matter in Controversy or
Depending before them or the Solemn Affirmation to any of the
persons comonly called Quakers in such manner as by the laws of our
Realme of Great Britain the same may be Administered And our
further will and pleasure is that the said Corporation and their
Successors do from time to time and at all times hereafter Register
or cause to be Registered all such leases Grants Plantings
Conveyances Settlements and Improvements whatsoever as shall at any
time hereafter be made by or in the name of the said Corporation of
any lands Tenements or hereditaments within the said Province and
shall yearly send or transmit or cause to be sent and transmitted
Authentick Account of such leases Grants Conveyances Settlements
and Improvements respectively unto the Auditor of the Plantations
for the time being or his Deputy and also to our Surveyor for the
time being of our Said Province of South Carolina to whom we do
hereby Grant full power and Authority from time to time as often as
need shall require to inspect and Survey such of the said lands and
Premisses as shall be demised Granted and settled as aforesaid
which said Survey and Inspection wee do hereby Declare to be
intended to Ascertain the Quit Rents which shall from time to time
become due to us our Heirs and Successors according to the
Reservation hereinbefore mentioned and for no other purpose
whatsoever hereby for us our Heirs and Successors Strictly Enjoying
and Commanding that neither our or their Surveyor or any person
whatsoever under the pretext and Colour of making the said Survey
or Inspection shall take Demand or receive any Gratuity Fee or
Reward of or from any person or persons Inhabiting in the said
Colony or from the said Corporation or Comon Council thereof on the
pain of Forfeiture of their Office or Offices and Incurring our
highest Displeasure Provided always And our further will and
pleasure is that all leases Grants and Conveyances to be made by or
in the name of the said Corporation of any lands within the said
Province or a Memorial containing the Substance and Effect thereof
shall be Registered with the Auditor of the Plantations of us our
Heirs and Successors within the space of one Year to be Computed
from the Date thereof otherwise the same shall be void And our
further will and pleasure is that the Rents Issues and all other
profits which shall at any time hereafter come to the said
Corporation Issuing or Arising out of or from the said Province or
out of or from any part or parcel of the same shall from time to
time and at all times hereafter be laid out and applied in such
Expenses and in such manner as the said Comon Council of the said
Corporation or the Major part of such of them as shall be present
at any meeting for that purpose Assembled shall think will most
Improve and Enlarge the said Colony and best Answer the good
purposes hereinbefore mentioned and for Defraying all other charges
about the same And our will and pleasure is that the said
Corporation and their Successors shall from time to time give unto
one of the Principal Secretaries of State and to the Commissioners
of Trade and Plantations Accountes of the Progress of the said
Colony And our will and Pleasure is that no Act done at any meeting
of the said Comon Council of the said Corporation shall be
Effectual and valid unless Eight members at least of the said Comon
Council including the member who shall serve as Chairman at the
said meeting be present and the Major part of them consenting
thereunto And our will and pleasure is that the Comon Council of
the said Corporation for the time being or the Major part of them
who shall be present being Assembled for that purpose shall from
time to time for during and until the full End and Expiration of
twenty one years to Comence from the Date of these our letters
Patent have full power and Authority to nominate make Constitute
Commission Ordain and appoint by such name or names Stile or Stiles
as to them shall seem meet and fitting All and Singular such
Governors Judges Magistrates Ministers and Officers Civil and
Military both by Sea and land within the said District as shall by
them be thought fit and needful to be made or used for the
Government of the said Colony (save always and Except such Officers
only as shall by us our Heirs and Successors be from time to time
Constituted and appointed for the managing Collecting and receiving
such Revenues as shall from time to time Arise within the said
Province of Georgia and become due to us our Heirs and Successors)
Provided always And it is our will and pleasure that every Governor
of the said Province of Georgia to be appointed by the Comon
Council of the said Corporation before he shall enter upon or
Execute the said Office of Governor shall be allowed and approved
by us our Heirs or Successors and shall take such Oaths and shall
qualify himself in such manner in all respects as any Governor or
Commander in Chief of any of our Colonys or Plantations in America
are by law required to do and shall give good and sufficient
Security for observing the several Acts of Parliament relating to
trade and navigation and to observe and obey all Instructions that
shall be sent to him by us our Heirs or Successors or any Acting
under our or their Authority pursuant to the said Acts or any of
them And wee do by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors
Will Grant and Ordain that the said Corporation And their
Successors shall have full power for and during and until the full
End and Term of one and Twenty years to Comence from the Date of
these our letters Patent by any Comander or other Officer or
Officers by them for that purpose from time to time appointed to
Train Instruct Exercise and Govern a Militia for the Special
Defence and Safety of our said Colony to Assemble in Martial Array
and put in warlike posture the Inhabitants of the said Colony and
to lead and Conduct them and with them to Encounter Expulse repel
resist and pursue by force of Arms as well by Sea as by land within
or without the limits of our said Colony and also to kill Slay
destroy and Conquer by all fitting ways Enterprizes and means
whatsoever all and every such person and persons as shall at any
time hereafter in an hostile manner Attempt or Enterprize the
destruction Invasion Detriment or Annoyance of our said Colony and
to use and Exercise the law Martial in time of Actual war Invasion
or Rebellion in such Cases whereby law the same may be used or
Exercised and also from time to time to Erect Forts and Fortify any
place or places within our said Colony and the same to Furnish with
all necessary Ammunition Provision and Stores of war for Offence
and Defence and to comit from time to time the Custody and
Government of the same to such person or persons as to them shall
seem meet and the said Forts and Fortifications to demolish at
their pleasure and to take and Surprize by all ways and means
whatsoever all and every such person or persons with their Ships
Arms Ammunition and other goods as shall an hostile manner invade
or attempt the invading Conquering or Annoying of our said Colony
And our will and pleasure is And wee do hereby for us our Heirs and
Successors Declare and Grant That the Governor or Comander in Chief
of the Province of South Carolina of us our Heirs and Successors
for the time being shall at all times hereafter have the Chief
Comand of the Militia of our said Province hereby Erected and
Established and that such Militia shall observe and Obey all Orders
and Directions that shall from time to time be given or sent to
them by the said Governor or Comander in Chief any thing in these
Presents before contained to the contrary thereof in any wise
notwithstanding And of our Especial Grace certain Knowledge and
Meer Motion wee have Given and Granted And by these Presents for us
our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant unto the said
Corporation and their Successors full power and Authority to Import
and Export their Goods at and from any port or Ports that shall be
appointed by us our Heirs or Successors within the said Province of
Georgia for that purpose without being Obliged to touch at any
other Port in Carolina And wee do by these Presents for us our
Heirs and Successors will and declare that from and after the
Determination of the said Term of one and twenty years such Form of
Government and Method of making laws Statutes and Ordinances for
the better Governing and Ordering the said Province of Georgia and
the Inhabitants thereof shall be Established and observed within
the same as wee our Heirs or Successors shall hereafter Ordain and
appoint and shall be Agreeable to law And that from and after the
Determination of the said Term of One and twenty years the Governor
of our said Province of Georgia and all Officers Civil and Military
within the same shall from time to time be nominated Constituted
and appointed by us our Heirs and Successors And lastly wee do
hereby for us our Heirs and Successors Grant unto the said
Corporation and their Successors that these our letters Patents or
the Inrollment or Exemplification thereof shall be in and by all
things good firm valid Sufficient and Effectual in the law
according to the time intent and meaning thereof and shall be taken
Construed and adjudged in all our Courts and elsewhere in the most
favourable and beneficial sense and for the best advantage of the
said Corporation and their Successors any Omission Imperfection
Defect matter cause of thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise
notwithstanding in witness as witness our self at Westminster the
ninth day of June
By Writt of Privy Seal
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