Description:

Colonial Georgia
Ebenezer, GA, September 25, 1790
Religious Tolerance in Early Georgia! Descendants of Salzburger Protestant Refugees Request Charter of Incorporation in 1790
MDS
An intriguing 1p partial manuscript document signed, being the signature page of a formal written request submitted by German-speaking Protestants to obtain Charter of Incorporation rights in post-Revolutionary War-era Georgia. September 25, 1790; docketed October 27, 1790. Ebenezer, Georgia. Inscribed on laid watermarked paper. Signed by nine petitioners near the top. Docketed verso. Expected wear including even toning, isolated water stains and spots. Scattered chipped edges and breaks - some severe - along brittle creases. Else good. 8" x 12.5."

The nine petitioners who signed this document requested Charter of Incorporation rights from three-times Governor of Georgia Edward Telfair (1735-1807). Incorporation status would permit religious society trustees to buy and sell real estate, enter into contracts, file suits, and engage in other common business practices. After incorporation status was granted by Governor Telfair in October 1790, these nine petitioners became the Trustees of the German Lutheran Church of Ebenezer and its dependencies, which included churches in nearby Jerusalem, Bethany, and Zion.

These petitioners were most likely descendants of original Georgia Salzburgers; a small group of German-speaking Protestants from predominantly Catholic Salzburg (present day Austria), who were targeted by a 1731 Protestant expulsion act. About 300 of the 20,000 expelled Protestant Salzburgers escaped to the British colony of Georgia, where they were welcomed by James Oglethorpe. The religious refugees established their second settlement at Ebenezer, along the Savannah River near the Georgia/South Carolina border, in the mid-1730s. By all accounts, the Georgia Salzburgers were exceptionally industrious new arrivals. They established lumberyards and saw mills, cultivated silk worms, and grew rice and barley without the use of enslaved labor. Their quiet, productive, and law-abiding community also attracted other religious refugees like Moravians during the 18th century. The document petitioners listed on our document were probably the children or grandchildren of the first generation of Georgia Salzburgers.

The document reads in full:

[recto]

"to authorize the Governor to Grant Charter of Incorporation to other Religious Societies' -

And your Petitioners will pray.

[signed]

Christopher Cramer
Matthew Rahn
John Kogler
John Hangleiter
John Michael
Jonathan Rahn
Israel Kieffer
Andrew Sickenger
Johannes Hinlon

Ebenezer
25 Sep: 1790."

[verso]

"Petition
Messr Christr. Cramer
and others.

Order taken
27th October 1790."

Soon after it was established, Georgia had extended religious tolerance towards any and all sects except Catholics, and in this way, accepted Jews, Lutherans, Quakers, and other religious minorities. Early Georgia was thus one of the most religiously diverse colonies.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 12.5"
  • Medium: MDS

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