The Salzburgers of Georgia
By Todd Wood | April/May 2009, Homepage
It began in the early 1700’s. A religious persecution was sweeping across
Europe, and in particular, Salzburg, Germany. The archbishop opposed the
Lutheran teachings of Martin Luther and continued the practice of
punishing those that followed these teachings. It was in the town of
Schwarzach that individuals decided to stand by their faith. Due to their
belief, they were expelled from the Province of Salzburg and were forced
to leave their homes and most of their belongings.
Here is where our story begins. James Edward Oglethorpe was one of the
founders of an organization that was attempting to establish a colony in
Georgia. Although there were around twenty thousand exiles due to
religious persecution from Germany, only three hundred came to Georgia
with the help of Oglethorpe. Others settled throughout Europe.
The first group to come had approximately seventy-three new colonists in
the first transport to Georgia. Also included was the first pastor of the
Salzburger settlement – Pastor John Martin Boltzius. It was a difficult
voyage with setbacks leaving Europe and very little provisions for them
to eat or drink on the ship. The quarters on the ship were cramped with
very little room to move about.
When they did arrive to America, they were anchored off of South Carolina
until they could be guided to Georgia. Oglethorpe sent food and
provisions to the Salzburgers on the ship. Finally, on March 12, 1734,
the new “colonists” were allowed off of the ship in the city of Savannah.
Greeting them were Oglethorpe and all of the inhabitants of that area.
The Salzburgers were led to what is now known as “Old Ebenezer”. It was
an area near a small settlement called, Abercorn, and is owned today by
Mr. M. C. (“Monk”) Jaudon, who is also a Salzburg descendent. However, as
time passed, they realized that this place posed several problems. The
land was infertile and it could not be navigated by larger vessels in
what is called Ebenezer Creek. The Salzburgers were allowed by Oglethorpe
in 1736 to relocate the settlement to what is now called New Ebenezer. It
is the present site of the New Ebenezer Retreat Center and Jerusalem
Lutheran Church.
There is so much history about the Salzburgers that it cannot all be
included in this small space. However, one only has to ask a member of
the Georgia Salzburger Society and they will be more than happy to share
this rich history with you. The Society, founded in 1925, held its 275th
Anniversary celebration of the arrival of the Salzburgers to Georgia by
holding a service and meeting at Jerusalem Lutheran Church on March 14th.
Former House Representative Ann Purcell is the outgoing President and was
responsible for heading up the ceremony.
When I entered the church, I felt such a reverence for the history there.
As I am also a descendent, it was so humbling to just feel their presence
and to know what our ancestors went through for us. Slowly, the gathering
began as people entered the church. Descendents from Effingham as well as
visitors from South Carolina and Virginia came to the celebration. People
were filled with excitement and it was evident that they were here for a
purpose – their heritage and history.
Story-telling from the diary of Pastor John Martin Boltzius was portrayed
by the Rev. Patrick Finley of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He spoke of the
early arrival of the Salzburgers and their days with the Indians and
inhabitants in the area. He also spoke of the naming of the settlement –
Ebenezer – which means, “stone of help”. Scott Hodges, a historian,
portrayed James Edward Oglethorpe and gave an account of the arrival of
the Salzburgers to the colony from Oglethorpe’s writings.
It was wonderful to sit there and listen to some of the early experiences
of the Salzburgers from the writings of Pastor Boltzius and Oglethorpe.
As they talked dressed in the attire of the day, you could close your
eyes and almost feel as if you were there. What a difficult time it must
have been for the Salzburgers to leave their homeland and to come to a
totally different land. In a letter that Boltzius wrote to a relative in
May of 1734, he stated that there were only forty surviving Salzburgers
left. The change in climate and the exposure to the insects in the area
left its toll.
After the ceremony celebrating the landing, the Society got down to
business with the installation of new officers for the upcoming year. It
was wonderful to see so many people that are already instrumental to the
progress of Effingham County be a part of such a wonderful organization.
When the meeting was adjourned, all in attendance were invited to another
building on site called the Old Parsonage for some rice soup. This was
the first meal the Salzburgers received in the new colony.
It is evident this group of people has a passion for preserving their
history and want to include others with their celebrations. They also
hold a Salzburger Heritage Day on Labor Day each year at New Ebenezer
Retreat Center.
The history of the Salzburgers along with many arts and crafts of the
day, are on site. Participants are also able to tour the museum that is
rich with Salzburg history and artifacts.
The journey that the Salzburgers endured for the preservation of their
faith provides us with a sense of admiration - admiration for all who
suffered and for those who died along the way.
It is because of their perseverance that most of this area continues to
thrive.
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