按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s grant consisted of Town Lot No。 3； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in the town of Savannah； Farm Lot No。 3； Second Tything； Anson Ward； in the township of Savannah； and Garden Lot No。 121 East。 （Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia； Book D of Grants； Folio 207。）
When the Moravians left Georgia in 1740； these lots were placed in the hands of an Agent； probably James Habersham； who was acting as Whitefield's assistant in his hospital and charity school； the Moravian house being rented for the former purpose。
When the Trustees of Georgia surrendered their Charter to the English Crown in 1754； it was found that no formal deeds had ever been made for many of the tracts granted by the Trustees； and it was decreed that any who could legally claim land under grant from the Trustees should have their rights confirmed by royal grant upon application to the Governor and Council of Georgia； within a specified time； the land otherwise to be considered forfeited。 In June； 1761； Habersham wrote to Bethlehem that the time for entering claim had expired； but that he had asked for and obtained six months grace for the Moravians； who had previously sent him a full power of attorney； which had failed to reach him。
A new power of attorney was at once sent； and on September 7th； 1762； royal patents were issued to Nitschmann and Spangenberg； for the Town Lots and Farm Lots above mentioned。 （Register's Office； Book D； Folios 207 and 208。）
Meanwhile the two Garden Lots had been sold to Sir James Wright for 10 Pounds； and deeds； bearing date of March 15th； 1762； were made to him by Spangenberg and Nitschmann。 The deeds to the Town and Farm lots were deposited in Bethlehem； and the Agent took his instructions from the Manager there。
In 1765 Bishop Ettwein went from Bethlehem to Savannah to look after the property。 He found that the large house on Spangenberg's lot had been condemned as ruinous and pulled down。 Some one had built a small house on the other end of the same lot； and it was supposed to pay 4 Pounds a year ground rent； but the family living there was very poor； and Habersham had been unable to collect anything。 By permission a poor woman had fenced in the Nitschmann lot； and was using it as a kitchen…garden； rent free。 The title to the farm lots was in jeopardy； for a certain Alderman Becker in London claimed that the Trustees had given him a tract； including these and many other farms； but the settlers thereon were making a strong fight to hold their property； in which they were finally successful。
At the time of Frederick William Marshall's visit to Savannah in 1775； the two farm lots were reported to have some good timber； even if they were not of much use otherwise； and the town lots had increased in value with the growth of the town。 Marshall thought the latter could again be used for residence； and as a centre for such missionary work as was already begun by Mueller； Wagner and Broesing； but the Revolutionary War put an end to their efforts。
At this point in the records appears a peculiar uncertainty as to the identity of the owner of the David Nitschmann lots。 The fact that there were three David Nitschmanns in the active service of the Moravian Church during a number of years after its renewal in Herrnhut affords ample opportunity for confusion； but one would not expect to find it in the minds of their contemporaries。 But even such a man as Frederick William Marshall wrote； 〃The Deeds to these two lots； Nos。 3 and 4； are kept in Bethlehem （one stands in the name of Brother Joseph； the other of Bishop D'd Nitschmann； who passed away in Bethlehem） and it would be well if something were done about them。 I do not know what can be arranged with the son of the latter； but Brother David Nitschmann； who is now in Zeist； said when he was in America that he himself was the David Nitschmann in whose name the grant was made； because he was the one who had shared in the negotiations with the Trustees of Georgia。〃 Bishop David Nitschmann had died in Bethlehem； Oct。 9th； 1772； where his son Immanuel lived until 1790。 The David Nitschmann residing in Zeist was the Syndic； formerly Count Zinzendorf's Hausmeister； the leader of the first company to London； where he and Spangenberg had arranged matters with the Trustees； and had each received fifty acres of land in his own name。 The Bishop had had nothing whatever to do with the matter； and this was the conclusion reached； for the title to the Town Lot No。 3 passed at the Syndic's death； March 28th； 1779； to his son Christian David Nitschmann。
June 14th； 1784； August Gottlieb Spangenberg and Christian David Nitschmann by deed transferred their title to the Savannah property to Hans Christian Alexander von Schweinitz； Administrator of the estate of the Unitas Fratrum in Pennsylvania。
The Revolutionary War had come and gone； and Von Schweinitz began again to investigate the condition of affairs in Savannah。 Their Agent； James Habersham； had died in 1775； but his son James had kept up the taxes； so the title was intact。 〃But there is a matter；〃 he wrote； 〃which it is necessary you should be made acquainted with。 When the British Troops took possession of Savannah； they had occasion for a lot belonging to a Mr。 George Kellar； for the purpose of erecting a fort on； it being situated in the outskirts of the town； and in order to satisfy this man they VERY GENEROUSLY gave him your two lots in lieu of the one they had taken from him； but very fortunately for you； our Legislature passed a Law rendering null and void all their acts during the time they held this country； and notwithstanding Mr。 Kellar is perfectly well acquainted with this matter； he has moved a house on one of the lots； and on the other he has lately built another house； which he rents out； and holds possession in defiance of me； as I am possessed of no power of attorney to warrant any proceeding against him。〃 A power of attorney was at once sent Habersham； with instructions to evict the intruder； and rent； lease or sell the property。
A suit against the trespasser was won in 1794； but in 1801 his tenant was still in possession； poor； and refusing to pay rent。 Habersham had meanwhile died； and John Gebhard Cunow； acting as attorney for Von Schweinitz； who had returned to Germany in 1798； requested Matthew McAllister to take charge of the matter； but McAllister； having made some inquiries； reported that the man named John Robinson； who lived on the premises； was likely to make trouble； and that as he himself was the only Judge in the district it would be better to put the case into the hands of some one else； and leave him free to hear it。 Cunow therefore asked George Woodruff to act as attorney； to which he agreed； requesting that John Lawson be associated with him； which was done the following year。
Hans Christian Alexander von Schweinitz died Feb。 26th； 1802； the title to the Savannah Lots passing by will to Christian Lewis Benzien； of Salem； North Carolina； who however requested Cunow to continue to look after them。
The Agents had no light task in ejecting John Robinson and his wife from their abode； for he was 〃a foolish； drunken man；〃 and she 〃a perfect ‘virago'； and the Sheriff is really a