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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 79
George He'athcote, M. P., an alderman of London and one of the most
active and influential members of the board o£ trustees; Derby Ward,
so called in compliment to the Earl of Derby, who was one of the most
generous patrons of the colonization; and Decker Ward, so named in
honor of Sir Matthew Decker, whose benefactions to the charitable
design had been conspicuous. The tithings embraced in Percival Ward
were called, respectively, Moore, Hucks, Holland, and Sloper, in honor
of Robert Moore, Robert Hucks, Roger Holland, and William Sloper,
members of Parliament all, and influential trustees. Heathcote Ward
was composed of Eyles, Laroehe, Vernon, and Belitha tithings, so named
to perpetuate the pleasant memories of Sir Francis Eyles, Bart., one of
the commissioners of the navy and a member of Parliament, John La-
roche, .also a member of Parliament, James Vernon, Esqr., and William
Belitha, all members of the trust. The four tithings constituting Derby
Ward were Wilmington, Jekyll, Tyrconnel, and Frederick. These were
named in compliment to the Earl of Wilmington, Sir Joseph Jekyll,
Master of the Rolls, who, with his lady, had contributed six hundred
pounds in furtherance of the laudable design of the trustees, Lord John
Tyrconnel, and Thomas Frederick, M. P., both members of the board of
trustees. • The tithings into which Decker Ward was divided were named
Digby, Carpenter, Tower and Heathcote, in honor of Edward Digby,
George, Lord Carpenter, Thomas Tower, M. P., and George Heathcote,
M. P., trustees all.
"Johnson Square was so named in compliment to his excellency, Rob
ert Johnson, governor of South Carolina, who cordially welcomed Ogle-
thorpe .and his companions upon their advent, and contributed gener
ously to the comfort and advancement of the Colony.
'' The streets then laid out were Abercorn, Drayton, Bull, and Whita-
ker, running north and south, and the Bay, Bryan, and St. Julian streets,
intersecting them at right angles. In naming these also Oglethorpe
sought, in an enduring manner, to express the gratitude of the Colony
and its founder. Thus, the principal street bore the name of Colonel
William Bull, who accompanied Oglethorpe when he selected Yamacraw
Bluff as a suitable site for Savannah, and on various occasions ren
dered the plantation services disinterested and valuable. The liberality
of Mr. Joseph Bryan, of Mr. St. Julian, of Mrs. Ann Drayton, of Mr.
Whitaker of South Carolina, and of the Earl of Abercorn was in this
manner publicly acknowledged.
'' In the middle of Johnson Square a large sun-dial was erected for the
convenience of the inhabitants. It perished long ago 1, and the spot where
it stood is now dignified by a shaft dedicated to the memory of General
Nathaniel Greene, which testified to the ages the enduring gratitude
cherished for him who, in the' primal struggle for independence, next
to Washington engaged the affections and excited the admiration of
the Georgia patriots."
Until this time Oglethorpe-had embodied in his own'-person not only
the executive but also the judicial power of the province. However,
warned by the increasing burden of responsibility, he now determined
to delegate some of his duties to others. Accordingly, during the after
noon of this eventful day, he established a town court for the determina
tion of causes both civil and criminal. George Symes, Richard Hodges