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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 91
craw at a point on the river known as Horse-shoe Quarter. But since a
battery had been planted at Savannah and since a stockade had been
built completely surrounding the town, there was no longer any need
of an armed force to protect the colony in this neighborhood. Conse
quently, it was thought best to transfer this garrison to the Ogeeehee
River, in the rear of Savannah, at a point where the Indians were in
the habit of crossing this stream on predatory expeditions into South
Carolina. The stronghold here built was called Fort Argyle, in honor
of John, Duke of Argyle, an intimate friend of Oglethorpe. To further
strengthen this outpost, ten families were sent from Savannah, to reside
in its vicinity, to cultivate the lands, and to establish the nucleus of a
town.
On an eminence of ground some four miles to the south of Savan
nah a French settlement containing twelve families was planted, to which
was given the name of Highgate, while just to the east of Savannah, per
haps a mile distant, was located the village of Hampstead, where twelve
German families were grouped. These settlers were truck farmers,
from whose industry it was designed to furnish the Savannah market
with vegetables. Both communities were flourishing in 1736 when vis
ited by Francis Moore, but they proved short lived, doubtless for the
reason that each of the families at Savannah had a five-acre garden of
its own, from which to obtain supplies of this kind. There may also
have been malarial causes for this decline. At any rate, in 1740, there
were only two families residing at Highgate, while the settlement at
Plampstead was entirely extinguished.
To safeguard the colony from attack by way of Augustine Creek,
a small fort was constructed at Thunderbolt in the neighborhood of
which several families were located; but the fort was only a temporary
affair, it seems, and falling into decay was not rebuilt. Equally short
lived was a settlement planted at the northeast end of Skidoway Island,
where a fort was built for the protection of some families, ten in num
ber, clustered in its neighborhood. However, a Manchecolas fort, erected
for the defense of Skidoway Narrows, proved to be of a more perma
nent character. This stronghold was garrisoned by a detachment from
a company of marines commanded by Captain Noble Jones, whose home,
called "Wormsloe, was on the Isle of Hope, an estate granted its owner
in 1733. Captain Jones accompanied Oglethorpe to Georgia on the gal
ley Anne, became first recorder and afterwards treasurer and was for
years one of the colony's foremost leaders. His famous country seat
is still the property of his descendants.*
There was a small Scotch settlement called Joseph-Town planted on
the' Savannah River, at a point opposite Argyle Island, but discouraged
by a failure of crops its thrifty inhabitants sought homes elsewhere.
There was perhaps an additional reason for this exodus in the prevail
ing unhealthiness. Many of the servants in the employ of these Scotch
owners died.
Just above Joseph-Town, on a creek some three miles distant from its
confluence with the Savannah, was located the village of Abercorn, like
wise a Scotch settlement. The town site was divided into twelve lots,
* See article in small print at the end of this chapter.