Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

170 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
posed to impute sinister motives to some of the high officials who sup
ported her contentions. Greatly incensed by the president's attitude,
she collected a band of Creek Indians, at whose head she placed herself,
and, marching to Savannah, renewed her demands. It was a most
impressive spectacle, well planned and well executed. At Mary's side
marched lier husband, the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth, dressed in his
white flowing robes as a priest of the Church of England. In the rear
followed kings and warriors of the Lower Creeks, belligerent with war
paint and armed with hostile bows. The populace was alarmed and a
battle seemed to be imminent.
But President Stephens was not to be intimidated by Mary's, bold
ultimatum. Despite his advanced years, he possessed a resolute spirit.
He realized at once that a serious situation confronted him, and, calling
out the military, under Capt. Noble Jones, to re-enforce his commands,
he met the insurgent band on the outskirts of Savannah and ordered
every man before entering the city to surrender his weapons. Con
strained by the presence of the troops, the Indians agreed. But they
also doubtless remembered Oglethorpe, and recalling his friendship,
did not wish to shed blood. However, nothing could be done by the
Indians while under the baleful influence of a pretended queen. Con
sequently, within a short while after entering Savannah, the Bosom-
worths were separated from the Indians and lodged in jail for safe
keeping. President Stephens, in a friendly address, then endeavored
to conciliate the Indians by reminding them in the first place that all
the lands claimed by Mary belonged, in fact, not to her, but to the
Creeks, having been reserved to them under an old treaty with Ogle
thorpe in 1733. As for Mary's claim to royal descent, he convinced
the Indians that she was only an imposter and that she was using this
title to accomplish her own selfish ends. The Indians gave no further
trouble. Pledges of friendship were renewed, presents were distrib
uted, and so far as the savages were concerned the affair was at an end.
But the Bosomworths left at once for England to prosecute this
celebrated claim before the trustees. We cannot pause to consider fur
ther details. Years elapsed before a final decision was reached. The
case became famous in the English courts. It was a source of great
annoyance both to the corporation and to the Crown, but at length, in
1757, the matter was adjusted. Mary was awarded nearly two thou
sand pounds sterling in requittal of her claims. She was also given
St. Catharine's Island, on which she was afterwards buried beside her
second husband. Thus ended .the Bosomworth claim. But long before
its culminating stages were reached, President Stephens, having relin
quished the helm of affairs, had closed his eyes in death at Beaulieu, his
beautiful country seat, at the mouth of the Vernon River.