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328 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
James Jackson, for his service to the state, was given a fine old royalist
home in Savannah.
Both the Creeks and Cherokees, as above stated, sided with the
British during the struggle for independence. In consequence, there
was a forfeiture of land to the state at the close of hostilities.* Governor
Hall was a man of vision. He realized fully the importance of an edu
cated electorate in the upbuilding of a great commonwealth and out of
his recommendations to the Legislature grew not only our earliest town
academies but, as we shall see later, our state university at Athens.
GEORGIA'S FIRST NEWSPAPER: THE GAZETTE.—Twelve years prior to the battle
of Lexington, the earliest printing press was installed in Savannah; and on April
7, 1763, appeared the initial number of the Georgia Gazette, edited by James John
son. It was the eighth newspaper to be published in tie colonies. Beyond the
announcement of vital statistics, the arrival and departure of vessels in the harbor,
and items relating to traffic, the little weekly sheet contained no local news. Accord
ing to one authority, Savannah and Charleston exchanged brieflets in regard to each
other: the Charleston editor would gather information about Savannah from visitors
who came to trade in Charleston; and this he would publish in the Charleston paper.
Two weeks later it would appear in the Georgia Gazette, and vice versa.
But the local column was soon developed. The spirit of resistance to the oppres
sive measures of the British Parliament bore fruit in news items, which were published
at first hand. The earliest bugle call for the patriots to assemble in Savannah was
sounded through the columns of the Georgia Gazette, on July 14, 1774. They were
requested to meet at the Liberty Pole, in front of Tondee's Tavern, on July 27
folio-wing, and the card was signed by the famous quartette of liberty: Noble
Wymberley Jones, Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun and John Walton, the brother
of the signer. Though a large number responded at the appointed time, the Province
at large was not represented, and another call was issued for August 10, 1774. At
this time, in spite of the governor's solemn edict of warning, also published in the
Gazette, they met together and took conservative but firm action. The strong
influence of the governor and the effective Opposition of such pronounced Loyalists
as James Habersham and Noble Jones alone kept the assemblage .from sending
delegates at this time to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
Among the patriots who responded to the earliest summons were: John Glen,
Joseph Clay, Noble Wymberley Jones, John Houstoun, Lyman Hall, John Smith,
William Yovmg, Edward Telfair, Samuel Parley, John Walton, George Walton,
Joseph Habersham, Jonathan Bryan, Jonathan Cochrane, George Mclntosh, William
Gibbons, Benjamin Andrew, John Winn, John Stirk, David Zoubly, H. L. Bourquin,
Elisha Butler, William Baker, Parmenus Way, John Baker, John Stacy, John Morel
arid others.—"Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends," L. L. Knight, Vol. II.
GEORGIA'S EARLY CHIEF JUSTICES.—Under the constitution of 1777, provision
was made for a Supreme Court—not in the modern sense, however—to consist of a
chief justice, with three or more associates residing in the counties. On account
of unsettled conditions, court was seldom, held during this period. The names of
the associates have been lost, but the following is a correct list of the chief
justices of Georgia under the first state constitution:
John Glen .......................................... 1777-1780
William Steveus ..................................... 1780-1781
John Wereat ........................................ 1781-1782
Aedanus Burke .....................................1782-1782
Richard Howley .....................................1782-1783
George Walton .....................................1783-1786
William Stith ...................................... .1786-1786
John Houstoun .....................................1786-1787
Henry Osborne ;....................................1787-1789
Compiled from the records.
'Martrary and Crawford's Digest, Treaties at Augusta," pp. 603-606.