A journey to Georgia
Today Gravesend is perhaps best known as the final resting place of Pocahontus and as the site of the London River House, the port authority for the city of London. In 1732 Gravesend, 15 miles east of London on the Thames River, was one of several unrelated port cities that served the capital of England. It was from Gravesend that 114 men, women and children along with James Oglethorpe, pastor Henry Herbert, Doctor William Cox, Captain John Thomas and a crew of 20 set sail on Friday, November 17, 1732 for the new colony of Georgia. They would make one stop between England and Georgia: at the island of Madeira, where the ship would load 5 tons of wine for the journey
Before leaving a bureaucratic hierarchy was established. Peter Gordon, who was put at the head of the militia, was probably the highest ranking official of the new colony, but it was James Oglethorpe who was in charge. Today the state of Georgia refers to him as "resident trustee," but he had no title, and no official power. He joined the colonists to represent the best interests of the trustees in their absense. …show more content…
The two months it took the Pilgrims to travel from England to Cape Cod had not been improved very much in spite of 112 years. Neither had the accommodations. The Ann, a 200-ton frigate, had barely enough room for colonists; they slept as a group, occasionally allowed privacy with a canvas tarp. During the voyage they dined on mutton and broth, dringking wine and occassionally watered-down rum (called
Today Gravesend is perhaps best known as the final resting place of Pocahontus and as the site of the London River House, the port authority for the city of London. In 1732 Gravesend, 15 miles east of London on the Thames River, was one of several unrelated port cities that served the capital of England. It was from Gravesend that 114 men, women and children along with James Oglethorpe, pastor Henry Herbert, Doctor William Cox, Captain John Thomas and a crew of 20 set sail on Friday, November 17, 1732 for the new colony of Georgia. They would make one stop between England and Georgia: at the island of Madeira, where the ship would load 5 tons of wine for the journey
Before leaving a bureaucratic hierarchy was established. Peter Gordon, who was put at the head of the militia, was probably the highest ranking official of the new colony, but it was James Oglethorpe who was in charge. Today the state of Georgia refers to him as "resident trustee," but he had no title, and no official power. He joined the colonists to represent the best interests of the trustees in their absense. …show more content…
The two months it took the Pilgrims to travel from England to Cape Cod had not been improved very much in spite of 112 years. Neither had the accommodations. The Ann, a 200-ton frigate, had barely enough room for colonists; they slept as a group, occasionally allowed privacy with a canvas tarp. During the voyage they dined on mutton and broth, dringking wine and occassionally watered-down rum (called