The official facebook page of fort frederica national monument. Visit the fort frederica national monument lilmar propeties. Georgia founder james oglethorpe built fort frederica and the surrounding town on st. Our todays and yesterdays by margaret davis cate book. Simons island, georgia, june 1935 part 2 of 2 audio controls for interview with wallace quarterman, fort frederica, st. These soldiers added muscle to georgia s defense and.
Including its history, the jekyll island museum, the fort frederica national monument, and more violette verne on. Simons island in 1736 to defend the threeyearold colony from the spanish in florida. Frederica history in brief building fort frederica. A museum and film describe the colonial port of sunbury and the sites history. Fort frederica s troops defeated the spanish, ensuring georgia s future as a british colony. James oglethorpes military operations against the spanish in florida during the war of jenkins ear 173942, a part of the anglospanish struggle for control of the southeastern part of the present united states. Simons island georgia georgia s fate was decided in 1742 when spanish and british forces clashed on st. Local residents took a lead in preserving the site as a reminder of americas colonial past. Aaa travel guides fort frederica national monument, ga. Simons island history guide to local historic sites. About 630 british troops were stationed at the fort.
Probate records may give the decedents date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, inlaws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence. In the 1700s, it was a central battleground between spain and britainbefore the united states decided to make its own move and become independent. Born on 24 november 1888 to john benston davis i and ida rebecca stafford, margaret davis was a lifelong resident of glynn county. Military park history and description fort frederica s troops defeated the spanish, ensuring georgia s future as a british colony. Has 78 pages of info, illustrations and maps about the history of fort frederica on st simons island, georgia. Colonists from england, scotland, and the germanic states came to frederica to support this endeavor. Colonial fort and town its place in history by trevor r reese. Oglethorpe built fort frederica just three years later to protect this new colony from spanish attack. Simons island ive added two new pages to my site that focus on war of 1812 actions on the georgia coast. Click to read more about frederica, colonial fort and town. Long before the worlds largest outdoor cocktail party in jacksonville, georgia has always kept an eye on florida. This clash of cultures pitted british redcoats, the highland independent company of foot, and coastal rangers. Fort frederica was connected to a sister fort on the south end of st.
Chronological history of the civil war in america and hand. Today, the archeological remnants of frederica are protected by the national park service. Simons island played an important role in georgias history and the tale is. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Fort frederica s military days ended when spain and england declared peace in 1748.
Colonists from england, scotland, and the germanic states came to frederica to support the endeavor. James edward oglethorpe, born december 22, 1696, london, englanddied june 30july 1, 1785, cranham hall, essex, england, english army officer, philanthropist, and founder of the british colony of georgia in america educated at the university of oxford, he. The first protestant minister that labored at frederica was charles wesley, who with john wesley came to america in 1736. The first half of the film deals with the founding of frederica by james oglethorpe, his soldiers, and an assortment of british and scottish families. Ellen strojan, national park ranger, fort frederica national monument. Colonial life on the georgia coast publications fort frederica association. It is through her mothers family that many of the records located at this site, were donated. Today in georgia history may 17, 1749 slavery in colonial georgia july 07, 1742 battle of. General james oglethorpe founded the colony of georgia and named jekyll island in honor of sir joseph jekyll, his friend and financier from england. Simons, interested in preserving the history of the town and the fort. Its easy to forget that georgia was the center of much conflict before it became a state.
This land which we call georgia today was the epicenter of a centuriesold imperial conflict between spain and britain. Today, visitors can stand within the earthwork remains and view scenic saint catherines sound. Fort frederica national monument historic site, georgia. Local british forces under the command of the governor james oglethorpe rallied and defeated the spaniards at the battle of. Fort frederica frederica is a story of dreams, struggle, victory, and defeat. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Simons on the north, and the marshes of glynn plus the intracoastal waterway to the west st. United states history civil war, 18611865african americanspersonal narratives. Published by the fort frederica association in 1969. The bloody marsh memorial site, a separate area 6 miles south, is open daily 8.
Simons, he withdrew before an attack in order to concentrate all his forces at frederica. Nature finished the process of reclaiming frederica with vines overgrowing the few tabby ruins still standing and in time little was left but a memory. The names of the community and the island are interchangeable, known simply as st. Fort frederica, shaded by old live oaks, overlooks the frederica river. Colonial life on the georgia coast publications fort. History uncovered, a 23minute film about both the town and the actual fort at frederica, plays every half hour. Fort frederica national monument historic site, georgia, united. Simons island, georgia, preserves the archaeological remnants of a fort and town built by james oglethorpe between 1736 and 1748 to protect the southern boundary of the british colony of georgia from spanish raids. Simons island real estate with topoftheline luxury amenities, all surrounded by the natural splendor of coastal georgia s unique landscape.
Fort king george, the first british garrison of the georgia colony, is located in darien, at the mouth of the altamaha river. If you enjoy exploring history and visiting historical monuments, then you wont. Georgia historical society educator web guide table of contents precolonial. Fort frederica saint simons island, georgia atlas obscura. Simons is a barrier island and censusdesignated place cdp located on st. A town of up to 500 colonial residents had grown up outside the fort. Established in 1721 as the southernmost outpost of british north america, the post became the stronghold for the coveted southeastern region. The monument authorized 1936 covers 284 acres 115 hectares and consists of the remains of a fort and surrounding town built by georgia colony founder james edward oglethorpe in 1736 to defend georgia from the spanish in florida. Fort frederica national monument, 6515 frederica road, st. On a trip home to britain in 1737, oglethorpe secured command of a 630man regiment of regulars, the 42 nd regiment of foot. Simons is part of the brunswick, georgia metropolitan statistical area, and according to.
Simons island one of the sea islands, southeastern georgia, u. To write this book, to research the island families entwined in the story, genie spent. Frederica is a 1,700 acre private community that blends st. Jones heritage center, bloody marsh battle site, first african baptist church, fort frederica national monument, gascoigne bluff, hofwyl broadfield plantation, and the marshes of glynn in saint simons island, georgia.
Early settlers in georgia genealogy trails history group. James oglethorpe founded fort frederica to protect the southern british boundary. Simons island by the military road, a narrow path that led through the islands dense forests. It was established by general oglethorpe in 1736 and was instrumental in protecting the island during the war of jenkins ear. Fort frederica magazine, made of tabby, north of st. She was buried on may 30 in christ church, frederica cemetery under the. The fort at the mouth of the altamaha honored king george iis son frederick, the prince of wales. A fire in 1758 destroyed most of the town, and the last soldiers left the fort in 1763. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. One of his primary concerns involved georgias defense. Fort frederica was established in 1736 by james oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of georgia.
Simons island in glynn county, georgia, united states. During its heyday, from 1736 to 1758, general james oglethorpes town and fort played a pivotal role in the struggle for empire between the competing interests of england and spain. More than a fort, the town of frederica was home to colonists seeking to start a new life. Interview with wallace quarterman, fort frederica, st. The building took the form of square with rooms surrounding an open parade. Under the name of fort defiance, this bulwark was once again used against the british during the war of 1812, and sunburys harbor was guarded by armed barges. Fort frederica national parks conservation association. Simons island is part of a cluster of barrier islands and marsh hammocks between the altamaha river delta to the north, and st. The following individuals referred to as malcontents by the author. Simons island and the other the virtually unknown story of the battle of the st. The campaign was part of a larger conflict which became known as the war of jenkins ear. In the early days when frederica was the most important military settlement in the colony of georgia, the religious work at frederica was a part of the missionary work of christ church, savannah. An annual festival march commemorates the areas history. Audio recording interview with wallace quarterman, fort frederica, st.
The entry tower is all that remains of the barracks, which were built to house 100 men. Although oglethorpe excelled at frontier defense and indian negotiation, and his plan for the city of savannah remains famous for its grid pattern and open spaces, he failed to see the consequences of trying to conquer nature with inexperienced settlers, most of whom had no knowledge of agriculture, townbuilding, or soldiering. The monument is accessible via a bridge from brunswick. Patricia barefoot, national park service, fort frederica national monument. Oglethorpes regiment disbanded in 1749, ruining frederica s economy. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. James oglethorpe would use frederica to defeat a superior force of spanish who attacked georgia in retaliation for the. Fort morris state historic site department of natural. Simons island, georgia, preserves the archaeological remnants of a fort and town built by james oglethorpe between 1736 and 1748 to. Fort frederica national monument, historic site on st. Simons island served as the british military headquarters in colonial america. Colonial life on the georgia coast publications fort frederica association honerkamp, nick on.
This beautiful park was the site of one of the first british colonies. Discover fort frederica in saint simons island, georgia. Sea island forms the eastern edge of this cluster, with little st. Fort frederica national monument, a unit of the national park system, is located at 6515 frederica rd. Overview of the history of frederica and early colonial georgia history. Simons island history guide to local historic sites and attractions including st. Many probate records to the 1930s and 1940s are at the georgia department of archives and history and the family history library on microfilm. He created a plantation from which he provided food to the soldiers and families of ft. Georgias fate was decided in 1742 when spanish and. Welcome to frederica, the finest private golf, tennis and lake community in the southeast. This clash of cultures pitted british redcoats, the highland independent company of foot, and coastal rangers and. Mehrmals pro monat finden living historyvorfuhrungen in historischen. The remnants of the fortress that saved georgia from the spanish still stand guard on their swampy island. Fort frederica was established in 1736 by james oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of georgia from the spanish in.
In 1733, british general james edward oglethorpe established the colony of georgia in the region between the britishruled colony of south carolina and the spanishruled colony of florida. It didnt then take them long to find the military road which led up the island to frederica, and a detachment made it to within a few miles of the town before the. The 1742 invasion of georgia was a military campaign by spanish forces, based in florida, which attempted to seize and occupy disputed territory held by the british colony of georgia. The first tells the story of the british raid on st. Archaeological excavations were done in time that uncovered fredericas past and allowed its story to be. The entire colony of georgia remained under english rule. The first families of frederica national park service. Fort frederica national monument saint simons island. Established in 1736, the fort guarded georgia s southern frontier. Early settlers in georgia the story of georgia and the georgia people 1736 1860 by george gillman smith, d. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Georgia s fate was decided in 1742 when spanish and british forces clashed on st.