Tomochichi Mary Musgrove and James Oglethorpe Three people

Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove and James Oglethorpe: Three people who showed what can be accomplished using cooperation Colleen Mc. Namara June 2012

Foreword • When the first Europeans came to what we now call Georgia, the area was already populated with several tribes of native people including the Cherokee, Creek, and Muskogee. • Let’s find out how three important people were able to begin the successful settlement that became our state of Georgia!

Tomochichi • When the English decided to settle the area that is now Georgia, the Creek Indians already lived there. • Tomochichi, who was a Creek Indian, was the chief of his own tribe, called the Yamacraw Indians. • Tomochichi and his tribe lived alongside the Savannah River, near the coast of Georgia.

Mary Musgrove • Mary’s father was an English trader and her mother was a Creek Indian, so she learned to speak two languages. • After marrying, Mary and her husband opened a trading post near present day Savannah. v Mary was born in the 1690’s near Macon. v Mary’s Indian name is Coosaponakee sa. v She was educated in Charleston, South Carolina

James Oglethorpe • James was born into a wealthy family in England. • At that time, if someone owed money, they could be put into debtor’s prison until the debt was paid. • Oglethorpe worked to reform the prisons

Founding Georgia • James Oglethorpe and a group of his friends decided to ask the King to found a colony. • They would make a place for debtors to start a new life. • In 1733, Oglethorpe and 120 colonists arrived on the coast and named the colony after their king…Georgia.

Mary Musgrove’s role • James Oglethorpe spoke only English and Tomachichi spoke only Creek. • Because Mary Musgrove spoke the languages of the Creek and the English settlers, she was able to translate at meetings between the two leaders.

Tomochichi’s role • Tomochichi, the Creek chief wanted to be friends with the English. • He gave permission for Oglethorpe to settle in the area now known as Savannah. • Tomochichi and his tribe traded with the settlers. The Indians gave the settlers food and the settlers gave the Indians metal tools and cloth.

James Oglethorpe’s role • James Oglethorpe was the first governor of Georgia. • He was friendly with the Indian tribes of Georgia. • He traded with the Choctaw, the Creek and the Cherokee Indians. • He said that people could not own slaves.

Things to think about… • Why did the Indians want to be friends with Oglethorpe and the settlers? • What might have happened if they were not friends? • What might have happened if Mary Musgrove was not there?

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