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James Habersham (1712-1775) was born in Yorkshire, England in January, 1712. He came to Savannah, Georgia, in 1738 and founded the Bethesda Orphan Home with George Whitefield and from 1741 to 1744, Habersham ran the orphanage. In 1744, he left this position to start the firm Harris & Habersham, one of the earliest such businesses in Savannah. He married Mary Bolton on December 26, 1740, and had ten children, but only three sons survived their father: James Jr. (d. 1799), Joseph (1751-1815), and John. Habersham (1754-1799). He took an active part in the political affairs of Georgia and was elected president of the upper house of the General Assembly in 1767. In the absence of Governor Sir James Wright in 1771-1773, Habersham served as Acting Governor. He was a prosperous land owner and a strong advocate for allowing slavery in Georgia. When, in 1749, slavery became legal in the state, Habersham established many rice plantations. Forever loyal to England, he died in New Brunswick, New Jersey, August 28, 1775, shortly before the outbreak of the American Revolution. John Habersham (1754-1799), a son of James Habersham (1712-1775), served with distinction in the American Revolution with the 1st Georgia Regiment, Continental Line, and rose to the rank of Major. He was president of the Georgia Executive Council in 1784, a delegate to the Continental Congress, 1785-1786, Chairman of the Georgia Commissioners for the Shoulder-Bone Treaty with the Creek Indians in 1786, one of the commissioners from Georgia for settling the boundary between South Carolina at Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1787, and Collector of the Port of Savannah, 1791-1799. Joseph Habersham (1751-1815), a son of James Habersham (1712-1775), graduated from Princeton and became a merchant in Savannah, first with his brother James, and later with his cousin, Joseph Clay. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, he was a member of the Council of Safety, and took part in some of the actions of the 'Liberty Boys.' It was he who, with a selected party, arrested Governor Sir James Wright in 1776. He was commissioned by the Council of Safety as a Major of a battalion with the 1st Georgia Regiment, Continental Line in 1776 and rose to the rank of Colonel. He resigned his commission in 1778. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, 1785-1786, Mayor of Savannah, 1792, and Post Master General of the United States, appointed by President George Washington in 1795. Robert Habersham (1783-1870), a son of Joseph Habersham (1751-1815), was a merchant in Savannah. His son, Robert Habersham, Jr. (1812-1832) graduated from Harvard in 1831 and died in Savannah, August 31, 1832, after going swimming and catching a cold.
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The collection consists primarily of manuscript copies of portions of James Habersham's letter books during 1771-1772 when he served as Acting Governor of Georgia. Also included is a manuscript copy of James Habersham's diary dated 1750-1751 and manuscript copies of indentures, letters, and ledgers of John Habersham, Joseph Habersham, Robert Habersham Jr., and Roland Hill compiled in a single letter book.
The two letter books of James Habersham's letters contain duplicates. Letter book 2 (August 1771-October 1772) contains the most letters. Habersham's letters are addressed to: Earl of Hillsborough, George Galphin, Capt. James Edward Powell, Lord Charles Greville Montagu, Edward Barnard, William Tryon, John Daniel Hammerer, Joseph Maddock, John Pownall, James Jackson, Francis Williams, John Stuart, Peter Chester, Commissioners of Customs, William Knox, Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, John Moultrie, and Anthony Stokes. Three letters at the end of letter book 2 were written by John Habersham on behalf of his father.
Many of James Habersham's letters in this collection were transcribed and published in the "Colonial Records of the State of Georgia" and "Collections of the Georgia Historical Society: The Letters of Hon. James Habersham, 1756-1775". See the collection inventory for publication information and page numbers. Twenty-seven of the forty-nine letters are not published.
James Habersham's diary contains entries regarding the arrival of French and German citizens in Georgia, the Rev. John Martin Bolzius, settlement at Ebenezer, Georgia, Trustees appointments, deaths and burials, letter to Capt. David Cutler Braddock, detailed information on cocoons and silk manufacturing, arrival of ships in port, elections, merchants, and mulberry trees.
The creator and date of creation of the manuscript copies is unknown. They were likely written during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
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Folder 4 is restricted. Folders 1-3 may be accessed for research.
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Copyright has been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of copyright in items created by the donor. Although copyright was transferred by the donor, copyright in some items in the collection may still be held by their respective creator(s). For further information contact the Division of Library and Archives.
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GHS 1787, Habersham family papers, 1712-1842. Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
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