166 CHATHAM COUNTY. 



the Revolution commenced, and all aliens were ordered to quit 

 the country or to take the oath of allegiance, he preferred the 

 latter, saying "that he had fought for the King as long as he ate 

 his bread, but that now America was his home, and for Amer- 

 ica he would now fight." He entered the American army as a 

 captain, and was promoted to the rank of colonel. His regi- 

 ment (4th Georgia Battalion) was ordered to Savannah. His 

 exposure and fatigue brought on a pulmonary disease, of 

 which he died in Virginia.* 



Religious Sects. — It is probable that the Baptists are the 

 most numerous. Besides these there, are Episcopalians, Me- 

 thodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Catholics, Unitarians, Pro- 

 testant Methodists, Jews, Disciples of Christ, Anti-Missionary 

 Baptists, Swedenborgians, Including those in the city there are 

 about 30 churches in the county. The coloured people are 

 mostly Baptists. Some of the planters on the Savannah river 

 and other places, encourage preaching to their slaves, and 

 have erected suitable buildings for their accommodation. 



Character of the People. — For inteUigence, hospitality 

 and benevolence, the citizens of Chatham are not to be sur- 

 passed by any people in the United States; but upon this sub- 

 ject we prefer to use the language of another. " The records 

 of the Legislature bear testimony," says Dr. Church, the able 

 President of our University, " to the liberal and patriotic views 

 which the representatives of your city and county have ever 

 entertained upon this important subject. In all the conflicts 

 of political parties, the representatives of Chatham have known 

 no party feelings upon the subject of education. They have 

 ever rallied to the rescue, when any of the institutions of 

 learning needed their aid ; and it has long since become an 

 axiom with the friends of the State University, when inquiring 

 to whom that institution might look for support, that the re- 

 presentatives of Chatham need not be doubted. And often, 

 in the hour of need, has that seminary been indebted, in no 

 small degree, to your representatives for, if not its existence, 

 at least for much of that assistance which it has received from 

 the Legislature, and by means of which it has been enabled 

 to accomplish much of what it has thus far effected. 



* Extracts from MSS. furnished by tlie Hon. R. M. Charlton of Savannah. 



