Request Material
Earl of Egmont papers
Descriptive Summary | |
| Title: Earl of Egmont papers | |
| Creator: Perceval, John, Earl, 1683-1748 | |
| Inclusive Dates: 1732-1745 | |
| Language(s): English | |
| Extent: 20 volume(s) 20 volumes, 1 folder | |
| Collection Number: ms746 | |
| Repository: Hargrett Library | |
Collection Description
Historical Note
The first twenty years of Georgia history are referred to as Trustee Georgia because during that time a Board of Trustees governed the colony. England's King George signed a charter establishing the colony and creating its governing board on April 21, 1732. His action culminated a lengthy process. John Viscount Percival, the Earl of Egmont (after 1733), was the first president of the common council and the dominant figure among the Trustees until his retirement in 1742. He acted as Georgia's champion in Parliament.
For further information, see "Trustee Georgia, 1732-1752" at The New Georgia Encyclopedia.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of contemporary hand-written copies of letters and documents from 1732-1745 relating to the Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia in America. The correspondence includes letters between officials and settlers in the Colony and the Trustees. Major correspondees include James Oglethorpe, Thomas Causton, Samuel Eveleigh, Thomas Christie, Elisha Dobree, John Wesley and Trustees Benjamin Martryn and Harman Verelst. The letters provide comprehensive information regarding the settlement of Georgia, especially in Savannah and Frederica; Indian trading and relations; activities of the French and Spanish; the question of slavery; Salzburger and Moravian settlers; and religious matters. The collection also includes the journals and letters from 1736-1745 of William Stephens, secretary and later president of the Colony.
Organization and Arrangement
The letters are bound chronologically based on the Old Style Calendar. Some documents are dual dated with both the Julian and Gregorian calendar dates.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Access
Due to preservation concerns, researchers are required to use either the digital transcript, https://dlg.usg.edu/collection/guan_ms1786 or E. M. Coulter's edited book, http://galileo-usg-uga-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/UGA:UGA:01GALI_USG_ALMA7197151530002931.
Custodial History
Twenty volumes purchased by the University in 1947. The volumes constituted a portion of the library of Sir Thomas Phillips, were known as the Phillips collection, and reported to have originally belonged to the Earl of Egmont, first President of the Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia in America.
Preferred Citation
Earl of Egmont papers, ms746, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.
General Notes
Transcripts of volumes 1-13, letters to and from Georgia, are available through the Digital Library of Georgia: https://dlg.usg.edu/collection/guan_ms1786