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house being rented for the former purpose。
When the Trustees of Georgia surrendered their Charter to the English
Crown in 1754； it was found that no formal deeds had ever been made for
many of the tracts granted by the Trustees； and it was decreed that any
who could legally claim land under grant from the Trustees should have
their rights confirmed by royal grant upon application to the Governor and
Council of Georgia； within a specified time； the land otherwise to be
considered forfeited。In June； 1761； Habersham wrote to Bethlehem that
the time for entering claim had expired； but that he had asked for and
obtained six months grace for the Moravians； who had previously sent him
a full power of attorney； which had failed to reach him。
A new power of attorney was at once sent； and on September 7th； 1762；
royal patents were issued to Nitschmann and Spangenberg； for the Town
Lots and Farm Lots above mentioned。（Register's Office； Book D； Folios
207 and 208。）
Meanwhile the two Garden Lots had been sold to Sir James Wright for
10 Pounds； and deeds； bearing date of March 15th； 1762； were made to
him by Spangenberg and Nitschmann。The deeds to the Town and Farm
lots were deposited in Bethlehem； and the Agent took his instructions from
the Manager there。
In 1765 Bishop Ettwein went from Bethlehem to Savannah to look
after the property。He found that the large house on Spangenberg's lot had
been condemned as ruinous and pulled down。Some one had built a small
house on the other end of the same lot； and it was supposed to pay 4
Pounds a year ground rent； but the family living there was very poor； and
Habersham had been unable to collect anything。 By permission a poor
woman had fenced in the Nitschmann lot； and was using it as a kitchen…
garden； rent free。The title to the farm lots was in jeopardy； for a certain
Alderman Becker in London claimed that the Trustees had given him a
tract； including these and many other farms； but the settlers thereon were
making a strong fight to hold their property； in which they were finally
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The Moravians in Georgia
successful。
At the time of Frederick William Marshall's visit to Savannah in 1775；
the two farm lots were reported to have some good timber； even if they
were not of much use otherwise； and the town lots had increased in value
with the growth of the town。 Marshall thought the latter could again be
used for residence； and as a centre for such missionary work as was
already begun by Mueller； Wagner and Broesing； but the Revolutionary
War put an end to their efforts。
At this point in the records appears a peculiar uncertainty as to the
identity of the owner of the David Nitschmann lots。 The fact that there
were three David Nitschmanns in the active service of the Moravian
Church during a number of years after its renewal in Herrnhut affords
ample opportunity for confusion； but one would not expect to find it in the
minds of their contemporaries。But even such a man as Frederick William
Marshall wrote； 〃The Deeds to these two lots； Nos。 3 and 4； are kept in
Bethlehem （one stands in the name of Brother Joseph； the other of Bishop
D'd Nitschmann； who passed away in Bethlehem） and it would be well if
something were done about them。 I do not know what can be arranged
with the son of the latter； but Brother David Nitschmann； who is now in
Zeist； said when he was in America that he himself was the David
Nitschmann in whose name the grant was made； because he was the one
who had shared in the negotiations with the Trustees of Georgia。〃Bishop
David Nitschmann had died in Bethlehem； Oct。 9th； 1772； where his son
Immanuel lived until 1790。 The David Nitschmann residing in Zeist was
the Syndic； formerly Count Zinzendorf's Hausmeister； the leader of the
first company to London； where he and Spangenberg had arranged matters
with the Trustees； and had each received fifty acres of land in his own
name。 The Bishop had had nothing whatever to do with the matter； and
this was the conclusion reached； for the title to the Town Lot No。 3 passed
at the Syndic's death； March 28th； 1779； to his son Christian David
Nitschmann。
June 14th； 1784； August Gottlieb Spangenberg and Christian David
Nitschmann by deed transferred their title to the Savannah property to
Hans Christian Alexander von Schweinitz； Administrator of the estate of
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The Moravians in Georgia
the Unitas Fratrum in Pennsylvania。
The Revolutionary War had come and gone； and Von Schweinitz
began again to investigate the condition of affairs in Savannah。Their
Agent； James Habersham； had died in 1775； but his son James had kept up
the taxes； so the title was intact。〃But there is a matter；〃 he wrote； 〃which it
is necessary you should be made acquainted with。 When the British
Troops took possession of Savannah； they had occasion for a lot belonging
to a Mr。 George Kellar； for the purpose of erecting a fort on； it being
situated in the outskirts of the town； and in order to satisfy this man they
VERY GENEROUSLY gave him your two lots in lieu of the one they had
taken from him； but very fortunately for you； our Legislature passed a Law
rendering null and void all their acts during the time they held this country；
and notwithstanding Mr。 Kellar is perfectly well acquainted with this
matter； he has moved a house on one of the lots； and on the other he has
lately built another house； which he rents out； and holds possession in
defiance of me； as I am possessed of no power of attorney to warrant any
proceeding against him。〃A power of attorney was at once sent Habersham；
with instructions to evict the intruder； and rent； lease or sell the property。
A suit against the trespasser was won in 1794； but in 1801 his tenant
was still in possession； poor； and refusing to pay rent。 Habersham had
meanwhile died； and John Gebhard Cunow； acting as attorney for Von
Schweinitz； who had returned to Germany in