Wheeler Bryan, Jr. — The Debatable Lands—the History of Georgia 1733–1750

Wheeler Bryan, Jr.

The Georgia coast, consisting of 100 miles, was once known as the “Debatable Lands.” In the early 1700’s the English, French and Spanish all tried to claim this territory. This presentation aims to tell the story of how James Edward Oglethorpe founded Georgia in 1733 and how the founding laid the groundwork to protect the colonies from Spanish coming out of St. Augustine. The conflicts and hostilities between the English and Spanish had been going on for nearly two centuries, but only 6 years after Georgia’s founding they came to a head with the beginning of the War of Jenkins Ear. This presentation will discuss Georgia’s founding as a Trustee Colony, the activities around the coast during the War, including the battles on St Simons Island and St. Augustine and wrapping up with the treaty that ultimately led to the Georgia/Florida line.