the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第52章
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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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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 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 1798； requested Matthew
McAllister to take charge of the matter； but McAllister； having made some
inquiries； reported that the man named John Robinson； who lived on the
premises； was likely to make trouble； and that as he himself was the only
Judge in the district it would be better to put the case into the hands of
some one else； and leave him free to hear it。Cunow therefore asked
George Woodruff to act as attorney； to which he agreed； requesting that
John Lawson be associated with him； which was done the following year。
Hans Christian Alexander von Schweinitz died Feb。 26th； 1802； the
title to the Savannah Lots passing by will to Christian Lewis Benzien； of
Salem； North Carolina； who however requested Cunow to continue to look
after them。
The Agents had no light task in ejecting John Robinson and his wife
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from their abode； for he was 〃a foolish； drunken man；〃 and she 〃a perfect
‘virago'； and the Sheriff is really afraid of her；〃 but on July 5th； 1805；
Lawson wrote to Cunow； 〃I am happy to inform you that after great
trouble and difficulty we have this day obtained possession of Mr。
Benzien's lots。〃
Feb。 17th； 1807； Christian Lewis Benzien； by his attorneys Woodruff
and Lawson； conveyed Town Lot No。 4； Second Tything； Anson Ward； to
Charles Odingsell； the consideration being 1；500； one hundred dollars in
cash； the rest secured by bond and mortgage； payable in one； two； and
three years； with 8 per cent interest from date。
In the same manner Town Lot No。 3 was sold to Worthington Gale；
March 14th； 1807； for 1；450。
Owing to 〃the distress of the times；〃 payment of these bonds was
slightly delayed； but by June； 1811； both were cancelled。
Although the two Town Lots thus brought 2；950； they had cost a
good deal in taxes and attorney's fees； and it is doubtful whether the
general treasury profited greatly by the investment； and certainly the men
who had lived and labored and suffered in Georgia were in no financial
way enriched thereby。
Christian Lewis Benzien died Nov。 13th； 1811； and the two Farm Lots
were transferred by will to John Gebhard Cunow of Bethlehem； Pa。； who
in March； 1822； deeded them to Lewis David de Schweinitz of Bethlehem；
Pa。
And here the two Farm Lots disappear from the records。 They had
never been available for farming purposes； and by degrees the timber was
stolen from them； so that it became wiser to let them go than to keep up
the taxes with no prospect of return。In course of time the title lapsed
