Native American History of Savannah

by Michael Freeman

Overview

“A thoughtful narrative that gives greater context to the contributions of Native Americans to the success of Spanish, French and English colonists.” —Savannah Morning News

Savannah’s storied history begins with Native Americans. The Guales lived along the Georgia coast for hundreds of years and were the first to encounter Spanish missionaries from St. Augustine in the 1500s. Tomochichi of the Yamacraw tribe is lauded as the cofounder of Georgia for his efforts in helping James Oglethorpe establish the Savannah colony in the eighteenth century. In 1830, President Andrew Jackson forced southeastern Native American tribes to resettle in the West, including descendants of the Savannah Creek, who had fought by Jackson’s side at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Michael Freeman explores the legacy of coastal Georgia’s Native Americans and the role they played in founding Savannah.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439664490
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	05/10/2022
Series:	American Heritage
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	145
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Michael Freeman has lived and worked in Savannah for more than twenty-five years. He is the father of three children and the husband of one woman. He has written one other book, Savannah's Monuments: The Untold Stories, and writes a weekly blog, Freeman's Rag (freemansrag.com). He is founder and president of the nonprofit Joined in Giving and a docent at the Telfair Museums. Michael holds a BA in history and religion from Samford University and a MDiv from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been a featured speaker at the Flannery O'Connor Home, Live Oak Public Library, Road's Scholar Programs, Savannah College of Art and Design, Senior Citizens Inc. and other forums. He has been studying the Native Americans of Savannah for more than ten years.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Acknowledgements 11

Introduction 13

1 The Beginnings 17

2 Guales on a Mission 24

3 The Mississippian Culture Was a Big Deal 28

4 The Yamasee War Was the Creek Vietnam War 40

5 The Creeks Keep Their Home Fires Burning 45

6 Tomochichi, a Founder of Georgia 52

7 Toonahowi, Forever Young 66

8 Malatchi, Born to Rule 73

9 Senauki, the Good Mother 78

10 Mary Musgrove, the Woman Who Ran with the Wolves 83

11 The Muskogees, Gone but not Forgotten 104

12 The Legacy of the Native Americans of Savannah 110

Bibliography 121

Index 125

About the Author 128