Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/18

 HABERSHAM

HABERSHAM

His letters on silk rulture are preserved among the rolouial documents in the Georgia state historical society. He died in New Brunswick, N.J.. Aug. 2S, 1775, and his body was temporarily placed in a vault of Trinity churcli, New York, and on Nov. 14. 177.'), was deposited in the family vault in tluM-fnu'tory at Savannah, (ia.

HABERSHAM, John, soldier, was Uwn at "Beverley." near Savannah, Ga., Dec. 23, 1754; third son of CJov. James and Mary (Bolton) Habersham. He was prepared ft)r college at home and ]>rol»al)ly matriculated at the College of New Jersey, but there is no record in the catalogue of his hav- ing graduated. He joined the Sons of Liberty and entered ve, Jan. 7, 1776, as 1st lieutenant of the first company raised toward forming a battalion authorized by the united colonies for the protection of ^' Georgia, his brother fe^^ Joseph being major: ^J and he served with ^ • distinction in the defence of the plantations on the Savannah. He was pro- moted brigade-major of the Georgia forces in the Continentiil army, commanded by Lachlan Mcintosh. He accompanied the expeditions under the successive commands of General Lee, President Gwinnett, Gen. Robert Howe and Gov. John Hou.stoun, for the reduction of St. Augus- tine and the subjugation of Florida, and was a memljer of the council of war that determined to abandon the unfortunate expedition. He was active in the defence of Sim bury and when St. Joim"s parish was leing ruthlessly iiillaged by the Britisli. Major Habersham was commissioned to meet Colonel Prevost and endeavor to persuade him to stay the indLscriminate and wanton de- struction, but without avail. In the evacuation of Savannah he was the last to leave the guns and in crossing Musgrove creek in the retreat he he was captured. He was released, defeated by Colonel Prevost at Brier creek and again made a pri.soner. He was exchanged and in Septeml)er and October, 1779, participated in the di.sastroas siege of Savannah. He then served as commis.sioner to the Creek and Cherokee Indians, but he was thwarted in his purpose to spfure a treaty by indiscreet .subordinate oflicers. Whpn the order tf» evacuate Savannali was i.ssued by Sir Guy Carleton. May 23 1782. Major Habers- ham was entrusted with the negotiations for the
 * !ie Continental ser-

peaceable carrying out of the embarkation of the Britisli troops, in behalf of the patriots and on July 11, 1782, General Wayne occupied Savannah and Lieut. -Col. James Jackson and Major Ha- bersham took charge of the city until civil govern- ment should be regularly established. He was president of the executive cotmcil in 1784 and in that capacity oi^ened the land office in Augusta. He was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1785-86; concluded a treaty with the Creek Indians, Nov. 3, 1786; and settled a boundary line dispute with South Carolina in April, 1787. He was one of the original trustees of the Uni- versity of Georgia, 1785, and collector of the port of Savannah, 1789-99 He was married, Feb. 18, 1782, to Ann Sarah Camber at Belfast, Ga. His son, Joseph Clay Habersham (1790-1855), was a physician in Savannah, 1815-55; and his daughter Josephine Clay married William, son of Robert and grandson of Joseph Habersham. Maj. John Habersliam died at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 17, 1799. HABERSHAM, Joseph, cabinet officer, was born in Savannah, Ga., Jul}- 28, 1751; son of Gov. James and Mary (Bolton) Habersham. He was educated at the College of New Jersey; was a member of the " sons of liberty, " and when the news reached Savannah of the battle of Lexing- ton. May 11,

1775, he helped I'^SiJ

to seize the powder in the royal magazine in the name of the patriots and is said to have for- warded part of it to Wash- ington's army at Cambridge. He was made a member of the council of safety in June, 1775, and the next month commanded the party that captured the British ship sent to Savannah with munitions of war, including 15,000 pounds of powder, of which 5000 pounds were sent to Phil- adelphia by order of congress and the balance supplied the magazines of Georgia and South Carolina. He was elected to the provincial con- gress that convened at Savannah, July 4, 1775, and while a member raised the body of volunteers which captured Sir James Wright, the governor, and held him under guard in his own house for nearly a month when he escaped. As major of the 1st Georgia battalion he defended Savannah from the British naval attack in September and October, 1779, and when the British captured the city he removed his family to Virginia, but he returned and aided D'Estaing in his unsuccessful effort to recapture the city. He continued tt) serve in the American army and at the close of

GOVERAI/WEAJT HOUSt, /<«wYooK.