Defining John Morels in Morel-703

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

There may be 3 different John Morel(l)s acquired property in different sides of Georgia, [1] They might be influenced by different cultures.

1. Where we find ready marriage certificates for John Morell of Ossabaw, we seem dependent on hints and breadcrumbs for John Morel of Savannah's family. John of Savannah's grandparents, for example, were forced from their ancestral home in Northern France through religious persecution.

Peter Rodolf Morel was born in Switzerland where he was raised to be a soldier. Eventually, he acquire his trade as a silk weaver and crossed the channel to settle his family in London. Oglethorpe offered him the opportunity to play a role in the start of a new colony. Petr would be useful in two ways: First as a soldier since a primary purpose for Georgia was as a bulwark protecting the colonies against the Spanish. The second was as another silk weaver who contributed to a new burgeoning Georgian silk industry. It seems as we see in his profile, Peter exceeded all expectations.

John Morell from Ossabaw was apparently born in Georgia and was an American Merchant, Planter, and SlaveholderI in life often conflated with John Anthony Morel's family, but he had a completely different life trajectory. For clarity, John Morell will be known as John Morell of Ossabaw, married twice from which he had 2 separate families. His first marriage was to Mary Anne Bourquin, and his second wife, Mary Bryan. He bought Ossabaw Island from Mary Bryan's father where he had 155 slaves, and cattle inherited by his wife Mary and 3 living sons. (See Genealogy on Family Search [2].

John from Ossabaw is credited with being elected to the American Philosophical Society but also serving as both a delegate to the Provincial Council of Georgia (1774), as a member of the Council of Safety (1775)) which needs to be examined more critically since died in 1776 ^[1] but his profile is currently being heavily researched and clarified soon. Morells of Ossabaw, lived on an island off the east coast and as merchants were ideal for trade with the West Indies

• Mary, John Morel's widow, had issues transferring property to the mainland after her husband's death.

13 Feb 1783 Present Honorable Jenkin Davis Esq., President; Zacharias Fenn, Re: James Bryan, John Elliot

He died in 1776 as evidenced by his wife Mary's following Petition to the court "At the Meeting of the Council, October 22, 1776; His Excellency the Prest, William Belcher;

Present His Excellency the Priest, William Belcher. Jonathan Cochrane. William Bryan (Bryan is Mary's maiden name). Button Gwinnett. George McIntosh. Jonathan Bryan. John Houstoun. Mr. William Bryan and Mrs. Mary Morel present the following petition to the board: State of Georgia ...

The Petition of Mary Morel, widow and relict of John Morel, late of the State Sheweth:

That your petitioners have (in consequence of an order lately made and issued from your Honorable Board, for removing all cattle and other stock from the islands within the State which they are now using their utmost endeavors to comply) been put to very great inconvenience and loss, having no place upon the main whereto they can carry their said stock." This Petition continues for another page. ^[2]

• The Petition is important as Mary and her family had difficulty moving the cattle and stock onto the mainland. If this were the same John Morel from Effingham County, as he was acquiring a great deal of land, this would not have been a problem.

2. The John Morel of this profile will be known as John Morel of Savannah. John immigrated with his family to Georgia on the passenger ship James, in 1733, They were settled by Oglethorpe in Highgate, a French enclave that would eventually be absorbed into Savannah This John was raised with the impoverished as a beneficiary or the Trustees Georgia that officially dissolved in 1752, the same year his father died.

As a child, he distinguished himself by learning how to read and write, and his work was sent to England as proof to the crown Oglethorpe's Georgia could socialize its youth to meet British expectations for what defined a gentleman.

Probably the most important work John Morel of Savannah accomplished was to develop a means to supply resources, particularly to Salzburger farms functioning in St. Matthews Parish through creating Wharfs and docks in Savannah. This was important as supplies targeted for the Salzburgers were blocked by Thomas Causton and diverted to coastal plantations. We see him beginning with Pipemakers Creek and expanding down through the Ogeechee bain waterways.

Eventually, John was assigned Captain in the Continental Army and will now see which John Morel was elected to the Provincial Council of Georgia as this office was through St. Matthews Parish and Effingham County and he was active in his office long after John Morell of Ossabw died..but that will be determined later.

• Question:

In his Will, Peter referred to John's acquisition of Pipemakers creek, but nothing of his marriages. Is there any mention in Peter Morel of Savannah's will John Morel's interests in Ossabaw Island?

AND

In his Will John Morell of Ossabaw referred to his distribution of stock and property to his family. Is there anything about the Ogeechee River Basin?

3. Who is this John Morel?

Appointed Councilor for the County of Chatham

13 Feb 1783: Attended the Board and took his seat as Councilor for the County of Chatham. ^[3]

25 March 1783 John Morel sat as a Councilor on the Board ^[4]

• Councilor on what Board? [AMT]

Member of the Provincial Congress of St. Matthew Parish

4 Jul 1775 John Morel is Elected to the Provincial Congress of Georgia for the Parrish of St. Matthew ^[5]

5-6 Mar 1783 The Board was summoned to attend his honor the Governor in Council. Present His Honor the Governor; Honble, Jenkin Davis Esq. President; John Morel, John Fulton, Benjamin Andrews Esqs. ^[6]

Are there 2 John Morels described on the same page?

28 March 1783: John Morel is sitting as a Councilor on the Executive Board; AND

"On information that Magistrates are wanted in that part of this County, Southward of the river Ogeechee Neck or the lower part of St. Phillips, and William Maxwell, Francis Codington, and Benjamin Stites have been represented as fit persons to be Magistrates. ORDERED that they be accordingly appointed.

On like presentations from the districts distinguished and known by White Bluff and Little Ogeechee, ORDERED that Capt John Morel, Thomas Netherclift, and James Parker, be appointed for the district of White Bluff; and that Francis Bourquin and Doctr Frederick Rehm, and they have hereby appointed Justices for the Districts of Little Ogeechee aforesaid. ORDERED that the secretary of this Board this (?) officially thereof, that they may attend the Board and qualify accordingly -- ^[7]

15 pages forward:

Thomas Netherclift and John Morel Esqs qualified as Magistrates for the district of White Bluff* In the County of Chatham, pursuant to the appointment of this Board^[8]

• White Bluff: a collection of communities—Nicholsonboro, Rose Dhu, Twin Hill, and Cedar Grove—located in Chatham County, Georgia, United States and now part of Savannah. In 1940, as part of research published in Drums and Shadows: Survival Studies Among the Georgia Coastal Negroes, the total population was estimated at 400.[2] The communities were centered on White Bluff Road, eight miles southeast of Savannah. White Bluff, Georgia. (2022, December 21). ^[9]