Mary Musgrove
Mary Musgrove was born around the year 1700. Her mother was a member of the Creek
tribe. Her Creek name was Coosaponakeesa. Her father was an English trader. Mary was
a member of the “Wind Clan”. She lived in Coweta town, which was near Macon.
Mary lived with the Creeks until she was ten years old. Then she moved to
South Carolina with her father. There she was baptized and given the name Mary She learned to
speak English and English customs.
In 1716, Mary married an English trader from South Carolina named John. They started a trading
post near Yamacraw Bluff. The bluff is on the Savannah River. Both the Creek and English used the
trading post. They traded animal skins, tools, and other things the Yamacraw tribe needed.
In 1733, Oglethorpe landed near Yamacraw Bluff. He wanted to start a new colony called
Georgia. Savannah would be the first city in the colony. The Creeks were not happy about
this new colony.
He needed Mary to be a translator. Mary worked with Oglethorpe and the Yamacraw Chief
Tomochichi to allow the English to build the town of Savannah.
Mary’s husband died in 1736.. They had 500 acres of land, a house and animals. Back
then, when someone died, the only person who could inherit (get) their property was the
oldest son. Mary had no sons. Mary married one of her servants so she did not lose her
land and her house.
She worked for Oglethorpe for around ten more years and helped keep peace between the
Creeks and the English who lived in Savannah.
She took messages to the Creek tribes from Savannah, and then they would return and let
Oglethorpe and the people of Savannah know the concerns of the tribes. The Creek
tribes remained loyal to the English because of Mary.
As a thank you, Creek Chief Malatchi gave Mary 3 islands on the coast of Georgia.
These three islands, Ossabaw, Sapelo, and St. Catherines, were known as the “Sea
Islands" that belonged to the Creeks. The British said Mary could not be given the
land. The Creek nation could only give the land to another nation - like England.. In
1749, over 200 Creek people went with her to Savannah to petition Georgia officials.
When they refused her claim, she went to England to try to get the islands. England
told her to come back to Savannah. When she arrived back home, Georgia had
taken control of her land. She fought for her land for 23 years.
In 1760, Mary was given one island. St Catherine’s Island. She lived there until she died
in 1763.