- Indian Trading Post: Home of Mary
Musgrove State Historical Marker
- Located on U.S. 17 at the former Savannah Sugar Refining
Co., Savannah
- 32°08.552, 081°09.428
-
INDIAN TRADING POST:
HOME OF MARY MUSGROVE
During the first years after the founding
of the Colony of Georgia in 1733 these lands (now owned by the
Savannah Sugar Refining Company) were known as the "Grange"
or "Cowpen" plantation. Along the Savannah River, about
one mile East of this marker, was located the home of John Musgrove
and his wife, Mary, who engaged there in the Indian trade and
in farming and cattle raising.
Mary Musgrove, famed in Georgia history
for her services to James Edward Oglethorpe as interpreter, was
a half-breed whose Indian name was "Cousaponakeesa".
She was a niece of Old Brim, Emperor of the Creek Indians. The
Musgrove house was a seat of hospitality. Among the important
visitors entertained here was the celebrated John Wesley.
During the nineteenth century these lands
were known as Colerain Plantation. They were extensively cultivated.
Colerain was one of the largest rice plantations on the Savannah
River. In Ante-Bellum days near the former site of the Musgrove
house stood one of the finest mansions on the River, the home
of James Potter, owner of Colerain.
The erection in 1916 of the Savannah Sugar
Refining Company plant on this property marked the beginning
of the transition from Savannah's cotton and naval stores economy
to that of a leading industrial seaport.
025-78 GEORGIA
HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1961
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