1732 The Earl of Egmont, a key member of the Georgia Trustees, recorded in his diary his concern that Roman Catholics not be allowed to settle in the new colony of Georgia.

Egmont's opposition principally was tied to the existence of official state religions – namely the fact that England was Protestant, while traditional rivals Spain and France were Catholic. Thus, argued Egmont, "Papists . . . would only be spies upon our colony to inform the French or Spaniards of the conditions of the colony." The other Trustees agreed with Egmont, and a ban was subsequently imposed on allowing Catholics to settle in Georgia. Trustee James Oglethorpe did not participate in the vote, as he had sailed with the first Georgia colonists over two weeks earlier.

1782 American and British negotiators finally agreed to preliminary articles for a treaty to end the American Revolution. Those articles included a cessation of hostilities, British recognition of the independence of the American states, and agreement on the boundaries of the United States.

The two sides also agreed to a secret article that affected Georgia's southern boundary west of the Chattahoochee River. If Spain allowed Britain to retain her two Florida colonies, the northern boundary of West Florida would continue as it was prior to the American Revolution – a line marked at latitude 32° 22' N stretching from the Chattahoochee River to the Mississippi River. If, however, Spain insisted on the return of the two Floridas, West Florida's northern boundary would return to 31° (as originally stipulated in the Treaty of Paris of 1763). Thus, a substantial area of Georgia's western territory was at stake. Unfortunately, no one consulted Spain, which expected to claim the entire area of West Florida for its role in defeating the British.

Georgia's Contested Boundaries, 1783-1795

The secret agreement would plague U.S.-Spanish relations until 1795, when Spain finally agreed to give up its claim to western Georgia north of the 31st parallel. For the complete story of this boundary dispute, see Marion R. Hemperley and Edwin L. Jackson, Georgia Boundaries: The Shaping of a State (Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, 1993), pp. 23-30).

1819 The steamship Savannah returned to Savannah after being the first steam-powered vessel to cross Atlantic.

1858 Gov. Joseph E. Brown signed legislation creating Clayton County as Georgia's 127th county.

Created from portions of Fayette and Henry counties, the new county was named for former congressman and judge Augustin Clayton.

1894 Four years after retirement from politics, former Georgia governor Joseph E. Brown died at his Atlanta home at age 73. See Apr. 15 entry for biographical information on Brown.

Brown was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.

2001 Former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, and two other men, where charged with the murder of Derwin Brown, who had defeated Dorsey in an August election.

2002 The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 51-7 to finish the regular season 11-1 and Southeastern Conference Eastern Division champions. They would play Arkansas for the SEC championship one week later. The defeat of Georgia Tech was the worse in the series history between the two in-state rivals.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1864 Little seems to have transpired on this day during Sherman's March to the Sea. From somewhere south of Louisville, Sherman's secretary, Henry Hitchcock, wrote in his diary:

"Fifteenth day out, in camp on east bank of Ogeechee River at Burton, The 'wire-grass region' proper extends east to the Ogeechee River; rode all morning through or among pine forests, whose aromatic odor is delightful tome . . . . All through this pine country there are better farms than we expected, and large stores of corn, fodder and potatoes (sweet) . . . . Railroad here at Station is say 200 to 250 yards from river bank. Very good brick station house was – that is we shall say was after tomorrow morning . . . no good houses here save one frame, of old Johnny Wells, R.R. agent here . . . Old man Wells came to see General – sat us with us all evening by camp-fire – jolly old brick, great talker, full of jokes, some coarse ones . . . . He claims to be utterly opposed to J.D. & Co. – damns the lying editors and warlike preachers in heartiest style, – says, as all we have met, almost, that a minority not only did force, but are still forcing on the war in the South. . . . Here as everywhere same terrible stories and lies have been spread about us – killing everybody – burning all houses, including dwellings, etc, etc."

For more, see This Week in Georgia Civil War History.

1864 The Confederate scouting unit of 30 Texas Rangers continued to follow the Union Army. Pvt. Enoch John recorded in his diary for this day :

"Nov. 30th. Moved out early, but did not go far before we run into an infantry command, and taking a hasty farewell of them, went into the woods followed by some of their balls, which did no damage, more than an occasional dodge of the head from Mr. Minnie[ball]'s near proximity to our ears."