Salzburgers' Exile: Why They Left Austria

The Salzburgers were a group of German-speaking Protestant colonists who were expelled from their homeland in the Catholic principality of Salzburg, Austria. In 1731, Count Leopold Anton von Firmian, the Catholic archbishop and prince of Salzburg, issued the Edict of Expulsion, forcing 20,000 Protestants from their homes. The Salzburgers sought refuge in southern German towns and, in 1734, a group of 300 Salzburgers led by Pastor Johann Martin Boltzius and Israel Christian Gronau sailed from England to Georgia, where they founded the town of Ebenezer.

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Religious persecution

The Salzburgers were German-speaking Protestant colonists from Salzburg, a Catholic principality in present-day Austria. In 1731, the Salzburgers were expelled from their homeland by the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Count Leopold Anton von Firmian, who issued an Edict of Expulsion forcing them to either give up their religion or their land. This act of religious intolerance led to the displacement of 20,000 Salzburgers, who travelled to the New World in search of religious freedom.

The Salzburgers first sought refuge in southern German towns and Holland, and some even settled in East Prussia and Holland, where King Frederick William I of Prussia invited them to settle on the Baltic Sea coast. However, a group of Salzburgers, led by Pastor Samuel Urlsperger, appealed to King George II of Great Britain for help. The King, who was of German Lutheran descent, offered them refuge in his Georgia colony, which later became the town of Ebenezer.

In January 1734, thirty-seven Salzburger families left England for America, arriving at the mouth of the Savannah River on March 12, 1734. They settled on swampy land near the Uchee Indians, naming their new home Ebenezer, which means "stone of help", to commemorate God's protection during their arduous journey. The Salzburgers established a strong religious presence in Ebenezer, building the Jerusalem Church (later known as the Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church), which still stands today as the oldest continuously worshipping Lutheran Church in America.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including poor land quality, high death rates, and isolation from the rest of the Georgia colony due to their strong sense of independence and mistrust of secular authority, the Salzburgers persevered. They eventually established successful economic enterprises, including Georgia's first grist mill, the colony's first sawmill, and one of the colony's two silk filatures. They also excelled in farming, particularly cattle breeding, and played a significant role in the economic, social, and religious life of Georgia.

The Edict of Expulsion

The Salzburgers were German-speaking Protestants who had been living in the Catholic principality of Salzburg (in present-day Austria) for around two centuries. They had been practising their religion clandestinely, but when the Jesuits reported that the Gastein valley had become "a breeding ground for heresy", the Archbishop issued the Edict of Expulsion.

The edict gave propertied Salzburgers three months to dispose of their holdings and leave the country, while non-propertied persons had just eight days to depart. This sudden expulsion caused a great deal of hardship for the Salzburgers, who were forced to seek refuge in nearby countries such as Prussia, Holland, and England.

The majority of Salzburgers—around 16,000—settled in East Prussia on the Baltic Sea, following an invitation from King Frederick William I. However, some Salzburgers accepted an invitation from King George II of England to settle in his new colony of Georgia. This group became known as the \"Georgia Salzburgers\".

The Georgia Salzburgers founded the town of Ebenezer in what is now Effingham County, Georgia, in 1734. They received support from King George II and the Georgia Trustees, who admired their piety and strong work ethic. Despite facing many challenges, including poor land quality and diseases like dysentery, the Salzburgers eventually established a prosperous and culturally unique community in Georgia. They built successful enterprises, such as grist and saw mills, and left a lasting impact on the economic, social, and religious life of the colony.

The Salzburgers' journey to Georgia

The Salzburgers, a group of German-speaking Protestant colonists, were expelled from their homeland in Salzburg, Austria, in 1731-32. The expulsion was enacted by the Catholic Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Count Leopold Anton von Firmian, who issued an Edict of Expulsion forcing 20,000 Protestants out of Salzburg. The Salzburgers were given a harsh ultimatum: give up their faith or their land. Choosing the latter, they embarked on a journey to the New World in search of religious freedom.

In October 1733, Dr. Samuel Urlsperger, the Senior Pastor of St. Anna's Lutheran Church in Augsburg, Germany, organised a group of Salzburgers to settle in Georgia, a British colony. Led by Baron Philip Georg Friedrich von Reck, they travelled to Rotterdam in Holland, where they met their pastors, Johann Martin Boltzius and Israel Christian Gronau. On January 8, 1734, thirty-seven Salzburger families left England for America aboard the ship Purysburg. After a challenging 63-day voyage, they finally reached the mouth of the Savannah River on March 12, 1734.

The Salzburgers were met by James Oglethorpe, the founder of the Georgia colony, who assigned them a home about 25 miles upriver on Ebenezer Creek. The Salzburgers named their new settlement Ebenezer, which means "stone of help" in the Bible. The town is now known as Old Ebenezer, Georgia. The Salzburgers quickly established a strong religious presence in the area, with Boltzius founding the Jerusalem Church (later known as the Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church).

However, the initial settlement of Ebenezer faced significant challenges. The location was too far inland, lacking a clear waterway to the Savannah River. The swampy and marshy conditions caused frequent flooding and led to crop failures. Unfortunately, these circumstances resulted in the deaths of about thirty settlers from dysentery during the first two years.

Recognising the difficulties faced by the Salzburgers, Oglethorpe provided them with a new site in 1736. Located on high bluffs above the Savannah River, this new settlement was named New Ebenezer. With perseverance and support from the Trustees, the Salzburgers gradually established successful farmsteads and economic enterprises. They built grist and sawmills, promoted silk culture, and excelled in cattle breeding. By 1741, the population of New Ebenezer had grown to 1,200, reflecting the resilience and determination of the Salzburgers in their new Georgian home.

Establishing Ebenezer

The Salzburgers were a group of German-speaking Protestant colonists from Salzburg, Austria. In 1731, the Catholic Archbishop and Prince of Salzburg, Count Leopold Anton von Firmian, issued the Edict of Expulsion, forcing twenty thousand Salzburgers to leave their homes. The Salzburgers were given a choice: give up their Protestant faith or leave Salzburg. They chose the latter and travelled to the New World to escape religious persecution.

In 1734, a group of Salzburgers led by Pastor Johann Martin Boltzius and Israel Christian Gronau, sailed from England to Georgia, arriving in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 7, and proceeding to Savannah on March 12. They were met by James Oglethorpe, the founder of the Georgia colony, who assigned them a home about twenty-five miles upriver in a low-lying area on Ebenezer Creek. The Salzburgers named their new settlement Ebenezer, a Biblical name meaning "stone of help". The settlement was located near the bend of a creek also named Ebenezer. The place was approximately five miles from the Savannah River and held strategic importance as a buffer for Savannah in the event of an attack from hostile natives or the Spaniards from Florida.

The Salzburgers' original settlement of Ebenezer failed largely because of its poor location. It was too far inland, and no clear waterway existed to the Savannah River. The land was swampy and marshy, leading to many deaths from dysentery caused by drinking and cooking with bad water. An oft-flooded road to the Scottish settlement of Abercorn had to be traversed to procure provisions and supplies. Additionally, crops and livestock could not be sustained in the swamp.

In 1736, Oglethorpe gave the Salzburgers a new site on the high bluffs above the Savannah River. The settlers referred to the new settlement as New Ebenezer. By the fall of 1737, many farmsteads had been established on the bluff. The Salzburgers were able to successfully transition their income methods from subsistence farming to silk and timber production, with the latter becoming an export industry for Ebenezer and Georgia. They also established the first Sunday school in Georgia in 1734 and the first orphanage in 1737.

The Salzburgers' legacy

The Salzburgers, a group of German-speaking Protestant colonists, were expelled from their homeland in Salzburg, Austria, in the early 1730s. This expulsion was due to religious intolerance, as the Salzburgers were Protestants in a Catholic country. As a result, they sought refuge in various European countries and, later, in the New World, particularly in the British colony of Georgia.

The Salzburgers' healthy alliance with the Trustees, particularly on the issue of prohibiting slavery, assured them of aid and support in their endeavours. Despite facing challenges, such as poor settlement locations and diseases like dysentery, the Salzburgers persevered and gradually transitioned their income methods from subsistence farming to silk and timber production. Their success in agriculture, animal husbandry, and lumbering contributed to the economic development of the colony.

The Salzburgers also left a religious legacy, with the Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, built between 1767 and 1769, still standing today as the oldest continuously worshipping Lutheran Church in America. The congregation continues to meet in this church, making it the longest-continuing congregation in the nation. Additionally, the Salzburgers introduced the Austrian Pine, or Black Pine, to their new lands, bringing seeds with them on their journey.

The impact of the Salzburgers extended beyond their immediate settlements, as they played a role in settling Georgia during the Trustee Period, alongside diverse groups such as Jews, Highland Scots, and Malcontents. Their leader, Pastor John Martin Boltzius, is commemorated, and his correspondence has been translated and published with the help of the Francke Foundation. The Georgia Salzburger Society, established in 1925, promotes historical research and preserves the important cultural traditions of the Salzburgers. Events such as "Landing Day" and "Heritage Day" are celebrated annually, with members dressing in original costumes and displaying traditional skills and artefacts.

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