New Ebenezer State Historical Marker

New Ebenezer State Historical Marker, Effingham County

(located at the end of Ga. Hwy 275)

(Text)

THE TOWN OF EBENEZER

Ebenezer was laid off in 1736, after the plan of Savannah,

covering an area of a quarter of a mile square. Besides the

homes, the plan included a church, parsonage, an academy,

orphan house, public storehouse and market places.

A thriving town at the beginning of the Revolution, Ebenezer

was fortified by the Continentals in 1776. On January 2, 1779,

it was captured by Colonel Archibald Campbell, and occupied by

the British until early in 1782. During this time the people

of Ebenezer were exposed to every hardship. The town was

again fortified by earthworks, its handsome brick Jerusalem

Church was used first as a hospital for sick and wounded

soldiers, later as a stable for cavalry horses. Ebenezer became

a thoroughfare for British troops passing from Augusta to

Savannah.

On the first Tuesday in July, 1782, as the town was once more

in the hands of the Continents and the headquarters of General

Anthony Wayne, the Georgia legislature assembled there, and

Ebenezer became for a short time the actual Capital of Georgia.

February 16, 1796, Ebenezer was made the County Seat of Effing-

ham, and so served until 1799, when the Courts were removed

to Springfield.

051-12 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1958

Photo: Ed Jackson

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia

Go to Georgia Historic Markers web site

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