T he Bitter End Causton Bluff and the Father of Methodism

By Captain Dan Foulds

As you cruise the creeks and rivers around our region by boat, you glide by countless places, each with its own story. I often think to myself, “If only that place could talk, the tales it could tell!”

Part of the fun of living here is learning these stories. As a tour-boat captain, stories are part of my job; I’m always looking and listening for another good one. My friend Jim Hughes, a real, no-kidding, renaissance man, recently shared a link to the history of Causton’s Bluff in Savannah, and as often happens, there is a distinctly human element to the story.

I found an article originally published in the Georgia Historical Society’s Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, No. 1, dated March 1939. Here are some excerpts with my personal thoughts and observations.

Approximately a mile east of the present limits of Savannah and along the Savannah River eastward as far as St. Augustine Creek lie about 2.500 acres of land that at one time formed three outstanding plantations … Brewton Hill, Deptford, and Causton’s Bluff; the last, though farthest from the city … ranks foremost in historical interest.

Today we refer to the river at Causton Bluff, near Savannah, as the Wilmington. St. Augustine Creek begins further northeast, connecting the Wilmington and Bull rivers.

In May, 1737 … [Thomas Causton] drew a ‘Bill of Exchange’ on Oglethorpe for fifty pounds … to enable Mr. Causton to settle his new Farm.

By 1738, … Causton had settled at his plantation … Plat 6 and 7 were incorporated as part of Causton’s Bluff … containing 1,133 acres, of which 760 acres were suitable for cultivation while 373 acres, later resurveyed as 580 acres, were worthless marshland.

It’s worth noting that the idea of marshland being worthless was formed back when the cure for any physical ailment included cutting a patient on the arm and letting them bleed. George Washington’s doctor did that to him and undoubtedly contributed to his death. Those early colonists had no idea that the “worthless marsh” was the nursery for most of the bounty they enjoyed from the creeks, rivers and ocean. Were it not for marshland we would have no Wild Georgia Shrimp to fry.

Originally Causton’s Bluff plantation was made up of approximately 260 acres lying about five miles east of Savannah … at the peak of its prosperity Causton’s Bluff contained more than 3.000 acres extending north to the Savannah River.

For a time, rice was grown in much of the low areas adjacent to the river, but as time went on and the Savannah River was dredged, salt water intruded and ended rice cultivation this close to the ocean. When rice was grown, and the fields were flooded with standing water, mosquitos bred and spread Yellow Fever. These epidemics that terrified residents who attributed the disease to “miasma,” a noxious gas emanating from the muddy lowlands. Only when the Panama Canal under construction did we learn the truth about mosquitos and how to control them. Whenever you hear about a “mosquito ditch” in a marsh area, know that it was created to introduce salt water and reduce mosquito infestations.

Printed in the upper left margin: 39th Cong. 1st sess. Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy. United States Navy. (1865) "Causten's Bluff" fort. Defenses of Savannah, Georgia. [Philada., W.A.S. Lith. of Bowen & Co] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/99447166/.

In the early part of November, 1737 … a comfortable house had been built and was being occupied by the Causton family. The hospitality … was enjoyed by the Parson, John Wesley [the father of the Methodism]. Sophia Hopkey, Causton’s niece … spent many hours in the company of Wesley. The fact that Sophia lived at the plantation may be the reason that Wesley always accepted Causton’s invitation to visit … Causton apparently approved of the friendship and hoped they might marry …

Alas, the Reverend John Wesley had no interest in marriage.

Sophia, apparently piqued at Wesley’s procrastination [in asking for her hand in marriage] became engaged to William Williamson and four days later married him.

Pause for effect. Four. Days. Later.

Things deteriorated. Wesley wanted to continue giving Sophia the Sacrament in private. She refused. Then Wesley refused to give her the Sacrament at the next church service. Williamson then filed suit against Wesley, contending that by refusing his wife the sacrament Wesley had cast a reflection upon her character.

The case never actually went to trial, though it was still pending when, in December, 1737, a great stir was caused by Wesley's flight. In his own words Wesley says, "about eight o’ clock, the tide then serving, I shook the dust off my feet and left Georgia."

We are only human, after all.

I'll leave you with this, from the instructor pilot handbook, circa 1989: Be gentle to man and machine.

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