George Galphin and the transformation of the Georgia-South Carolina backcountry / Michael P. Morris.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Morris, Michael P., 1959-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Galphin, George, 1708-1780.

Galphin, George.

Frontier and pioneer life.

Indian traders.

South Carolina--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.

South Carolina.

History.

Georgia--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.

Georgia.

Indian traders--South Carolina--Biography.

Indian traders--Georgia--Biography.

Creek Indians--History.

Creek Indians.

Indians of North America--South Carolina.

Indians of North America.

Indians of North America--Georgia.

Frontier and pioneer life--South Carolina.

Frontier and pioneer life--Georgia.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

vii, 193 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, MD : Lexington Books, [2014]

Summary:

The focus of this work is a reconstruction of the life and career of an Ulster-Scot fur trader, George Galphin (pronounced Golfin), who immigrated to South Carolina in the colonial period. The thesis of this work is that his life and career helped to shape the history of the backcountry of Georgia and South Carolina in three distinct ways. First, his support of a "for profit" Indian trade (as opposed to a "for stability trade") shaped Anglo-Indian relations between frontier settlers and their Indian neighbors. Ultimately, men like Galphin helped the United States move away from the British policy towards Native Americans in favor of a uniquely American policy which ran the gamut from exploitation to land seizures and finally toward Indian Removal itself. The book involves a look at the histories of the Muskogee Creeks and Cherokees who were his clients and has a heavy Native American component. Galphin's second major influence on the Southeast came with the creation of the Ulster-Scot communities he sponsored in both South Carolina and Georgia. The relocation plans catered strictly to the Scots-Irish Protestants and located them in "danger zones" between coastal settlements of Anglo-Saxon British settlers and the Indian frontiers of the two colonies. Galphin's third major influence came during the American Revolution when he was appointed as a Patriot Indian Commissioner fighting to control the southeastern tribes and keep them out of the war. In that role, he made his contribution, as did so many others, that helped secure a Patriot victory. This part of his story would be of note to an audience interested in the American Revolution in the South from the perspective of the backcountry. Finally, his family life included the creation of a large, multi-racial family which helped establish the Creole society of the Eastern Georgia/Western South Carolina. His spouses and children included Caucasians, Native Americans, and African-Americans. Two of Galphin's daughters were his slaves until his death.

Contents:

1 Backcountry Bourgeoisie: The Lives and Influence of Colonial Fur Traders 1

2 The Rise of a Merchant Prince 21

3 "This is a Growing and Flourishing Province, where Industry is Amply Rewarded": George Galphin and the Ulster-Scot Communities 51

4 "I allwise [sic] made it a rule to tell them the truth,...": The Struggle for Flegemony over the Southeastern Indians 71

5 "I Should Tacke A Plasure in Serving my Contrey": George Galphin and the American Revolution 85

6 "When the light of Liberty will again shine upon us": The War Worsens for Galphin 117

7 A Life Well-Lived: The George Galphin Estate and Legacy 159.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781498501736

1498501737

9781498501750

1498501753

OCLC:

887856134