Return to Georgia
The tall, 19-year-old man cautiously dismounted his horse and stood silently, observing the Creek boys as they darted through the densely wooded ridge above him. Clad in his traditional Quaker attire, Thomas Jones blended harmoniously into the natural surroundings, as Quakers typically favored subdued colors. Having grown up traveling various regions during his childhood, Thomas was familiar with many tribes. The Quaker community, including its ancestors, held a reputation for friendliness toward Native American tribes and shared many of their values. Along his journey from Ohio, he encountered numerous local tribes that maintained allied relationships with the “Penn Men,” granting him safe passage.
However, the Creeks of northern Georgia were growing increasingly restless due to the continuous encroachment of European settlers upon their lands. Regardless of any prior connections, they had begun retaliating against the settlers.
Having arrived at the Oglethorpe encampment without incident, the young man arranged to set up his temporary dwelling near a tranquil stream. His next step would be to seek out his cousins in the bustling settlement, primarily populated by men trading their goods at the nearby trading post. The surroundings were exhilarating, teeming with activity. Trappers meticulously stripped furs, while mineral miners pored over maps, seeking valuable resources beneath the land. The dirt roads, a combination of mud and rock, bore witness to an impressive array of business ventures unfolding before Thomas’s eyes. The bustling scene depicted a vibrant tapestry of commerce and enterprise, exactly what he had anticipated
Thomas located the nearest trade post to purchase supplies and it was usually the best place for information about locals. The store was larger than he had seen along the trails, another indicator of the economy and growth. He located a tincture of Horehound and gradually made his way to the woman behind the steel-caged window. Assumably the owners wife took his coins and turned away before he was able to ask but Thomas persisted, “Mam, may I ask you to try and remember two gentlemen and where I might find them?”
The older woman turned her head to reveal an annoyed glare. Thomas laid two more coins on the counter and with a softening glance and smile she opened the conversation, “Why sure thing, who may I ask are you looking for?”
Thomas seized the opportunity, “Richard and James Jones, they came into the area last winter, mam.”
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