John Joachim Zubly facts for kids

John Joachim Zubly (born August 27, 1724 – died July 23, 1781) was an important person during the American Revolution. He was born in Switzerland but became an American pastor, farmer, and leader.

Zubly was a delegate for Georgia to the Continental Congress in 1775. However, he did not support America becoming independent from Great Britain. Because of this, he became known as a Loyalist.

Early Life and Career of John Zubly

John Zubly was born in St. Gall, Switzerland, on August 27, 1724. He became a minister in the German Reformed Church in London in 1744. After that, he moved to South Carolina. His father, David Zublin, had already settled there in 1735.

Zubly first preached to small groups south of Savannah. In 1746, he married Anna Tobler. Her father, Johannes Tobler, was a governor and later founded New Windsor Township. John Zubly then spent ten years as a minister near Charleston. This church had many members whose families came from New England.

In 1756, he visited a church in Savannah and preached there. The people were very impressed with him. In 1760, he moved to Savannah and became the first pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church.

Zubly's Changing Views on the Revolution

Reverend Zubly's ideas about the American Revolution changed over time. This shows how confusing the period was. At first, his strong religious beliefs made him a supporter of the colonists' rights. He believed that colonists should have certain freedoms.

But by 1775, Zubly worried about the colonies' resistance. He felt it was becoming less about God and more about worldly things. Many people think he changed from supporting colonial rights to supporting the king. However, his religious beliefs stayed the same. It was the political situation around him that kept changing.

Start of the American Revolution

After the Stamp Act was passed in 1765, Zubly began to publish his sermons. These were printed as small books called pamphlets. One famous pamphlet was An Humble Enquiry Into the Nature of the Dependency of the American Colonies upon the Parliament of Great-Britain.

In this writing, Zubly helped explain the differences between laws, governments, and people's rights. His ideas helped people understand how representative governments should work.

Zubly's Role in Georgia's Congress

Before the Revolution, Zubly was not a member of Georgia's main assembly. But he was often asked to open their meetings with a prayer and a sermon. Georgia did not send delegates to the First Continental Congress in 1774.

However, in July 1775, Georgia held its own special congress in Savannah. Zubly was chosen as one of their delegates. He was sent to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. In 1774, he also published another important work. It was called Great Britain's right to tax her colonies, placed in the clearest light, by a Swiss.

John Zubly at the Continental Congress

John Zubly arrived in Philadelphia and took his seat as a delegate on September 15, 1775. Early on, he clearly stated his goals. He said he came to Congress for two reasons. First, to protect the rights of America. Second, to find a way for America and Great Britain to become friends again.

His opinions began to differ from the other delegates. This happened during discussions about stopping trade with Britain. Georgia was a newer colony and did not have many factories. It relied heavily on trade. So, stopping trade would hurt Georgia more than other colonies.

Growing Disagreement in Congress

As other delegates pushed for unity, Zubly spoke out more and more. By October 12, he said that "Trade is important." He also believed that "Wisdom is better than weapons of war." He felt they should not fight Great Britain just for fun. He thought they should only go to war if it was absolutely necessary.

When pressed, he made a strong statement. He declared that "A republican government is little better than government of devils." This showed his strong belief in the king's rule.

By mid-November, Zubly was on his way back to Savannah. The Congress accused him of not being loyal. This was because he was still writing letters to his friend, James Wright. Wright was the Royal Governor of Georgia. When Zubly returned, he went back to his church. He still hoped for a peaceful solution where Britain would respect the colonists' rights.

Exile and Return to Savannah

As the desire for revolution grew stronger in Georgia, the Council of Safety decided Zubly was a danger. They felt his freedom would "endanger the public safety." So, on July 1, 1776, Archibald Bulloch ordered his arrest. But Zubly managed to escape. He found safety with his family in South Carolina.

Half of his property was taken away. His large collection of books was even thrown into the Savannah River by angry Georgians.

When the British army took control of Savannah in 1778, Zubly was able to go home. Starting in August 1780, a Savannah newspaper published a series of nine articles by Zubly. He used the pen name Helvetius. In these articles, Zubly explained why he was against the American Revolution. He argued that the revolutionaries were breaking both God's law and international law.

John Zubly died in Savannah on July 23, 1781. This was before the American Revolutionary War ended. People say he is buried at Savannah's Colonial Cemetery. However, his grave has never been found.