William Forsyth: From Mutiny to Georgia

William Forsyth: From Mutiny to Georgia

Tracing the early Forsyths in America is never simple, but sometimes history leaves us a remarkable clue. One such story belongs to William Forsyth, quite possibly the first Forsyth in Georgia.

In 1743, William was among 38 soldiers pardoned from the Tower of London after a mutiny in the Black Watch regiment. Rather than face execution, they were sent to serve under General James Oglethorpe in Georgia. What might look like disgrace was, in truth, survival — a chance at a new beginning in the colonies.

Records show William Forsyth again in 1756 on the muster rolls in Georgia and South Carolina, and later as a land grantee in St. Patrick’s Parish along the Satilla River. Later Forsyth names appear on Georgia tax lists by the 1790s, suggesting William may have been the root of many Georgia Forsyth families.

This remarkable story reminds us how unexpected paths — even mutiny and imprisonment — could lead to lasting family legacies in America.

📖 You can read the full article with all the details in our April 2020 issue of The Griffin, available in the Members’ Archive.

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