File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
LDSED@aol.com Linda Snow Davis

Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley.htm
Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm

THOMAS MOUSE

Thomas Mouse, clogmaker, and his wife Lucy and their five daughters departed London on the "James" on the 28th Sept. 1733 and arrived 14th Jan 1734. The Mouse family was among the first colonists to be placed at Skidaway Island, just up river from the Isle of Hope where Peter Tondee lived with Henry Parker.

Thomas Mouse wrote Oglethorpe back in London after the first year, telling of his improvements of the land and hardships that he and the other families had to endure. Most of the settlers of Tybee and Skidaway had died within a year or two from disease.

The Mouse family stayed for six years. August 17, 1742 Thomas Mouse died of the great fever. October 29,1742 one of his daughters Elizabeth,died.

A letter from Mrs. Mouse dated Savannah May 15th,1747 was laid before the trustees stating that she had suffered many misfortunes since she had been there, and bred up a large family with great difficulty, her husband having died five years ago, her eldest daughter having lost her husband killed by the Spaniards, and having two daughters still dependent on her, that she was therefore obliged to quit her Plantation at Skeedaway and seek a livelihood in Savannah. She tells of the boards of her house having been stolen and put up in an adjacent Isle and the frame burnt by the Indians.

The property on Skidaway in which the Mouse family lived was a gift to her grandson,William Norton,Jr., son of her daughter Katey Norton. William sold the 50 acres to John Milledge.

Today there is an historical plaque, on this property called Modena, telling of Thomas Mouse being an original settler there and being remembered for his description of early hardships there.

THOMAS MOUSE m LUCY
Children:
1 Anne m Francis Brooks
2 Catherine m William Norton
3 Elizabeth
4 Lucy m Peter Tondee
5 Mary Sarah m Isaac Young Sr