Which group of colonists founded the town of Ebenezer in present-day Effingham County?

The town of Ebenezer in present-day Effingham County was founded by the Salzburgers, a group of German-speaking Protestants who were seeking religious freedom from Catholic persecution in their homeland. In the early 1730s, these settlers arrived in the Georgia colony, encouraged by James Oglethorpe’s vision of a colony grounded in humanitarian principles and religious tolerance.

The Salzburgers established Ebenezer as a community focused on agriculture and their religious beliefs, significantly contributing to the cultural and economic development of the area. Their commitment to pacifism and community welfare allowed them to thrive in what was then a frontier environment, making them prominent figures in Georgia’s early history.

In contrast, the other groups mentioned do not relate directly to the founding of Ebenezer. English settlers were involved in the broader colonization but were not the ones who specifically established this town. Malcontents, a group of early settlers who were dissatisfied with Oglethorpe’s rules, sought to implement changes but did not establish Ebenezer. The Yamacraw Indians were a Native American tribe in the region and were not involved in founding European towns like Ebenezer.