A Historical Timeline of Augusta

A Historical Timeline of Augusta. . , 1818 , The Georgia Legislature adopts measures that restrict African American property ownership and that require free persons of color to register annually and pay a tax when moving into the state. The registry includes many residents of Springfield Village., 1818 , The Cedar Grove Cemetery is developed near the southeastern boundary of the city where Augusta allocated 2 acres of land for a city cemetery to bury slaves and free people of color. Eventually the cemetery would be expanded to about 30 acres., 1819 , Reverend Jacob Walker, an enslaved man, becomes Springfield's pastor. He serves for twenty-seven years., 1819 , David Walker, a free man of color, publishes An Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, calling for black people to resist slavery and injustice. In response, the state of Georgia passes laws that restrict the teaching of reading and writing to slaves and free people of color., 1836 , Springfield Baptist Church services are placed under the supervision of white leaders at First Baptist Church. This allows members of Springfield to attend First Baptist without being full members., 1837 , After the Georgia Legislature rejects Augusta philanthropist Emily Tubman's petition to emancipate her slaves, she frees them and pays for their emigration to Liberia in West Africa., 1840 , Members of Springfield establish Independent Baptist Church in the southeastern part of the city, later renamed Thankful., 1844 , The old Asbury Chapel (1801) of what was later known as St. John United Methodist Church is acquired by the Springfield Congregation and moved to the corner of Reynolds and 12th Streets., 1859 , Springfield members, led by William Jefferson White, begin the first Sunday School conducted for African Americans in Georgia.