John Joachim Zubly

John Joachim Zubly was born in St. Gall, Switzerland in 1724. He established himself as a defender of the rights of those who dissented from the official Anglican church, and took up the cause of the colonists in securing its independence from Great Britain. The Reverend John Joachim Zubly stood for independence and liberty. He was the first pastor (since 1760) of the Meeting House which later became known as the Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah. He wrote many sermans. On 4 Jul7 1775 the Georgia Provincial Congress met in Savannah. Afterwards, the delegates adjourned to Zublys Meeting House where he preached a serman on "The Law of Liberty" After Britain regained control of Savannah in 1778 he returned and continued to use his pen to proclaim his opposition to the American War and wrote nine essays stating that the Americans were fighting an illegal and unjust war. He often referred to International Law and the Bible to plead his cause. He died 23 July 1781 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Colonial Cemetery.


St. Gall, Switzerland.

The Law of Liberty was preached to the delegates of the Georgia Provincial Congress in Savannah on 4 July 1775 by John J. Zubly.

Sources: Hargrett Rare Books and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Library; The Georgia Historical Quarterly Vol. LXXXI, No. 2; Colonial Records of Georgia by Candler; The journal of the Reverend John Joachim Zubly, A.M., D.D., March 5, 1770 through June 22, 1781 (Collections / Georgia Historical Society).