What's In A Name Part 3: Old Town Continued

This story originally appeared in Discover Downtown Brunswick, a publication of The Brunswick News, in the October 2023 edition.

Last month, we discussed Brunswick’s old town streets moving south from Gloucester. For this final installment (for now) of What’s In A Name, let’s move from Bay Street to the eastern boundary of the Oglethorpe Plan.

The Duke of Newcastle by William Hoare, circa 1750 

Bay is a universal name in many cities for a street running along the waterfront.  Charleston, for example, has an East Bay street on east side of the peninsula. Brunswick’s Bay Street is on the west.  It is important to note that the north part of the current Bay Street footprint overtook part of Oglethorpe Street.  A 1960s-era revitalization of rundown Bay Street storefronts, road widening, and Port enlargements were all at play here. The next street to the east is Oglethorpe Street, named for General James Edward Oglethorpe (1696-1785). Oglethorpe was the founder of the Province of Georgia and laid out Brunswick’s original plan. He was a social reformer and initially wanted to focus on debtors and others considered to be the “worthy poor.” It was for this reason that Georgia was often considered to be a debtors’ colony, where those previous imprisoned for debts could be given a second chance in the new world.

We next travel to Grant Street, named for Colonel James Grant (1720-1806), a British soldier who at times was under command of Generals Amherst and Howe - more on Amherst shortly.  Grant was a veteran of the French and Indian War. He served as the British Governor of East Florida from 1763-1771 and was elected to Parliament in 1773. He served as a Major General in the Revolution and fought against George Washington at the Battle of Brooklyn. He later served in the Caribbean and returned to Scotland after the end of the conflict.

Captain John Reynolds  by Jeremiah Theus

Beyond Grant is Newcastle Street, named for Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1^st Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne.  The Duke served as Prime Minister for 6 years just after his brother, Henry Pelham. He was known as a great friend to the Colony of Georgia and was a champion during the 1742 Spanish Invasion in which the British defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Bloody Marsh at Fort Frederica.

We next come to Richmond Street, named for Charles Lennox, 3^rd Duke of Richmond (1735-1806).  He fought in the Seven Years War and served in Parliament.  In debates on policies that led to the American Revolution, Richmond supported the rights of colonists. Richmond County is also named in his honor.  Reynolds Street takes its name from Captain John Reynolds (1713-1788), first Royal Governor of Georgia.  He served only 2 years as governor beginning in 1754 - the colonists appealed to the King to recall Reynolds for “incompetent, partial, and tyrannical” practices. It was said he lacked diplomacy and even publicly proclaimed his intentions to leave Georgia whenever a more profitable appointment came his way!

Union Street is a more general term and was likely named to honor the union of Scotland and

3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox by George Romney

England in 1707.  It’s also the central street in the Oglethorpe Plan.  Metaphorically, it works as a union between the ill-received 1^st Royal Governor Reynolds and Georgia’s 2^nd Royal Governor Henry Ellis, for whom Ellis Street is named. Governor Ellis was an Irish scientist and navigator of note.  He also served as governor of Nova Scotia.  Lord Halifax named him Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor in 1754 and he became Royal Governor in 1756. His administration was considered a prosperous and good term.  He established a treaty with the Creek Indians to reduce threats in the colony. He published works on the effects of the climate of Georgia before the subtropical climate took its toll on his own health.  Ellis returned to England in 1760 and later resided in Italy where he continued scientific research.

Egmont Street is named for John Percival, Lord Egmont (1683-1748).  He was a close associate of General Oglethorpe and served as first President of Board of Trustees of Georgia.  He served for nearly 20 years.  Next is Norwich Street, which derives its name from the city of Norwich, the second oldest town in England. 

James Wolfe by Joseph Highmore-Bonhams

After Norwich comes Carpenter Street, named for General George Carpenter, 2^nd Baron Carpenter (1695-1749), also a Trustee of Georgia specially selected for the role by General Oglethorpe.  Wolfe Street takes its name from General James Wolfe (1727-1759).  Wolfe achieved lasting fame for his death at the siege of Quebec, earning him the moniker “The Conqueror of Canada” after French control was ended in the colony. 

Albany Street is named for King George III’s younger brother – Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany (1739-1767).  This was likely another nod to the King’s granting of the colony to Oglethorpe.  Albany Street recently received the honorary name Ahmaud Arbery Street, named for slain Brunswick native Ahmaud Arbery (1994-2020).

Amherst Street takes its name from General Jeffrey Amherst, 1^st Baron Amherst (1717-1797).  Baron Amherst was another hero of the French and Indian War.  His capture of Montreal in 1760 coupled with Wolfe’s capture of Quebec put an end to French occupation in the colonies. It was also General Amherst who sent Colonel Grant to aid Georgia during the Cherokee uprising.  He served the British Army during the American Revolution.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The eastern boundary of the Oglethorpe Plan was originally called Cochran Avenue, named for Lieutenant Colonel James Cochran.  Cochran was an officer with Oglethorpe’s troops at Fort Frederica. In 1985, the City of Brunswick together with the Glynn County Commission renamed Cochran to posthumously honor Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), a major civil rights leader and noble peace prize winner.