x11|01|08 ~ Among the 35 original colonists who arrived in Georgia in 1732, was Paul Amatis, an Italian from Piedmont. An historical marker in Savannahs tells the story: "When James Oglethorpe left England to begin the new colony of Georgia, in 1732, one of the passengers was Paul Amatis, an Italian artisan, skilled in producing silk. He was later placed in charge of Trustees Garden. Later, more Italian familes came to pursue the task of producing silk. Joseph Ottolenghe is responsible for erecting a public filature in Savannah, on what is now Reynolds Square. It was at this filature that a record number of 15,212 pounds of cocoons were delivered for processing into raw silk. High hopes for success in this undertaking is examplified on one side of the original Georgia Seal which depicts a mulberry leaf, a silkworm, and a cocoon, with the encircled words: 'Non sibi sed aliis': 'Not for ourselves but for others.'" (Come back to read more)

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