Tomochichi, << tah MOH chee chee >> (1644?-1739), was a Yamacraw Creek leader. He helped establish peaceful relations between the British colonists of Georgia and the neighboring Lower Creek people. Historians credit Tomochichi with helping bring about the long-term success of the Georgia colony.
Little is known about Tomochichi’s early life. He was probably in his 80’s when he decided to split from the Creek Confederacy—an association of Creek towns—in about 1728. He soon created his own town of Yamacraw on the bluffs of the Savannah River. Yamacraw later became part of the city of Savannah. Reasons for the split between Tomochichi and other Creek remain uncertain. Some historians believe that he was banished, while others think that personal differences caused him to leave.
In February 1733, James Oglethorpe arrived from England with more than 100 colonists to found the new colony of Georgia. Tomochichi met with Oglethorpe several times to determine the Englishman’s intentions. He then arranged for a conference between Oglethorpe and other Lower Creek leaders to secure their permission for the English to settle there.
The following year, Tomochichi went with Oglethorpe to England. He met important English aristocrats and diplomats, as well as King George II and the royal family. Tomochichi also attended meetings of the Trustees, a board of British officials who governed Georgia, and negotiated for fair trade policies.
Upon his return to Georgia, Tomochichi joined Oglethorpe on his explorations of the Southeast. The Creek leader assisted the Englishman in his encounters with the rival Spanish, who claimed Georgia as part of their Florida territory. Tomochichi was said to be in his 90’s when he died from illness in October 1739. Oglethorpe arranged for a special military-style funeral, and Tomochichi was buried in the center of Savannah. Today, a plaque marks Tomochichi’s grave, and a granite boulder sits to the side as an additional marker.
