Georgia   Biographies  Button Gwinnett
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Barbara Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com

http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Georgia Table of Contents:


                                                BUTTON GWINNETT
     Hon. Button Gwinnett was born in England about 1732.  He arrived in Charleston in 1770, and two years afterward settled on St. Catherine’s Island, in Georgia.  In February, 1776, he was appointed a Representative in Congress and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  He is said to be the author of our Constitution, adopted in 1771, and was among our most useful men.  He was killed in a duel, by General Lachland McIntosh.  They fought at the distance of twelve feet.  He died soon after the fight, on May 27th May, 1777.

Ref:  Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, 1837, P. Force, Washington City, p. 282.

BUTTON GWINNETT -  Button Gwinnett had been an merchant in England.  He came first to Charleston, and then moved to Georgia to continue his business as a merchant.  Soon after his arrival in Savannah he sold his stock of good, bought St. Catherine’s Island from Thomas and Mary Bosomworth, and began life as a planter.  His home was in view of the town of Sunbury.  He became a person friend of Lyman Hall, and like him, was an ardent lover of liberty.
     He had been a candidate for brigadier general of the Georgia forces, but had been defeated by General Lachland McIntosh, whose father had come over with the Highlanders in 1736 and settled in Darien.  Gwinnett was greatly disappointed at his defeat.   When he became president of Georgia, after the death of Bulloch, he mortified McIntosh by ignoring him in an expedition against the British in Florida.   He did not allow McIntosh to accompany his own brigade.  This made McIntosh very bitter.
     When the election for governor came on, Gwinnett was a candidate against Treutlen, but was again defeated.  When McIntosh heard of this second defeat of Gwinnett, he said he was glad of it.  This provoked Gwinnett, who sent him a challenge to fight a duel.  They met at sunrise within the present limits of the city of Savannah.  Shots were exchanged at a distance of twelve paces, and both men fell wounded.
     In twelve days Gwinnett died of his wound.  McIntosh recovered and, by the advice of his friends, was transferred to the Continental army, under Washington.  Here he stayed for two years, doing great service to the general cause.

Ref:  Evans, Lawton B., A. M., FIRST LESSONS IN GEORGIA HISTORY, 1913, American Book Company, New York, pp. 134-135.

                                                        GWINNETT COUNTY
     Laid out by the Lottery Act of 1818; part taken from Jackson, 1818; part set off to De Kalb, 1822; part of the ceded territory added, 1822.  Named after the Hon. Button Gwinnett.
     The Chattahoochee is the principal stream.  The head waters of several of our rivers are in this county.
     LAWRENCEVILLE is the county town, 90 miles north, northwest of Milledgeville.
     Longevity examples:  Daniel Clover, 87; John Lawrence, 85; Stephen Harris, 90; Jonathan Johnson, 80; Lewis Dishons, 80;  Owen Andrews, 90; Edward Jackson, 87;  Sarah Hunt, 81; Mrs. Shaddock, 100; Mr. Hunt, 100; George Wilson, 100; John Davis, 110; George Thrasher, 93.  

Ref:  White, Rev. George, M. A., HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA, 1854, Pudney & Russell, Publishers, New York, pp. 483-486.    
(Reprinted 1968, Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA)



(Submitted by Barbara Walker Winge,  barbarawinge@yahoo.com)


Adiel Sherwood, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, Washington City,
Printed by P. Force, 1837,  pp. 255-256.
APPENDIX:  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
   "The author conceived that a short biographical sketch of the
individuals after whom the several counties were named, would furnish an
instructive and pleasing appendage to his topographical work...
   Acquainted with the intimate friends of some of the 'venerable dead,'
he has been furnished with sufficient materials to enlarge on their
character...
   There are in the State ninety counties (book printed in 1837, presently
in 2001, there are 159 counties)..."


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