Georgia   Biographies  James Monroe

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Barbara Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com

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

 JAMES MONROE
Col. James Monroe was born on Monroe Creek, Westmoreland
county, Virginia, in September, 1758; the precise day we
have been unable to ascertain.  He was descended from a
respectable Scotch family, distinguished for its loyalty
and patriotism.  His ancestor, who came to this country
in 1652, was a captain in the army of Charles I, and was
rewarded for his fidelity with a grant of land by Charles
II.  His father was Spence Monroe, a farmer in the county
of Westmoreland.  His mother was a sister of the late
Judge Jones, of Virginia.

James Monroe was educated at the College of William and
Mary, and subsequently studied law in the office of Mr.
Jefferson.  On the first breaking out of the Revolution
he entered the army as a volunteer, and before he was
eighteen years old had encountered all the rigors and
privations of a camp.  He accompanied Gen. Washington in
his celebrated retreat through New-Jersey, and
volunteered to join in the attack on the Hessians at
Trenton.  He was at that period a Lieutenant in the
company of Captain Washington, and on the fall of his
superior, was called upon to assume the command.  He was
subsequently wounded in the engagement, while charging
two pieces of the enemy's artillery...

He was twice Governor of his native State, was the
associate of Pinckey in a foreign mission...  He was
elevated by the people to the Presidential office, which
he willed for two terms to the satisfaction of the
country, which, under his administration, was highly
prosperous.  After his retirement from this distinguished
station, he filled the humble office of Justice of Peace
in the county of Loudon; was associated with Jefferson
and Madison in the founding of the University of
Virginia; and subsequently was, chosen a member of the
Convention for amending the Constitution of his native
State.  This was the last public office that he filled...
He died in New York, 4th July, 1831, at 3 o'clock, aged
72.  The funeral took place Thursday afternoon at 4
o'clock.

Ref:  Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF
GEORGIA, 1837, Printed by P. Force, Washington City, pp.
297-299.

MONROE COUNTY, GEORGIA

Laid out by the Lottery Act of 1821, and a part set off
to Butts, 1825, and named after James Monroe, President
of the United States.

FORSYTH is the county town, situated on a ridge dividing
the waters of Rum and Tobesofkee creeks, 50 miles WNW of
Milledgeville.

Among the early settlers were, O. Woodward, B. Rogers, P.
Lacy, Rev. O. Rogers, Jos. Taylor, T. Harper, A. Ponder,
Mr. Lester, Williamson Mims, John Brown, E. Brown, A.
Chapman, A. Lockitt, A. Redding, Thomas Holland, Simon
Brooks, Thos. Dewberry, Josiah Horton, A. Davis, Joseph
Dunn, Moses Dumas, Benj. Dumas, D. Ponder, Thos. Battle,
E. Jackson, A. Chapbell, W. P. Henry, Wilkins Hunt,
Andrew West, Rev. G. Christian, Dr. Brown, Dr. E. W.
Jones, David McDade, Dr. Law, Geo. W. Gordon.

On the 8th of May, 1828, a meteoric  stone  fell near
Forsyth...

Ref:  White, Rev. George, M. A., HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
OF GEORGIA, 1854, Pudney & Russell, Publishers, New York,
pp. 560-564.  [Reprinted 1968, Heritage Papers,
Danielsville, GA]

(Contributed by Barbara Walker Winge,
barbarawinge@yahoo.com]


Note: 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)..."


======================== USGENWEB NOTICE:  In keeping
with our policy of providing free information on the
Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial
entities, as long as this message remains on all copied
material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in
any format for profit or other presentation. The
submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives
to store the file permanently for FREE access.
==============