Jackson County GaArchives Photo place.....Williamson Cemetery-Jackson County GA c.1999
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Larry Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 August 23, 2004, 7:19 pm

Source: Williamson Cemetery
Photo can be seen at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/jackson/photos/tombstones/williamson/gph881williams.jpg
Image file size: 90.6 Kb

The Williamson Cemetery-Jackson Co. Georgia

John Williamson Sr. was born in Ireland c.1740. He came to America as an infant 
or small child. In Virginia he married an Irish widow-Margaret(Lesley)"Peggy" 
Mitchell. She had migrated to America with a son, James, supposedly leaving two 
other children in Ireland. John, a weaver and dyer by trade, served in the 
Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War. He later claimed bounty land in 
Wilkes Co. Georgia. In 1792 he purchased 1150 acres in Franklin Co. This land 
was taken into newly formed Jackson Co. in 1796. John evidently moved to 
Jackson shortly thereafter. Having a trade, good land, and a number of slaves, 
the family propered. It is uclear whether he, or a son, John Williamson Jr., 
began a small mill along Curry Creek. Begining with a weaving dispute, John and 
Peggy became estranged in the early 1800s. John acknowledged being a "fractious 
man". Peggy moved into the home of bachelor son, William. From about 1821 to 
1825, John began to disburse land and slaves among his children. About 1826 he 
moved to Butts Co. with a few slaves; to land that he had won in the 1821 Land 
Lottery(#250/8D.-originally in Henry Co.). He died there on October 9, 1831. 
Peggy had died May 19, 1828 in Jackson Co.; the earliest known burial in the 
family cemetery.

This photo shows the southwestern portion of the cemetery. Situated between 
Little Curry Creek and Oconee River, this spot is no doubt near the original 
homeplace. The wrought iron enclosure defines the grave of Micajah Williamson
(spelled "Micager" on the stone). "Mike", the bachelor son of John Jr. & Winney
(Camp)Williamson was likely one of the last burials here(d.February 28, 1881). 
Mike ran the plantation, while his father ran the mill on Curry(Little?)Creek, 
on the 350 acres that John Sr. had deeded in August 1804. The oval-topped stone 
to the right is most likely the headstone of Winney Williamson(1786-1873). This 
totally obscured stone, and a matching one, which has been misplaced at the 
foot of this grave, were likely placed shortly after Winney's death. The second 
stone(John Jr.'s, I believe)should have been near the white spot between 
Winney's grave and "Mike's fence". A small aluminium plaque erroneously 
identifies vegetation-encrusted, brick "burial mounds" as the graves of John & 
Winney(off picture-to the right). A deposition by nephew John W. Moon describes 
these "walled" graves more believably. This deposition was given in regard to 
John Jr.'s estate(b.1780, d.1849)and describes an 1838 visit to the family 
cemetery. I believe that the "mounds" are instead the graves of the family 
matiarch, Maragret(Lesley)"Peggy" Williamson; bachelor son, William;, and 
daughter, Sarah Moon(wife of Bolar Moon, and mother of John W. Moon). See 
additional separate photos.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/jackson/photos/tombstones/williamson/gph881williams.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb