Rockdale County GaArchives History .....Rockdale County Genealogy Society-Newsletter February 2003 ************************************************ 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 C. Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 March 20, 2009, 4:48 pm JEANS & GENES Rockdale County Genealogical Society Publication-February 2003 ______________________________________________________ Library Visitors List Surnames Researched Paul Hargash, 5089 Flatbridge Rd., Stockbridge, Ga. 30281. Researching Stanley-Parker Cemetery. Becky Siple, 2556 Casablanka Dr., Conyers, Ga. 30012. Researching Va. Jones, Clore. Donald Freeman, 113 South Broad St., Bowman, Ga. 30624. No names given. Mark McCullough, 555 Abbott Rd., Conyers, Ga. 30094. Researching McCullough. Barbara Baldwin Richards, 700 N. Parkwood Rd., Decatur, Ga. Researching Wellborn and Humphries. Several people signed in who lived in Conyers but did not list information regarding research. They did not appear to be doing genealogy research. _____________________________________________________________________ New Books on Shelf for Genealogical Research Black History GA R 016.973 New Burke County, Ga. Grave Markers GA R 975.865 Pow Butts County, Ga. Bible Record Collection GA R 975.9585 But Dawson County, Ga., Cemeteries of GA R 975.8263 Directory of Irish Family History Research GA R 929.3416 #24 Forsyth Co., Crimson and Sabres Confed. Record GA R 975.8265 Sha Hall County, Ga. Index of Marriages 1819-1900 GA R 975.8272 Jon Hall County, Ga., The Heritage of GA R 975.8272 Her Hall County, Ga., Wills and Deeds of GA R 975.8272 McD Hall County, Index of the Tombstones of GA R 975.8272 Whi Hall County, Tombstone Inscriptions of GA R 975.8272 McR Haralson County, Ga. Marriage Records 1856-1940 GA R 975.838 Rob Henry County, Ga. Obituaries 1879 - 1899 GA R 975.8435 Bow Houston County, Ga., The Heritage of GA R 975.8515 Her Jewish Genealogy GA R 929.1 Zub Land & Property Research in the U. S. GA R 929.1072 Hon Lincoln County, North Carolina, Annals of GA R 975.6782 She Long Shoals‘(Milstead) Contribution to Rockdale GA R 975.8215 Ive Milton County, Ga., Marriage Records 1865-1831 GA R 975.823 Bro Morgan County, Ga., Early Newspapers 1842-1861 GA R 975.8595 Har Pitfalls in Genealogical Research GA R 929.1 Rub Pleasant Hill Baptist Ch.(Rockdale)1873 - 2001 GA R 975.8375 Moo ** Polk County, Ga. Marriage Book “A-B” 1852-1885 GA R 975.8375 Mil Shreveport Faces of the Past GA R 976.399 Bro \ Smyrna Presbyterian Church 1827 - 2001 GA R 285.1758 Smy Talbot County, Ga. (There Was A Land) GA R 975.848 Jor Tracing Ancestors Five Civilized Tribes(Indians)GA R 929.108 Len Washington, Ga. GA R 975.801 Wil Wilkes County, Ga., Early Georgia Wills & Est. GA R 975.801 Smi Wilkes County, Ga., The Marriages of 1792-1925 GA R 975.801 But The WEB site has been updated to include all of the books which have been added to date. _______________________________________________________________ Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Book Reviewed One of the books added to the shelves during the past month was the history of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church which was authored by David T. Moon, Jr. Mr. Moon donated a copy to the Nancy Guinn Library. This book is easily the best book concerning the history of a Rockdale Church that has been put together. It is first class in every respect. It was bound and printed with the best materials available. It is truly a masterpiece of the printers art. Not only does this book have the usual information concerning the pastors and members who were instrumental in creating the church; it also provides the cemetery inscriptions of the two cemeteries that were used by members of the church. Particularly useful are the inscriptions of Sodom Cemetery. Because Sodom is located in Gwinnett County, it is not a part of the listings at Nancy Guinn. Sodom is just over the county line from Rockdale; however, most of the people buried there were Rockdale citizens. Most of them were members of Pleasant Hill Baptist. The church started a cemetery adjacent to the church more recently and this cemetery’s inscriptions are listed in the book. This is a smaller cemetery than Sodom; and, it is not as old. This book will serve very well as a reference for Sodom Cemetery. _________________________________________________________________ The Wesner Cemetery Decision of Rockdale County In making this decision we start with the presumption that gravesites should not be disturbed without a showing by the applicant of a necessity for removal. In arriving at a decision whether the applicant has made that showing we look at several things. We look at the impact relocation of the graves will have on their descendants, we look at the impact that relocation will have on the public’s cultural environment and history, we look at the removal plan submitted by the applicant, and we look at the financial cost that the applicant faces in moving the graves. After consideration of all those factors, and after considering the public comments received at the public hearing held on November 12, 2002, the Board of Commissioners hereby finds that the applicant has overcome the presumption to leave the graves undisturbed, and approves the application to remove the graves. That approval is subject to the following conditions: 1. All disinterment/reinterment activities shall be conducted in accordance with the submitted plan as revised. 2. Pursuant to state law and the provisions of the revised plan, the disinterment shall be supervised, monitored, or carried out by the applicant’s archeologist. 3. The reinterment of the remains shall be in a perpetual care cemetery within the present boundaries of Rockdale County. 4. That a flat ground level bronze memorial plaque be erected at 2920 Weatherstone Circle, Conyers, Georgia, adjacent to the curb within the county right of way, with such language that indicates the number and identity, to the extent known, of the disinterred remains, and of the name and location of the cemetery where the remains have been moved to as well as the location of the remains in the cemetery. 5. That, within thirty (30) days after the completion of the disinterrment (sic) and upon removal of the remains, the applicant submit to Rockdale County an updated survey indicating specifically where the remains were found and a certification by the applicant’s archeologist that disinterment/reinterment activities of the plan had been fully complied with. ___________________________________________________________ Editorial Comments Regarding the Decision Provision two of the conditions is troubling in that it specifies that the disinterment shall be supervised, monitored, or carried out by the applicant’s archeologist. The “or” in this provision is the problem. The archeologist is required to do any one of the provisions and not all. He may simply walk by the site and say, “Looks like you got it done”, thereby, fulfilling the requirement to monitor the disinterment without any hands-on effort. The provision should have required that the archeologist be present when the disinterment is done. Provision four is confusing; but, it must mean that the location of the cemetery and the location within the cemetery to which the remains are moved will be placed on the plaque at 2920 Weatherstone Circle. It would seem that a plaque should also be placed at the new location indicating the former location and relevant information. This is a very disturbing development for Rockdale County. It sets a precedent here-to-fore unheard of in county history. There has never been a situation where more than one grave has been moved. In this instance, it means that a dozen or more graves must be moved. It compounds the grievous error that was made by the developer in removing the markers from the graves making it difficult to identify the individuals and family history. Hopefully, we have better information on grave sites available now which will prevent such a thing happening in the future. ________________________________________________________________ How the Decision Was Mentioned on the WEB If your ancestors include the surnames Zachry or Zachary, Overby or Overbay and they come from Rockdale County, Georgia, you may wish to check the story regarding the removal of twelve to fourteen graves from a Conyers backyard. For a summary of the Atlanta Journal story, visit http://www.alsirat.com/modules.php? name=News&file=article&sid=121&mode=&order=0&thold=0 This announcement is presented as a service to the genealogy community by City of the Silent, the web’s oldest site dedicated to the art and culture of cemeteries. Memberships are free and your email is completely confidential. Visit us at http://www.alsirat.com/index.php ______________________________________________________________________ [group photo omitted-believed to be “Gate City Guards”-see Editor’s comments below] White- (Robert S. L. White identified within group) This photograph was sent to the Rockdale County Historical Society by Robert L. Ables of 275 Corinth Church Rd., Cleveland, Ga. 30528 in hopes that someone would be able to identify the group and its purpose. His Grandfather, Robert S. L. White, was a member of the group and is shown in the picture. The father of Robert S. L. White was Hugh White who lived in a house across from the depot in Conyers. Another relative was Harry White, a well-known Conyers funeral home operator. They are all probably descendants or relatives of David White, the first or second postmaster in Conyers who also served in the legislature and helped organize the Methodist Church. If you can identify the group or any of the individuals shown, please contact the editor or Ellen Trainer. In any event, here is the editor’s best effort to identify the group: This is a picture I believe that was taken on May 1, 1886, on the occasion of the unveiling of the monument to Senator Benjamin H. Hill. The group of men is probably the Gate City Guard which marched in the parade. The man with the sword sitting at left front is probably John B. Gordon, a general under Robert E. Lee and later Governor of Georgia and Senator. The man seated center front is probably Chief Marshall G. R. DeSaussure who led the assemblage of veterans of the Civil War. They numbered ten thousand men of which two thousand were young veterans and eight thousand were the old veterans. The man to the right front is most likely William A. Wright who organized the old veterans. There was another group, the Governor’s Horse Guards, which was in the parade in splendid uniforms. Since they were mounted, they would not have had the drummer boys shown here. Among those present were Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy; General James Longstreet; the Governor of Georgia, Henry D. McDaniel; Mayor George Hillyer of Atlanta as well as General John B. Gordon. The master of ceremonies was Henry W. Grady. It is estimated that a crowd of one hundred thousand was on hand for the occasion which was held at the corner of Peachtree Steet and West Peachtree Street. There is a good account of this event in “Atlanta and Environs, Volume II” by Franklin M. Garrett. [small photo of statue omitted] The statue of Sen. Benjamin H. Hill was unveiled in 1886 at the apex of Peachtree Street and West Peachtree. It later was moved to the Georgia State Capitol grounds and finally in 1912 to Atlanta’s Grant Park. JEANS & GENES is a publication of the Rockdale County Genealogical Society. % Nancy Guinn Library, 864 Green St. SW, Conyers, Ga. 30012 President: Judy Bond Vice President: Rev. Carl Smith Treasurer: Charles Read Program Chairman: Roberto Wingo Editor: Marion T. Farmer 770-483-7180 1500 A. Pine Log Rd. NE Conyers, Ga. 30012-4753 mtf@mindspring.com _______________________________________________ Additional comments: This back issue of the Rockdale County Genealogical Society newsletter has been copied with permission from the personal website of editor, Marion Farmer, as his website is nearing capacity. For simplicity the few photos or graphics have not been included here. Websites previously linked from Marion’s site will not be operative here. Sites that are still active may be found by entering their listed URLs. 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