Rockdale County GaArchives History .....Rockdale County Genealogical Society-Newsletter May 2007 ************************************************ 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 16, 2009, 5:04 pm JEANS & GENES Publication of the Rockdale County Genealogical Society-May 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 20, Meeting The Rockdale County Genealogical Society will meet on Sunday, May 20, 2007, at 3:00 P.M., at the Nancy Guinn Library, 864 Green Street, Conyers, GA. The program will be “The Family History Library. What it has to offer the general public, and it’s future” presented by Chris Zawadzki, Director, Conyers Family History Library, LDS Church, Flat Shoals, Conyers, GA. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend. There are no monthly dues, but donations are accepted. For information call 770-922-5680 or e-mail claudin1@bellsouth.net. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Library Visitors List Names Researched W. J. Bussell, Stone Mountain, Ga. Doing cemetery research Gordon Hart, Oxford, Ga. Researching Harrison, Tacber; also, researching Taylor County. Sherrie Worley, Conyers, Ga. No names given Deanna Parker, Stockbridge, Ga. No names given. Donald Freeman, 113 South Broad St., Bowman, Ga. 30624-1939. No names given. Benny Stephenson, 815 Pleasant Hill Rd. NW., Conyers, Ga. 30012. No names given Alfred David Garrett, 905 Stormy Ln., Jonesboro, Ga. 30238 No names given. Carol Buhler, 1366 Springwood Dr., Conyers, Ga. 30012. Researching Bird, Moon, Campbell, Higginbotham. Amanda Young, 1410 Humphries Rd., Conyers, Ga. No names given. Ayanna Mathis, 1025 A. Locust Dr., Conyers, Ga. 30012. No names given. Janet & Bill Eubanks, 5024 Stonearbor Dr., Pinson, Al 35126. Researching Eubanks and Sims. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revolutionary War Sites in Georgia (Taken from) ROSTER OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS IN GEORGIA Battles of the Revolutionary War in Georgia, April 1775 to December 1783 Battles. In the War of the Revolution many battles and skirmishes were fought on Georgia soil. Following is a list of these engagements: Fights occurred at Augusta; Beards’ Bluff; Baillon’s Causeway; Beard’s Creek; Belfast; Brewton’s Hill; Brier Creek; Broad river; Brownsborough; Buck-head Creek; Bull Town Swamp; Burke Co. Jail; Carr’s Fort; Cherokee Ford; Cockspur Island; Ebenezer; Etowah river; Fishing Creek; Forts Charlotte, Cornwallis, Heard, Mclntosh, Morris and Tybee; Fulsum’s Fort; Galphin’s; Gibbons’ Plantation; Hawk’s Creek; Herbert’s Place; Hickory Hill; Kettle Creek; Lockhart’s; Matthews’ Bluff; Medway Church; Ogeechee Ferry; Paris’ Mill”; Riceboro; Savannah; Sharon; Sunbury; Tybee Island; White House; Wiggin’s Hill; Wright’s Fort; Yamacraw Bluff, Mar. 4, 1776; and Yamassee Bluff. The capture of Savannah, Ga., by the British, Dec. 29, 1778. Capture of Augusta, Ga., by the British, Jan. 1779. Battle of Kettle Creek, Feb. 14, 1779. Capture of Charleston, S. C., by the British, May 12, 1780. (Many Georgians fled to S. C. after the capture of Savannah, when Ga. was overrun by the British and the Tories.) Surrender of the British at Yorktown, Oct. 19, 1781. Savannah, Ga., evacuated by the British, Nov. 3, 1781. Treaty of Peace, July 2, 1782, and formally ratified at Versailles, Sept. 3, 1783. The withdrawal of British forces from Savannah, Ga., began on July 11, 1783. On that day Col. James Jackson, at the head of the Colonial forces, marched in and took possession of Savannah. This place had been in the hands of the enemy for three years, six months, and thirteen days. It was not until Sept. 3, 1783, that definitive treaties between England, France, and America were finally ratified. Thus success crowned the American Revolution and the terrible War for Independence was ended. In the eyes of all Europe the thirteen Colonies were free and Independent States. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Research Into the Locations of the Battles Beards’ Bluff is located in Long County along the northeast bank of the Altamaha River just below the entrance of Beards Creek. The river forms the boundary between Long and Tatnall Counties. Bailon’s Causeway; this is probably along the Savannah River. No information is included in the place names. Belfast is located in Bryan County seven miles south of Richmond Hill. The Belfast River is located in lower Bryan County. It was named for the city in Northern Ireland. Brewton’s Hill is not named; however, there is a town in Laurens County named Brewton. A railroad station was established here in 1884. This is well after the date of the battle and may not be the same place. Brier Creek is spelled Bryar Creek on a 1780 map. It flows southeasterly through Screven County and enters the Savannah River east of Sylvania. This battle was fought on March 3, 1779. There is a historical marker. Broad River is in Elbert County. It runs along the south border of the county. It has had several names. There are also other streams called Broad River. One so named is mentioned in the history of Wilkes County. This may be the same place. It is uncertain if this the site of the battle. Brownsborough or Brownsberg was fought after and close to Kettle Creek. Buckhead Creek is not mentioned; however, there are two Buckheads. One is in North Fulton; the other in Morgan County. There is a Buck Creek in Schley County. Bull Town Swamp is not named in any reference. Burke County Jail is a site in Burke County, one of the original Georgia Counties. It was originally the Parish of St. George on the Savannah River. Carr’s Fort is in Glynn County located four and one half miles northwest of Brunswick on the north bank of the Turtle River. Built by Mark Carr, it was originally called Hermitage Plantation. Cherokee Ford could not be a site in or near present Cherokee County. It was not ceded until 1835. Cockspur Island is in Chatham County. There was a fort there in 1764 called Cockspur Fort which was on the mouth of the Savannah River. Fort Pulaski is also there. This may be a later name. Ebenezer is a site that was established by the Salzburgers from Germany in 1734. It was located thirty-four miles from Savannah on a ridge called Red Bluff near the present town of Springfield. It was used as the county seat of Effingham County and later briefly as the capital of Georgia in 1796. By the year 1855 there were only two residences here. The Jerusalem Church is now a museum and is the only structure still standing. Etowah River rises in the mountains of Lumpkin County. It and the Oostanaula River form the Coosa River where they merge at Rome, Georgia. It seems unlikely that a battle was fought in North Georgia. Fishing Creek is in Jones County. It joins the Oconee at Milledgeville in Baldwin County. Fort Charlotte is not named nor is Charlotte in the place names of Georgia. Fort Cornwallis is in Augusta. It was known as Oglethorpe’s old Fort Augusta. Heard is a not the site of Heard County. It is rather Heard’s Fort in Wilkes County. It was the seat of government in Georgia during the revolution. The name was changed to Washington, Georgia in 1780. McIntosh was a fort called Fort McIntosh in Camden County on the Satilla River. It was known to be the only Georgia fort to surrender to the enemy and allow its men to be captured. It was named for General Lachlan McIntosh, the commander of the Georgia Battalion. It was built by Colonel William McIntosh, his brother. General McIntosh killed Button Gwinnett in a duel. Morris is known as Fort Morris in Liberty County on the Midway River near the town of Sunbury which it was designed to protect. This was fought on Jan. 9, 1779. It is seven miles east of I-95 off U. S. 84 (Ga. 38) also Sunbury Cemetery. Fulsum’s Fort is not named; however, there is a Fulsam’s Creek which was named for Captain Benjamin Fulsam (or Folsom). He was killed by Indians who burned his building or fort. It is in Hancock County. Galphin is actually Fort Galphin which was located on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River below Augusta at Silver Bluff two miles below Augusta. The battle was fought on March 20, 1781. Gibbons Plantation is not named in any of the references. Hawk’s Creek is near Augusta. Herbert’s Place was the location of a battle a few days after the battle at Kettle Creek. Hickory Hill was a plantation owned by James Butler in Liberty County (later Bryan County) on the Ogeechee River. This battle was fought in June 1779. Kettle Creek is in Oglethorpe County. This is the most famous Georgia Revolutionary War site. It was a crushing defeat for the British. It was fought on Feb. 14, 1779. It is eight miles from It is eight miles from Washington, Ga. There is a historical marker. Lockhart’s is not mentioned in any of the references. Matthew’s Bluff is not mentioned. Medway Church is in Liberty County; also a river and community. Ogeechee Ferry may have been on the Ogeechee River in Chatham County near where it enters the Atlantic Ocean. This was the last battle fought in Georgia. Paris Mill may be in Emanuel County where the county seat is named Paris. It was a severe defeat for the patriots with three hundred forty men lost. Riceboro is in Liberty County, a stop on the Seaboard Airline Railroad fifteen miles southeast of Hinesville. Sharon may the town by this name in Taliaferro County although it was only incorporated in 1884. Sunbury is or was in Liberty County. See Morris above. It ceased to function in 1825. At one time it was a very important center. It is known as the birthplace of Lyman Hall. It was totally destroyed by General Sherman in 1864. Tybee Island is on the Georgia Coast. The battle of the rice boats was here, one of the earliest battles. There is a historical marker. White House is on Spirit Creek above Augusta. It was first known as Seymour’s Trading Post. It is at 1822 Broad St., Augusta, GA. Wiggin’s Hill is not shown in any of the references. Wright’s Fort is in Camden County on St. Mary’s River in vicinity of Scrubby Bluff per History of Camden County. Yamascraw Bluff is in Chatham County. This is the location where Oglethorpe first landed when he established the City of Savannah. Yamassee Bluff is not named. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [photo omitted-Brier Creek historical marker] Historical Markers of Battle Sites and Burial Sites of Heroes of the Revolution-on line http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/gahistmarkers/battlebriercreekhistmark er.htm (Brier Creek) http://www.waymarking.com/wm/details.aspx?f=1&guid=cf794092-2b25-4ab8-826a- eaa459bbff8f (kettle Creek) http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=b32a1c15-4bc4-4346-9e10- 8d0671f0b209&wo= True&p=4&sg=296315c5-ef02-4861-b694-f5c41d5bb60d (Gen. Lachlan McIntosh & Wright Square & Col. James McIntosh & General Samuel Elbert & Others in Colonial Park Savannah) A history of Georgia on-line is at: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2709 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Research for the Revolutionary Battles in Georgia was taken from the following books: "Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia" (DAR publication) "A History of Georgia" (2 Volumes) GA R 975.802 STE "This Is Your Georgia" by Bernice McCuller GA R 975.8009 "Georgia Place Names" by Kenneth K. Krakow GA $ 917.58 KRA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JEANS & GENES is a publication of the Rockdale County Genealogical Society. % Nancy Guinn Library, 864 Green St. SW, Conyers, Ga. 30012 President: Norman Swann V. President: Bill Freese Treasurer: Ellen Trainer Secretary: Jane Conn Program Chairman: Claudine Jackson: Membership Chairman: Jenel Ship Trip Coordinator: Ann Walker Board Member: Bertha Little Newsletter: Marion T. Farmer 1500 A. Pine Log Rd NE Conyers, GA. 30012 mtf@mindspring.com http://mtf.home.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. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/rockdale/history/other/rockdale87nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 13.3 Kb