First Roman Catholic Church in GA, now in Taliaferro County Submitted by Brown Brooke irbrooke@comanchetx.com ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From: "Brown Brooke" I recieved this info from the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Anthony R. Dees, Archivist. I have a microfilm of the minutes of this church from 1824 to 1855, have not had time to transcribe it. Brown Reference to the building of a church can be found in Wilkes County, Georgia, Will Book A, page 33, as follows: Will of Joseph Thompson. To son William Thompson for life the use of lands bought from Edward Shorts and Stephen Brown, and certain slaves, to go to grandson Joseph Thompson. On the decease of their father William, I give to grandson William Thompson, granddaughters Julia and Eliza Thompson, certain slaves. To wife Elizabeth, slaves, the plantation where we live lately bought from John Travis, near Ware Falls. To son James B. Thompson, certain slaves. To son Henry Bradford Thompson, slaves, cotton machine, etc. To daughter Fenson Hargraves, the management of my son-in-law George Hargraves and son H. Bradford Thompson. Should Henry Semmes or any Semmes grandchildren die before 16, property returned to estate. To grandson George Hargraves a slave. Gives land for a priest's home, according to the rights of the Roman Catholic Church if established within two years. Two acres to be laid off by my son Henry Bradford Thompson so as to include the burying ground, chapel, and spring, the northern line to be fixed about five years from Ignatius Semmes grave, gift to the Roman Catholic Church for a grave yard. Mentions a deed of gift from Ignatius Semmes to his daughters Annie and Henrietta Semmes of slaves. Wife Elizabeth and Henry Bradford Thompson, Excrs. Signed Dec. 9th, 1809. Probated May 7, 1810. John McLaughlin, John Brooks, A. Grier, Test. Brown Brooke Comanche, TX EPITATHS From The Cemetery of the CHURCH OF THE Purification Of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY At Locust Grove -0- (Founded 1790) -0- copied by A. Mell Lancerford, Jr., HISTORIAN, Taliferro County, Georgia -0- These tombstone inscriptions from the cemetery of the first Roman Catholic Church in the State of Georgia were copied exactly as they appeared in the old cemetery near the town of Sharon, in Taliaferro County. A group of English Roman Catholics from Maryland settled in what was then Wilkes County (later Warren and now Taliaferro) after the Revolution and established this church, the first Roman Catholic Church in the State. A log church was built and a large plot of ground consecrated from burial purposes; another frame church was built later but, in the mid-1800’s, the people gravitated toward the small town of Sharon, some few miles distant. Another church, bearing the same name, was erected in Sharon, followed later by a convent and school. LOCUST GROVE ACATEMY, the first Roman Catholic School in Georgia, was organized at this old church about 1819 and was incorporated by the State in 1826, some 17 years before the next charted Roman Catholic school, St. Vincent de Paul, in Savannah. p. 1 In / memory of / Thomas Turley/ a native of Balinasloe Co / of Galway Ireland / Who departed this life / on the 20th. Day of Nov. 1835/ in the 28th year of his age./ Requiescat in pace / Amen. Erected / to the memory of /Elizabeth Luckett/ Who departed this life Nov. 10th /1838./ Aged 66 years /Requiescat in Pace /Amen Sacred /to the memory of /Mr. /Thomas H. Luckett, /who departed this life /Oct. 5th 1827 /aged 56 years 11 mo. /and 10 days./ Requiescat in Pace./ Amen. Departed this life /Oct. the 6th, 1826 / Thos. Mulleedy/ a native of the County / Galway, Ireland / aged 16 years./ May He Rest in Peace. /Amen. Sacred / to the memory of /Patrick Turley /a native of the County /of Galway, Ireland /who departed this life /on the 19th January 1832 /in the 32nd year of his age. /Requiescat in Pace. /Amen. Sacred to the memory of /Joseph W. Luckett /who departed this life /March the 15th 1828 /aged 32 years. Rebecca Luckett /died Jan. 15th /1854 /aged 4 weeks /May she rest in peace. /Amen. Sacred to the memory of /William R. Luckett, Sr. /who departed this life on /the 18th Sept. 1831 /in the 57th year of /his age. /May he rest in peace./ Amen. Sacred /to the memory/ of/ Master Thomas Mulleedy/ who died/ Aug. the 23re 1829/ Aged two years/ and six months. p. 2 Sacred/ to the memory of/ Robt. Emmett Griffin/ born/ Aug. 23rd 1839/ and departed this life/ Sept. 26th 1861./ Requiescat in Pace. Erected/ To the memory of/ Wm. O. S. Griffin/ who departed this life/ January the 9th 1859./ Aged 29 years/ May he rest in peace/ Amen Sacred/ to the memory of/ Mortimer Griffin/ born in County Garlow (Carlow) Ireland/ and peparted this life/ Sept. 9th 1861/ aged 69 years./ Requiescat in Pace. In Memory of/ Maria/ Infant daughter of/ M. & E. Griffin. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Mr. John Cratin/ who died/ Sept. 8th 1826/ in the 31st year of his age./ Requiescat in pace./ Amen. In/ memory of/ Silvester B. J. Craten/ who departed this life/ on the 22nd day of June/ 1835,/ in the 31st year of his age./ Requiescat in pace. Amen Sacred to the memory/ of/ Mary Anastatis Wilkinson/ who was born/ the 8th of Feburary 1828/ and departed this life/ 28th of September 1842/ Requiescat in Pace. Amen. Erected to the memory/ of/ Maricia A. Cratin/ Died Aug. 30th 1850./ Aged 96 years./ Requiescat in Pace. Amen. To/ the memory of/ Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wilkinson/ Born in 1790/ Died Oct. 22nd 1866. In memory/ of/ Joseph Brooke/ Born Oct. 14th 1783/ Died Aug. 26, 1856/ A Wit’s a feather and a Chief’s a rod/ But here is laid the noblest work of God./ Requiescat in Pace. p. 3 This monument is erected by/ Ann McGuire/ in Memory of her husband/ James McGuire/ who was born in Herford, Ireland/ and died in Crawfordville, Ga./ the 7th Feb. 1846,/ aged 42 years./ May he rest in peace. Erected by/ Thomas J. Burke/ To the memory of his Father/ Myles Burke/ A native of Bellinasloe/ County of Galway/ Ireland./ Who departed this life/ Sept. 22nd 1837/ Aged 54 years. / Requiescat in pace. In memory/ of John J. Ward./ Born May 12th 1853,/ Died Aug. 16th 1863./ Also, Ellen, / Aged 6 weeks./ Annie, / Aged 3 weeks/ Margaret,/ Aged 4 months./ Michael,/ Aged 3 weeks. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Michael Ryan/ A native of the Co. Tipperary/ Ireland/ who died Sept. 27th 1846;/ Aged 52 years./ May he rest in peace./ (Made by T. Grier, Raleigh, N. C.) In memory of/ Catherine Naughton/ wife of/ Michael Ryan/ of Co. Tipperary/ Ireland/ who died Aug. 17th 1866/ aged 72 years/ Erected by care of Rev. Patrick Ryan, D.D./ to a pious and devoted mother/ Her children shall rise up and call her blessed. Mary Anne/ Daughter to Michael & Catherine/ Ryan,/ Departed in peace/ Apr. 14th 1858;/ In her 26th year. In/ memory of/ Doct. Ignatius Semmes;/ who departed this life/ on the 5th day of june 1834/ in the 67th year of his age./ Requiescat in Pace./ Amen. p. 4 Erected/ to the memory of/ Mary A. Smith/ who departed this life/ on the 18th August 1844/ In the 26th year/ of her age./ May she rest in peace./ Amen Sacred/ to the memory of/ Patrick Burke/ A native of the/ County Tipperary,/ Ireland./ Who departed this life/ Oct, 12th 1872/ in the 58th year of his age./ He was a kind father/ and affectionate husband./ Requiescat in Pace. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Mar. Margaret Burke/ A native of/ Co. Tipperary,/ Ireland/ who departed this life/ March 29th 1856/ in the 49th year of her age./ May she rest in peace./ Amen. Our/ Mother./ Sacred to the Memory/ of/ Catherine Burke:/ Wife of John Burke;/ A Native of/ Co. Tipperary, Ireland;/ Departed this life Nov. 13, 1859, aged 60 years./ Requiescat in Pace. Amen. In Memory of/ Michael Hynes,/ Born in/ County Tipperary,/ Ireland,/ Died in Talieferro Co., Ga./ August 1849/ Aged 37 years./ Erected/ by his brother/ Thomas Hynes/ Requiescat in pace, Amen. Sacred/ To the Memory of/ Daniel/ Infant son of/ Phillip and Margret/ Mahony/ who died Oct. 14th 1853/ Aged 1 year, 9 months/ and 5 days. Sacred/ To the memory of/ Timothy John O’Neill/ A Native of the Co. Kerry, Ireland/ Who departed this life/ on the 27th day of December 1854/ Aged 72 years & 4 months./ Requiescat in pace./ Amen. p. 5 To/ the memery of/ John Burke/ a Native of the County/ Tipperary, Ireland who departed this life/ on the 25th of/ September, 1846./ Aged 62 years./ Requiescat in pace./ Amen. / Amen. Erected/ to the Memory of/ Mary A. Smith/ who departed this life/ on the 13th of May 1853/ in the 13th year of her age./ May she rest in peace. Amen. Rev. Jer. F. O’Neill, Jr./ Presbyter/ Savannansis Dioceseos./ Natus mense/ Januarii 1827./ Obit die 6/ Novembris/ 1868./ Requiescat in Pace./ Amen. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Capt. Geo. W. Flynt/ who departed this life on/ the 18th of October 1869./ in the 75th year/ of his age./ Requiescat in Pace. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Henry Hare/ a native of the City of/ Dublin, Ireland,/ who departed this life/ in Warrenton, April 29/ 1832./ Aged 33 years./ Requiescat in Pace./ Amen. In memorium/ Guilielmi T. Quinlan, M. D./ qui circuei trigessimum quintum/ suae aetatis annum nortem obrit/ decimo septimo die Octobris A. D./ MDCCCXXXII./ Requiescat in Pace. In Meory/ of/ Catherine Elizabeth/ only daughter of/ M. J. & F. M. Sheehan/ Born July 21, 1861/ Died June 26,/ 1862. In Memory of/ Fanny M. Sheehan/ Born Mar. 25, 1882./ Peace be with her. p. 6 Sacred/ to the Memory of/ Mary O’Neill/ Consort of Timothy John O’Neill/ A Native of the Co. Kerry, Ireland,/ Who departed this life/ On the 3rd Day of March 1859/ Aged 66 years/ Requescat in Pace/ Amen. (FRAGMENT) ------------ in the 43rd -------/ May her soul rest in pea--- /Amen. Erected by her affectionate husband/ Patrick Burke. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Patrick Harty/ a native of/ the County of Tipperary/ Ireland/ who departed this life/ on the 21st day of August 1836/ Aged 52 years./ This stone is erected to his/ memory by his daughter/ Ellen Condon./ Requiescat in pace. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Our Mother and Brother/ Mrs. Mary Harty/ Died July 3rd 1874/ Aged 96 Years/ and/ Edward Harty,/ Died August, 1841/ Aged 25 Years./ Requiescat in Pace. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Patrick Henry Lawlor/ Adopted son of/ Pierce Condon/ who departed this life/ the 27th day of July 1850/ Aged 6 years/ and 11 months. Erected/ to the memory of Ellen Treanor/ who died in Milledgeville/ on the 4th of March 1853/ Aged 4 months and 3 weeks. Scared/ to the memory of/ Mrs. Honora Hines/ Born Oct. 13th 1835/ Died Aug. 2nd 1890./ Requiescat in Pace. Amen. Sacred/ to the memory of/ Phillie J. Norton/ who died/ who died,/ Oct. 14th 1864/ in the 23rd year of/ his age./ May his soul rest in peace. p. 7 Erected by/ Wm. J. Mann,/ in honor of his affectionate Spouse/ Isabella & their childre/ Margaret, John Jas., and Wm. Mann./ Isabella Mann was born in/ Aberdeen, Scotland Dec. 16, 1818,/ departed this life Sept. 17, 1840./ Wm. Mann was born June 16th /1839, died the same day. THE END