7 States of Genealogy Records

Georgia Pioneers (8 Genealogy Websites) has wills, estates, traced families etc in AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN and VA.  In particular, our Virginia collection contnues to grow, representing the oldest surviving county wills and estates, from 1600s to about 1800.

click here to become a member

 

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Index to Georgia Wills and Estates

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Genealogy Holiday Discount

Over the holiday we are offering a discount for 1-year's membership in Georgia Pioneers (8 genealogy websites) for $135.00 (instead of $150.00).  To take advantage now please click here

Offer expires Monday, May 27th!

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Index to Georgia Wills and Estates

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Tales of Woe #georgiapioneers #genealogy

Tales of Woe

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

One can just about read the history of any given community by reading gravestones. The proximity of the dates of death, particularly of children and mothers, help to define epidemics such as measles, cholera, smallpox, diphtheria and tyhpus, to name just a few. American has gone through many medical transitions, from cures and vaccines to the discovery of new strands of virus. The health of a community helps to tell the story of families and answer "why?" to certain situations. My grandmother was cautioned by her mother not to consider a certain beau for matrimony because he had health issues. In those days, women were considering marriage as a life-time-experience and one in which the husband supported her needs. Reading the old newspapers helps to determine more. When a wife left her husband, he posted a notice in the newspaper stating that he was not responsible for her debts. Too, she returned to the home of her parents. If she was abused, it was the duty of a brother to confront the husband. This sort of behavior spread like wildfire, and sorely affection reputations in all facets of business. Because a bad marriage could disrupt the good reputation of families, the parents assisted in locating a proper husband. My grandfather was a good person, never ill a day in his life. But one day, he climbed up on the roof to make some repairs, and fell off. The result was that he died. That left my grandmother, a young woman in her early forties, a widow for the rest of her life! Daniel Bonnell was Executed for Robbery "Light Horse" Harry Lee died at Dungeness The Case of Hog Smith The Romance of John Wesley Thomas Jones of Wales Capt. John Collins of Acworth William Few Peter Gruber and Neighs Forced out of Austria There were Two Margaret Hollands Dr. N. G. Long He Came Over in a BarrelThe Heartbreak of George A. Benson of Lawrenceville The Old Woman and Toccoa Falls They Traveled Far in Search of a Home The Enduring Escapades of Thomas Ramsey Major James HicksJeremiah Lamar The Flemings of Sunbury Lorenzo Dow Smith Wilson Conner The Sad Tale of Every Cemetery Swedish Soprano If Only I Could Tell My Grandmother the Rest of the Story Grannie Stories told over Chicken Every Sunday Anthony Bonnell Old Dan Tucker

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Index to Georgia Wills and Estates

SPECIAL GENEALOGY OPPORTUNITY NOW for yourself and friends! $7 (auto expires after 1-month) Try it out now to see if you can find your ancestors

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Smith Family - A Wintry Day in Georgia #georgiapioneers #genealogy

A Wintry Day in Georgia

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

Sometimes the best information can be found in old cemeteries during winter. That is because the weeds are dried up thus making the stones more visible. This is a good time to search around for old sunken graves, and depressions in the soil. One February as the cold wind blew against my back, I examined the tombstones in the Davis Smith Cemetery at Brent, Georgia. I had visited there rather often, however, this time my eye caught sight of a sunken concrete slab. Turns out that the name and dates were quite visible, despite the fact that I had to scoop out some dirt. Turns out this was Jeremiah Smith, born 1795, brother of Davis Smith! This extra information helped me to locate the parents, and finally grandparents! . . . more . . .

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Index to Georgia Wills and Estates

SPECIAL GENEALOGY OPPORTUNITY NOW for yourself and friends! $7 (auto expires after 1-month) Try it out now to see if you can find your ancestors

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The Unfortunate End to Button Gwinnett #georgiapioneers #gagenealogy

The Unfortunate End to Button Gwinnett

Button Gwinnett was born in England in 1732 of respectable parents. Before embarking for America in 1770, his first career was in the mercantile business in Bristol. He landed at Charleston, S. C., where he commenced commercial business and remained for two years. He then disposed of his merchandise and purchased a plantation upon the island of St. Catharine in Georgia, to which he removed and became an enterprising agriculturalist. He was a man of an active and penetrating mind, and a close observer of passing events. Having been in England during the formation of the visionary and impolitic plan of taxing the colonies, he understood well the frame work of the British cabinet, and from his course in the struggle that ensued, it is reasonable to infer that he had imbibed strong whig principles before his removal to this country. He became a friend of Lyman Hall, a bold and fearless advocate of equal rights. On the 2nd of February, 1776, Mr. Gwinnett was appointed a member of the Continental Congress and took his seat in that venerable body on the 20th of the ensuing May. When the proposition of separating from England came before Congress, Mr. Gwinnett was a warm advocate of the measure, and when the trying hour arrived, he gave his approving vote and affixed his signature to the Declaration of Independence despite the consequences. In February, 1777, Mr. Gwinnett took his seat in the convention of his own state which convened for the purpose of forming a constitution and establishing a republican form of government. His activity in Congress, to which he stood re-elected, had already given him great weight, and he at once exercised a powerful influence in his new situation. He submitted the draft of a constitution which, with a few slight amendments, was immediately adopted by the convention. Shortly after this he was elevated to the presidency of the provincial council which was at that time the highest station in the State. Also expecting to be elected to this grand position was General Lachlan MacIntosh, against whom Mr. Gwinnett had pitted himself the preceding year as a candidate for brigadier-general, and was unsuccessful. The appointment went to MacIntosh and a power struggle ensued. The civil power claimed the right to try military officers for offences that General MacIntosh conceived were to be tried only by a court-martial. Another root of bitterness between these two gentlemen took its growth from the promotion of a senior lieutenant-colonel, then under General MacIntosh, to the command of his brigade, destined for the reduction of East Florida, agreeably to a plan formed by Mr. Gwinnett, which proved a disastrous failure. This was a source of mortification to the one, and the other publicly exulted in the misfortune. Under the new constitution a governor was to be elected on the first Monday of the ensuing May, and Mr. Gwinnett offered himself as a candidate. His competitor was a man whose talents and acquirements were far inferior to his, but succeeded in obtaining the gubernatorial chair. General MacIntosh again publicly exulted in the disappointments that were overwhelming his antagonist. The result was that Gwinnett challenged the General to a due on the streets of Savannah. They drew their guns at the distance of four paces. Both were but Mr. Gwinnett went home where he on the 27th of May, 1777, the very time he should have been in Congress. Thus, the Last Will and Testament of Button Gwinnett was the first document to be filed for probate in Savannah (Chatham County). A clear image is available to members of Georgia Pioneers

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Index to Georgia Wills and Estates

SPECIAL GENEALOGY OPPORTUNITY NOW for yourself and friends! $7 (auto expires after 1-month) Try it out now to see if you can find your ancestors

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Preserving the Old Traditions and Values

Preserve the Old Traditions and Values 

Working to Preserve History

While genealogists work to preserve their family histories and relate the interesting tales to their children and grandchildren, there is a disruption of traditions and beliefs encircling the globe. Every generation has treasured its ways, from the way we speak, walk, dress and act, to or spiritual beliefs.  And yet there has been no American tradition so valued as our personal freedom, and the right to worship our God.  This generation has gone awry with its preference for the re-written history of the conduct and actions of our ancestors.  Yet, somewhere back in time, in the past of the disruptor's, lies some very startling facts concerning themselves and their ancestors.

If they traced back several generations of their lineage and found some brave patriots who loved freedom and the right to worship so much they they gave their lives and fortunes for it, perhaps a greater appreciation of former generations would awaken them from the deep sleep of ignorance and stupidity. 

Perhaps it is up to the old folks to restore peace, love and appreciation for those who came before us by writing more articles and telling more stories on the Internet of how the ancestors sacrificed everything for their posterity!  Then, while the disruptor's are wasting their youth spouting anger, marching in parades, littering our streets, vandalizing homes and stores, etc., we will be writing the history of today, of how much we still care for our traditions and values.  

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Index to Georgia Wills-See Names of your Ancestors

When the Computer is Not the Answer to Genealogy

 When the Computer is Not the Answer to Genealogy

The modern age of technology is wonderful!  However, we must not rely upon genealogy programs to find the ancestors. Everyone knows that tracing the family roots is a tedious process involving many long years of hard work. To the new researchers out there: one cannot just sign up somewhere and expect to find the family tree.  Should you think that this is the case, the work itself is riddled with errors.  For this reason connecting to a World Tree is not advisable. One must keep their errors to themselves, not share them!  That is, until they are resolved with factual evidence.  Otherwise, in the end, that World Tree will be a trash dump no one wants to tackle.  Already the term "junk genealogy" has emerged and cleanup is near impossible. The computer programs of today merging data are not cutting it.  Hence, human beings must continue to control genealogical research and maintain it privately on a simple computer program.

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Index to Georgia Wills-See Names of your Ancestors

The Computer and Genealogy

 When the Computer is Not the Answer to Genealogy

The modern age of technology is wonderful!  However, we must not rely upon genealogy programs to find the ancestors. Everyone knows that tracing the family roots is a tedious process involving many long years of hard work. To the new researchers out there: one cannot just sign up somewhere and expect to find the family tree.  Should you think that this is the case, the work itself is riddled with errors.  For this reason connecting to a World Tree is not advisable. One must keep their errors to themselves, not share them!  That is, until they are resolved with factual evidence.  Otherwise, in the end, that World Tree will be a trash dump no one wants to tackle.  Already the term "junk genealogy" has emerged and cleanup is near impossible. The computer programs of today merging data are not cutting it.  Hence, human beings must continue to control genealogical research and maintain it privately on a simple computer program.

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Index to Georgia Wills-See Names of your Ancestors

Holland Genealogy Traced to 1480

If your name is Holland, the Holland Family Tree is traced back to ca 1480 on Georgia Pioneers

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Index to Georgia Wills-See Names of your Ancestors

Who were the "Red Stick Warriors?"

The Red Stick Warriors

The estimated deaths of the combined U. S. forces is 575, while about 1600 Red Stick warriors died. During the battles, many Indian civilians died of starvation or disease brought on by the loss of their homes in winter. While some Creeks moved westward or into Florida after 1814, most of them remained on their territory until 1832 when the Treaty of Cusseta transferred the ownership of Creek lands from the tribe to individual Indians. Actually, the sales by owners of individual allotments to white settlers and landspeculators, as well as illegal encroachment, caused continued friction and eventually sparked the Second Creek War of 1836. Finally, all of the remaining Creeks were forced to emigrate to west of the Mississippi River. While the War of 1812 pensions provide very little information, it behooves the genealogist and historian to delve deeper into the conflicts of the Creek wars. 

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Index to Georgia Wills-See Names of your Ancestors