Georgia

Nacoochee Mound, Nation’s First Gold Rush

Nacoochee Mound

One of Georgia’s most beloved landmarks, the Nacoochee Mound, has a fascinating history For generations of Georgians, and now the endless line of Floridians seeking cool nights, the Nacoochee Mound has announced to passersby that they are REALLY in the mountains. It is the gateway to Helen, GA a tiny lumber mill hamlet that was remade into an “alpine village” and now is an international tourist attraction. One senses that mankind has been in the Nacoochee Valley a long, long time. It has that feeling of a place with history. Its true history will surprise you. There is a Georgia State … Read more

People of One Fire

Architect Richard Thornton is a member of an alliance of Creek, Choctaw and Seminole scholars, who over the past seven years have been intensely studying the heritage of the Muskogean peoples. The following articles written by him, most of them exclusively for AccessGenealogy, advance the findings of this group and Richard’s personal studies. These articles take a look at the Muskogean peoples like none other that can be found online. To study their heritage, and not to have at least read his writings, is to assume that we already know everything about this people.

Mysterious Kenimer Mound, Nacoochee Valley, Georgia

Kenimer Mound

Who constructed this five sided landmark and why? Mankind has lived a long time in the beautiful Nacoochee Valley of the Northeast Georgia Mountains; at least 10,000 years. Even after 200 years of being farmed by European settlers, at least a dozen Native American mounds have been identified. In fact, the gateway to the valley is marked by a Creek Indian mound with a nineteenth century gazebo on top. Near the village of Sautee in the Nacoochee Valley is a large five sided hill. Early European settlers noted that the Cherokees had held rituals on this hill during their brief … Read more

Georgia Gold Rush

Chattahoochee River in the Nacoochee Valley

In 1824 gold was officially “€’re-discovered’€ in the Dukes Creek area of the Nacoochee Valley. After word was slowly spread around the nation about the large gold deposits by couriers and newspapers, thousands of men from throughout the United States rushed to the Georgia Mountains to seek their fortune. They ignored the fact that the Nacoochee Valley was within the sovereign territory of the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee population of the valley probably number no more than a hundred. There was nothing they could do. They were a beaten people. The State of Georgia cleverly solved the problem by sending … Read more

Basket House of the South Atlantic Coast

Basket Houses

When the Spanish arrived on the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, they observed small houses near the beaches which were woven like baskets. In, what is now South Carolina and Georgia, these “basket houses” were only used in the warm months as fishing camps. However, the Tequesta People living in the coastal areas of far southeastern Florida lived in them year round. The houses were literally woven from dry palmetto fronds like they were over-sized baskets. They functioned much like a screened porch today – air could circulate, but insects and rain drops couldn’’t penetrate the walls. Very … Read more

Chickasaw Indians

The Chickasaw Indians, linguistically related to the Choctaw, were one of the main tribes of the Muskhogean group. Their ancestral location was northern Mississippi. As per tribal history, the Chickasaw believed they had come from the west and had once lived in northern Alabama. First encountered by Europeans under De Soto, the tribe was notably warlike. They were steadfast allies of the English during the colonization of North America. After the establishment of the American Government, land pressures led them to cede their territories and move to what is now Oklahoma between 1837 and 1847

Georgia Indian Tribes

The following tribes at one time are recorded in history as having resided within the present state of Georgia. If the tribe name is in bold, then Georgia is the primary location known for this tribe, otherwise we provide the tribes specifics as it pertains to Georgia and then provide a link to the main tribal page. Apalachee Indians After the English and Creeks destroyed the Apalachee towns in Florida in 1704, they established a part of the tribe in a village not far below the present Augusta. In 1715, when the Yamasee war broke out, these Apalachee joined the … Read more

Yuchi Indians

Yuchi Tribe. Significance unknown, but perhaps, as suggested by Speck (1909), from a native word meaning “those far away,” or “at a distance,” though it is also possible that it is a variant of Ochesee or Oeese, which was applied by the Hitchiti and their allies to Indians speaking languages different from their own. Also called: Ani’-Yu’tsl, Cherokee name. Chiska, probably a Muskogee translation of the name of one of their bands. Hughchee, an early synonym. Round town people, a name given by the early English colonists. Rickohockans, signifying “cavelanders” (Hewitt, in Hodge, 1907), perhaps an early name for a … Read more

United Brotherhood of Georgia

The most important gathering of Negroes that probably has ever occurred, was in Macon, Ga., a few weeks since. Five hundred leading Negro representatives convened to discuss and adopt “a thorough plan of State organization.” A permanent organization was effected and named the “United Brotherhood of Georgia,” the purpose of which is “to resist oppression, wrong and injustice.” We note the following resolutions, which were passed by the convention: Resolved, That we, in convention assembled, respectfully but earnestly demand of the powers that be, that the Negro be given what, and only what, he is entitled to. Resolved further, That … Read more

Muskogee Indians

Yoholo-Micco. A Creek Chief, from History of the Indian Tribes of North America

The Muskogee, often referred to as the Creek tribe, are a Native American group whose name’s origin is uncertain, possibly deriving from Shawnee language referring to swampy ground. The Cherokee called them Ani’-Gu’sa, meaning “Coosa people,” and they were known by various names among different tribes. The Muskogee language belongs to the Northern division of the Muskhogean language family. Historically, the Muskogee inhabited areas from the Atlantic coast of Georgia to central Alabama, with numerous towns and villages. Their significant role in regional history includes interactions with European explorers and settlers, alliances, and conflicts, culminating in their forced relocation to Oklahoma in the 19th century. The Muskogee population has fluctuated over time, with early estimates in the thousands and later censuses reflecting both decline and dispersal. Their cultural and historical impact is notable, especially in the formation of political confederacies and mound-building traditions.

Pulaski County, Georgia Marriages to the year 1930

Pulaski County Georgia Marriage Records through 1930. A Surnames Abney, Bailey A., to Caroline S. Bolinger, Aug. 28,1845. By David Roberts, M. G. Abney, B. F., to Pit Faucett, Jan. 20, 1907. By W. B. Richardson, J. P. Abney, Henry I., to Mamie Floyd, March 17, 1901. By R. C. Sanders, M. G. Abney, James S., to Mattie Jones, Dec. 27, 1896. By T. J. Meadows, J. P. Abney, J. F., to S. C. Crumpler, Aug. 20, 1899. By T. J. Meadows, J. P. Abney, John F., to Dollie Coley, Dec. 24, 1880. By E. H. Godwin, M. G. Abney, … Read more

Pulaski County, Georgia Military Records

Miscellaneous rosters, histories and rolls of soldiers who served from Pulaski County Georgia in the various wars of the United States. Spanish American Conflict “Lest We Forget” Spanish-American Conflict Indian War Pulaski County, Georgia, Military Units Civil War Listing by District – Officers Georgia Rangers: Company G, 10th Georgia Infantry Company F, Fifth Georgia Reserves Company G, 10th Confederate Cavalry Company H, 10th Confederate Cavalry Company I, Fifth Georgia Reserves Company M, 121st Infantry, “Home Guard” Election for officers to command Cavalry Company Fourteenth Military District Military Elections, 317 District Company G. M. Muster Roll of Georgia Militia, March 4, … Read more

Biographies of Pulaski County Georgia

Biographies of Pulaski County, Georgia: The following collection consists of 104 biographies of Pulaski County Georgia. These persons were either born and raised in Pulaski County or settled the county at an early date in it’s history (pre 1900). They consist of men in the County of Pulaski, who were considered by the author to be the religious, business, governmental, professional, and agricultural leaders of the various communities in Racine. Sometimes they were included simply because they “subscribed” to the manuscript prior to publication.

Church Records of Old Ebenezer Church Georgia

Jerusalem Lutheran Church

Church Records of Old Ebenezer Church Georgia: Built in Effingham County, GA in 1767 – 69 by Lutheran Protestants who came to Georgia in 1734 after being exiled from Catholic Salzburg in Europe, the church is officially named Jerusalem Church. It stands on the site of a wooden building probably erected soon after the congregation moved from Old Ebenezer to New Ebenezer in 1738. During the Revolution the British used the Church as a hospital and stable and the metal swan on the belfry still bears a bullet hole. Though the town of Ebenezer no longer exists the Church has an active congregation of about 450 members. It’s original congregation came from St. Anna’s Lutheran Church in Augsburg, Germany. The Jerusalem Lutheran Church is the oldest surviving intact building in Georgia. This collection contains the baptismal, marriage and death records from Old Ebenezer Church dating from the years 1754-1781.

Early Troup County, Georgia Land Records

The following records of early Troup County Georgia Land records was extracted from the History of Troup County, Atlanta, Ga.: Printed by Foote & Davies Co., 1935, pp 11-26. The lot numbers followed by an asterisk (*) are fractional lots of less acreage than those unmarked; those followed by a plus (+) are not wholly in Troup County; the county from which registrations were made is the third column; names followed by an asterisk (*) are revolutionary soldiers or their widows; those followed by a plus (+) are soldiers of Indian wars or their widows.

Gilmer County, Georgia Marriages 1834-1850

Gilmer County, Georgia – Marriage Records 1834-1850: The following marriage records have been extracted from Gilmer County Georgia court records. They contain an index to the marriage records for the years of 1834-1850, inclusive.