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The
Wrightsborough settlement
By JUDY FOWLER KILGORE P>I hate to keep raving about President Carter’s book, “The Hornet’s Nest,” but I’m about a third of the way through my second reading and I’m amazed at the things I missed the first time around. I’ll probably read it several more times until I’ve about memorized the events, places and people in it. So many of the people were real, historical characters who played an important part in Georgia’s early history. Much of the story takes place in and around the Quaker settlement of Wrightsborough near Augusta. Wrightsborough (also seen as Wrightsboro), if it were here today, would be in McDuffie County near the present-day town of Thomson. Also, I made another one of those “fell off my chair” discoveries which involves a family that eventually made its way into Fayette County — the Whaleys. They, for a while at least, were in the Wrightsborough settlement. And, yes, they are my direct ancestral line. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. I need to give you some background. In Georgia’s very early days (1767), a man called Joseph Maddock, petitioned the governor for a land grant in the colony of Georgia. Maddock was the leader of a group of Quakers then living in North Carolina, where things had gotten a little “hot” for their liking. Through pressure tactics, land was being confiscated by the authorities in that colony, and bloody violence was just around the corner. Maddock was granted 12,000 acres of land in what was formerly Indian territory (recently ceded to pay off Indian trading debts to England) and he and his flock made the long trip to Georgia, settling north of Augusta, between the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers. They called their settlement “Wrightsborough,” after the present Georgia governor, who had been so generous in allowing them to settle. More settlers came than were anticipated and more land was granted. Some who came were not Quakers but were escaping from the violence in North Carolina. Maddock meted out the land to his followers and kept them pretty much together within the settlement. Non-Quakers were given land on the outskirts, some right up to the edge of land still held by the Indians. Because of the nonviolent nature of (and neutrality maintained by) the Quakers during the Revolutionary War, Wrightsborough remained relatively untouched. A little Web-surfing, yielded several Web sites about Wrightsborough, including names of some of the Quaker families who settled there, and even their spouses and parents in some cases. You can find this great site at www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2064/wrights.htm. Unfortunately, my Whaleys were not listed among the Quakers, but I came across another reference on my bookshelf I had never even noticed. That was what caused me to almost fall off my chair. A week or so ago, I had received a letter (snail mail) from Ima Gean Peppers in Selma, Ala., who had seen my name as a Peppers/Whaley researcher in “Georgia Settlers,” the newsletter published by the East Georgia Genealogy Society. In addition to giving me her Peppers ancestry, she mentioned that she had some information on the Whaley ancestry also. She asked me to send my descendancy from those families. Well, I had some Whaley information too, and I went to my trusty bookshelf and pulled out “The Early Georgia Whaleys — A Closer Look,” by Jackie Weeden and Ruby Nelson. This little self-made book has been a real jewel in tying together the Whaley families of Georgia. That’s where I had originally connected the Whaleys who came to Fayette with mine, who stayed in the Gwinnett, Walton, and Jackson County areas of Georgia. But, that book, just as President Carter’s did, contained overlooked details I had not noticed before. I was searching through the section on my ancestors, William Whaley and Hannah Brewton/Bruton, when I noticed, among the “footprints” of William Whaley (in bold print, yet ... how did I miss that?) ... “1-13-1775 - Wrightsborough - Wilkes Co., GA, William of NC, a wife, 1 son and 2 daughters from 6 years ... 200 acres on Ogeechee, the same entered by Robert McClenan, provided he does not return proper time; reserved till the time allowed by the Governor’s Proclamation is expired ...” The source for this information is a long title: “Transcript, Records of the Court of Land Commissioners, ‘Ceded lands.’ Later Wilkes, Now part of Records of Greene Co., Augusta, GA, November 19th, 1773,” by LeConte, written in 1910. (Whew!) Jackie and Ruby’s book goes on to say that research has proved that the entry referred to William Whaley who died in 1795 and had wife named Hannah, but no original grant has been found. Now. How ‘bout that? Not only can I imagine my ancestors living during the time of President Carter’s book, I can be sure they really were there! Wrightsborough has taken on a whole new meaning. And this connects to Fayette County how? This same William Whaley’s son (also named William) married Elizabeth Lackey, moved to Fayette County, and died here in 1844. You Whaley researchers in Fayette better listen up — and read the book! If you had ancestors in Wrightsborough who ended up on Atlanta’s south side, let me hear from you. Also, I welcome your letters about genealogy and info on other Atlanta metro families. Send them to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com. Until next week, happy hunting! (Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others.)
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