Research Tips
Jeannette Holland Austin

Early Georgia Plats

The first land grants in Georgia did not reveal much information for the genealogist.

If you have found an old land grant and wish to go hunting for the homesite, the best thing to do is to observe adjoining neighbors (although "vacant" was used for the first grants in a new county).

So, begin with the first deed book in the parent county and read every deed! Yes, that is the way to find any clues as to whom the land passed to next. Pay particular attention to the number of acres.

For example, 287-1/2 acres was a typical land grant to a revolutionary war veteran. 202-1/4 and 202-1/2 is an indicator for the acreage granted in lotteries (1805, 1807, 1820, 1821, 1827, 1832). Washington

County was the parent county for Hancock, etc.

You can trace the land as it transferred ownership

simply by paying particular attention to the legal description, limiting as it may be. Look for Plats.

These are found with the deed books. If they exist for the county in which you are searching, you will see "drawn dimensions".

Compare this with your land grant. Once you have located the land lot number and district, you can obtain a county map and zero in on the home place.

Search all the cemeteries in that district for recognizable names.

People were usually buried in church yards near their home, or on the plantation itself.

Notice from the map's

"legend" the difference between a churchyard burial and a private cemetery. This survey came from topical maps, so is quite accurate.

Harris Neck, McIntosh County

Harris Neck is now a National Preserve for birds and wildlife. It is located on the South Newport River and offers splendid views of the river, and fresh water ponds. The name came from William Thomas Harris, a son of William Harris (died 1737) and Anna (Coles) Harris. Anna later remarried Daniel Demetre who owned a 750-acre plantation called “Bethany” which he left to his step-son. Nothing remains today of the old home place. However, old colonial land grants, plats, and a marriage contract between Anna Harris and Daniel Demetre, validate the fact that “Bethany” was located somewhere on this spot. It is assumed that “Bethany” was a rice plantation. Harris later removed to Liberty County where he died shortly after the American Revolution.

New Additions:

Plats

Addington, Henry - - 1791

Andrews, Benjamin - - 1784

Bacon, John - - 1784

Bacon, Thomas - - 1784

Baker, Artemas - - 1784

Baker, Edward - - 1784

Barnett, Joel - - 1784

Barrow, William - - 1784

Beals, Hezekiah - - 1784

Bennett, Matthew, for estate of Hugh Boggs, Hannah, wid. - 1790

Bowers, James - - 1784

Bowie, Reason - - 1784

Brownson, Nathan - - 1790

Bryan, Mathew - - 1790

Bugg, Nicholas - - 1784

Burford, Aurelia - - 1790

Byrd, Samuel - - 1791

Camp, Joseph - - 1784

Carr, Patrick - - 1784

Chambliss, Christopher - - 1784

Claspie, John - - 1784

Clay, Joseph - - 1784

Collins, John - - 1784

Cogman, Stephen - - 1784

Cook, George (the heirs of) - 1784

Cooper, Henry - - 1784

Cox, Thomas - - 1790

Croft, John, Capt. - 1784

Culbreath, James - - 1784

Culbreath, Peter - - 1784

Danielly, James - - 1784

Darrington, Robert - - 1784

Daughtery, Berrien - - 1845

Daughtery, Jacob - - 1818

Daughtery, John - - 1799, 1800

Davis, Blanford - - 1784

Davis, Lewis - - 1784

Day, Robert, Jr. - - 1784

Devereaux, Peter - - 1784

Dicks, Andrew - - 1791

Dickson, John - - 1791

Dillon, John (heirs of) - - 1784

Dix, William - - 1790

Dixon,David - - 1784

Dixon, John - - 1790

Dixon, Robert - - 1784

Duke, John Taylor - - 1784

Duke, James - - 1784,1790

Dunwood, James - - 1790

Durrence, William - - 1790

Emanuel, Asa - - 1784

Evans, Daniel - - 1784

Everett, John - - 1790

Finely, James - - 1784

Flinn, James - - 1790

Franklin, William - - 1784

Freeman, Holman - - 1784

Freeman, William - - 1784

Fuller, John - - 1784

Girareau, J. B., Capt. 1784

Griffeth, Samuel - - 1784

Gross, Murd - - 1790

Hagan, Edward - - 1784

Hagans, James - - 1784

Harper. Malachia - - 1791

Harris, Walton - - 1784

Hathorn, Stephen - - 1784

Higginbotham, Joseph - - 1784

Homes, John - - 1784

Hoof, Samuel - - 1784

Houston, John - - 1796

Johnson, Thomas - - 1784

Jones, David - - 1784

Jones, John - - 1784

Jones, Frederick - - 1784

Jones, Jesse - - 1784

Kindal, Jeremiah - - 1784

Knight, Zachariah - - 1790, 1791

Lamar, Samuel - - 1784

Law, Joseph -- 1784

Levin, Charles - - 1784

Lewis, Elijah - 1784

Lewis, John - - 1784

Lewis, Joseph - - 1784, 1795

Linden, Joseph - - 1784

Marshall, Solomon - - 1784

McCrea, Gustave - - 1791

McCrea, John - - 1791

McIntosh, Alexander - - 1784

McIntosh, Lachlan - - 1784, 1790

Mercer, Asa - - 1784

Metcalf, Anthony - - 1784

Molech, John - - 1784

Moore, John - - 1789

Moody, Benjamin - - 1791

Morrison, John - - 1790

Murphy, Edmond - - 1784

Nash, Clement (heirs of) - - 1784

Neil, George - - 1784

Ogden, Solomon - - 1790

Osgood, Joseph - - 1789

Osteen, Thomas - - 1791

Patterson, John - - 1784

Phillips, William - - 1784

Phillips, Zachry, Capt.- 1784

Plowden, William - - 1790

Piggott, John- - 1791

Quarterman, Thomas - - 1784

Ramsey, Isaac - - 1784

Ramsey, Thomas - - 1784

Roberson, Sylvanus - - 1790

Robertson, C. - - 1791

Sallett, Robert - - 1784, 1790

Shaddock, Thomas - - 1784

Smart, Nathan - - 1790

Snelson, Thomas - - 1784

Spellman - - 1784

Stafford, Joshua - - 1790

Stocks, Bentley - - 1784

Taylor, John - - 1791

Tennille, Francis - - 1784

Teutle, Zachariah - - 1790

Todd, Mary - - 1784

Trout, John - - 1790

Turner, Nehemiah - - 1784

Underwood, John - - 1790

Valley. George - - 1791

Warren, Elias - - 1791

Warren, Joseph - - 1791

Watson, Peter - - 1784

Way, Joseph - - 1790

Welcher, Jeremiah? - - 1784

Wheler, Henry - - 1784

Wheler, John - - 1784

Whitehead, John - - 1791

Wilkins, Paul H. - - 1816

Wilkinson, Rachel - - 1846

Wilson, James - - 1790, 1791

Witherspoon, James - - 1791

Witherspoon, James - - 1791

Woolers, Philip - - 1791

Wooters, Philip - - 1791

Young, Thomas - - 1817

Youngblood, Peter - - 1784

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