Irwin

Irwin County Genealogy, Wills, Estates, Marriages

Irwin County was on Dec. 15, 1818, from Creek lands acquired in 1814 by the Treaty of Fort Jackson. Therefore, genealogists should acquire a little history and determine the trial. Generally, the places to search are Irwin, Early, and Appling. The 1821 Land Lottery attracted settlers to draw 490 acres.

Indexes

Will Book No. 1, 1821-1864
Annual Returns, Appraisements, Sales, Minutes, 1822-1855
Annual Returns, Appraisements, Sales, Minutes, 1863-1875

Marriages

Marriages 1827 to 1872
Irwin County Marriages from newspapers 1885-1886.

Images of Wills Book 1, 1821-1864

Testators: Branch, David;Brown, Phillip;Dormany, John; Gideon, Katherine;James, Charles;Marsh, Reibin;Millen, George; Ross, William D; Tomberlin, John;Willcox, George;Young,

Are your Connections "Problematic?"

Do you know the name of a wife on a family group sheet whom you believe to be a family connection? Does logic point that way, but nothing can be proven? However, if you add it to the family tree (and it is wrong), then countless hours (even years) have been wasted upon tracing the continuation of that lineage. That supposition is probably the focus of many genealogies. I recently reviewed Family Search and discovered that someone had connected to my lineage at the point where I thought the name of the wife was justified. However, the continuation of the husband’s lineage was nothing like I had proven through the records. The answer to accepting an unproven name is resoundingly ” No!”

Pioneers and Peanuts

The risks of venturing across untamed territories could be daunting. Especially, if it was in South Georgia among the Creeks. The division of Irwin County was the result of Treaties made with local Indians, but before those lands were opened for settlement, white people were not welcome. Yet, there were trading posts around Augusta and middle Georgia near Fort Hawkins and the Indian Agency. The territories of Appling, Irwin, and Early counties were ceded in 1814 and 1818. Irwin was created by an Act of the Legislature in 1818 and later on the five adjacent counties were taken from Irwin. It was offered in the land lottery in units of 490 acres. In 1820 each lot was priced at $18, but by 1831 the price had been reduced to $5 per lot. Its sandy, loamy soil produces peanut crops for which it is known today. In other words, peanuts are no small item in Ocilla.