Walton of Georgia

George Walton, known as the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the son of Robert Walton (died 1750) and Martha Hughes (daughter of Robert Hughes and Martha Morton). George Walton was born Dec 1749 in Farmville, Cumberland Co., Virginia. He married Dorothy Camber 1775 in Savannah, Chatham Co. Dorothy was born 1754 in Chatham Co., a daughter of Thomas Camber, and died 13 Sep 1832 in Pensacola, Escambia Co., Florida.

The Walton lineage in America begins with Robert Walton (George's grandfather) and his wife, Frances Sherwood.

George Walton was a Delegate and Senator from Georgia. He moved to Savannah about 1769 where he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1774. He practiced law in Saannah, becoming secretary of the Provincial Congress in 1775. He served as a member of the committee of intelligence, member of the council of safety (1775) and was later president of that body, member of the State House of Representatives, member of the Continental Congress (1776-1781). He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and of the Articles of Confederation, and was the second signer to be imprisioned. He was a Colonel of the Georgia Militia, commanding the First Georgia Regiment at the siege of Savannah in 1778, being shot from his horse on 29 December, and was captured by the enemy. In Sept of 1779 the British exchanged him for a Captain of the Royal Navy.

George Walton became Governor of Georgia in 1779. He took the side of General Lachlan McIntosh against Button Gwinnett when McIntosh shot and killed Gwinnett in a dual. Walton was accused of forging a letter to Congress in connection with McIntosh's military service, and four years' later was censured by a resolution of the Georgia State Legislature. However, this same body chose him as Chief Justice of Georgia one day prior to the censure. Walton had an active political career, negotiating treaties with the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee, representing Georgia in a settlement of the boundary line between South Carolina and Georgia (1786), and was elected the first judge of the superior courts of the Eastern Judician Circuit in 1790. He was appointed to the US Senate to fill the vacany caused by the resignation of James Jackson, and served from 16 Nov 1795 to 20 Feb 1796. George Walton was one of the early settlers to Wilkes County,Georgia, serving in 1779 on the Grand Jury. He was listed on the 1785 Wilkes County Tax List as George Walton, 7-1/2 polls, having 13 slaves, 400 acres in Wilkes Co. (one mile from the Savannah River), 400 acres in Wilkes Co., and 575 acres in Franklin Co. George Walton had Land Grants of 462-1/2 acres in Franklin Co. and 400 acres in Franklin Co.

24 July 1783, Wilkes Co. Deed Book A, p. 86, George Walton of Georgia gave a Bill of Sale to Thomas Wingfield, Sr., John Grimes, John Wingfield, Jr. of Hanover Co., Virginia, for 1150 acres known as "the Ridge", adj. Washington Town and Col. Williamson and Daniel Coleman.

3 March 1786 George Walton of Wilkes Co. gave power of attorney to Newell Walton and Isaac Herbert of Wilkes Co. to collect all money, etc., due him in the U. S.

29 Sept 1786, Wilkes Deed Book CC, p. 86, William Triplett, Sheriff, to Newell Walton, 100 acres of land of William Delaney, deceased.

19 April 1787. Wilkes Co. Deed Book EE, p. 44-48, Newell Walton, attorney for George Walton "late of Wilkes County", settlement on William Grearsen. (Minutes of Inferior Court, Wilkes Co., August Term).

From the Original Papers in Wilkes Co., George Walton & Co., also called George Walton and Son, otherwise called George and Newell Walton, Joseph Carson agreed to pay on Dec 1784, 1000 wt. of tobacco 10 days after date. He failed to pay and a case was prosecuted against him on 28 Aug 1787. The affidavit of John Winfield dated 19 Aug 1786 stated that George Walton gave his Note on 16 Feb 1785, and that he now absconded the State.

Apparently, from the above transactions George Walton left Georgia 1786 to settle boundary disputes, and to serve in the US Senate. When he was appointed Judge of the Middle Circuit of Georgia in 1799, he made his home in Augusta, "Meadow Garden", where he died on 2 Feb 1804. He was interred in Rosney Cemetery, but reinterred in 1848 beneath the monument erected in front of the court house in Augusta, on Greene Street. The Augusta Chronicle reported Walton's death on Feb. 2, 1804. It said the citizens of Augusta were " requested to attend the funeral procession of the Honorable Judge Walton, from Meadow Garden," his home, which still stands off 13th Street.

Issue:

1. Thomas Camber Walton born 1776, died 3 Oct 1803. The Columbian Museum and Savannah Advertiser, 24 December 1803. "Died at Meadow Garden near Augusta, Thomas C. Walton, attorney at law, and eldest son of Hon. George Walton.
   
   
2. George Walton, Jr., Colonel, born 15 Aug 1786 in Augusta, Richmond Co., Georgia, died 20 Mar 1859 in Petersburg, Virginia. He married 10 January 1809 in Bellevue, Augusta, Georgia, Sarah Minge Walker, the daughter of George Walker and Eliza Talbot. Sarah was born 19 Jul 1792 in Washington, Ga., died 14 Jan 1861 in Mobile, Alabama. Colonel Walton served as Secretary of the East-West Florida Territory (1822-1826).

Issue:

1. Robert Watkins Walton (1819-1849), unmarried.

George Walton was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence.


George Walton Home called "Meadow Garden" located at 1320 Indeendence Drive, Augusta, Georgia. This building now owned by the Georgia State Society D. A. R.

Sources: Wilkes Co. Estates & Deeds; Chatham Co. Marriages; Signer's Mountain Cemetery, Richmond County, Georgia; Monument erected in Augusta; Augusta Chronicle.