Emanuel County Wills and Estates

Emanuel County was created in 1812 from Bulloch and Montgomery counties. The county was named for Georgia Governor David Emanuel (1744-1810) Subsequently, portions of Emanuel County were used to create the following counties: Johnson (1858), Jenkins and Toombs (1905), Candler (1914), and Treutlen (1918). The first commissioners in 1812 were: Edward Lane, Francis Pugh, Needham Cox, Eli Whitdon, and Uriah Anderson and in 1813 Jesse Mezzle and Archibald Culberth.

The Emanuel County Courthouse has been destroyed by fire five times, that is, during 1841, 1855, 1857, 1919, and 1938. The county records included here are the earliest surviving. The county seat is Swainsboro, Georgia.

Genealogy Tips. . . All of the probate records are not clearly defined. Hence, the microfilming did not turn out well. Maps were scanned in such a manner as to provide details for locating creeks, branches, rivers, lakes, churches, schools and cemeteries. This will enable you to better locate the old homeplace using the description from old non-specific deeds. Also, a convenience in locating both private and public cemeteries in the area.