Jackson County Wills and Estates

The earliest settlement in this area commenced ca 1784 with a small group of Revolutionary War veterans who settled on Franklin County's ceded lands. Jackson County was created in 1801 from portions of Franklin County. It was named after James Jackson, Revolutionary War hero, US Senator and the Governor who had to deal with the fraud involved in the Yazoo Land Act. The county originally covered 1800 square miles however from 1801 until 1914 portions were taken from Jackson to form parts of the present counties of Clarke, Oconee, Madison, Gwinnett, Hall, Walton, Banks, and Barrow.

Many Revolutionary War Soldiers from South Carolina settled in Franklin County, and Franklin and Jackson should be searched together. Origins of Early Settlers

Genealogy Tips

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. Jackson County was a popular area for settlement where soldiers received bounty grants, etc. Many of its early settlers had deeds in Franklin County.