McIntosh County Records

In January of 1736, the first group of immigrants arrived in the British Colony of Georgia to settle along the Altamaha River in a town christened New Inverness after their home in the Isle of Skye later called Darien. On 19 December 1793, the county of McIntosh was formally created from parts of Liberty, and was named in honor of one of the early immigrant families, the John Mohr MacIntosh, Chieftan. The early records were burned by General Sherman, and do not begin until ca 1848.

Genealogy Tips

The early records of McIntosh County did not survive. That makes the Colonial Cemetery in downtown Darien the best choice of tours, as well as Fort King George. Another source of information concerning names of immigrants and details is found in Candler's Colonial Records of Georgia. These people were fishermen from Inverness and Isle of Skye, Ireland selected by General Oglethorpe himself because of their skills in guerrilla fighting in the Highlands. They actually helped Oglethorpe win the land war against Spain at the Battle of Bloody Marsh on St. Simon's Island! Oglethorpe remained in Georgia for fifteen years. When he returned to England, he was given a menial chore in the army for which he was criticized. Oglethorpe never received the appropriate credit for his victory against Spain (The War of Jenkin's Ear).