After the Revolutionary War, Georgia wanted good people to come into the state and settle. Georgia passed a land law in 1777 called the "Head-Right Plan," giving the head of a family up to 200 acres of land for himself and 50 acres for each one of his family, counting his slaves, but no family could have more than 1,000 acres.

The royal governor of Georgia and the Council advertised in the newspaper of New Bern, North Carolina, that free land in Georgia would be given to settlers. The notice began a wave of settlers from the North Carolina counties of Onlsow, New Hanover, Duplin, Sampson, Bertie, Johnston and Edgecombe that would last for over 60 years. There are very few of the early families of Bulloch and Screven Counties that do not trace to the settlers from this area of North Carolina.

The very earliest of these families came from Duplin County as early as 1761. Luke Mizell was among those early settlers who moved from Duplin County and settled around the areas of present day Sardis and Rocky Ford.

John Knight and Elizabeth Woodson’s son John III who married Rachel Frances "Fannie" Anderson 9 Jan 1774, was living in Edgecombe county during this time. (Many researchers agree that this John Knight was the son of John and Elizabeth Woodson.) John and Rachel Knight moved to Bullock county about 1788 when their son William Alexander was about 10 years old.

John III Knight’s family moved to Wayne Co., GA about 1803, or possibly earlier. Deed Book – AB page 123 dated Oct. 22, 1799: Knight, John and wife Rachael to Moore Spier, all of Effingham Co., deed for 250 acres in said county. Effingham County, Georgia and Liberty County, Georgia, Early Record, complied by Mary Carter, 1978 (GA)F292.E3.03, LA State Archives. Wit: John London, J.P. In another book, Information on Some Georgia Pioneers – Maddox, GA (GAF281.L3.M3) Family Heads 1805 Georgia: Knight, John, Burke Cty. w Rachael One John RS and moved to Wayne Cty. John III Knight died in 1821/22 in Wayne Co., GA.

Rachel Fannie Knight was living in Wayne County and drew a lot in the 1820 land lottery, but failed to take it up and it reverted to the state. After John Knight died, she lived with son Samuel in Hillsborough County, Florida (The South Florida Pioneers, Jul-Oct 1978 Issue).

John’s son, William Anderson was also living in Wayne Co. at that time. William Anderson was a Representative from Wayne County, GA between 1810 - 1811. He served as a State Senator of Lowndes Co., GA between 1826-1828. He was also a pastor of Unity Primitive Baptist Church in Lowndes Co. He died 8 Dec 1859 and was buried in Lowndes Co.

Note: John III was Charles Knight of Washington Parish’s uncle. William Anderson was his first cousin.

John III Knight and Fannie Anderson had at least the following children: William Anderson, Johnathan, Arbraham and Samuel. They were probably their youngest children and the ones that came with them, or were born in Bulloch Co, GA. A Thomas Knight is also found on the 1795 Petition to form a new county. This is probably an older son of John.

William Anderson Knight was born in Edgecombe Co, North Carolina 16 Feb 1778. He married Sara Cone. (b. 16 Oct 1780 in Cheraw Dist., SC). She was the daughter of William Cone Sr. (born in 1745 in North Carolina where he lived on the PeeDee River – died 1815 in Ivanhoe, Bulloch Co., GA) and Keziah Barber. Sarah's father was the first Senator of Bulloch Co, GA and a Baptist pastor of the Little Ogeechee Church. Sarah died 16 Oct 1780 in Lanier Co., GA. William died 08 Dec 1859, Old Union, Lanier Co.

"William Anderson Knight was born in North Carolina on Feb 16, 1778, a son of John Knight RS He was one of eleven children and was an older brother of Jonathan, Abraham and Samuel Knight. Elder William Anderson Knight is the forefather of the large and influential Knight family connection in Berrien, Lanier and Cook Counties, and was in the Primitive Baptist ministry for many years prior to his death. He was born in North Carolina, Feb. 16, 1778, and was about 10 years old when his parents moved to Georgia. In 1798 he married Miss Sarah Cone, daughter of the Hon. William Cone, who rendered distinguished service to his adopted state during the Revolutionary War. The Cone family was also from North Carolina originally and had sojourned in South Carolina a short time during the war. The two families, Knights and Cones, were originally residents of Effingham County but in the creation of Bulloch out of Effingham in 1796, were placed in the new county. Mrs. Knight was born in South Carolina Oct 16, 1780.

Mr. Knight was among the very first settlers of Wayne Co, after it was created, moving there about 1803. His home was in present Brantley Co. He was named in a legislative act of 1803 as one of five commissioners to locate the public-site of the new county. It was several years before it was permanently fixed and when it was done it was located on lands owned by Mr. Knight and by William Clements, a neighbor, and the county seat was named Waynesville. Mr. Knight served as representative from Wayne County 1810-11 and again in 1813. He served as State Senator from Wayne, 1815-17 and 1819-20. He was a Justice of Peace in the 334th District, 1813-1817, and a Justice of Wayne Inferior Court 1820-24.

In the winter of 1824-25 Mr. Knight and his family with others of the family connection, moved to the southern part of what was then Irwin Co., where they located. Mr. knight settled on Lot of Land No. 516, 10th land district, near Grand Bay, on present State Highway No. 11, in what is now Lanier Co. A year after moving to his new home, his portion of Irwin Co was made into Lowndes Co. and Mr. Knight was elected the first Senator from the new County, serving 1826-28. He was a delegate from Lowndes to the 1833 State Convention and in 1839 to the state tariff convention.
In 1856, Elder Knights home was placed in Berrien Co, when it was created partly out of Lowndes. He was a leading spirit in the organization of the first Baptist Church in Irwin or Lowndes counties; it was organized Oct. 1, 1825 at Carters Meeting-house located on the west bank of the Alapaha River, and the church was named "Union" and became the 'Mother' of all Baptist Churches, both missionary and primitive, of this section. Mr. Knight and his wife became charter member moving their letters from Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Wayne Co. He became the first church clerk, serving from 1825 until he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by his church March 10, 1830. In the years that followed, Elder Knight became very active and zealous in the spread of the Gospel over the frontier country, organizing several new churches. He and his pastor, Elder Matthew Albritton, often went together on trips that required days, many miles from home. Elder Knight stayed busy holding special services in the homes of the settlers, visiting the sick, conducting funerals, organizing "arms" of Union Church that later became independent churches, and assisting in constituting new churches over an area 100 miles or more in extent. After the death of Elder Albritton in 1850, Elder Knight succeeded him as pastor of Union Church and served until his own death Dec 8, 1859. He became the first pastor of Wayfare Church in present Echols Co, serving 1841-54 and again 1856-58. His missionary labors precluded him from serving as pastor of many of the churches that wanted him. He assisted in the constituting of Unity Primitive Baptist Church in Lowndes Co., Feb 6, 1841, and became its first pastor, serving until his death eighteen years later.
Mrs. Knight died Nov. 28, 1859. Her aged husband could not long survive her passing, dying 10 days later. They were buried at old Union Church. The whole section from miles around felt keenly the passing of this aged and saintly couple whose hospitality and goodness to others were known to others far and wide." In 1820, they were listed on Pg. 159 of the Wayne Co., Ga. census.
In 1830, they were listed on Pg. 084 of the Lowndes Co., Ga. census.
In 1840, they were listed on Pg. 228 of the Lowndes Co., Ga. census.
In 1850, they were listed on Pg. 413 of the Lowndes Co., Ga. census.

Keziah b. 20 Nov 1802, Bulloch Co., Ga., m. April 1829, Isben Giddens, d. 1 Nov 1861, Old Union Cem., Lanier Co., Ga.; Levi Jefferson b. 1 Sep 1803; William Cone b. 8 Oct. 1805; John b. 7 Jul 1807; Sarah b. 10 Oct 1808 in Wayne Co., Ga., m. William P. Roberts; Elizabeth b. 23 Sep 1811 in Wayne Co., GA., m. John Carter; Aaron A. born 17 Jul 1813; Jonathan b. 17 Jan 1817

Jonathan (b.1781, Cheraw Dist., SC, married Elizabeth _ born 1787, Ga., d. 1860, Clay Co., Fla. Jonathan died 1860, Clay Co., Fla.

Jonathan and Elizabeth had the following children:

William b. 1806, m. Mary ____; Mary b. 1808, m. 15 Dec 1825, Lewis Roberts; Jonathan born 1811; James H. born 1817, m. Cynthia ____ ; Thomas b. 10 Mar 1820; Sarah b. 1824, m. Lewis L. McCall; Matthew Albritton b. 1826, m. 14 Apr 1853, Mary E. Pace, d. Clay Co., Fla.; Nancy b. 1827, m. Henry L. Wester; Elizabeth H. b. 1829, m. 28 Jan 1851, Hiram Prescott

Abraham (b. 1789, Effingham Co, Ga. (Effingham later became Bulloch Co.) married 17 Jan 1810 Sarah H. Tucker (b. 1796, GA., d. 1884, Little Creek Baptist Church, Wayne Co., GA. Abraham died 26 May 1867, Little Creek Baptist Church, Wayne Co., GA.

Abraham served under Captain Scott’s Co. Ga. Mil. WO-11542 during the War of 1812.

Abraham and Sarah had the following children:

Samuel b. 1817, m. Mary E. Hunter; Andrew J. b. 1818, m. Margaret Bennett; Thomas b. 1820, m. Susan Hunter; Mary E. born 1821, m. Malachi Harper; Abraham b. 1826, m. Harriet Raulerson; Elijah Tucker b. 1829, m. Nancy Harper; Eliza b. 1838, m. Joshua Harper; Erastus b. 1844, m. Harriet Jenkins

Samuel (b.1793, Effingham Co., GA. d 3 May 1879 Hillsborough Co., Fla) m. Mary Roberts (b.1793., SC, d 6 May 1875, FLA.)

Samuel and Mary had the following children:

Fatima b. 18 Feb 1811, m. 9 Mar 1827, Enoch Collins; Moses b. 25 Feb 1813 d. 1815; Aaron b. 26 Feb 1815, m. 30 Sep 1840, Jane Varn; Jesse b. 18 Aug 1817; Thomas b. 1 Mar 1820 d. 1828; Joel b. 24 Feb 1823 m. Virginia Mitchell b. 29 Mar 1848; Frances b. 9 May 1825. m (1) John J. Zipperer m. (2) Jacob Summerlin; Elizabeth b. 1 Mar 1827, m. 6 Feb 1842, Elhannon McCall; Mary b. 6 Mar 1829, m 10 Feb 1849, Geroge Hambleton; Martha b. 3 Oct 1832, m. 25 Dec. 1849, Dr. Samuel B. Todd

CHARLES KNIGHT'S FAMILY IN BULLOCH COUNTY, GEORGIA

John Knight and Elizabeth Woodson also had a son, Joseph Knight, born about 1748 in Virginia. He was still living in Virginia when his son William was born about 1774. Joseph Knight is listed in 1784 in Gloucester County (Head of Families – Virginia Census – R – 975.5293 VIR – Macon Library, Georgia). One of his early ancestor’s, Peter Knight, owned land in Gloucester County and represented that county in the House of Burgess in 1684.

Joseph’s mother Elizabeth died about 1784. Joseph’s son Charles was born in 1785 in Virginia according to the 1850 Census in Washington Parish, LA. Proof of his age can be found on his War of 1812 Pension application that was filed on May 4th, 1874, in which he states that he was 88 years old.

There are no Knight’s listed on the Census of 1810 for Gloucester County, Virginia. (Microfilm Reel # M252-68) The last records of Joseph in VA were property tax records in Glouster Co., VA in 1787.

Joseph Knight and his wife (one source had her name as Jerusha Cone) were living in Bulloch Co, GA in the late 1700's. (There are records in Bulloch Co, GA of a Jerusha Knight: Jan 1828. Inventory & appr. of estate of JERUSHA KNIGHT. Alexander Knight, adminr. by Isaac Richardson, William Lee, George Mikell - This information was found on a Cone Family web site. This was a second source. A third source by Gladys Meeks Vindal in the Statesboro, GA library had her name as Jerusha, but did not know her last name. The estate was also listed here. The estate was also listed in the LA State Archives, Baton Rouge, LA in a book entitled Georgia Intestate Records by Jeannette Holland Austin, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1986, page 183. Also, all GA sources agree that Joseph was the son of a John Knight. I found two sources in Statesboro library, Gladys Meeks Vindal, (a descendent of James Monroe Knight, who was the son of Joseph Knight’s son, Francis Alexander) lists John as father; and a letter from Adair, Kent, Ashby & McNatt to Clerk of Superior Court, Columbia Co., GA, seeking information about Joseph’s father John. Bill Abram, who has done extensive research on the Georgia family, has John as his father.

Note: The John Knight that was found in Columbia Co, GA could not have been the correct John Knight. John Knight of Columbia Co. was John "Jackie" Knight b. Sept. 7, 1773 in SC d. Jan 9, 1861 in Jones Co., Ms. Buried in Knight Cemetery, Jones Co., MS. His wife’s name was Keziah Davis b. 12-25-1778 in Appling, Columbia Co., GA d. 11-8-1859 in Jones Co., MS, buried in Knight Cemetery, Jones Co.

Joseph and his family probably moved to Effingham Co. which later became Bulloch Co. around the same time as Joseph's brother John (around 1788). The exact date is unknown, but we do know that it was sometime after 1787 and by 1795. Charles was living in Virginia when his son Charles was born in 1785, and the last records found of Joseph Knight in VA were property tax records in 1787 in Glouster Co., VA). Joseph Knight was among those listed on a petition to the Legislature of Georgia for a new county named Bullock in the year 1795.

Very few records survive from the period 1777 to 1790 in Effingham, so the story of the early settlers is not very clear.

By Act of December 14, 1793 Screven County was formed from parts of Burke and Effingham Counties.

The following is the text of the petition to the state convention asking that Bulloch County be created from Scriven (now spelled Screven) and Bryan counties (part of Effingham Co. also became Bulloch).

NOTE: The foregoing copy of the Petition to form a new county was obtained from the Hargrett Library of the University of Georgia by Smith C. Banks. The Petition was transcribed by Evelyn Mabry. Several words are illegible. A few names may have been lost. Pages of the original Petition, now tattered, were sewn together in a scroll like manner. The Spirit of a People compiled by the Statesboro Herald Publishing Company.

The Georgia Legislature took lands from both Bryan and Screven Counties Feb. 8, 1796, for the purpose of creating "Bullock" County. Although the legislative act created "Bullock"; it should have been spelled "Bulloch" after the man it was named for, Patriot Archibald Bulloch, the first president of Georgia when Georgia was a sovereign state during the Revolutionary War. He was also one of Georgia’s delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia from 1775 through 1776. He died in 1777 while holding the title of first governor of Georgia. Georgia Historical Society

Among those listed on the petition of 1795 was a Thomas Knight. Joseph Knight had a son named Thomas. This Thomas Knight is listed on the 1820 Census of Bullock Co. with 2 females under 10, 1 female 26-45, 1 male 16-26, 1 male 45 & up. There was also a Thomas Knight born about 1790 in Bulloch County. John Knight’s son, William Anderson, also had a son named Thomas. I cannot confirm which Thomas was the son of Joseph.

There was also a Robert Knight listed on the petition. He signed his name next to Joseph Knight. He was probably an older son of Joseph. Records show that he acquired a 100 acre platt of land, Warrent deed dated Nov. 24, 1800. Robert’s land borders Joseph Knight’s on two sides.

In 1773, the Creek Indians signed a treaty giving up the coastal islands between the mouth of the Ogeechee River and the mouth of the Altamaha River in return for debts they owed to traders. This treaty opened up for settlement a large area which included present day Bulloch County. This pine land was considered poor and was not settled as rapidly as other sections of the state. However, settlers did come. Hardy pioneers from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina came into these lands, settling in what later became Screven and Bulloch County. The land along the Ogeechee River was good oak and hickory land. This was taken up and settled first. Behind this was the piney woods which was settled slowly. The first settlers were stockmen. Spirit of a People.

Joseph Knight lived near the Ogeechee River in Bulloch County, GA. Joseph lived on some of the best land, near the Ogeechee River, and he had white hickory, oak, iron wood, and maple trees. His nearest neighbor was John Rawls. John Rawls was a Justice of the Inferior Court of Bulloch County.

Joseph Knight lived near the river in Bullock County.

Joseph Knight had the following children:

1. William (born abt 1774 in Lunenburg County, Virginia) William Knight served as a witness to an indenture in 1799 in Bulloch Co, GA in 1799 (Indenture - A John Lee, planter and Elizabeth, his wife, and Burrel Whittington, planter, both of Bulloch Co, Georgia, $60 for 200 acres bounded by James Mikell's Land. Witness: William Cone, Jr., William Knight, William Cone, J.P. Source: Bulloch Co. Georgia - Genealogical Source Material by Alvaretta Kenan Register pg. 49, May 17, 1799 R. July 18, 1801.) I do not know if the William who witnessed the land indenture was Joseph’s son William or Joseph’s nephew William Anderson. Joseph was married to Jerusha Cone and William Anderson was married to Sarah Cone.

2. Robert – was probably the son of Joseph Knight. There is a Warrant dated Nov 24, 1800 for 100 acres of land in Bullock County for Robert Knight located next to Joseph Knight. Robert also signed a petition in 1795 to form a new county. He signed his name next to Joseph Knight’s.

Charles Knight of Washington Parish’s grandson, George Knight, named a son Robert Joseph. Charles Knight also had a grandson named Joseph.

3. Joseph (born abt 1784 – died after 1870) He was listed as 86 years old on the 1870 Census in Bulloch Co., GA) He married Lurene (also Syrene) "Renney" Brown July 11, 1853, pg 185 Book 19 A and C Marriages. The marriage was performed by Peter Cone. This was his second marriage. Joseph and his 1^st wife Nancy ? had a son named Joseph. [Joseph Knight is listed in the 1860 Census as forty years old (born about 1820)]. His occupation was Farmer. This Joseph married Martha Hagin 3 Dec. 1844. The marriage was performed by Peter Cone Martha was 36 years old in the 1860 census. Joseph and Martha’s children were William age 14, Edmund age 13, James age 12, Thomas age 9, John age 6, Martha age 5, and Allen age 1. In the 1870 census, William and Edmund are not listed. Another child was born to them, George age 7.

Joseph, Jr. (Charles Knight’s brother) was 76 in the 1860 census. He was a farmer. His wife Cyrene Brown was 31. Their children were Charles age 6 (born abt 1854), Rebecca age 5 (born abt 1855), Jerusha age 3 (born abt 1857), and Elizabeth age 2 (born abt 1858).

In the 1870 census Joseph was now 86 years old. His wife "Renney" was 41. Jerusha was 13, Elizabeth 11, and their new son Alexander age 7 (born abt 1863). Their children Charles and Rebecca were not listed. They probably died.

Charles Knight’s brother, Joseph, Jr., is believed to be buried in a cemetery in Bulloch County located where Lane Road runs into old River Road. Take a left turn. The old cemetery is on the right side of the road adjacent to the first house; on the right side of the house. There are no visable signs of any graves. The person who once owned the property cleared the grave site and threw away the old wooden grave markers. A house was built on the property, and the grave site is part of their yard. This information was obtained from Horace E. Knight of Bulloch County, Georgia, descendent of Charles Knights brother, Frances Alexander. Horace said that he tried to buy the grave yard from the person who cleared the gravesite, so that he could save the graves, but they would not sell it to him. He kept one of the old wooden markers and put it in the church grave yard that his family is buried in. We saw the old marker.

4. Charles – All Georgia researchers agree that Joseph Knight had a son named Charles, but they knew nothing about him. Property records and marriage records are vital information for tracing ancestors; and because Charles left GA as a young man, without owning land and before he was married, he left few clues to trace him. Charles was born in 1785 in Virginia) left Bulloch County about 1810, moved to Washington Parish, LA, and married Susannah Williams 17 Jan 1822, in Washington Parish. Susannah’s mother Penelope Richardson and her father William Williams were also from Bulloch County, Georgia.

5. Francis Alexander (Alex) (born about. 1787 in then called Effingham Co., Ga. -married in 1822 - died in 1852 in Bulloch Co., GA.) married Sarah "Salety" Lowther (b. 1799 - d. 1859).

Alex and Sarah’s children were: James Monroe, Thomas, Charles, Green H., Alexander, Alfred, and Salety Catherine.

James Monroe (b. 31 Aug 1823, Bulloch Co., GA, married Jane Butler 20 May 1853, in Wilkinson Co., GA.

James died 11 Aug 1892, Wilkinson Co.

Thomas (born Nov. 22, 1824 – died Feb. 7, 1871) married Rebecca Wilson 10 Jul 1851. The marriage was performed by William Williams. Rebecca was born Nov. 1, 1829. She died March 3, 1880. Thomas and Rebecca are buried in Knight Cemetery. Their children were John A., Andrew Jackson buried in Knight Cemetery, James H. buried in Knight Cemetery, Sarah U, William R. buried in Knight Cemetery, Frances Ophlia buried in Lanes Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, T. F. buried in Knight Cemetery, and Horace E is buried in Lanes Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.

Thomas and Rebecca’s son Horace E. Knight was born Sept 29, 1868. He died Dec. 18, 1924. He married Susie G. Knight (born May 20, 1884 – died Feb. 4, 1976). They are both buried in Lanes Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery near Stilson, Ga. (Bulloch County).

*Lane’s Primitive Baptist Church began in 1805 near the Ogeechee River on land donated by Richard Lane. In the 1880’s, when the population shifted away from the river, services were discontinued. In 1884 a committee from Upper Black Creek Church helped reorganize Lane’s Church. W. J. Strickland donated the land near Stilson for the new church. Spirit of the People.

The 1870 census shows Thomas as age 45, Rebecca age 40, John A. age 17, Andrew J. age 15, James H. age 13, Sarah U. age 11, William R. age 9, Frances O. age 4, and Horace E. age 1. (T. F. was born in 1870, probably after the Census was taken.) Thomas’ occupation was Farmer.

Thomas and Rebecca are both buried in Knight Cemetery. The cemetery is located right off Old River Road near Leefield, GA (Bulloch Co.), on Shearouse Landing (Shearouse Landing use to be called Knights Landing). It is located in a field next to a country road, fenced in, with a field on three sides. There are only eight graves in the cemetery: Alexander’s son, Thomas; Rebecca; Thomas’ brother, Charles; three of Thomas and Rebecca’s sons: James H., T. F., William R., and Andrew Jackson. Another grave Forest Knight, was probably a grandson.

Thomas Knight’s marker reads: (This was the son of Charles Knight’s brother, Alex.)

NOTE: Information about this cemetery was obtained from Horace E. Knight of Brooklet, GA (Bulloch County) a descendant of Thomas Knight (son of Frances Alexander) through his son Horace E.

Frances Alexander’s children continued:

Charles born November 15, 1826, died February 18, 1887, buried in Knight Cemetery.

Green H. born 9 May 1830, married America Cone.

William Alexander born 20 Apr 1832, married Margaret R. (Mikell) Rawls 7 April 1858.

Alfred born 22 Feb 1834, married 13 or 15 Jan 1860, America Wilson (pg. 56 Book 19 A and C Marriages 1857-67, 1867-68).

Salety Catherine born 5 Feb 1838, married 13 Dec 1856, James W. Moore. The ceremony was performed by Peter Cone, pg 227 Book 19 a and C marriages 1857-67 – 1867-68).

Joseph and Jerusha Knight’s children continued:

6. Thomas Knight (born about 1790 - died aft. 1850 in Bulloch Co., GA) married Frances Mikell 25 Sep 1817 Ref. Bk. 2-A. p.13; 1850 Census P 253 Fm 258 - Bulloch Co., GA. The marriage was performed by John Everett, J.P. Their children were William (born Jan. 27, 1824), Margaret (born Oct. 30, 1825), Allen (born Jan 11, 1829 or 30), Thomas Edward (born March 30, 1831), Sophany P. (Born Feb 5, 1833 or 35) married Peter C. Shuffield 24 Oct 1855, and Frances (born Dec. 26, 1839).

*NOTE: Information about the children of Frances Alexander and Thomas was found on the Common School Fund list: Records in Office of Probate Judge, Bullock Co., Ga. representing bills submitted by individual teachers to the County Commissioners or Treasurer, and listing "scholars" whom they taught. The state paid three months tuition for "poor" students. This does not mean that Alex and Thomas Knight’s children were covered. The teachers would list "all" of their students. It was later decided which students were covered.

Thomas and Frances’ daughter, Frances Knight (born 25 Dec 1839 died 28 June 1896, buried in Lee Cemetery, Bulloch Co., GA) married James Madison Lee 7 March 1872. The marriage was performed by J.R. Miller (pg. 44 Book 19 a and C marriages 1857-67-1867-68). Frances and James’ son Thomas Franklin Lee (born 30 Jan 1873 died 22 April 1932, b. Lee Cemetery), Daughter Lela Lee (b Sept 13, 1877 – d July 10, 1882, buried Lee Cemetery) and a son Rufus Lee (born March 15, 1875 – died August 4, 1878, buried Lee Cemetery).

By the 1820 Census of Bulloch Co., GA, only Alex (Francis Alexander), Joseph, and Thomas are still living in Bulloch Co., GA. Charles, Robert and William Knight are not listed on the 1820 Census in Bulloch Co.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gabulloc/census/1820-4.html

It is not known when Charles’ father Joseph died. He died prior to a copy of an agreement dated Jan. 31, 1823, Bulloch Co., Ga. between Alexander Knight and Thomas Knight of same County, "heirs of Joseph Knight...our father." Their mother Jerusha Knight’s estate was administered by Alexander Knight in 1828.

William (Choctaw Bill) Williams and Penelope Richardson also lived in Bulloch Co., GA. There were many Williams in Bulloch County. Many of them remained there all of their lives. I have not been able to determine which Williams was the father of William Williams. A James Williams was granted land in Effingham County which became Bullock County in 1796. He would have lived near the Knights and Richardsons. He was born in 1757 in North Carolina, the son of David Williams. He married in 1777 to Elizabeth Callaway, born in 1759 in North Carolina. He served in the Revolutionary War in both North Carolina and Georgia and was in the Battle of Kettle Creek. He died in 1817 in Bulloch County. A Frederick Williams also lived in Bulloch County. He was born in 1751 in North Carolina, the son of James Williams and Mary Wallace Williams. He was a private in the Georgia Militia. He died in 1821 in Bulloch County. It is not known if he married. It is very unlikely that either brothers Seth or Samuel Williams was the father of "Choctaw Bill". Seth married Elizabeth Godfrey in 1790, and Samuel married Delilah Nevill in 1784. Neither men would have been old enough to have a granddaughter Susannah Williams, wife of Charles Knight. These accounts of the Williams’ families were taken from records of the DAR and published in Spirit of a People.

In late 1790, John Crawford and Philip Mathews, Burke Circuit preachers, met with John Hodges, his sons, and, most likely, members of the neighboring Mizell and Williams families to create a Methodist Society that would shortly become Union Church, Bulloch County’s oldest Methodist Church. It was started in the home of Joshua Hodges, Sr. which was located on the western side of the Ogeechee River in what would later become Bulloch County. However, many of the Williams families in Bulloch County remained Baptist.

Griffin Mizell of Bulloch County maried Susannah Carter in 1797. She was the daughter of Matthew Carter. Griffin was the son of William Mizell.

William Mizell, Jr. of Bulloch Cty. married Polly Love in 1802.

Benjamin Richardson of Bulloch County married Nancy Hendrix in 1802. They moved to Washington Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of Benjamin Richardson and Sarah Mizell Richardson. He was the brother of Penelope. Information on Some Georgia Pioneers – Maddox.

Benjamin, John (married Fannie Richardson 5-10-1800 in Bulloch Co., GA) and Widow Richardson are listed on the 1820 Census in Washington Parish, LA.

The soil in Georgia was very poor and Georgia weather was either flood or drought, and it was either too hot or too cold. There were very freightening thunderstorms. Living was a struggle in the Georgia backcountry. Many of the westward-bound pioneers were eager to sell their property at any price. Spirit of a People.

Among those who left Bulloch County were "Choctaw Bill" Williams who traveled from Georgia to Louisiana trading with the Choctaw Indians in Washington Parish, LA, his family settled around Covington; Charles Knight (Charles was unmarried, a brother is believed to have moved to Miss., so he might have also traveled with him) settling in Pine, the Mizells (John and David Mizell are listed on the 1820 Census in Washington Parish, LA) and the Richardsons (Widow Richardson, Benjamin and John are listed on the 1820 Census in Washington Parish. They all moved to the Florida Parishes around 1810, however, it is unclear if they came at the same time. Penelope (b. 1775 GA. d. 1841) and William Williams (d. abt 1825) are buried in the Richardson Cemetery.

Baptist was the dominant religion in Bulloch County, Georgia. It is evident by the lives of Charles and Susan Knight and their family, that Charles brought his deeply rooted Baptist beliefs of Bulloch County with him to Washington Parish, LA. The first Baptist church in the state of Louisiana was established near Franklinton, LA in 1812 on the Bogue Chitto River.

Charles died April 1, 1877. Charles and Susannah Knight are buried in the Enon Baptist Church Cemetery in Enon, LA. Many of the Knight family are buried in Enon Baptist Church. Knight’s are still attending this old country church, and the Baptist religion is still prevalent among the Knight family.

It is believed that Charles Knight of Washington Parish had five brothers. One of the brothers is believed to have moved to Mississippi. (144485-Washington Parish Library-Franklinton,LA-Family History of the William Penn Knight Family). The brother who lived in Mississippi was probably either William or Richard. Joseph, Alex and Thomas remained in Bullock County for the rest of their lives.

The following history of the Cone Family was taken from excerpts from Men of Mark in Georgia by Bernard Suttles, 1905, Contributed by Nell Campbell:

The Cone Family

For one hundred and thirty years the Cone family has been contributing in each generation splendid citizens and soldiers to the service of Georgia and Florida. Previous works of history and biography have dealt with this family in a very meager way, as will appear from the record.

William Cone, the Elder.

Daniel Cone, who settled at Haddam, Conn., in 1662, was the American progenitor. One of his descendants moved south and located on the Pee Dee River in North Carolina. Here in 1745 was born William Cone, the Revolutionary soldier, who is generally believed to have been a son of William, though this is not altogether certain, as his father's name may have been Aaron. Previous to the Revolution, William Cone married Keziah Barber, moved to Georgia, and was among the pioneer settlers of Bulloch County. He was an ardent patriot and during the Revolution saw service in McLean's regiment and under Gen. Francis Marion. This Capt. William Cone was a terror to the Tories, as several incidents will show. When the notorious Tory, McGirth, and his followers were terrorizing that part of the State, it was learned that one Cargill harbored the Tories and gave them information about the Whigs. Cargill was advised that it meant death if he was again found in company with McGirth. not long after, when William Cone was hunting deer on the Ogeechee he saw them together in the woods. He shot Cargill, but McGirth escaped, and the next day when they went to bury the dead man it was found that the wolves had almost devoured his body.

At another time the Tories fell on an unsuspecting settlement, stole the settlers' horses, and carried away everything possible. Headed by Captain Cone, the settlers pursued them down into what is now Tatnall County. Finding after a shower of rain that they were close on their heels, they sent forward one of their number to reconnoiter. The approach of this man became known to the Tories through one of the stolen horses, and one of their number, starting out to learn the cause of their confusion, was shot dead by the scout, who was concealed behind a log. This was the signal for an attack, and the patriots rushed forward, drove the Tories into the Ohoopee River and recovered their stolen goods. It is said that this raid broke the power of the Tories in that community.

At the close of the Revolution, Captain Cone returned to the pursuits of peace near Ivanhoe, and in 1796 was foreman of the first grand jury raised in Bulloch county. He died in 1815, about seventy years of age. It is a tradition in the Cone family that three brothers of Capt. William Cone fell in battle during the Revolutionary War, William being the sole survivor of the four brothers. He reared three sons and nine daughters. Of his sons, Aaron Cone was the only one who remained in Bulloch County, and he was the father of six sons and six daughters.

Peter Cone

Gen. Peter Cone was the eldest child of Aaron Cone and grandson of Capt. William Cone. His father, Aaron Cone, was born October 31, 1766, before the family left North Carolina. In 1788 he married Susan Marlow, and Peter Cone was born at Ivanhoe, Bulloch County on August 6, 1790. His father was a wealthy man, owned large landed estates with many slaves, and carried on extensive planting operations. he was much esteemed in Bulloch county, a member of the Baptist church, and died at Ivanhoe, Bulloch county on June 6, 1835, being then nearly sixty-nine years old. When the War of 1812 began, inheriting the family trait, Peter Cone enlisted, became a captain, and was stationed at Fort Sunbury. In 1818 he served under General Andrew Jackson in this Florida campaign. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Peter Cone was the senior major-general of the militia of the State of Georgia. Early in the thirties he became a member of the General Assembly and remained in that body continuously for thirty years. It is said that this is the longest continuous service by one man in the history of Georgia. he was a most influential man in his section of Georgia, and absolutely dominated Bulloch County for thirty years. A notable character in his day, he was held in much esteem by the public men of that time and lived until the year 1866. He never married.

William Cone, the Younger

When the break-up occurred in the family of Capt. William Cone, the elder, after the Revolutionary War, Aaron remained in Bulloch County. Joseph moved to Thomas County, and William, junior, moved to Camden County. William, Jr. was a very notable man. He represent Camden county for twenty three years in the Georgia legislature. He was born in 1777, and when the War of 1812 broke out was a man of thirty-five, in the prime of life. He inherited the reckless courage of the Cone family and became a captain in that war. It is related that in his infancy a body of Tories and British came to his father's house seeking the elder Cone, cut open a feather bed upon which the baby was resting, and poured baby and feathers out together, and the little fellow was nearly suffocated before he was rescued. His military career in fighting the British, Indians and Spaniards was even more notable than that of his father. In the War of 1812 he served under General Newnan on the St. Mary's and St. John's Rivers. He was a participant in a campaign against the Alachua Indians, engaging in a hand-to-hand fight with an Indian at Alligator, killing his antagonist with clubbed musket after he had exhausted his ammunition. Returning form this expedition, they had to live on horse meat for quite a time. He took part in the defeat of the British naval expedition on St Mary's river, and in the operations against St. Augustine so incurred the hostility of the Spanish that they offered a reward of ten thousand dollars for his head. One of the brilliant exploits of that war was his defeat of the British on the St. Mary's in 1815. Twenty-three barges loaded with British soldiers ascended the river for the purpose of burning Major Clarke's mill. The enemy intended to land at a place called Camp Pinckney and march to Clarke's mill on the Spanish creed some three miles distant. Captain Cone with twenty-eight men was concealed in the palmettoes which lined the river banks, and his men being expert riflemen, opened fire on the barges. The bargers replied with cannon and small-arms fire, which was ineffective. For several miles Captain Cone's men took advantage of every turn of the river and and at every shot brought down a man. Finally the British unable longer to stand the fire, retraced their course to St. Mary's. Upon their arrival at St. Mary's they reported one hundred and eighty men killed and as many wounded. Some time after the war Captain William Cone settled in Florida and as late as 1842 represented Columbia county in the Florida State Senate. He died at Benton, Columbia County, Fla., on August 24, 1857, and was buried at Prospect church cemetery in Hamilton county. He was eighty years old at the time of his death. He had married Sarah Haddock, in Camden county, Ga., about 1815.

William Burrows Cone

Judge Wm. B. Cone was a grandson of the fiery old Tory-hating captain, through the son who moved to Southwest Georgia [Joseph]. His mother was a Wadsworth. The family settled in Dooly county in 1832, and the father dying soon after, the lad became the mainstay of his mother, who had the children to rear. In 1835, then just a man, he married Elizabeth Mobley and settled down to farming. In a few years he became one of the leading men of this county, which he represented in the legislature in 1847 and 1850, and there met his kinsmen, Judge Francis Cone and General Peter Cone. Returning home from the general Assembly, he was elected Judge of the Inferior Court of Dooly county, which position he held continuously until the close of the Civil war. After the War he lived in retirement at his handsome country home until his death in 1877, leaving the reputation of an horrible, capable man a a pure patriot.

The Later Generations

William Cone, the younger, left a family of sons who made a remarkable military record. His oldest son, B.N. Cone was captain of a company during the Indian wars in Florida, a daring and reckless officer. Another son, Capt. William H.[William Haddock] Cone, served as captain during the Seminole war in 1857 and made the most important campaign and capture of Indians during that war. later he served as captain of a cavalry company in the Confederate army. Another son, Peter Cone [Simon Peter], was lieutenant in the Indian war and served as first lieutenant in the Confederate army. The fourth son, J.B. Cone [James Barnard Cone], was considered the most powerful man physically in the State of Florida. He served in the Indian war of 1857 and was lieutenant of cavalry in the Confederate army. The fifth and youngest son, C.F. Cone [Charles F.], served as lieutenant in the Indian war of 1857 and was captain of a cavalry company in the Confederate army. D.N. Cone [Daniel Newsome], a son of Capt. B.N. Cone and a grandson of Capt. William Cone, served the entire four years as a member of the Confederate army, and his son, Hutch I. Cone, entered the United States navy and has shown such brilliant qualities that he has risen by rapid steps to be chief of the Bureau of Engineering, with the rank of rear-admiral. F. P. Cone, now a member of the Florida State senate, is another grandson of William Cone, Jr. T. J. Cone, now a prominent citizen of Florida, is a descendant of the old Revolutionary captain through the son who moved to Southwest Georgia, being grandson of Judge Wm B. Cone.

Going back to Georgia, we find that Gen. Peter Cone had a brother James. Col. J. S. Cone [Joseph Smith Cone], son of James and nephew of Peter, entered the Confederate army in 1861 as a lieutenant, later promoted to captain, and for distinguished bravery in the battle of Chickamauga was, on the recommendation of Gen. John C. Breckinridge, promoted to major. At John's Island, Colonel Cone was the leader of the assault; he commanded the fort at Secessionville in the fall of 1864, and in the battle of Honey Hill was badly wounded an promoted to lieutenant-colonel. His name appears on the Chickmauga monument, and Camp 1227, United Confederate Veterans, bears his name. from 1870 to 1875, Colonel Cone, following in the footsteps of this distinguished uncle, served his district in the State senate of Georgia. Depressed by the death of his devoted wife and business losses, he with drew from public life, and has since lived a retired life in Bulloch county. His old regiment, the Forty-seventh Georgia, bore the brunt of many a hard struggle. When sent to the relief of Vicksburg, it mustered 1,100 men. Later on, when sent to Charleston, Colonel Cone, then in command reported 150 muskets.

The record above given shows that this family has been represented numerously in all the struggles of our country from the Revolutionary War down, and that in times of peace it has had many strong members of the various legislative bodies. The family record is indeed a remarkable one and worthy of preservation in our annals for the great qualities shown--bravery, patriotism, good business capacity, sound legislative judgment, and unfailing loyalty to country. --Men of Mark in Georgia by Bernard Suttles, 1905.

William Cone came to North Carolina to South Carolina and then to Georgia. He was born about 1745 and died in 1822. The latter part of the war he fought Tories in this section of Ga. He lived in what is now Bulloch County and died in Ivanhoe. Hs grave is east of Joe Cone’s field in a thickly wooded section between the Old River Road and the Ogeechee River. It is identified by a marker erected by the DAR. He was married to Kesiah Barber. Story of Bulloch County Pub. by Bulloch Co. Historical Society, 1973.

The Civil War in Bulloch County was generally a time of fear and hiding for civilians. Yankee soldiers coming through the area killed live stock, stole their food, and destroyed what they could not carry off. Of the 750 white men of Bulloch County at the time, 600 entered the miliary service of the Confederate States of America. It is doubtful that any county paid a higher price to the Confederacy. The U.S. Census of 1870, four years after the war ended, show less than 10 percent of the population of Bulloch County was made up of white men between the ages of 22 and 40. T.Y. Aiken from Bulloch County was in the 47^th Regiment of the Georgia Infantry. He won the honor of being the ugliest soldier in the Confederacy from a soldier in the 60^th Regiment. The commanding officer was the final judge. Spirit of a People.

Ivonhoe in Bulloch County, Georgia no longer exists. All that is left is an old abandoned house and some fields. It was located at 32° 17’2" N 81° 28 ’ 39" W, Elevation 94 feet; GA-119 CONN. near GA-119, Ivanhoe, Bulloch County, Georgia. A right turn onto GA-119, a few feet ahead, will take you to the bridge that separates Bulloch and Effingham Co.

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