Descendants of George Neilson Generation No. 1 1. GEORGE1 NEILSON. Notes for GEORGE NEILSON: "Neilson, George. Jacobite Prisoner. Transported to Maryland on Goodspeed, ex Liverpool, 28 July 1716. (Calender of State Papers. Colonial Series, America and West Indies, 1716-17. edit. Cecil Headlan. London, 1930) 4835"(6) "(George Neilson) arrived Md Oct 1716" (7) "Neilson George Jacobite captured at Preston. Transported from Liverpool to Virginia on the Godspeed, master Arthur Smith, 28 July 1716. Sold to Charles Digges in Maryland 18 October 1716 (History of Maryland)" (8) "Charles Digges... of "Warburton Manor", PGco (Prince Georges County; was born c. 1676. He married Susanna Maria, dau. of Henry Lowe, Sr., of St. Mary's Co., (will October 25-Nov 6, 1717). She was left 100 pounds by her father; and in the will of her brother Nicholas (proved May 22, 1729) she is left "Bennett's Lowe" and Green Oak in Kent Co., and "Spries Hill" in Cecil Co. He made his will Jan 28, 1742, and it was proved May 28, 1744, and in it his wife is not mentioned." (9) "I have found James Nelson paid taxes in Chester from 1730-40. Then we have William, Robert, Patrick, Alexander and James paying taxes in Chester from 1749-60, all in the township of W. Nottingham." (5) His children, apart from Hannah, were John, Catherine, Ann, Rebecca and Robert.(1) "Nelson, William. Taxable in Spesutia Upper Hundred in 1774. (Ref: U) " (2) 1790 Census Frederick County William Nelson 1 FWM 16+ 4 FWM 16- 2 FWF "Nelson, William of Cecil Co., Md., had brothers Jarrett and Benjamin; came to My Ladys Manor in 1753; had iss.: John; Hannah, b. 1757, m. Thomas Hope; Catherine, m. Archibald Simpson; Ann, m. John Wiley; Rebecca; and Robert ("Nelson, Smith, and Pocock Records," as the Md. Hist. Soc.)" (3) There are several hints of the location of My Ladys Manor. First, it is in Baltimore County. According to an undated (1929?) funeral notice supplied by Kathy Foland, "Howard Nelson, a well-known farmer of My Lady's Manor... a native of My Lady's Manor. At one time he was road supervisor of the Tenth District... The funeral will be held... from St. James Episcopal Church, My Lady's Manor." A seperate notice states "Conveyances will be at Monkton to meet train leaving Baltimore." Monkton is just over the Baltimore County line from Harford County on Maryland Highway 138 which turns south from Maryland Highway 142 which runs through Madonna. Other Nelsons resided in White Hall (apparently in Baltimore County), Madonna and were related to the Bradenbaughs after who an area north of Madonna is named. The notice for Howard Nelson may also have a clue for where William came from in Cecil County. There was an Episcopalian church at My Lady's Manor. If William was an Episcopalian, he may have come from the West Nottingham Hundred. "The Hopewell M(ethodist) E(piscopal) church came into existence about the time of the organization of the Goshen society (1802). The first house of worship... was probably built in 1810... The trustees were... George Nelson (possibly a relative)... all of West Nottingham Hundred." (4) 1) Doris Floyd (CEGZ19A-Prodigy) 2) Early Harford Countians, p. 352 3) Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759, Robert W. Barnes; Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. p. 466 4) George Johnston, History of Cecil County, Maryland; Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Reprinted 1989 5) David Nelson (SRHA13A-Prodigy) 6) A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the U.S.A.; comp. Donald Whyte (Baltimore, 1972) p. 344 7) The Original Scots Colonists of Early America (1612-1783); David Dobson (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1989) p. 260 8) Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations (1650-1775; David Dobson; (Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co. 1983) p. 171 9) Digges of Maryland; Being a study of the descendents of Governor Edward Digges of "Bellfield" in Virginia through his eldest son Col. William Digges who settled in Maryland about the year 1680; co mpiled by Edwin Pountey Davis 1941 p. 7 (found in NYG&BS library) Other Nelson Researchers: Jackie Powell (DNCV64A-Prodigy) Kathy Foland Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild Ship Good Speed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Liverpool, England to Annapolis, Maryland 18 October 1716 A List of the Rebell prisoners transported into this province in the Ship Good Speed, on the 18th Day of October, Anno Domini 1716, with the names of the persons who purchased them: Prisoners Names. Purchasers. Wm Macferson Michael Martin Tho. Shaw Michael Martin Miles Beggs Michael Martin John Macgregier Rich'd Eglin Daniel Steward Rich'd Eglin Duncan Ferguson John Fendall John Mackewan John Fendall David Graham Charles Digges Wm. Johnson Charles Digges Jas. Mallone Charles Digges Geo. Nuelson (Neilson) Charles Digges John Chambers Charles Digges James Sinclare Henry Wharton Alexr. Orrach Henry Wharton John Stewart John Middleton Patt Smith Gustavus Brown Geo. Hodgson John Nelly Malcolm Maccolm John Wilder James Mac Intosh Henry H. Hawkins John Cameron Wm. Penn David Lander Francis Goodrich Francis Macbean Charles Born Wm. Simpson John Rogers John Kennery Marmaduke Simms James Bowe John Philpott Laughlin McIntosh Henry Miles Alexr. McIntosh Daniel Steward Wm. Ferguson John Bruce James Dixon John Bruce Ricd. Withington, Randall Garland. (This may be our Witherington! Barry Wetherington (Witherington-L) Tho. Berry Randall Garland Jas. Maclearn Randall Garland Rowl'd Robertson Thomas Jameson Ninian Brown Thomas Jameson Daniel Kennedy John Courts Patrick Mackoy John Courts Angus Macdormott John Courts James Mac Intosh Robt. Hanson Hugh Macdugall Robt. Hanson John Maccollum John Hawkins Wm. Shaw John Hawkins Hugh Mac Intire John Vincent Finloe Mac Intire John Penn Richard. Birch Benj. Tasker James Shaw Jno. Donalson Danl. Grant Wm. Macchonchia Hugh White Danl. Bryant James Rutherford Arthur Smith Tho. Hume Judith Bruce James Renton Unsold Alexr. Macgiffin Runaway Humphrey Sword James Sumervill John Shaftoe Dead Maryland, 28th April, 1717. Sire: I am honored with the Favour of yours of the 16th of August post, Signifying His Royall Highness, his Pleasure, to return exact Lists of the Rebel Prisoners that have been landed in this Province. In obedience to His Royall Highness, to whose Commands I shall ever pay a most dutifull Submission, I have inclosed you exact Lists of all the Rebel Prisoners that are come to this Province, Indorsed on the Proclamations I published by the advice of the Councill here which were formed from the Letters I had the honur to receive from the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Stanhope on that occasion, And exprest in such a manner as might be consonant to his Majesty's merciful Intentions of sparing the Rebels' lives, and securing their Persons for the space of seven years in the plantations, and also to give due encouragement to the Inhabitants of this Province to Purchase them for servants. I was comanded by Mr. Secretary Stanhope's Letters (which I answered,) to oblige the Rebel Prisoners toenter into Induentures serve for seven years, and upon their Refusing to Indent, I published the Inclosed Proclamation, which had the effect propos'd, of their being immediately purchased by the Respective Persons whose names are likewise sent to you for your further sattisfaction, that his Majesty's Pleasure has been punctually obey'd. Some of the Rebel Prisoners have run away from their Service, but on Complaint of their Masters I have given strict orders for the Apprehending of them whereever they shall be found in the Province. I hope that what I have transacted in relation to the Rebel Prisoners will be considered by you as agreeable to that Duty I owe to his Sacred Majesty's Commands for whose Service I have a most Inviolable Zeal, and shall embrace all occasions to demonstrate it, and that I am with very great respect, Sir, Your most obedient and most faithfull humble Servant, JN. HART. Richard With(er)ington and the Jacobite Prisoners Transported to Maryland on the Ship Good Speed- 1716 (from Liverpoole) and other interesting things. By Michael A. Smolek April 30, 1999, edited May 1, 1999 Jacobite Prisoners In 1716 two ships, the Friendship of Belfast and the Good Speed of Liverpoole, arrived in Annapolis Maryland with Jacobite prisoners taken in the Rebellion at Preston, in Lancashire. These two shiploads of prisoners were sent over after the defeat of Mar and Derwentwater's risings in 1715-1716 (Scharf 1880:385). Listed among the prisoners is a Richard With(er)ington , a Jacobite, who was transported 28 July 1716 on the ship Good Speed which arrived in Maryland in October, 1716 (Dobson 1992:v-vi). After the political union of Scotland and England in 1707 all restrictions on trade between Scotland and the colonies were lifted. The Scottish Burghs expanded their economic links to the Chesapeake, but the first major group of Scottish emigrants to arrive were the Jacobite prisoners captured after the Siege of Preston in 1715 and subsequently banished to America. (Dobson 1992:v-vi) Jacobites fought for the restoration of the House of Stuart well into the 18th century and their devotion stemmed variously from their belief in divine right, attachment to Catholicism, and later with their discontent with the Hanoverian Dynasty. Richard Witherington was probably a Catholic who was being banished to the Catholic colony (Maryland). The prisoners were sold into indenture for the standard seven year term. It is noteworthy that Richard's last name is variously spelled. In Dobson's Scots on the Chesapeake 1607-1830, which appears to have used several secondary sources to create the lists of names, Richard's last names is spelled Witherington. Whereas in the transcription of the documents provided in Scharf's A History of Maryland, he is referenced as Withington. In some subsequent documents he is listed as Withorington. It is probably of no real significance since the spellings of W....ington varies so wildly, however it may explain some of the various spellings in the descendant lines. The documents relating to the disposition of the prisoners were transcribed by Scharf (1880: 387-389) and the documents relating specifically to the Good Speed were re-typed and are presented below. The documents concerning the Ship Friendship were also included in Scharf but are not provided here. The Friendship carried eighty prisoners and the Good Speed carried 55 prisoners. According to the documents, transcribed below, Richard With(er)ington's indenture was purchased by Randall Garland. Garland also purchased the indentures of Thomas Berry and James Maclearn. A quick search of the Maryland State Archives probate records indicates that Randolph Garland's Will was probated in Charles County, Maryland in 1722 (State Records Liber 17 folio 299, County records Liber AB3, folio 159). No mention of Richard Witherington is made in the Garland will, however there also survives three Perogative Court accounts from 1723, 1724 & 1727, as well as inventories from 1722 and 1723. The Accounts are listings of payments related to settlement of the estate. In one of these account listings Rd. With(o)rington is listed as being paid 600 lbs of tobacco. This provides several very important bits of information. First and most importantly, Richard With(o)rington was no doubt still living in the area of his (former) master's residence of Charles County, which is adjacent to St. Mary's County. Secondly, the absence of a bequest in the will is evidence that the payment was owed Rd. With(o)rington, rather than being left something in Garland's will. Thirdly, it also indicates that although Richard's indenture was probably for the term of the standard seven years, only six years after his arrival he was probably already free. His former master died owing him. It was fairly common for indentured servants, if they earned outside income, to be able to buy themselves out of indenture. The shortage of labor in the region provided many opportunities. Richard Witherington/Withington/Withorington a Jacobite Catholic came to Southern Maryland where he was welcome in this significantly Catholic region. He may be the original founder of the St. Marys/Charles County Withington/Witherington[Worthington(?)] families, however it is unclear how he relates to James and Thomas Withington [Note: Jean Witherington indicates that she had understood that this Richard W...ington had no issue- May 2, 1999] A Curious Coincidence or Unknown Connection On the ship the Good Speed there was a James Somervell. According to the Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature James Somervell (Somerville) was a physican who studied at the University of Edinburgh. He was captured at the Battle of Sheriff Muir in 1715 and was transported with the other prisoners. Dr. Somervell settled in Christ Church Parish, Calvert County where his descendants still reside. Curiously, on the inventory of Robert Widdrington/Witherington who died in Calvert County in 1722 James Somervell is listed as a creditor. In fact the only creditor. It is probably only a strange coincidence that James Somervell happened to be one of fifty-five Catholic prisoners on a ship that also brought Richard With(o)rington to Maryland and that Somervell later became involved with possibly the only other known Witherington family (Robert) in the Maryland colony at the time. It is certain that Robert and Richard were not the same person, although they may have been related. Robert Widdrington/Witherington, his wife's ancestors and subsequent families appear to be Quakers and/or Protestants rather than Catholic, although this is only an impression. In a further twist of fate, James Somervell's son, James Somervell (1731-1774) married Susannah Dare, daughter of Gideon Dare. Gideon Dare's aunt was Elizabeth Dare Widdrington/Witherington who was married to Robert Widdrington (d. 1722). References Calender of State Papers Colonial America and the West Indies (London, 1880) Calendar of Treasury Books (London, 1904) series Dobson, David 1992 Scots on the Chesapeake 1607-1830 Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21202. Papenfuse, Edward C, Alan F. Day, David W. Jordan and Gregory Stiverson 1985 A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789. The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore and London. Scharf, J.S. 1880 History of Maryland: Hatsboro, Smith, Clifford Neal Transported Jacobite Rebels, 1716. National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Vol. 64 No. 1, pp. 27-34. (Note: This reference was not consulted as it was unavailable at the time this was written.) Copies of documents related to the Jacobite Prisoners Att a Councill held at the City of Annapolis, in the Province of Maryland, on the Eleventh day of January, in the third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King George, and in the second of his Lordship's Dominion, &c. Annapolis, Anno Domini 1716. Present: His Excellency, John Hart, Esq., Governour in Chief, &c; The Honorable Col. Wm. Coursey, Lt. Col. Sam'l Young, John Hall, Esq'r, Phile. Lloyd, Esq'r Col. Rich. Tilghman, & Col. Tho. Smyth. Resolved and Ordered, That a proclamation issue, declaring whosoever setts free any of the Rebbells transported into this Province, in the Ship Good Speed, shall give security for their abideing in this province, and be of good behaviour for the term of Seven Years, as follows: By his Excellency, the Capt Generall, &c. A PROCLAMATION Whereas, There has been transported into this province by his Majesty's Royall Command, fifty-five persons, most of them Scots, men taken in the late Rebellion at Preston, and Imported in the Ship the Good Speed, of Liverpoole. Whereof Arthur Smith is commander, concerning whom his Majesty has been graciously pleased to Signify to me by Letters from the Right Honourable James Stanhoupe, Esq. One of this Principall Secretarys of State, dated at Whitehall the fourth day of May last, that it was his royall pleasure that the Rebbells so taken & Imported as aforesaid should either enter into Indentures to serve such persons as would Purchase them for the term of Seven Years, or otherwise, that on the Sale of such who should refuse so to do, I should grant to the respective purchasers or Masters under my hand and Seale a proper Certificate that it was his Majesty's pleasure the said Rebbells so transported into this province should be sold by the factor of Messrs. Richard Guildard & Company to serve the term of aforesaid, And aforemuch as fifty of them have been sold to the severall purchasers as by the list hereunder written is expressed, and that John Shaftoe is dead, And Humphrey Sword and Alexander Macgiffin have exempted themselves To the end, that his Majesty's pleasure may be duly complyed with in this province, and that the said runaway Rebbells be retaken and Subjected to his Majesty's commands by proper certificates by me to be granted therefore; And the traiterous & wicked attempts and designations of the said Rebbells may be entirely Obviated, and their persons secured within this province during the term aforesaid. I have thought fitt by and with the advice of the Lordship's the Lord Propiertary's honourable Councill to issure this my proclamation notifying the same , and Comanding and requiring all Officiers, Military & Civill, and Especially all Sherriffs, Magistrates, & Constables, to use their utmost endeavors uponv notice or knowledge of any the said Rebbells absenting themselves from their said Masters or purchasers to apprehend and secure their persons, and oblige them to remain in their bounden Service according to his Majesty's royall directions, and particularly to apprehend the aforesaid Humphrey Sword and Alexander Macgiffin, and bring them before me to be dealt with according to Justice and their Demerritts, and further, I do hereby will and require all Officiers, Magistrates, Sherriffs & Constables, and other his Majesty's good Subjects within this province in case of any the said Rebbells being sett free by their respective Masters or purchasers, immediately to Apprehend and bring them before the next Magistrate, who is hereby required to oblige them to give good security not to depart, but remain in this province dureing the term of Seven years from their Arrivall in this province, and also to be of good abearance towards his Majesty and his Lordship's Government in this province, or otherwise comitt them to the County Gaole, there to remain till such further proceedings may be had against them as their Demerritts shall require, And to the end that all persons may have due notice hereof, and none pretend Ignorance, I do hereby in the Lordship's the Lord Proprietary's name command and require the respective Sheriffs of the severall Counties in this province to publish this my proclamation at all Churches and Chappells of Ease, and others the most frequented places in their said Counties , whereof they are not to fail at their perills. Given at the City of Annapolis under the broad Seal of the province the eleventh day of January, in the 2nd year of his Lordship's Dominion, &c., Anno Domini, 1716. God save the king. JNO. HART. JNO. BEARD, Cl. Councill Vera Copia. Correspondence 1/8/01 passengers I found not one but two ancestors on the Ship Good Speed. My 6th great grandfather's name is misspelled. It should be, George NEILSON not NUELSON. Information that I have: "Neilson, George. Jacobite Prisoner. Transported to Maryland on Goodspeed, ex. Liverpool, 28 July 1716. (Calendar of State Papers. Colonial Series, America and West Indies, 1716-17. edit Cecil Headlan. London, 1930) 4835" (6). William Johnson was also on board the Ship Goodspeed. George Neilson changed his name from NEILSON to NELSON. He married (?) and had three sons, Jarrett, Benjamin and William. His son William married Hannah JOHNSON, daughter of William Johnson. I would be most interested in finding anyone else who is researching these families. I will gladly share the information that I have on the descendants of George..........my information on William Johnson ends with Hannah. Mary Nelson Pazur Generously donated by Barry Wetherington Formatted by Mary Ross for the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild 17 August 1999 ISTG™ NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in whole or part in any format for presentation, distribution or profit by anyone without the express written consent of the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild. Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild is independently owned. Created & Maintained by the ISTG™Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild Volume 2 Total Number of Ships Transcribed in Volume 2: 1000 Last entries added: 25 January 2000 Corrected, updated or correspondence added: 5 March 2001 Children of GEORGE NEILSON are: 2. i. WILLIAM H.2 NELSON, b. Abt. 1720, Cecil Cty., Maryland; d. Aft. 1790, My Lady's Manor, Md.. ii. JARRETT NELSON. iii. BENJAMIN NELSON. Generation No. 2 2. WILLIAM H.2 NELSON (GEORGE1 NEILSON) was born Abt. 1720 in Cecil Cty., Maryland, and died Aft. 1790 in My Lady's Manor, Md.. He married HANNAH JOHNSON Abt. 1745 in Maryland, daughter of WILLIAM JOHNSON. Notes for WILLIAM H. NELSON: William Nelson of Cecil County, Maryland, had brothers Jarrett and Benjamin; came to My Lady' s Manor in 1753; had Issue: John; Hannah, b. 1750-1, m. Thomas Hope; Catherine, m. Archibal d Simpson; Ann, m. John Wiley; Rebecca; and Robert (Nelson, Smith and Pocock Records, at th e Maryland Historical Society) (3) There are several hints of the location of My Lady's Manor. First, it is in Baltimore County . Acccording to an undated (1929) funeral notice supplied by Kathy Foland, "Howard Nelson , a well-known farmer of My Lady's Manor.........a native of My Lady's Manor. At one time h e was road supervisor of the Tenth District...The funeral will be held...from St. James Episc opal Church, My Lady's Manor". A separate notice states, "Conveyances will be at Monkton t o meet train leaving Baltimore". Monkton is just over the Baltimore County line from Harfor d County on Maryland Highway 138 which turns south from Maryland Highway 142 which runs throu gh Madonna. Other Nelsons resided in White Hall (apparently in Baltimore County), Madonna an d were related to the Bradenbaughs after whom an area north of Madonna is named. The notice for Howard Nelson may also have a clue for where William came from in Cecil County . There was an Episcopalian Church at My Lady's Manor. If William was an Episcopalian, he m ay have come from the West Nottingham Hundred. The Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church cam e into existence about the time of the organization of the Goshen Society (1802). The firs t house of worship was probably built in 1810...The trustees were....George Nelson (possibl y a relative)....all of West Nottingham Hundred. (4) 1) Doris Floyd (CEGZ19A-Prodigy) 2) Early Harford Countians, p. 352 3) Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759, Robert W. Barnes; Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc. p . 466 4)George Johnston, History of Cecil County, Maryland; Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc. Reprin ted 1989 5) David Nelson (SRHA13A-Prodigy) 6) A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the U.S.A.; comp. Donald Whyte (Baltimore 1972). p . 344 7) The Original Scots Colonists of Early America (1612-1783l David Dobson, Genelogical Publis hing Co., 1989) p.260 8) Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations (1650-1775) David Dobson; Baltimor e Genealogical Publishing Co. 1983. p. 171 9) Degges of Maryland; Being a study of the descendants of Governor Edward Digges of "Bellefi eld" in Virginia through his eldest son Col. William Digges who settled in Maryland about th e year 1680. Compiled by Edwin Pountey Davis 1941 p. 7 (found in NYG&BS Library) Other Nelson Researchers: Jackie Powell (DNCV64A-Prodigy) Kathy Foland More About WILLIAM H. NELSON: Record Change: September 27, 2000 Children of WILLIAM NELSON and HANNAH JOHNSON are: 3. i. JOHN3 NELSON, b. Abt. 1747, Cecil (or Baltimore) Cty., Maryland. ii. CATHERINE NELSON, b. Abt. 1749. iii. HANNAH HOWE NELSON, b. January 19, 1750/51. iv. ANN NELSON, b. Abt. 1753. v. REBECCA NELSON, b. Abt. 1755. vi. ROBERT NELSON, b. Abt. 1757. Generation No. 3 3. JOHN3 NELSON (WILLIAM H.2, GEORGE1 NEILSON)1 was born Abt. 1747 in Cecil (or Baltimore) Cty., Maryland. He married ELEANOR1. Notes for JOHN NELSON: Information contained in the "Book" section, leads me to believe that Elinor (?) was married to John M. West before her marriage to John Nelson. My research for the mother of William continues. William's wife, Elizabeth married Samuel B. Head on February 12, 1812. JOHN NELSON, born c. 1750 in Maryland and died before Sept. 13, 1811 in Wilkes Co.GA. His place of residence during the Revolution was Wilkes Co. GA. He served under JOHN TWIGGS, Brig.-General, and took part in the Battle of Kettle Creek in Wilkes Co.GA. He was married to ELINOR______, who died before December 15, 1808. Only known child is WM. NELSON who married ELIZABETH _____; he died before 1806 in Wilkes Co.GA. [Source:DAR records at GA Dept of Archives & History] From book: Chronicles of Wilkes County (from Washington's Newspapers 1889-1898 Articles of Eliza A. Bowen, Rev. F.T. Simpson, S.A. Wooten, and Other, transcribed and edited by Mary Bondurant Warren (1978) The following from "Miss Eliza Bowen's History of Wilkes County" printed in Washington Gazette Nov. 2, 1889. SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF WASHINGTON "There is a curious old monument of the early settlers of Wilkes found in the Southeastern part of the county on what is now the plantation of Mr. And Mrs. Fortson. I saw it, Sept. 27, 1889. It is a flat rock of granite or gneiss, on which is cut in the stone a square; and joined to one of the square, a smaller parallelogram. At the top, there are cut in large bold letters, the words 'John Nelson.' At one side, are the words "Land Granted in 1775," and on the other side of the square is the date "1792," which evidently is the year in which the cutting was made. Among the old records in the ordinary's office at Washington, there are minutes of the Superior Court from 1779 to 1790. In them, the name of John Nelson is two or three times found on the Grand and Petty Juries. But I have a fuller account of him from Rev. F.T. Simpson, School Commissioner of Wilkes County who is his great nephew. John Nelson was a Marylander who came here and settled, and the figure I have described cut on stone was a map or plot of his land. Mr. Simpson took me to see this curious old monument. It was completely hidden in tall weeds and when these were torn away, it was necessary to scrape off the dirt with which the stone was encrusted before anything could be seen. As this was done, the letters came out clear and distinct though they had been exposed to wind and weather for ninety-seven years. Mr. Simpson's grandmother was Kitty Nelson sister to this John Nelson. Her husband was Archibald Simpson, enlisted as a Revolutionary soldier after John Nelson came to Wilkes County; and the brother went back to Maryland and persuaded his sister for protection and security, to come back to Georgia. She had two little boys, the youngest, William Simpson, was not much more than a baby, and she came to Georgia on horseback, bringing that child before her on the horse. After the Revolution was over Archibald Simpson joined his wife and children. This shows the attraction Wilkes had for settlers. This monument is the oldest one on stone in all the up country of Georgia. The oldest grave stones in the county are those of the family of Gen. Elijah Clark, in the Jordan-Hill burying ground near Clark's Station Church; but none of these date back to 1792. It would be a great misfortune to have this stone destroyed, and I am in hopes that some of the Simpson family will have it moved to our Library grounds if it can be done without breaking the inscribed portion of the rock. The boy, William Simpson, whom his mother brought on horseback from Maryland grew up to be the first person in Wilkes county to take out a patent. The old yellow document still exists in the hands of Rev. F.T. Simpson. It was a patent for a machine for the transmission of power, and it is dated 1818. There is a drawing of it attached, and the letter ears the autograph of John Quincy Adams, who was then Secretary of State, and afterwards became President of the United States. The autograph was a frank of the letter, making it go through the mail free. WASHINGTON GAZETTE, November 2, 1889." Fort Washington Park NOTE: THE STONE CAN BE SEEN ON THE WILKES COUNTY WEB SITE. Fort Washington Park is the site of a stockade built by the family of Stephen Heard, governor of Georgia - 1781. Cherokee and Creek Indians had ceded their land on June 1, 1773, and the settlers from Virginia arrived in December 1773. During the revolutionary period, this stockade was named Fort Washington in honor of General George Washington. In 1780 the revolutionary government of Georgia granted a charter to lay out a city to be named Washington, the first incorporated city in the country to be named for George Washington, nine years before he became our first president. The John Nelson Stone is located here, six miles north of the Fortson Place where the granite marker originally was located. Inscribed on the marker are: the year 1775, when John Nelson received a land grant from King George III of England; the year 1792, and the land grant survey. Located off the Public Square behind the courthouse in Washington, Georgia City of Washington, 1996 The American Revolution in Georgia Battle of Kettle Creek The backwoods of Georgia holds challenges for the British Army in Georgia. Many people in Georgia are strongly anti-British, so when Colonel James(?) Boyd and 700 loyalists set up camp along Kettle Creek on February 14, 1779, they know to be prepared for an attack. Only a couple of days before, on February 11, 100 Patriots attack them while crossing Van(n)'s Creek in spite of being outnumbered. Things were not going well for these Loyalists. Boyd is expecting additional men to assist in a strike against the Patriots. His men are not regulars and dissention fills the ranks. And the skirmish at Vann's Creek alert Colonels John Dooly and Andrew Pickens to the Loyalist's presence in Wilkes County. As was the custom, the Loyalist send scavengers out to find food. This morning about 150 men are out searching for food when Pickens attacks. With a combined total of 340 men, the Patriots attack in three columns, Col. Dooly on the right, Pickens in the middle and Elijah Clark, Dooly's second in command on the left. A small advance guard is sent in front of the columns to scout the enemy. Col. Pickens scouts are surprised by Boyd's Loyalist sentries and open fire. Alerted to the attack by the sound of gunfire, Boyd rallies his men and advances with a small group to the top of a nearby hill, where they wait behind rocks and fallen trees for the Patriots. To the left and right the men under command of Dooly and Clarke have problems crossing the high water of the creek and nearby swamps. Pickens continues his advance to the fence on top of the hill, where Boyd's men await the advancing Americans. On the approach of Pickens, the Loyalists open fire. Men at the lead of the column fall victim to the first rounds. Clarke and Dooly, unable to advance quickly through the cane, are helpless. By all accounts, outnumbered and caught by surprise, the Patriots are losing the battle. After the successful ambush, Boyd orders his men to retreat to the camp by Kettle Creek. In one of those events frequently labeled as fate, Boyd falls to the ground, dying from a musket ball. Seeing this, his troops panic and an orderly withdrawal turns into a nightmare for the 600 men under his command. Pickens rallies and advances his men towards the Loyalist camp. At the same time Dooly's men emerge from the swamp. Surrounded on three fronts, with the creek to their back, about 450 Tories follow Boyd's second in command, Major Spurgen, across Kettle Creek. While they are crossing the creek, Lt. Col Elijah Clarke emerges on the other side and charges with 50 men. The Loyalists flee, soundly defeated. Total losses: Loyalist 40-70 dead, 70 captured, Patriots 9 dead, 23 wounded. The men who flee the battlefield eventually make their way back to Wrightsville, although some are captured and hang later that year. Pickens, who became famous for his many battles in the Revolution would later write that Kettle Creek was the "severest chastisement" for the Loyalists in South Carolina and Georgia. Dooly is later brutally murdered by British Regulars. All of the photographs, graphics and text on About North Georgia (http://ngeorgia.com) are © Copyright 1994-2000 by Golden Ink unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. For more information please see our Copyright policy Child of JOHN NELSON and ELEANOR is: i. WILLIAM4 NELSON, b. probably Wilkes County, Georgia; m. ELIZABETH. More About WILLIAM NELSON: Record Change: September 27, 2000 More About ELIZABETH: Record Change: June 25, 2000