THE GEORGIA REFUGEES

 

Biographical Information

Of

Original Members

 

The following is a small listing of Wilkes County and Georgia Refugee militiamen (and associated women) and some information about them, gathered from various sources on the Internet.  Obviously, there were many more who served who are not listed here, so if you know of any additional members (serving from the years 1775-1783) who should be listed, please contact THE GEORGIA REFUGEES at atoglesb@bellsouth.net.  Please provide a web address to get us to the information, or send the information in your email.  PLEASE NOTE, we are relying upon the individual researchers to insure the accuracy of this list, so if any mistakes are noted, use the reference link to contact the source to let them know of any corrections, and drop us a line, too, so that we can make our own corrections. 

 

Also note that the listing includes members of the militia from all over Wilkes County, not just Cunningham’s Company or Dooly’s Regiment.  Many are listed as having served with Elijah Clarke. 

 

Clarke’s certifications of various men as having served under him has come under some scrutiny among scholars, along with some of the land claims in which he was involved.  This is due in part to the possibility of fraud in parceling out land warrants and lottery lands, and due to some confusion regarding to whom land could be granted.  A citizen with no military service could be awarded a land grant basically for not hindering the troops or other rebel enterprises.   There are many such applications certified by Clarke, but simply because he certified them does not mean that person was a soldier.  Further, soldiers from outside of Georgia who served under Clarke were awarded land.  Therefore, there may be some questions about whether the men listed as having served with him actually did.  We have decided to go ahead and include them on this list if the source states they were Georgia soldiers or serving in the Georgia militia, until such time as their service can be disproved.

 

Thanks to all for your assistance,

Terry Oglesby, Adjutant

 

Last Updated January 29, 2002

 

Alexander (?-?) and John Awtrey (?-January 2, 1788)—Officers in the Wilkes County Militia under Clarke.  (This Alexander and John are probably  the same persons as John and Alex Owtry listed in the muster roll further below.)

http://www.pone.com/ts/rw002.htm

 

Richard Aycock (1739?-1786?)—Wilkes County survey chain carrier, magistrate, justice of the peace, sheriff, married the widow of Dempsey Hinton, and was present at the Battle of Kettle Creek.

http://www.familyhistoryhouse.com/Research/Research%20A-G/Aycock/richard.htm

 

George Barber (1737?-1822)—Lieutenant and later captain in Wilkes County Militia under Clarke.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dmorgan/revol.html

 

Andrew Bankston (1754-18?)—Private under Clarke and Williamson.

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~gormleym/bankston/d175.htm#P175

 

William BlackListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Richard Burton (1735-1800)—Served under Clarke in Georgia.  No mention of wife’s violet eyes.

http://dubbie.tripod.com/wonder/dar1.html

 

Micajah BrooksListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Isham BurkeListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Robert Carr (1745?-March? 1779)—Captain under Dooly.  Killed by Indians near Beaver Dam Creek while on furlough.

http://www.gnbi.com/REGAN/maillist/Msg317.htm

 

Elijah Clarke (1733-December 15, 1799)—Nice capsule history of Clarke, including a short bit on his postbellum establishment of the independent Republic of Georgia (Trans-Oconee Republic).

http://home.earthlink.net/~cajunboy/ThePatriot/people/clarke.html

 

Hannah Harrington Clarke—The Heroine of the Hornet’s Nest.  Nice article about the life of Elijah Clarke’s wife by Beverly L. Pack.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~nwa/Clarke.html

 

Francis Coleman—Served under Clarke in Georgia.

http://dubbie.tripod.com/wonder/dar1.html

 

Thomas Connell, Sr. (1743?-1838?)—Served in the North Carolina Continental Line, emigrated to Wilkes County and served in Captain James Hawkins company.  Participated in the sieges of Augusta and Savannah.

http://www1.iwvisp.com/cmwood/CONSOUTH.htm

 

John Crutchfield of Fortunatus, b. 2-17-1748 in Hanover County, Va., died 4-3-1811, in Green County, Ga.—His name, along with Wm. Crutchfield (a brother or cousin) appears in the Wilkes County, Georgia Court Minutes in 1779, in a service related matter.  It seems Cols. Dooly & Pickins dispatched John and William into the British camp as spies, whereupon they were captured and had some explaining to do.  Contributed to Susan Gay-Peterson’s Glynn County, GA Website by Richard Crotwell a Crutchfield descendant. http://petersnn.org/petersnn/revwar.htm

 

William Crutchfield—All information points to this as being the man who was tried for treason at the Aug. 1779 Term of Wilkes County, Georgia Court, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged Sept. 6, 1779.  John was apparently acquitted.  From Susan Gay-Peterson’s Glynn County, GA Website, http://petersnn.org/petersnn/revwar.htm

 

John Cunningham—The second namesake of our group, and again a person for whom little is listed on the Internet.  Listed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

James Combs—Third Company of Wilkes County Militia (this is possibly a post war listing—clarifications would be greatly appreciated-the Adj.)

http://www.combs-families.org/combs/records/ga-wilk.htm#earliest

 

Austin Dabney—Learn about a gambler, horse breeder, free man of colour, and Georgia Refugee in this great article by Carole E. Scott.  Also read a bit about one of his contemporaries, Mammy Kate.

http://www.westga.edu/~cscott/dabney.html

 

William Daniell—Appears to have been in service in Wilkes County as a private under Clarke.

http://northernwinds.freeservers.com/daniell.html

 

John Dooly—The namesake of our recreated group, but for whom little is available on the Internet.  Listed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

William Evans (1746-1806)—Served under Clarke as a lieutenant.

http://www.combs-families.org/combs/marriage/dar-100.htm

 

Ebenezer Fain (August 27, 1762-December 29, 1842)—Born in Pennsylvania, fought in Virginia, South Carolina, and finally with Captain Cunningham’s Company.  Good information.

http://128.192.6.113/MyTestPage/faindocs.htm

 

William Fitzpatrick (1744-1823)—Served as a lieutenant under Clarke.

http://users.erols.com/someday/Fitzpatrick.html

 

Owen FlukerListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

William FreemanListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Charles, William, and Benjamin Geeslin—Names only, with the information that they served in the Wilkes County Militia.  We are awaiting more word from Mattie Thomas, the person who submitted the names (and possibly a distant cousin—she has an Oglesby in her lineage).

 

Charles GentListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Jesse Gordon (October 3, 1755-August 27, 1850)—Detailed letter to an U.S. Senator from Illinois noting Gordon enlisted and fought under several different officers, including Gunnell. 

http://www.iltrails.org/jackson/gordltr.htm

 

Daniel Gunnell(s) (1740?-1806)—Listed as Capt. 2nd Co. 4th Battalion, Wilkes County, 28 Oct 1777.   Fought at Kettle Creek,  Feb 14 1779. Listed as Wilkes Co Regiment, Ga. Militia (140 men), Wilkes Dragoons—Captain Daniel Gunnell. 

http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/JamesFGunnells/GUNNELLS/d0/i0000026.htm 

 

Robert Hamilton (?-1810)—Submitted by descendant Carol Whitehead; was a member of the Georgia assembly and a Colonel in the Sons of Liberty. He was one of the leaders in the tarring and feathering of the Colonial Governor Brown. He lived in Wilkes and Morgan County (AL) after the war and died in 1810 in Morgan Co.

 

William HammettListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Nancy Morgan Hart—aka Wahatchee, the War Woman.  Large webpage devoted to another of the larger-than-life women of Wilkes County. (They all seem to have been giantesses!)

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6651/

 

James HaysListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Jesse Faulkner Heard (1749 Virginia-1803 Wilkes Co).—Fought with Elijah Clarke as a rifleman.

http://familyclan.net/hunterjessei.htm

 

Dempsey Hinton (?-1779)—Died defending a fort near Kettle Creek

http://www.familyhistoryhouse.com/Research/Research%20A-G/Aycock/richard.htm

 

Absalom Hooper—Originally enrolled in the South Carolina Continental Line, captured at Charleston, escaped and fled to Georgia to fight under Clarke in Gunnell’s company.

http://www.fscompass.com/hooper/ahfdpnsn.html

 

Jesse HooperListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Lambeth Hopkins (1741?-1798)—Believed by some to be a brother of the elder Dennis, and who had been a sworn chain carrier in the 1756 survey for a Granville Grant of 200 acres to John Hopkins. Later he was in Montgomery County, NC. Still later, covering at least some of the Revolution years (1776-1783) he was in Wilkes County, GA, and served during the war in a company of Georgia Militia. He received several land grants -- some for his Revolutionary service -- and acquired fairly large landholdings.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jvoran/hopkins/lambeth.htm

 

There is also a listing at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ahopkins/ga-Clarke1.htm which contains a copy of the muster roll of Captain Carr’s Company from 15 September to 15 October, 1778, in which Hopkins and many more men are listed.  This list was found in the book Georgia’s Roster of the Revolution by Lucian L. Knight.  If any of you have any information about these men, please contact us:

 

John Owtry, first Lieut
George Runnels, second Lieut
Zachariah Henderson, Sargt
Lambert Hopkins
Robert Trapp
Saunders Walker
John Coats
Black Sanger
Alix Owtry, Ser
William Hopkins
Tunstall Roan
Wm. Jackson
Henry Summerill
Moses Trapp
Luke John Morgan
Asa Morgan
John F. Fling
Robert Hammott, Ser
Robert Hammot jr.
Wm. Phillips
Wm. Ellis
Fredrick Ellis
Edwd Hammett
Jacob Owtry
Jacob Williams
Isaac Williams
Dennis Maddod (sic)
George Bagby
Jonathon Higgin
Robert McNaon (sic)
Thomas Norton
Alex Owtry
John Phillips, Ser
Benjamin Phillips
Wm Young
Daniel Young

 

On January 26, 2002 we received a very nice e-mail from one of Lambeth’s relatives, Mr. Harold Hopkins.  With his kind permission, we post the following information.  This was taken directly from his e-mail and has been edited only slightly for content.

 

I've read your paper on the Georgia Refugees. I'm going to list below the website of Judy Voran, a descendant of Lambeth.  Here's the URL for the Index of Hopkins, which includes other links to other members of the family or families to which she is connected. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jvoran/hopkins/hopkinsfr.htm

If the John Hopkins in Orange Co. NC was a Quaker when the county was formed in 1752, he may have been the last, because Lambeth served in the Georgia militia unit in Wilkes Co. and his wife (Priscilla Bankston) was a charter member of a Baptist church (Mars Hills Baptist Church in Clarke Co. GA -- now Oconee Co.). Lambeth's presumed brother Dennis Hopkins took an oath of fidelity to the NC colony, provided information for his taxables, sold provisions (on credit) to the NC militias, and had a son who served in a militia unit (and whose Quaker wife was excommunicated by the Quakers for marrying a non-Quaker; i.e., marrying out of unity.)

 

The John Hopkins documented in Talbot Co. MD and the John documented in Orange Co. NC were both illiterate, as was the NC John's presumed son Dennis Hopkins (my ancestor), believed to be Lambeth's brother, Dennis, but not Lambeth.

 

Lambeth and his eldest son William Hopkins (b. 1764) were serving together in Dooley's militia unit in 1778. when they apparently were overrun by the British Army and fled, presumably with all or most of the other members of the company. I believe that Lambeth probably returned to Anson Co., NC. The area of Anson to which he returned had now become Montgomery Co., NC. He was on a Montgomery Co. NC list of taxpayers in 1780, I believe, but had returned to Georgia about 1785/86.

 

Several members of Dooley's outfit had been in Anson County in the late 1760s and early 1770s before migrating into Wilkes Co. GA. I suspect that some of them, including Lambeth, simply returned to Montgomery Co. NC, which had earlier been part of Anson (Lambeth had been on an earlier list of petitioners asking that a new county be formed from part of Anson, and that's what happened).

 

Serving with Lambeth were William, his oldest son, at about age 14; also several Owtrys (Autreys), including Alexander Autrey, whose daughter Elizabeth married one of Lambeth Hopkins's older sons, John Hopkins, b. 1769. The Autrey families were later members of the Mars Hill Baptist Church in Clarke Co. This John Hopkins is Judy Voran's direct ancestor. Around 1800 this John moved from Greene/Jackson/Clarke Co. GA to Shelbyville in Bedford Co., Tennessee and c. 1813 bled to death from an arrow wound received in the War of 1812.

I believe that such people as the Autreys and others in the Dooley militia probably also returned to Anson/Montgomery Co. NC at the same time Lambeth did, and they probably corroborated each others' reports  about continuing to fight the British armies from NC, qualifying them for land bounties in GA. I suspect they took their families with them when they fled. Since William was only 14 years old I don't know how much service he could have provided in a guerilla type unit, but I believe he received a bounty grant in 1789, Lambeth having received one earlier, in 1786, both in Washington County. (one must be careful to distinguish this William Hopkins from another William Hopkins 1773-1815 in Wilkes Co.). Lambeth's son William was in Washington Co. and then Greene and Jackson and Clarke Counties and was a fairly large land speculator and co-owner of a store, and died about 1847 in Mississippi where he had migrated and was living with one of his sons (named Dennis).

 

Well, I think the point I wanted to make is that I believe Lambeth fled to Montgomery Co. NC (he may have still owned land there) and that others formerly from this part of NC may have fled with him. Dooley's list could be compared with a list of Georgia bounties. South Carolina is, of course, a possibility, but if he took his family, it would have been much more convenient to carry on his operations against the British from his former place of residence.

Harold Hopkins”

 

Our profound thanks Mr. Hopkins!

 

James Johnston—Possibly served under Clarke as a sergeant.

http://www.geneoakes.com/genesancestry53.htm

 

Dr. Thomas Johnson (?-September 5, 1805)—Served at a lieutenant under Clarke.

http://hometown.aol.com/hollwd/Betty.htm

 

Charles Jordan, II—Captain commandant of Fort Wells and Fort Rogers, died at Augusta during second British attack.  Sons Samuel, Dempsey and Charles III. http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/kettle/dempsey_and_samuel_jordan.htm

 

Charles Jordan, III (1764-August 1832)—Enrolled in Wilkes County militia in 1780, son of Charles Jordan II, brother of Dempsey and Samuel

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/kettle/dempsey_and_samuel_jordan.htm

 

Dempsey Jordan (December 6, 1754-November 3, 1833)—Son of Charles Jordan, II and brother of Charles III and Samuel.  Served under John McIntosh at Savannah, 1776-1778, then reenlisted with Elijah Clarke at Augusta.

http://www.orrellfamily.com/Members/BOB/BobALL/pafn97.htm and at

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/kettle/dempsey_and_samuel_jordan.htm

 

Samuel Jordan (August 18, 1749-1835)—Son of Charles Jordan, II and brother of Dempsey and Charles III, served at Fort Wells

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/kettle/dempsey_and_samuel_jordan.htm

 

Mammy Kate—Here is another, longer, article about Kate’s exploits from Beverly L. Pack.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~nwa/mammy.html

 

William Killgore, Sr. (?-1790)—Served under Elijah Clarke

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~allenatk/kilgen.htm

 

Shadrack Kimbrough (many spelling variations) (176?-184?)—Served from the fall of Augusta to the end of the war.

http://home.earthlink.net/~sks6/ga/shadk.html

 

John Lankford (1763?-184?)—Enlisted in the company of Captain Elijah Clarke, in the Wilkes County Militia.  On 7 April 1784 he was certified by General Clarke as a Revolutionary soldier entitled to bounty land. On 11 December 1784 he received pay from the U.S. Government for his services on an earlier expedition against the British in East Florida.

http://www.gate.net/~glang/johnlang.html

 

Fredrick Lawrence (?-1779)—Died some time after fighting at Kettle Creek.

http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/users/l/a/w/Henry-H-Lawrence/?Welcome=983479796

 

Thomas Leverett (May 12, 1755-June 8, 1834)—A Baptist preacher, born in Wilkes County, served first as a Ranger, and in 1780, joined Captain John Clarke's Company at Columbia Court House.  He served 18 months under Colonel Elijah Clarke, Josiah Dunn, and Samuel Alexander.  He was honorably discharged.  In 1781, he enlisted in the Georgia Continental Line, where he served for 3 years, until the close of the War.  Also had nine brothers who also served.

http://familyclan.net/leverittthomas.htm

 

James LittleListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

David MaddenListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Jacob Mercer—(April 12, 1753-August 6, 1837)—Heard’s Company, Dooly’s Regiment

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/kettle/jacob_mercer.htm

 

Joseph Nail, Sr.Listed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Joseph Nail, Jr.Listed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Benijah NoridykeListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Dionysius Oliver (1735-1808)—Site states he served as captain of a privateer, and fought at Kettle Creek and at King’s Mountain, later captured by the British.  After the war, founded the town of Petersbourough.  Hmm.  Busy fellow.

http://www.flash.net/~johnsonl/edoliver.htm

 

William Thomas Riddle—Tory or patriot?  Good article from a Riddle family researcher.  Included here because it is a good example of someone trying to figure out history though very muddy glasses.

http://www.jimcal.com/v03is01.htm

 

Drury and Reuben Rogers—Brothers serving in Wilkes County under Clarke

http://home.att.net/~jemjr/i262.htm

 

Archibald SimpsonListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Burnwell Smith—Major, Listed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

James (1725?-1799) and Nathan (1751-1816) Smith—Father and son who served with Elijah Clarke in Wilkes County.  Thanks to descendant Barron T. Smith for providing the names.

 

Peter Strozier—A compelling court account given by his widow, Margaret in applying for a pension.  Mentions that her husband fought at Kettle Creek, King’s Mountain, and other actions.  Very interesting read.

http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/l/a/Jonathan-Plant/FILE/0008text.txt  Also another portion of information can be found at http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/kettle/strozier.htm

 

James and Phillip Summerhill—Brothers who came to Georgia as members of the Maryland Militia and served under General Elijah Clarke (the particular battle is not listed)  Also granted a land warrant, which was sold to Clarke, and the brothers returned to Maryland.  Note that there is also a Henry Summerill in the muster roll above.

http://members.aol.com/ASRogers2/RevWar.html

 

Alexander Thompson (1739-1815)—A Refugee to Georgia serving under Clarke at King’s Mountain.

http://dubbie.tripod.com/wonder/dar1.html

 

Benjamin ThompsonListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

David H. ThurmondListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

George Tucker—Ranger with John Dooly, later spy and soldier under Clarke’s command.

http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/users/j/o/h/Addie-Johnson/?Welcome=982964610

 

Levin Watson—A very full and complete pension application given in 1833 detailing his service in Wilkes County, Georgia and in South Carolina, and his affiliations with various commanders.

http://www.inct.net/~german/revwar/watson.htm

 

John WebbListed on the Kettle Creek monument.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~gawilkes/roster.htm

 

Jacob Williams—Definitely NOT a Georgia Refugee, but rather one of their prisoners.  The following witness can be found on The On-Line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies (man, them Tories is a verbose bunch!) website:

 

“I do Certify that Some time in August or beginning of September 1778 I heard that one Jacob WILLIAMS was taken Prisoner Passing thro’ the upper parts of Georgia towards North Carolina, and carried before one Colo. John Dooly, who had him Searched, and found him to be an Officer in the Florida scout, which appeared by a Commission in his possession.

 

Some days after I went to the Fort w[h]ere he was confin’d and there saw him in Irons. I spoke with him & advised him what was first to be done and in a few days after I heard he had made his escape.

 

Thos. WATERS St. Augustine 14th May 1784”

http://www.royalprovincial.com/military/mems/nc/clmwilliams2.htm

 

James Williams—(1757-18?)  Fought under Elijah Clarke at Kettle Creek.

http://www.familyorigins.com/users/m/c/l/Linda-Lee-Mclinn/FAMO1-0001/d134.htm

 

Micajah Williamson—Brief mention, with the notation that he fought under Elijah Clarke (the nomenclature of the unit seems odd, so this may be a bit inaccurate-the Adj.)

http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/kemp/v881.html

 

James Yarbrough—Served under a Colonel Samuel Jack and under Clarke.  Many land grant records.

http://pages.prodigy.net/blankenstein/james.htm