The monthly meeting of the Rabun County Historical Society was held this past Thursday, March 15th. I attended to discuss the possibility of putting up a web site for the Historical Society to provide information on the group. The idea was tabled until the next meeting to give everyone a chance to think it over. The Society did agree, however, to allow me to put up a page with information on how to order the books they have for sell. I hope to have that ready soon. In the meantime, if anyone is interested in buying either "Sketches of Rabun County History" or "Rabun Co., GA and Its People", please e-mail me. If anyone on the list would like to join the Society or attend the monthly meetings, please let me know and I will give you directions to the museum. Sincerely, Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

The first 11 pages of the 1850 census are now online. There are 18 more pages to go. Each page is two parts, i.e. p. 315A and p. 315B. The index to this census is coming along well, also. The first 9 pages have been indexed thus far. The index will contain the names of everyone who was enumerated therein and will reference each individual by page number and by household number. The 1820 census is coming along nicely, too, thanks to all the researchers who have contributed information. In fact, there was enough information to start providing information on the individual families, such as which family members were here in 1820 (with birth years and places of birth included) and why we believe these families were in Rabun County at that time. Many thanks to all of you for stepping in and helping out with each of these censuses. Sincerely, Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

Hello, everyone Below is a census trail that I hope makes some sense. It is regarding my g-g-grandfather's family, Jackson Pressley, born about 1832, NC, and his wife Sarah Jane Vess, born about 1840, NC. On 1860 census, Henderson, NC., Mills River, Family 182 PRESLEY Jackson 22 Farm hand NC Sarah 19 NC William 3 NC James 1 NC On the 1870 census, Haywood County, NC Upper Pigeon District PRESSLEY Jackson 37 NC Farmer Sarah Jane 30 NC wife Thomas 13 NC son Franklin 11 NC son Montraville 5 NC son Jerallis or Jerables 2 NC son I do not find this family unit on any subsequent census records. However, on the 1880 Rabun County census, there is this listing: Tallulah District, ED 172, Page 1, Line 3 PRESLEY, Girillas, age 10, white male, born NC, enumerated as a servant in the household of Loransa C. HOLLIFIELD (Jerallis Pressley from North Carolina?) Also on the 1880 census, but in Buncombe County, NC again, page 4A in Hominy Creek Twp. #3, Family 61 is the following entry: GLENN, Eli white, male, age 67, farmer, born NC GLENN, Sarah J. white, female, age 39, wife, keeping house, born NC In 1891 Sarah Jane Vess Pressley is reported as residing in Buncombe Co, NC when her second son, my great grandfather James Franklin "Frank" Pressley, married his sister-in-law, Nancy Adaline Pressley. However, she is not named on the marriage application; the notation is that the groom's mother is living in Buncombe, the groom's father is dead. There is the possibility that the wife of Eli Glenn in 1880 in Buncombe County is Sarah Jane Vess Pressley, widow of Jackson Pressley. Her two eldest sons, William and Frank, were adults by 1880 and out on their own. I don't know where Montraville might be, and perhaps Jerallis is in Rabun County, GA, a 10 year old boy. On the 1900 Rabun County,Georgia census (just a few counties over from Buncombe County, NC), is the following: Pressly, Pinkney G 1869, NC, parents born NC Frank son 1891 Oscar son 1893 Laura dau. 1896 Gordon son 1898 Glen, Jane mother 1840, NC, parents born NC Is this Pinkney G. (for Girillas?) Pressly the same Jerallis Pressley, marrying into the Hollifield family with which he was living in 1880 at age 10, and his mother, Sarah Jane Vess Pressley Glenn? If anyone has anything to add, I'd be grateful. Thanks for your time. Thanks, Nancy Pressley Presley-Pressley Family History Site http://www.presley-pressley.com

The Last Will and Testament of Samuel Beck (1870) is now online at: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/rabun/wills/b2000001.txt Many thanks to Marian Miller for contributing this document.

I have had 2 people contact me about their early Rabun County ancestors. That still leaves a lot of people about whom very little is known. If any of y'all know anything about these early settlers, contact me. Please, please, please! Following is a preliminary list of families who were known to be in Rabun County in 1820: Luke Barnard Henry and Hannah Bowen Cannon Ralph Cobb Cleveland and Martha Coffee Charles Gates, Sr. Willis Gilly John Green James Jones Joseph Jones William and Bashaba Coffee Jones Chesley McKensie, Sr. Shadrack Morris David and Elizabeth Terrell Mozeley Edley Powell Tilghman Powell John White And families who were thought to be here that early: Gen. Edward and Elizabeth Neville Coffee Elijah Coffee Elisha Coffee Joel and Patsy Cobb Coffee John and Winnifred Neville Coffee Obediah and Mary Dillard Dickerson James and Sarah Barnard Dillard John and Ruth Dillard William and Rebecca Neville Price Any and all help with this project will be greatly appreciated! Sincerely, Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

Well, it is now official! The third marriage book for Rabun County, from 1868 to 1884, has all been transcribed! Almost all the records for this marriage book have been typed and alphabetized. After that, it needs to be proofread, but that should take no more than another week or two. So, look for this online soon! Also, be on the lookout for a bride index for the second marriage book (Book C, 1850 to 1868). I'm not sure when I'll have that finished, but hopefully soon. There are two more marriage books that I hope to get online before I run into the "date block" (the date after which the records could possibly violate someone's privacy). The next marriage book (#4) covers the years from 1883 to 1895. The fifth marriage book covers the years from 1895 to 1921. I'm not sure when or if books number 4 and 5 will be online. But, I do hope to go back through the first three books with a fine-toothed comb (so to speak) to tweak the names so that each record is as accurate as possible. Thanks to everyone who has helped straighten out who's who in these marriage books. Please, keep the corrections coming. Accuracy is of the utmost importance! Sincerely, Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

We have the first four pages of the 1850 census of Rabun Co., GA online. It can be accessed through the main page of the Rabun Co., GAGenWeb or through this URL: http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/census/1850/1850.html Please have patience while we get this online. Each page takes several hours to format and proofread before it can be added. Eventually, though, it will all be there, along with an every-name index. Hopefully this process will only take a few weeks. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome. Sincerely, Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

I am transcribing a will written in Rabun Co. in 1870 conveying some property in the Third District. I can't decipher the name of a branch, and I haven't been able to spot it on a map. The name looks something like Stite Glonse (?) but that may be way off. The line runs down William Hyde Branch crossing Warwoman Creek; thence a straight line across the ridge to the branch known as the Stite Glonse(?) branch. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Thanks, Marian Miller

Does anyone know about the following family? Thanks, Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Subj: town of Clayton Date: 2/22/01 7:19:09 PM Eastern Standard Time From: Loisandcarroll@gateway.net My husband's uncle may have been born in Rabun County in 1885. He had always said he was named for the town where he was born. His name was Lewis Clayton White. At one hundred years old (he lived to be 104, lacking one month) he told a newspaper reporter that he was born in "Clayburne" County Georgia. His parents were Andrew Pinkney White and Mary Elizabeth Wilkinson White. Lewis Clayton's grand mother, Permilia Stone White, likely lived with the family or near by. I noticed on one the Queries that there was an Indian Reservation in Rabun County, Permilia Stone White was supposed to have been Indian. Where could I find more information about the reservation? I would like to know if any one has any information on this family. Thank you. Lois White

Hello, I need HELP! I still believe that William "Elisha" Garrett, Known as Elisha by my relatives, was my great great grandfather. I have not been able to prove it or to disprove it. My problem is I have found nothing about William "Elisha" from August 1864, (when Muster Rolls show him absent without leave until about 1871. The years in between are unaccounted for & I believe that during this time he married a young lady (My Great Great Grandmother) Caroline Daniels/Daniel (Possibly Asley "Caroline Daniel/Daniels). I believe that they had a son Benjamin F. Garrett Born October 19, 1870, possibly in N.C./Georgia/Springtown, Arkansas, Benton County. Benjamin's death certificate list him as born in Springtown, Arkansas, Benton County. Also the death certificate list Benjamin's parents as Elisha Garrett & Caroline Daniels & both from Georgia. I know that a lot of people used their middle names instead of their first. Also the 1860 Federal Census list for Fannin County, Georgia list William "Elisha" as Elisha instead of William. The 1920 Gentry, Arkansas Census list Benjamin's Family, & list him as born in N.C./Georgia. I need help in filling in the missing years. Any Information on this would be very much appreciated. Thank You Mr.Gayle M. Garrett (I only used the Mr. to show gender) 1124 Easter Ave. WaKeeney, Kansas 67672-1936 Ph#. 785-743-2063 mailto:garr@ruraltel.net

Hello, I have been given information that the father of John Dillard is Edward Dillard. It was from someone on this list but I failed to get their source.If this is true I would love to know the proof. I have found reference to a will of a Thomas Dillard. I wonder if this Thomas could be John's father or uncle. John named his first son Thomas. Also one of the witnesses to the will is Nathaniel DICKENSON (maybe DICKERSON?) I'm enclosing the will in hopes someone knows who this Thomas Dillard is. Linda Atkins Spotsylvania County Records (genealogylibrary.com) DILLARD, THOMAS, Berkeley Parish, d. Oct. 23, 1774, p. Dec. 15, 1774. Wit. David Smith, Robert Wheeler, Nathaniel Dickenson. Ex. wife Sarah, son John Dillard, and Elisha Dismukes. Leg. wife Sarah, the old plantation adjoining Peter Mason and a parcel of land I bought of Robert Stubblefield; son Joseph; daughter Mary; my first wife's children Joseph, John, William, James, Thomas Dillard, Ann Pettes, Jane Devall, Lucy Luck, Hannah Dillard; my wife Sarah's children, Richard, Fielding and Mary Dillard. To son Thomas, 100 acres of land adjoining Richard Taylor; to son James, 100 acres of land I bought of John Williams; to son William, 100 acres of land which I bought of John Adam Linch; to son John, portion of land adjoining that which Ann Matthews lives on; to son Fielding, all the land I own adjoining Robert Coleman, John Coleman and George Shepperd; to son Richard, the land I now live on, adjoining Thomas Poole and Robert Coleman

I received the following e-mail as a query. Can someone on the list help Elise with her family? >>> Subj: Genealogy Date: 2/12/01 9:43:24 PM Eastern Standard Time From: eterrell@jackson.main.nc.us (Elise) To: Booleygirl@aol.com Hello! My name is Elise Terrell. I live in Sylva, NC. I am interested in learning as much as I can about some of my ancestors who lived and are buried in Rabun County GA. My great grandmother was Mary Kell. She married Calvin Speed, Jr. and is buried in the Kell Cemetery. I would like to know her birthdate and death date and also who her parents were. If you have any information about this family or how I can get the information I would appreciate very much if you would let me know. William Calvin Speed was born in 1837 (I think). Thank you, Elise

To Elise who wrote asking for help with the Speeds and Kells. I am of these lines and have alot of data I will be glad to share with you. Nancy Lehto

Free for 10 days GA Deaths 1919 - 1998 at: http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/5426.htm

Thanks for the census information. I'm new to the list. I descend from John Dillard and his daughter Mary who married Obediah Terry Dickerson. Their daughter, Patience Marie Dickerson married William Allen. Their son John Harvey Allen married Nancy Whitaker. Their son James Arthur Allen married Margaret Conley. They were my great grandparents. They were in Fannin and Gilmer Counties. They moved to Floyd County when their daughter, Vesta (my grandmother) was 9 months old. That was in 1906. I would like to hear from other descendants. Linda Atkins blwkk@aol.com

The 1860 Mortality Schedule for Rabun Co., GA is also online at: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/rabun/census/1860/1860mort.txt Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

After transcribing the 1830 and 1840 censuses for Rabun Co., GA two years ago, the wait to get them online may finally be at an end. I was recently in contact with someone at the USGenWeb Census Project who said that they will be putting them online, even though they have not been proofread yet (the proofreader assures me that he is still working on them). I am not sure how long this process will take (to get the censuses online), but hopefully no more than another month or so. Also, we are working on reconstructing the 1820 census for Rabun County, which was destroyed in a fire many, many moons ago. The URL is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/census/1820.html What's there is just a beginning, a list of people that we KNOW were here in that time period, plus a few who were PROBABLY here then. This list is admittedly incomplete; we're still sifting through the older records of the county to find additional families, so have patience. Everyone please stop by and let us know what you think. We need feedback; more importantly, we need your input. If you see a family listed that you have documented information on, or if you KNOW your family was here before 1829 and can provide sources, please let me know. "Family tradition" is a source, but you must list it as such! The reason why we're asking for any families who were here before 1829 is because eventually we would like to add a page for First Families (people who were in Rabun County before 1830). That's a little ways down the road, but be thinking on it. Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

There are several new additions to the digital archives for Rabun Co., GA, housed in the USGenWeb Archives (http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/rabun.htm): -Estate of John Coffee, 1822 -Pension Roll, 1915-1919, part 1 (soldiers) -Pension Roll, 1915-1919, part 2 (widows) Look for the following within the next few days: -Deed between T. Stamps and C. Gates, 1821 -Marriage Book 1, Grooms, CORRECTED -Marriage Book 1, Brides, CORRECTED Thanks to Marian Miller and another researcher (whose name I have, to my regret, now forgotten) for letting me know that there were errors in the original marriage files mentioned above. When accessing these two files, and only these two files, look for the phrase "corrected 11 February 2001" next to the title before using. If anyone has any records that they would like to add to the digital archives, please do not hesitate to contact me for further information. Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/

The next quarterly (usually) revision of the Old Pendleton District Database cd will be mailed on 15 March 2001. All outstanding requests will be filled at that time. The OPD Database is a project of the Old Pendleton District Chapter/SCGS and is based on a single gedcom containing over 300,000 names of those who lived in the OPD (+ancestors+descendants). The OPD was comprised of the area now occupied by the 3 westernmost counties of SC. Adjacent counties are GA and NC in addition to SC. To see more about the OPDC/SCGS, see: http://oldpendleton.homestead.com/index.html To see more about the inexpensive OPD database cd, see: http://jrshelby.com/opdcd/ This cd project had prior approval by Rootsweb before its initiation.

Now online through the GenConnect Will and Estate Records Board, located at: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ga/RabunWill --Estate of John Coffee, 1822 --Estate of Jasper S. Bleckley, 1852-1925 --Estate of Samuel Hefner, 1846 --Will of Allen R. Gaines, 1860 Now online through the digital archives for Rabun County, located at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/rabun.htm --Will and Probate of James W. Carter, 1864 --Appraisal of O. T. Dickerson Estate, 1874 --Inventory and Appraisement of H. B. Dobson Estate, 1912-1930 --Estate of Samuel Hefner, 1846 --Annual Returns for the Estate of J. E. McClain, 1906-1910 --Will of William McCurry, 1863 --Will and Estate of Drewry Wall, 1848 If anyone has will or estate records that they would like to contribute, please contact me at BooleyGirl@aol.com Dawn Watson Cabe CC/Rabun Co., GAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~garabun/