Found on Genealogy.com site (this is a pay site) snip of The History of Elbert Co., GA On the 5th day of February, 1780, the seat of government was, for the better protection of the records, removed to Heard's Fort in Wilkes County. Gover- nor Howley resigned to take his seat in the Continental Congress. George Wells, elected to succeed him, was shortly killed in a duel. Stephen Heard was then elected Governor. At this period the State of Georgia could claim the allegiance of but two counties, Richmond and Wilkes. The Royal Gazette, published in Charleston, South Carolina, carried the following item: "We hear the Rebel Junto are endeavoring to outdo each other in every species of rapine and villany. Even Howley and his associates were gentle- men when compared to this set. When such murdering villians as Dunn, INMAN, and McCay are colonels, councillers, and assemblymen, it is easy to guess what must be the result of their counsels. "This period was the darkest that Georgia experienced during the entire Revolution, but Governor Heard and his associates on the Council were able, by almost superhuman effort, to hold the long suffering Patriots together.