Anyone here have ancestors pass through Georgia? -- jws ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 10:44:42 EDT From: Joan Rose <JRose10700@AOL.COM> Subject: [IHF] Passports thru Georgia -- a bit of Indian lore Not to change the subject too drastically from Thunderbeings--- But here is an interesting little bit of American-Native American history that I picked up on another list and am passing on. It was in answer to my posting about how my forefathers may have come thru the South to get to Mississippi and Louisiana at the turn of the century -- the 19th Century. I had never heard of this before. And here is what I learned: >>> Georgia Passports - The State of Georgia in 1788 was on the frontier of the U.S. Numerous passports were issued for individuals to travel from GA through the Indian lands, specifically the Creek Indian Nation. Passports were granted only to those giving promise of good conduct while traveling through Indian country. The applicants were required to furnish references of good character from local officials or others in a position to vouch for them. (In some cases, the depositions survived but the actual passport did not). Authorities found it prudent to exercise caution in allowing travelers to enter the Creek Nation as it was important not to upset the balance of peace with the Indians. Travellers were required to obtain a passport from the Georgia Governor or the current Indiana Agent. The earlier passports found (1785) were recommendations for men to go into the Indian Nation to recover stolen horses or slaves or to collect debts. Later the object was to "view the country" with an eye toward moving there. Then they began to ask for passports to go as settlers. In 1809 and 1810 many passports were issued to citizens of North and South Carolina who were passing through GA in large groups with their families, their household goods on pack horses, their slaves, also their mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, etc. The passports seemed almost to stop in 1813, only two were issued in 1816, two in 1817, one in 1810 and four in 1820. This was probably due to the fact that many of the Indians had become allies of England in the War of 1812 and it was dangerous to go through the Indian Nation. By the time it was safe to go through this area again, the last lands in Georgia were secured from the Indians and there was no need for passports. SOURCES: (1) National Genealogical Society #21 - "Passports Issued by Governors of Georgia 1785-1820" contributed by Mrs. Mary G. Bryan, Director, GA Dept. ARchives & History & Mrs. J.E. Hays, State Historian (2)Potter, Dorothy Williams - PASSPORTS OF SOUTHEASTERN PIONEERS 1770-1823, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore 1982 <<< love joan