The location of Prosser's grave is of importance not only for purposes of maintaining a family ancestry record, but also due to the likelihood that he was a Revolutionary War soldier. It is clear from his estate documents that he was living along the Walnut Creek/River at the time of his death: "lying on the north side of the Walnut fork of the Oconee" and "the south west side of Walnut Fork of the Oconee". This area is probably just north of present day I-85 near Braselton in Jackson County, Georgia but it could also have been south of I-85 too. His estate papers list names of buyers and notes owed to various individuals all of whom are known to have lived in the area around present day Braselton. Jacob Braselton, Jr. was one of the appraisers of Prosser's estate. Jacob Braselton lived near the present day town of Braselton (the town is named for his family). Typically, the estate appraisers were close family members or neighbors and associates of the deceased who would have lived close-by. His estate papers also indicate money spent for "pailing in and painting the grave of the deceased" which indicates that an iron railing or substantial fence enclosure was built at his gravesite. The author believes there are 3 possible locations for his grave. The author has physically searched and researched these locations but has thus far been unable to locate his grave. Note too that the estate of Daniel Crumpton will soon release books which contain the early plats of Jackson, Gwinnett and Hall counties that might show exactly where Prosser's lands were located. These would be of immense help in narrowing down the search area.
Near the Mulberry River and Highway 11
According to a DAR document that can be found in several publications, his grave was located and marked in 1926. The only location specified in this record was that it is "near O'Shields Bridge" in Jackson County, GA.[1]
The O'Shields Bridge referenced was likely located at or near the present day bridge of Highway 11 where is crosses the Mulberry River in southern Jackson County.[2] See maps attached.
The author contacted many current homeowners living in this area and none are aware of any graves on their property. One local resident (Mr. Jimmy McDonald who owns the Hays-McDonald Farm) who is very familiar with the history of the area provided the author with a guided tour that included a trip through the woods to an old cemetery that was formerly on Horton lands.[3] This old cemetery had only 1 marked grave (That of Mary Ann Mitchell). There were numerous indentations in the ground and several fieldstones marking graves but there was no indication that a Revolutionary War marker ever existed. This is a potential site for his grave because it is close to the "O'Shields Bridge" and it was Horton owned land at one time. In fact, Mr. Jimmy McDonald indicated that at one time, a Horton home was built only a few hundred yards south (towards the Mulberry) from this location before it was moved to a new location near the present day Corner-Stone Church. The house was demolished some years ago.
His widow Sarah K. Horton is shown as receiving 1 draw in the 1825 Land Lottery in Jackson County, Georgia as a widow of a Rev War soldier. She is listed in Captain Deaton's District #248. This record also apparently confirms his plantation as being in District 248 (assuming the Districts have not been redrawn).
Most of the land transactions for the Horton family and Mulberry River were many years after Prosser's death. The author found only one transaction involving Prosser for land on the Mulberry. Most of the transactions with his name on them were for the Walnut, Indian, Curry's and N. Oconee waterways. However, he may have owned land along the Mulberry which was kept in the family after his death.[4] For instance, there are three transaction in 1838 between John O'Shields to John Horton for a total of 225 acres along the Mulberry which may indicate that the lands along the Mulberry were in fact owned by later generations of Hortons and even possibly the land around "O'Shields Bridge" and "O'Shields Spring" is noted. This transaction took place 15 years after Prosser's death.
The main problem with this location is that it is not where he appears to have had his main home or where he was living at the time of his death. It is almost a certainty that his descendants lived here and his grave may have been moved or he may have simply been buried on property that was "in the family" but it is a full 6 miles from the Walnut Creek/River where his plantation was located.
The "Horton Family" cemetery
The Horton family cemetery is located on present day Sam Freeman Road near Braselton. [5] There are only 2 large fieldstones lying flat on the ground but apparently there are more grave markers here that have perhaps been covered up over the years.
This cemetery is near Indian Creek and Prosser owned land on this creek. See page 54. Item #3 where Prosser is noted to have purchased 376 acres of land on Indian Creek. This cemetery is also very close to the Walnut Creek/River where he had his plantation and it is only about 1 mile to the Walnut Fork Baptist church where so many of the buyers listed at his estate sale were members and are buried. [6] It also happens to be on the same road as the church (roads may have changed).
The Zion and DeLaprerriere [7] cemeteries are also less than 1 mile away.
Thomas Niblack's store was also located nearby – just to the east.
Someone has named this the "Horton Cemetery" – it would be of great value to know how the name came to be given: Obviously someone at one time knew that at least one Horton is buried here but which one. It is likely that Prosser's brother James is one of these graves.
This cemetery could have been considered to be "near O'Shields Bridge" back in 1926 but in today's relative distances used for reference it would not be considered as "near" the bridge (approx. 5 miles).
The land along the Walnut River near where his plantation was located
Less likely than the 2 locations noted above, but it is possible he was buried on his plantation lands somewhere along the Walnut River/Creek. I state "less likely" only because the DAR records indicate that his grave was located in 1926 near "O'Shields Bridge" and his plantation was likely along the Walnut River some 5-6 miles away.
Prosser Horton's Likely Burial Locations
(Map courtesy Jackson County Archives; Annotation by the author)\
[1] 29th Report of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, January 8, 1927 and Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Volume 2, p.68
[2] Author's research.
[3] GPS Coordinates: 34.0580170,-83.6650670
[4] Land transfers to descendants/family members were not always officially recorded.
[5] GPS coordinates: 34.10553, -83.72706
[6] The Jacob Braselton family and Clayborn Maddox for instance.
[7] John Randolph is buried at Zion and James Cochran at Delaperriere/De Laperriere.
(This page was updated on 10/5/2021)