1787
We have a record for Prosser for Wilkes County in which he witnessed a land transaction between a James Scarlett and an Aaron Lipham on Little River.
In 1787, Little River formed the border of Southern Wilkes County and Northern Richmond County. Today it forms a portion of the southern border of Wilkes County.
There also is a record for May 1787 for a Stephen Horton as a witness to a land transaction on Little River between a Sampson Mounger and a Jordan Anderson. This Stephen Horton could be Prosser's brother. In the same month there is a transaction for a Thomas Horton.
There is a land transaction in August 1787 for a James Houghton (Horton?) in which he witnessed a land transaction on Sherrills Creek between a Charles Burke and a John Curtis. Unknown if this James Houghton is the brother of Prosser.
Sherrill's Creek is in present day Taliaferro County, Georgia and it lies SW of the city of Washington, north of Interstate 20. Sherrill's Creek is a historical landmark stream with several significant events that took place along its banks in the early frontier years of Wilkes County.
1789
There is a land transaction in June 1789 between William Houghton (Horton?) and Charles Burke for land on Sherrills Creek; James Houghton is a witness. Unknown if there is any relationship to Prosser and these Houghton men.
1790
There is a record for December 1790 in which a William Horton witnessed a land transaction on Little River between a Peter McFarlin and a Thomas Wingfield.
Tax Remnant Prior to 1790
There is a remnant Tax Digest from early Wilkes County (probably before 1790) which lists a Hugh Horton and a Steven Horton paying tax on land owned in Washington County. Note that Prosser Horton also owned land in Wilkinson County which county shared borders with both Washington County and Hancock (See Jackson County GA Tax Digests for Prosser). Wilkinson County was created in 1803.
A Henry Ledbetter is also listed on this tax digest - The Ledbetter family can be found in Orange County, NC, Wilkes and Jackson County, Georgia.
All of the above records are from Ruth Gillem Davidson's book. [1]
1793
Prosser is listed as a Sergeant with the 1st Company, 1st Battalion of the Georgia Militia in 1793 under Captain George Medlock. [2]
War of 1812 Soldier Listing
(GA Archives, non-copyrighted material)
Note the two Ledbetter names: John and Isaac. According to Roy C. Ledbetter, they are likely the sons of Arthur Ledbetter - not known if Arthur is related to Henry Ledbetter of Orange County, NC. [3]
Another interesting name that is also listed on the same militia document is Jacob Flournoy –possibly the great grandfather of John Jacobus Flournoy who was instrumental in the founding of the Georgia School For The Deaf in 1833. John J. Flournoy was deaf as was his older brother Marcus who is noted to have been born in 1795 in Hancock County. According to Frary Eldrod, John J. Flourney was also a resident of Jackson County.
John Jacobus Flournoy, Georgia School For The Deaf(Georgia Archives)
1795
May 29, 1795 – Prosser Horton was a witness to a land sale between Moses Going and wife Agnes of Warren County, GA to James Cozart [4]of Franklin County, GA. 684 acres of land in Franklin County. Proved by Horton in Warren County, December 2, 1797. [5]
Note that Hancock County in 1795-1797 shared a short border with Wilkes County near the present day city of Crawfordville.
There is a land record that Moses Going may have owned a mill on the Ogeechee River. [6] The 297 mile long Ogeechee river begins near Crawfordville. See also the early Orange County, NC records for a Moses Going as it might be the same man.
1797
While living in Warren County, GA, Prosser purchased 287-1/2 acres of land in Jackson County, GA from Charles McDonald and his wife Mary who were living in Hancock County, GA. The land was on the Walnut fork of the Oconee River. The tract was surveyed by John Hampton in 1784 and conveyed to Charles McDonald that same year. [7]
This Charles McDonald appears to be the husband of Mary Glas Burn and they are the parents of the two time GA Governor by the same name. Charles McDonald Jr. served from 1839 to 1843. He also served in the Georgia House of Representatives and two one-year terms in the state senate and he was a Brigadier General in the Georgia militia. [8]
Charles McDonald, Jr. built the Sweetwater Creek Mill in what is now Douglas County – a mill that was burned down by General Sherman during the Civil War. This is now part of Sweetwater Creek State Park. [9]
Later in his life he lived in Marietta in what was known as Kennesaw Hall and he served as a Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court from 1855-1859 while living in Marietta.[10] Sadly, Kennesaw Hall was also destroyed by Union troops during the Battle of Atlanta. [11]
1800s
There are also Hortons (Houghtons) that resided in Wilkes County that are listed in the many land lotteries: James (1803 & 1806), Elizabeth (1819).
__________________________________
[1] Grace Gillem Davidson. "Early Records of Georgia, Vol's I & II, Wilkes County", (1932, Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr.), Vol. 1, p. 265.
[2] Georgia Military Affairs, Vol. 1, 1775-1793, Georgia Archives, 1940, p.457
[3] Roy C. Ledbetter et al. "Ledbetters From Virginia", (1970, Wilkinson Printing, Dallas, TX)
[4] James Cozart's daughter Lively Brinkley Cozart is said to have married William Horton of Orange, NC in 1806.
[5] Helmers, Lois. "Early Records of Franklin County, Georgia". p. 129
[6] https://goyengoinggowengoyneandgone.com/state-georgia/
[7] Jackson County Deed Abstracts, Deed Book A, 1796-1799
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
[11] James Bolan Glover, Joe McTyre, Rebecca Nash Paden, Marietta, 1833-2000, Acadia Publishing
(This page was updated on 10/5/2021)