A Wilson Family Tree

Notes for Miles H. Gathright Jr.



WFT Volume 5, Tree 1346:

Miles Jr. was one of the first settlers to acquire land and settle in Jackson County, Georgia. He came to Wilkes County, Ga. about 1786 and died in Twiggs County, Ga. in 1815. In 1781 he was recommended for appointment as a second lieutenant in the New Kent militia. He was a juror on the first court in Jackson County, Ga., in 1797. He was given 3 separate headright land grants in Georgia. One in May 1, 1787 in Green County of 183 acres, one Aug 6, 1787 in Wilkes County of 200 acres and another one in 1795 of 200 acres in Oglethrope County. In Nov 9, 1813 the house of representatives appo[i]nted him commissioner of public building in Twigg Co. In 1815, he was foreman of the superior court jury and served in Nov 10, 1815, but in Nov 29, 1815, the Georgia senate appointed anothe[r] man to take the place of Miles Gathright, deceased. In 1810, Miles owned 965 acres in Jackson Co., Ga.

From: Genealogical Abstracts from the "Georgia Journal"
Milledgeville newspaper, 1809-1840
Vol one, 1809-1818 page 379, March 29, 1815
At the town of Marion in County of Twiggs, will be sold...on the first Tuesday in May next, a number of valuable lots adjacent to said town. In point of beauty and convenience of excellent water, there is no situation superior to this in the Ocmulgee circuit....(signed) Jacob Ricks, Miles Gathright, James Ware, commissioners.

Page 474, November 15, 1815
Georgia, Twiggs County. We the grand jury for the county aforesaid, for November term, 1815...we recommend to the legislature now in session to take into consideration the improvement of the navigation of the rivers Oconee and Ocmulgee...we recommend...not to grant a charter for the Milledgeville bank in its present shape....(signed) Miles Gathright, foreman. John Hays, Jesse Brown, Needham Parker, Henry Wall, John Hardin, D. Lawson, Richard Smith, James Ware, Robins Andrews, Robert Cummins, Theophilus Pugh, Hugh Morton, Ashley Wood, James Vickers, Joel Denson, Robert Glenn, John Cooper, Mark Faulk, John Chapman. Extract from the minutes, 10th November, 1815. (signed) Archibald M'intyre, clerk.

Page 505-506, January 31, 1816
Georgia, Twiggs County. Whereas Lewis Calfrey applies for letters of administration on the estate of Miles Gathright, late of this county, deceased.....given under my hand this 23rd of January, 1816. (signed) Micajah Fulgham, C.C.O.

Page 544, May 15, 1816
Will be sold on the 25th of June next, at the late residence of Miles Gathwright, deceased, in Twiggs County, all the personal property of said deceased....(signed) Mary Gathwright, adm'x

Page 610, October 9, 1816
Nine months after date hereof, application will be made to the..inferior court of Twiggs County...for leave to sell 202 1/2 acres of land, lying in Morgan County, on the waters of Indian Creek, No. 41, originally granted to Elias Megrady, it being part of the estate of Miles Garthright, deceased....(signed) Mary Gathright, adm'x

Page 677, March 18, 1817
The creditors of Myles Gathright, deceased, are required to present for settlement, duly proven, all claims they may have against his estate......(signed) Mary Gathright.

Page 873, June 30, 1818
Will be sold on the first Thursday in August next, at the house of Miles Gathright, late of Twiggs County, deceased, all the personal property of said deceased; consisting of horses, cattle, hogs, sheep..... (signed) Lovett B. Smith, adm'r., de bonis non.

Page 914, September 8, 1818
Nine months after date, application will be made to the inferior court of Twiggs County, dor leave to sell all the real estate of Miles Garthright, late of said county, deceased....L.B. Smith, adm'r

Page 939, October 27, 1818
Sale.--will be sold on the first Tuesday in January next, at the courthouse in Marion, Twiggs County, all the negroes belonging to the estate of Miles Gathright, deceased....(sighned) L. B. Smith, adm'r. de bonis son

From: Georgia Genealogical Magazine

Page 245, Issue 113-114
Twiggs County insolvant list, 1815

Mr. William Joiner colector of tax for Twiggs County, you are to collect the following persons tax viz. Thomas Taylor, Joshua Todd, Henry Faulkner, John Lewis, Tabetha Robertson, Wendon Driggers, David Ward, and the ballance of the names in this list we exonorate you from (illedgible) for Miles Gathright, John Hays, Jesse Brown, Needham Parker, Henry Wall (Ware ??), John Harden, Deveport Lawson, Richard Smith, James Ware, Robens Andrews, Robert Commins, Theophilus Pugh, Hugh Horton, Ashley Wood, James Vickers, Joel Denson, Robert Glenn, John Cooper, Mark Faulk, John Chapman. November term 1815

Page 206, Issue 117-118 Jasper County
Georgia Deed Book 3

(Deed Book pages 301 - 302). Headed Jackson Co. 21 Sept 1809. John Hales to John A.C. Jones, both of Jackson Co., for $100, 202 1/2 a. in Randolph Co., lot 204 in 19th dist., bounded NE by lot 203, NW by 187, SW by 205, SE by 215. S/ John (+) Hales. Wit. Miles Gathright, Isaac Pace, John G. Pittman, JP. Red. 30 Jan 1811.


WFT Volume 5, Tree 1179:
Miles H. Gathright, Jr was a 2nd Lt. in New Kent VA Militia in 1781; given 3 headright grants in GA: 183 acres in Greene Co in 1787, 200 acres in Wilkes Co. in 1787 and 200 acres in Oglethorpe Co in 1795. He went to Wilkes Co GA in about 1786, then moved to Twiggs Co and was commissioner of public buildings in 1813. He owned 956 acres of land in Jackson Co. GA.


From Craig Gathright (Dallas Gathright family tree):

Miles was raised in his father’s home in Hanover County, Virginia. This home is not far from Boatswains Creek, a tributary of the Chickahominy River and is now within the city limits of Richmond. When Miles lived there it was on rich farm land and it is likely that Miles engaged in agriculture and learned plantation management as a youth.

In 1769 Miles married Elizabeth, some five years after their first child was born. Miles and Elizabeth would have several more children including Mary Ann, Joel, Ambrose and William Mosby. In addition to being the first documented Doctor in the Gathright family William is also a source of speculation for his mother’s maiden name. No one is certain what Elizabeth’s maiden name was, but most researchers believe she was from the Mosby family and William’s middle name is often cited as evidence for this.

Miles supported the Whigs during the American Revolution and in 1781 he was recommended for appointment as a Second Lieutenant in the New Kent Virginia Militia. Many of the grants he would receive in Georgia were acquired as a result of this service.

Following the Revolution Miles left Virginia arriving in Wilkes County Georgia about 1786. He was given 3 separate headright land grants in Georgia. The first grant was in May 1, 1787 providing 183 acres in Green County. On August 6, 1787 he was granted another 200 acres in Wilkes County and a final grant in 1795 of 200 acres in Oglethorpe County. In 1794 Elizabeth died and Miles married Mary Collins in August of the following year. In 1796 Miles was residing in Marion County, Georgia where Mary gave birth to their first child. The couple eventually had eleven children; five sons and six daughters.

Miles Junior was one of the first settlers to acquire land and settle in Jackson County, Georgia and in 1797 he was a Juror on the first court held in that county. He was very prosperous and by 1810 Miles was in possession of over 965 acres in Jackson County. Many of his children would remain in Jackson County and several of lived their entire lives in that county. On November 9, 1813 the Georgia House of Representatives appointed Miles as Commissioner of Public Buildings for Twiggs County. He is noted as having served as foreman of Twiggs County Superior Court Jury in a document dated November 10, 1815. On November 29, 1815 the Georgia Senate appointed an individual to replace the deceased Miles Gathright. It must be assumed that he died sometime between 10 and 29 November 1815.

An interesting item to be remembered when discussing Miles is the influence he had over future generations of Gathrights in the south and specifically in Georgia. Miles’ issue spread across the southern United States and his descendants can be found in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Virtually all of the Gathright families in these states can trace their roots to Miles H. Gathright Junior of Virginia. Georgia may have seen the greatest portion of his legacy. Many of his children stayed in that state following his death in 1815. This may explain why in 1850 one of every 500 people in Georgia was named Gathright. This represents the largest segment of population the surname has ever enjoyed in a geographic region in recorded history. As a Gathright myself I can say that it must have been an interesting place to live.


From Carolyn Gathright:

[DAR]&[DARCEN]- 2 LT. VA Revolutionary War Military
[PDG]- First settler of Gathrights in Georgia in 1790.
[GKNOX]- One of first settlers to acquire land & settle in Jackson Co Georgia. Came to Wilkes Co abt 1786. In 1781 recommended for appointment as 2nd Lt in New Kent Militia.
In 1797, Juror on the First court in Jackson Co, GA. Given 3 separate headright land grants in GA: 1) 1 May 1787, in Greene Co, 183 acres. 2) 6 Sep 1787, in Wilkes Co, 200 acres. 3) 1797, Oglethorpe Co, 200 acres. 9 Nov 1813, The house of Representatives appointed him commissioner of Public Buildings in Twiggs Co. In 1815, he was forman of the Superior Court Jury & served 10 Nov 1815, But on 29 Nov 1815 the Georgia Senate appointed another man to take the Place of Miles GATHRIGHT, deceased. In 1810 Miles owned 965 acres in JacksonCo, GA.
[Historical Collections of GA 3rd Ed by White]-(p499) Among the First settlers of Jackson Co GA was Miles GATHRIGHT.
[Index to Headright & Bounty Grants of Georgia 1756-1909]-. GATHRIGHT, Miles ...(County,Book,Pg#,Acres,Grant dated),
:Greene,III,417,183,1790: Wilkes, III,595,200,1790: Oglethorpe, ccccc, 581,200,1800
[GACOV2]-(Green County Georgia Deed Book I) (p570) 25 Dec 1790 Miles GATHRIGHT of Wilkes Co to Jas. WARD of Greene for 40 lbs Sterling 183 acres in Green Co. adj the Academy line, Watson, Hanes. Reg 25 May 1792.
[GA Gene Mag Nos 35-8]- (p 352) (Jones Co, GA- Deed Book A) - p201\2 Jackson
Co, 26 Jan 1808, Rachel WEST of Randolph Co, to Miles Gathwright for $500. 202.5 acres, lot #10 in the llth district of Baldwin... Sworn..30 Jan 1808, Recorded 21 Feb 1809. : p 203\4 Jackson Co. 10 Feb 1809, Miles Gathwright of same, to Littleberry Shields of Franklin Co for $400, 202.5 acres, lot #10 in the llth district of Baldwin.... signed: Miles Garthwright..... Swore 10 Feb
1809. Recorded 24 Feb 1809.
[STEWART]- Miles obtained headright land during the 1790's in Oglethorpe, but does not appear to have remained there. On the first jury in Jackson Co in Jan 1797 and on Oct 21 1797 he purchased of Samuel Gardner, Land in Jackson Co. he added 121 acres on Mulberry Fork wich he bought of Benjamin Porter of Wilks Co. Feb 8 1802 and purchased another tract Jul 30 of John Espey. He evidently died before 1827... Wilson, the historian of Jackson, speaks of Miles & Mildred GATHRIGHT being "early settlers" on the Oconee below the presnt (cir 1914) iron bridge.
[HTWGA]- Georgia Laws 1813 p 85, In the House of Representatives 9th Nov 1813, Resolved, That Miles GATHWRIGHT and James Ware, be appointed Commissioners of the public buildings for the County of Twiggs, in the plsce of John Hardin and Lovey B Smith, resigned. Georgia Laws 1815 p 113, In the Senate, 29th Nov 1815, Resolved, That James Hutchingson be and he is hereby appointed a Commissioner of the public buildings of the County of Twiggs, in the place of Miles GATHWRIGHT, deceased.
[1790Census]- p108 headrights and bounty grants 1790-5 of Greene county
p166 of Wilkes Co
[CBB-JHB]- was in Jackson Co soon after its formation in 1797. Was on an early jury. There are many references to him or jury duty, etc. even a slander suit which he lost. About 1813 he moved to Twiggs Co,. GA....
[GREEN]- He was one of the first settlers to acquire land and settle in Jackson Co. GA. He came to Wilkes Co. about 1786. During the Revolutionary War he was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the New Kent Militia in 1781 (VA) He was given 3 headright grants in Georgia. ... He moved to Twiggs County and was appointed Commissioner of Public Buildings in 1813. On Nov 10, 1815, he was foreman of the Superior court jury but on Nov 29, 1915 the Georgia Senate appointed another man to take the place of Miles GATHRIGHT, deceased. He owned 965 acres in Jackson Co also.
[TWIGGSAB]-(p 184) The Journal, Milledgeville, Georgia August 1819, Will be sold first Tuesday in November next, at the courthouse in Jackson, County, 40 Acres belonging to the Estate of Miles GATHRIGHT, deceased. On first Tuesday in December next, at the courthouse in Twiggs County, Lot 243, 25th District of Wilkinson, now Twiggs County. On first Tuesday in January next at the courthouse in Wilkinson County, Lot 204, 26th District of Wilkinson County. On the first Tuesday in February next, at the courthouse in Telfair County, also Lot 419, 7th district, Wilkinson, now Telfair county. Sold by and order of Court of Ordinary of Twiggs County. August 18, 1819. Lovett Smith, Administrator de bonis non.

[JackGA]- p295 Jurors drawn for January term of court, 1797, .... 36 Miles Gathright
p 211-2 chpt II, ".... there's lots of fun ahead. What you say, Girls?' asked Mrs. Mildred Gathright, wife of Miles Gathright, who was the first settler on the banks of the Oconee below the present iron bridge..

[CAG]- A possibliity

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Deed Book 5, Page 97

This Indenture made this twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven Between William Douglass and Martha, his wife, of the Couonty of Mecklenburg of the one part and Thomas Booth of the County aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said William Douglass and Martha his wife for and in Consideration of the sum of three hundred and twenty five pounds current money to them in hand paid. Have given, granted, bargained and sold and by these presents Do give, grant, bargain and sell unto the said Thomas Booth and his heirs one certain tract or parcel of Land lying and being in the County aforesaid on both sides of Great Creek containing five hundred acres, more or less and bounded according to the most known antisent? & reputed bounds thereof to which said tract of land the said William Douglass became entitled by virture of a Deed made to him by Miles Gathright & Elizabeth his wife of the County of New Kent and the said Miles Gathright purchased the same of Jeremiah Russell as by the deed recorded in the Court of the County aforesaid will appear together with all houses, gardens, Orchards, wood way & water and water courses and the mill with its appertances. To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of Land and mill with their Appertances to him the said Thomas Booth & his heirs to the only use & behoof him the said Thomas Booth his heirs and assigns forever
And the said William Douglas for himself -- his heirs, Execors and Administrators the said tract or parcel of Land & will with their appertances to him the said
Thomas Booth his heirs and assigns shall & will forever warrant & defend by these presents In Witness whereof the said William Douglass and Martha have
hereunto set their hands & seals on the Day and year above written.
Wm Douglass (SEAL)
her
Martha X Douglass (SEAL)
seal
Sealed & delivered
in presence of
his
Thomas F R Rainey
Mark
William Jones
his
Peter P Thomas
mark
At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 8th Day of September 1777
This Indenture was proved as to William Douglass a party thereto by the Oaths etc etc.


Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above.    ...Mike Wilson

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