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Contents:

• Earliest Origins of Raleigh Howell
• Early History of Franklin County
• Public Records
• Georgia Archives Land Records
• Links

Earliest Origins of Raleigh Howell

The earliest traces of Raleigh Howell and his family are in Georgia in the year 1793 in which he appeared on Franklin County tax lists. Raleigh is likely related to a Samuel Howell, William Howell and a Betsy Howell who is believed to have married a William Little. This William Little is not thought to be the same William Little, son of Colonel James H. Little and brother of James H. Little referenced in the Early History of Franklin County below.  

The HOWELLs and LITTLEs  migrated to Barren County, Kentucky around 1802. Allen County was formed from parts of Barren County in 1815. Raleigh & Sarah Sally Howell lived out their lives in Allen Co., KY.  The Samuel Howell and William Howell appear as neighbors of Raleigh Howell in the 1810 Barren County Census so they are likely related to Raleigh Howell.   Rolay HOWELL, Hudson HOWELL, William HOWELL and Samuel HOWELL all show up on page 35 of the 1815 Tax List of Allen County. See Kentucky.

William and Betsy (Howell) Little then moved on to Pike Co., Mississippi before 1820. A Hudson Howell and Samuel Howell also appear in Pike County by 1820. 

At this time the connection between Raleigh Howell and the other Howell's (Hudson HOWELL, William HOWELL and Samuel HOWELL) have yet to be determined.

Early History of Franklin County

Franklin County Georgia

This is among the oldest counties in the State.  The Tagaloo River separates the county from South Carolina.

CARNESVILLE is the county town, named after Judge Carnes, 108 miles from Milledgeville, Georgia.

Franklin can show a long list of aged persons.  Mr. Hale died at 117; John Watson and his wife, at 90; Thos. Clarke, at 90; Wm. Spears, 110; Henry Parks, 100; Elisha Dyer and wife, 93; Samuel Mackay, 100; Jesse Marshall, 97; Mr. John Stonecypher, 96; David Guess, 90; Mr. Shannon, 83; A. Saunders, 85; Colonel James H. Little, 83; Joseph Parker, 85; John Pearce, 85; Samuel Daily,  85.

The early settlers in the county were, L. Cleveland, Peter Williamson, Joseph Humphreys, N. Cleveland, John Gorham, Thomas and John Payne, Benjamin Echols, Wm. Hardin, John Smith, Benjamin Watson, Colonel James H. Little, John Stonecypher, Clement Wilkins, Samuel Sewell, Thompson Epperson, Wm. Spears, Wm. Blackwell, Russel Jones, Daniel Bush, Mr. Gilbert, Geo. Rucker, John Norris, James Terrell, James Hooper, Henry Smith, S. Shannon, Peter Waters, Josiah and George Stovall, Joseph Chandler, James Blain, &c.

Ref:  White, Rev. George, M. A., HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA, 1854, Pudney & Russell, Publishers, New York, pp. 459-460.   (Reprinted 1968. Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA)

Early History of Franklin County

Written by the Rev. Groves Cartledge and published in the Carnesville Register in 1880.*

During the War of the Revolution in 1776 Wilkes county was organized by the legislature of Georgia. At the close of that contest for independence Wilkes county was the most northern county in the state. The northern line of Wilkes was started on the Savannah river at or near the mouth of Light-Wood Log Creek and runs a little above the present sites of Hartwell and Danielsville, and thence to Cherokee county. Cherokee county received its name from the fact that before the formation of Franklin and Washington counties the territory of the Cherokee Indians cornered at that place with the territory of the Creek Indians and Wilkes county. At the close of the Revolutionary War the Creek Indians, by way of indemnity to Georgia for injuries during the war, ceded to the territory east of the Oconee River as low down perhaps as fifty miles below Milledgeville, and the Cherokees also gave up to the state a large and very valuable scope of their territory by way of indemnity. In 1784 the legislature in one and the same bill erected the territory acquired from the Creek Indians, into a county under the name of Washington, and the territory gained from the Cherokees into another county under the name of Franklin. The two new counties cornered together with Wilkes at Cherokee Corner, and the dividing line between them, was a straight line from Cherokee corner to the Oconee river at the mouth of the Appalachee. The boundary line of Franklin county thence was up to the Appalachee to High Shoals, thence a straight line to Hog Mountain, thence a straight line to the top of Currahee mountain, thence a straight line to the top of Oconee mountain in Oconee county, S. C., thence a straight line to Eeowee river--the main branch of the Seneca,--thence down the Seneca and Savannah rivers to the corner of Wilkes at or near the mouth of Light wood Log Creek, thence with the northern line of Wilkes to the beginning corner at Cherokee county.

Such were the original boundaries of Franklin county; and as thus destined at its organization, it was larger than the whole state of Rhode Island, and besides the territory now in it, the county embraced about half the land now in Hart and Madison counties; all of the land now in Oconee, Clarke, and Jackson counties, considerable portions of Walton, Gwinnett, Hall and Habersham counties; all of Banks county, together with large portions of Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties, S. C. But some years after the formation of Franklin county, South Carolina laid claim to the fork county between the Tugalo and the Seneca. The issue turned upon the question--"which is the main branch of the Savannah river, the Tugalo or the Seneca?" South Carolina contended that the Tugalo was the main branch while Georgia held that the Seneca was the mainstream and therefore the proper dividing line between the states. At length, about 1776 or 1777, the two states appointed Commissioners, to view the rivers, and decide upon the true line. Judge Peter Carnes, a citizen of Franklin county, judge of the Superior court and member of Congress, was appointed as Commissioner on the part of Georgia. After viewing the rivers, the Commissioners at Beaufort, S. C., met and signed a paper known as the "Convention of Beaufort" by which the Tugalo was agreed upon as the main stream and therefore the true dividing line between the states. Thus Franklin county lost a valuable portion of her citizenry and territory. Tradition says and perhaps says truly, although I do not vouch for the truth of the story, that the South Carolinians at Beaufort feasted Judge Carnes and dined and wined him, until he became jolly drunk, and then presented him a paper of their own drafting, which he signed and gave up the rights of Georgia. At any events, most people in this day as well as then, I think regarded the Seneca as a larger stream than the Tugalo. However, the legislature of Georgia in 1778 confirmed the "Convention of Beaufort" and South Carolina extended her sway over a considerable portion of what was once Franklin county, Ga. But to this day many people living in the fork country can get copies of their original land deeds only by resorting to the Records of Franklin county, Ga. In 1777 Jackson county was cut from Franklin county by a line running on the top of the ridge which divides the waters of the Oconee and Broad rivers. In 1811 the upper half of Madison was taken from Franklin. In 1855 or 1856 the upper half of Hart was cut from Franklin. In 1857 the largest portion of Banks was taken from Franklin. Thus the old county of Franklin, the mother of counties, has become cut and hacked until she has become only a small part of her original self. And yet, I fear that there are some, who would be pleased to see her cut and hacked at least one more time for their own accommodation .

Judge Peter Carnes, after whom the town of Carnesville received its name, was one of the most noted men in the Early History of Franklin county. He was a man of great talent, wit, inexhaustible humor, unrivalled conversational powers and a very fine personal appearance and address. As a member of congress and judge of the Superior Court he was very acceptable and popular. His honesty and integrity, I believe were never questioned; but otherwise his moral were not very correct. The love of wine and women seems to have been his greatest weakness. Madam Rumer, long ago, affirms that the celebrated William Wirt of Virginia, the great jurist, orator and Statesman, and at one time Attorney General of the United States, was an illegitimate son of Judge Carnes by a handsome young widow, and at one time the belle of Washington City. At all events William Wirt in both body and mind was said to resemble Judge Carnes in a very remarkable degree. There are still many persons in Franklin and Hart counties who are related to Judge Carnes by blood; as for examples: the Carnes of Hart, and the Chappelears of Franklin;; and our former excellent sheriff James H. Chappelear is said to resemble his illustrious relation some what in personal appearance but much more in wit and humor.

Judge Blair was a very prominent man in Franklin county, at an early day and sometimes represented the county in the Legislature of the state. He removed to Putnam county early in the present century; and thence to North Alabama. He was a man of talents and much influence, but lost much of his reputation after removing to Putnam county, by unfair dealing. I have heard Gov. George R. Gilmer of Lexington, relate that when he was a young lawyer, he went to Putnam county and volunteered his services at the bar to rescue his old school master out of the clutches of 'Old im Blain' as he called him.

Another prominent man in the early annals of Franklin was a Mr. Wofford, whose first name I have forgotten. He was the father of General Wofford, who forty years ago was a leading man in Habersham county; and therefore the grand father of General Wofford of Confederate fame of Bartow county. This old Mr. Wofford was appointed a commissioner by the United States and by Georgia to treat with the Chmerokee [Cherokee] Indians in regard to a section of territory on the northern side of Franklin. Previous to this time some of the whites had settled on the lands claimed by the Cherokees, and to prevent a difficulty Georgia, through this Mr. Wofford, purchased from the Cherokees a strip of land almost four miles wide on the upper side of Franklin county, which is still called the four miles of the Wofford purchase.

James H. Little, Esq., and Gen. Thos. Anderson, were very young men among the early settlers of Franklin; but both of them subsequently became very prominent and useful men. They represented the county in the legislature many years. They were men of strict morals, and died a few years ago at a very ripe old age leaving behind them names conspicuous for probity and unswerving integrity and patriotism. James H. Little, Esq., lived and died on Nails Creek and the Littles and McEntires of Franklin county were some of his worthy descendants. Gen. Anderson lived and died on the Grove Fork of Hudson river and many of his posterity still reside in Banks county. General Anderson as Captain commanded one of the companies raised in Franklin for General Flowd's army during the war of 1812-1814, and Captain Sandridge, I think, commanded the other company. Sandridge did not become as popular as did Anderson.

Soon after the organizations of Franklin County, three Revolutionary soldiers set together on horses, back from North Carolina to select land and locate their soldier's bounty--Warrants in the new County. They were Henry Parks, father of the late Rev. Wm. J. Parks, Stephen Westbrooks, father of our worthy fellow citizen, Bartley Westbrooks, and a Mr. Hudson, father of the late Col. Joshua Hudson. There were no roads and few settlers in the western part of the county; but following the Indian trails and deep paths, they reached a creek about a mile below where Carnesville now stands. There was no ford and the banks were very steep and slippery, and as the horse of Stephen Westbrook went down the steep banks, he slipped and fell and plunged his rider head and ears in the creek. From this mishap they called the stream, Stephen's creek, and it bears the name to this day. Such is the tradition, at least, as I heard an old man relate it nearly thirty years ago. Stephen Westbrook lived and died on Crockett's Creek. Henry Parks settled and died on the Hudson, and so did Mr. Hudson and gave his name to the stream. They were all good substantial and worthy citizens and have many descendants in Franklin, Banks, Clark and elsewhere. Ebenezer church in Franklin county, first bore the name of Westbrook's Chapel and Salem church, now in Banks, was first called Park's Chapel. In his journal about 1800, Bishop Asbury, styles them. In the early days of Franklin county, nearly every settlement or neighborhood had its stockade of fort and cabins for the families inside the fort. When there was any alarm of Indians, the several families would leave their homes and flee for safety to their fort. He, who first saw the danger was to give the alarm to others and they to others still, until the whole settlement was duly apprised of the danger. There were many such forts in the country and one of them stood between Nail's and Little's creeks, a mile west of Col. James Little's residence, now the property of his grandson, C. H. Little, Esq. About a mile north of Ebenezer church on Crockett's creek, there resided a family by the name of Crokett, from whom the Creek took its name. The family consisted of a widow with eight children, the oldest of whom was William, about twenty five years old; the others were mostly daughters. One morning James H. Little, then a very young man, rode post haste to Mrs. Crockett's and told William that a large party of Indians were in the neighborhood, and urged him to take the family to the fort forthwith. William Crockett was sitting in the door making a pair of shoes for himself to wear to his own wedding which was appointed to take place a few days from that time. Crockett said to Mr. Little that there had been so many false alarms and that he was then very busy and much pressed for time, and therefore he should risk the danger for once without resorting to the fort. Mr. Little, not being able to persuade him to change his purpose, rode away in haste to give the alarm to others. That day all the families in the settlement except Crocketts's reached the fort in safety, and next morning early, all the able bodied men except a sufficient guard for the fort, shouldered their trusty rifles and mounted their horses, in pursuit of the blood thirsty savages. They soon struck the trail and pursued it to the widow Crockett's, where an appalling sight met their eyes. The widow Crockett and her eight children butchered and scalped, were lying in one bloody pile of death in their own yard. The house and premises had been plundered and stripped of everything, which could excite the cupidity of the greedy savages, and which was transportable. Leaving the dead as they found them, the whites pursued the Indians to their own territory but could not overtake them. They then returned to Mrs. Crockett's; buried the dead, and raised a monument of stones over their common grave. But, sad to tell, the man into whose hands the Crockett's place afterwards fell, hauled away that monument and built his chimney with those stones. To rob the living is a great crime, but to rob the dead is an unpardonable sin. The little creek near whose banks the murdered family was buried in their common grave, is all that was left in Franklin county to bear the name of Crockett. At the time of which I am writing, there was a fort on the Savannah or Tugalo called McCoppin's fort; another on Webb's creek, on the land now belonging to Captain Daniel Bush, called Bushs fort and still another near the Hurricane Shoals, on the Oconee, besides Little's fort already named. Robert McAlpine, whose name was usually pronounced McCoppin, was one of the first settlers in Franklin county. His home was upon the Savannah or Tugalo, and the fort bearing his name stood on his land. If any of the old citizens, now on that side of the county know anything in regard to McCoppin's old fort and its traditions I hope that they will enlighten us through the Register. Robert McAlpine did not remain long in Franklin County, but moved to Green County, Georgia and thence in 1797, too, he removed to East Tennessee, where he died. His son, Robert McAlpine, was born in Franklin county and was educated in Washington, Tenn. under the tuition of the celebrated Rev. Dr. Samuel Doak, and as a captain he commanded a company in General Andrew Jackson's army in the war of 1812-1814. At the close of the war he was ordained to the ministry in the Presbyterian church. After teaching and preaching in Tennessee for several years, he, in 1830 returned to his native state and settled seven miles north of Jefferson, where he taught and preached for several years and at the same time preached in his native county, Franklin, at Hebron and New Lebanon (now Homer) churches.

For a few months in 1831 and 1833, I attended his school and to him I owe a debt of gratitude, incalculably great. He was prominently a good man, a very learned, able and faithful minister and did a noble work for his native state. In 1837 he moved to North Alabama, where he died about 1850. Rev. Robert McAlpine left many descendents, who are following in his footsteps. Rev. John B. McAlpine of Alabama, and his sister, Mrs. Pauline DuBose, wife of Rev. H. C. DuBose, missionary to China, are grandchildren of Rev. Robert McAlpine and like their grandfather, are an honor to Franklin county.

Col. James Little bore a Colonel's Commission in the war for Independence. About the year 1785, or a little later he moved to Franklin county and took his soldier's land-bounty on Nail's Creek including the mouth of Little's creek, and from him the latter creek took its name. He was a man somewhat advanced in life, with grown children at the time of his settlement in Georgia and did not long survive. He divided his valuable tract of land between his two sons, James H. Little, Esq., who has been previously mentioned and William Little, who removed to Alabama about the year 1820. William Holbrooks, now owns and occupies the tract which William Little sold to Maj. Alexander in 1820, and C. H. Little owns and occupies the part that fell to his father, James H. Little, Esq. William Fleming, Robert Fleming and their brother-in-law, William Ashe, settled in Franklin county on Hudson river at a very early period. All of them had been Revolutionary soldiers. William Ashe built the first mills where Burn's mill on the Hudson now stands. He was a very quiet, substantial and peaceful citizen. His sons were the late Col. William Ashe, Maj. A. F. Ashe, R. R. Ashe and John Ashe of Alabama after whom the town of Asheville in that state was named. Robert Fleming was a very quiet and retiring man, who stayed at home and attended to his own business. His descendents, I believe, have all gone westward. William Fleming was a man of energy and great force of character. He was one of the first Elders of Hebron church. He died in Texas about 1849. Many of his descendents reside in Lumpkin and Cherokee counties, Ga. When every settlement had it's stockade fort, as has already been related, one morning William Fleming shouldered his rifle and mounted his horse and rode into the range to look after and salt his stock. After accomplishing his purpose, he turned the head of his horse toward home. Before he had made much progress toward home however, he espied three Indians in pursuit of him. He had just before made the painful discovery that the lock of his gun was broken and his gun was useless. To flee was his only means of safety. But his horse was old and sluggish, and the fleet footed Indians gained on him rapidly, and soon one of them sent a bullet thru his body. He did not fall however and although bleeding profusely, he determined to resort to strategy to save his life, if possible. Therefore, wheeling right about so as to face the Indians, he called out at the top of his voice, "Here they are boys, run quick and let us kill every one of the dirty red skins." And suiting his action to his words he made toward the Indians and raised his gun as if about to fire. The cowardly savages took to their heel's and soon fled out of sight. William Fleming then hastened to the nearest fort, eight miles distant and after several months of suffering finally recovered. In October 1832, when a very small boy, I was in Carnesville for the first time, during several days of the October term of the Superior Court. I was in company with Capt. John T. Story, a native of Franklin County [County], but then a resident of Jackson County. Storey was a tanner and then had a wagon load of leather to sell. John Maples, whose wife was a Mabry, was then a tanner doing business in Carnesville, and was a friend to Storey and not long afterward, bought Storey's place and moved to Jackson, and thence after a few years, to Mississippi. My first day's experience in Carnesville was a very painful one. I was only twelve years old and very puny. Capt. Storey, was then a member of the Presbyterian church, and a very sober and steady man. But on Monday, the first day of the term, he met with a great number of old friends, many of whom he had not seen for a long time, and those days it was almost universally the custom, for friends to take a social glass together, when they met, especially after a long separation. During the day Capt. Storey treated and was treated, so after that, when night drew on he was as drunk as a sot and as helpless as a log. I knew not a man in the country except Storey and there I was, a small puny boy, among perfect strangers, and some of them as I had seen, very wicked men, with a very large and very drunken and helpless man, two valuable horses, a wagon and a load of leather and some money on my hands to take care of. For awhile my reflections were melancholy and bitter indeed. But before I could decide upon what course to pursue, Col. William Turk, one of the Grand Jury, whom I had never seen before that day, passed our wagon and seeing Storey lying drunk came to me, and after asking me some questions, called to his assistance, two other large men, one of whom was John Maples. They soon lifted Capt. Storey, like a log into the wagon, and Col. Turk went with me to the woods to a suitable camping ground, and remained with me all night to assist me in taking care of Capt. Storey and his property. Such was my introduction to one of nature's noble men, Col. Turk, and the affection which I then conceived for him, grew and strengthened to the last throughout our long intimate association. Next morning, Capt. Storey was sober, sick and sorry. About six months afterward, he fell into the same sin at home. He then declared that he would not drink any more even in moderation. He removed to Chattooga county, Ga. in about a year after that spree in Carnesville. In 1844 he represented Chatooga county in the state legislature, and I being there in college near by the seat of government, we renewed our acquaintance. He removed to Texas about 1847, and has been dead at least 20 years. Because I never reported his fall in Carnesville until after he had made it public himself, some months afterwards he seemed to have great esteem and affection for me as long as he lived. He was a man of many noble and generous impulses of heart.

His grandfather, Anthony Storey of S. C., died of small-pox in the army of the Revolution, and after the close of the war, his father, Maj. Edward Storey, with two brothers, Thomas and Arthor Story, settled in Franklin county on Nail's creek where Capt. John T. Storey was born. Capt. John T. and his father, Maj. Edward Storey were both soldiers at the same time in Gen. Floyd's army in 1812-1814. Maj. Edward Storey and his good old wife, Aunt Peggy, as everybody called her, were as good people as I have ever known. Maj. Storey was for many years a worthy elder in the Presbyterian church at Thyatyra, Jackson County Ga. In 1846 shortly before my licensure I attended a Camp Meeting at Thyatira and lodged in the tent of my good old friend, Maj. Storey and aunt Peggy. About the time morning preaching began on Sunday, several young men and women, who cared nothing for preaching came from Jefferson and elsewhere and assembled in Maj. Storey's tent to have a lively time. Their laughter and sportive noise became so great as to seriously disturb the services at the stand, which was perhaps several yards distant. As we were walking towards the tent, the old people were consulting together as to what they should do. At length, they agreed that lest they might do harm by giving a reproof, they would let the matter pass. As soon however as we entered the tent, one of the young women approached Aunt Peggy, and told her as they could not find seats at the stand they had taken seats at her tent. Aunt Peggy replied in a very mild manner--"Well, you found seats a plenty in our tent, and if you had been as eager to hear preaching as the rest of us, you could easily have carried these seats to the stand. But as you did not wish to hear preaching yourselves, you might have remained quiet here in the tent, and refrained from disturbing with your noise, the rest of us who did wish to hear the preaching. The whole crowd, about a dozen in number, hung their heads in shame and confusion, for a few moments and then the same young woman said, Mrs. Storey, I am sorry that we have hurt your feelings." Aunt Peggy replied in a very solid but mild manner, "Well, I can say with the Apostle Paul, I am glad you are sorry, and I hope your sorrow of a godly sort." She then invited them to dinner and treated them as if they were her very best friends. They never misbehaved on that camp ground any more.

When I was in Carnesville in 1832, the cake and beer, carts and wagons were quite an institution connected with all public gatherings, such as courts and Musters. During my stay in the village there on actual count, twenty eight wagons and carts with cakes and beer standing every day on the public square. Both sides of the Jarrett's Bridge road, above the graveyard in Carnesville were then uncleared woods, and every night during court week, the woods on both sides of the road were almost full of people camping out. I verily think there must have been five hundred men and two hundred women camped there every night. During that week, I saw and heard more wickedness than my green and unsophisticated boyish mind had ever imagined possible. Besides the men and women in charge of the cake wagons, a great many men and women, who were parties, witnesses and jurors came in their wagons and carts and camped out and stayed out all the week. Many of them were sober and civil people and like myself were shocked and scandalized by the wickedness prevailing around them. But many men and women, to attended court and camped out around Carnesville at night for purpose of unmitigated evil. But that day is gone and may none like it ever return. Sometime in 1832, a strange scene was witnessed in Carnesville. A man with his family moving in a one horse wagon, from North Carolina to the West, stopped at a store in Carnesville and said to the merchant that he wished to buy some cheap wool hats for his boys. The merchant began to show the hats and the man began to pick out and lay the hats to one side and called for more until he had piled up more than a dozen. At last the merchant said, "In the name of common sense, how many boys have you anyway?" The stranger replied, "Only twenty-four sir, and they were all born at nine births at that." Where are they?" Said the merchant. "Here," said the man "are some of them standing by me, and the others are out in the street." "Bring them in." said the merchant, "I want to see every one of them." The stranger soon brought the others with their mother into the store. The merchant then stepped out and called in his neighbors and friends to see the sight, and among the crowd they collected enough money to buy the old man and his twenty-four sons a hat a piece, and sent them on their way westward, rejoicing. I heard the story soon after its occurrence about the time of my first visit to Carnesville in 1832. I always had some doubt about the truth of it until my removal to the county in 1852, when some old citizen of the village told me that he witnessed the scene. Six pair of triplets and three pair of twins, exactly makes up the twenty-four sons at nine births. An eye witness affirmed what the father and mother too, appeared as if they were good for at least one dozen more. But whether the other dozen were ever born or not, I am not able to say, for I never heard of them any more after they left Franklin county. The government ought to have given that couple a large pension. Old people are apt to think and to say, "Old days were better than these," But Solomon says that in this they are not wise. It is certain that even fifty years ago, intemperance, gambling, fighting and general licentiousness, were far more prevalent in Franklin county and other places than now. In the early part of this century, the Rev. Mr. Redwine of the Methodist Church the founder of Redwine's church then in Franklin, but now I believe in Hart, Rev. Thomas Newton, Presbyterian and first pastor of Hebron church on the Hudson, Rev. Rueben Thorton and Rev. Mr. Meeks, commonly called "Daddy Meeks" both of the Baptist Church and both residents on the Crow river, and a few other faithful preachers, did all they could to stem the tide of evil sweeping over the land and they did much good in their day and generation, and have long since gone to their everlasting last. But, in spite of all the efforts made by them and others equally as faithful, nevertheless, vice and immorality prevailed to a fearful extent. Of the preachers just named, I have seen and heard only Rev. Ruben Thornton. In 1834 at Harmony Baptist church in the lower part of Hall County, Rev. Ruben Thornton, assisted the pastor, Rev. William Manning during a protracted meeting. My father was then a member of that church and the pastor, Rev. William Manning was a cousin. Rev. Ruben Thornton remained several days and preached frequently. He was a large, portly man, with long hair as white as flax. He was about sixty-five or seventy years old, and yet he preached with great animation and power and as I write now, his image, as he appeared then in the pulpit, rises up before my imagination as vividly as if I had seen him only yesterday. During that meeting, I, a small boy, hoped that I obtained the pearl of great price, and to this day, I cherish a lively affection for the memory of Rev. William Manning, Rev. Ruben Thornton and Rev. Jerry Reeves, then of Hall county.

Groves H. Cartledge. 
1880

Public Records: Tax, Deed Court Records  

Raleigh Howell and his family settled in northeast Georgia in Franklin County which lies northeast of Atlanta near the Savannah River bordering South Carolina. Georgia entered statehood on Jan. 2, 1788. Georgia was the fourth of the original 13 states to ratify the Constitution. The British captured much of Georgia during the American Revolution.

Franklin and Washington counties [Map] were created on Feb. 25, 1784 by an act of the General Assembly (Mar. & Cr., p. 330). They were the first new counties established in Georgia after the Revolutionary War and were fashioned from lands ceded by the Cherokees and Creeks in the Treaties of Augusta in 1783.

Named for Benjamin Franklin, Georgia's 9th county consisted of all ceded lands north of Cherokee Corner on the eastern tip of today's Clarke County -- an area that includes all of today's Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Oconee, and Stephens counties, plus portions of Habersham, Hart, Hall, Gwinnett, and Madison counties. Though the Georgia Land Office began granting headright and bounty land grants in the new county, it was several years before the county had enough inhabitants to organize a county government.

Created entirely from Franklin County [Historical Map: Franklin County, 1796] were Jackson County (1796) and Habersham County (1818). Additionally, portions of Franklin County were used to help create the following counties: Madison (1811), Hart (1853), Banks (1858), and Stephens (1905).

1792-1819 Tax Lists - Franklin County, Georgia