The Scots in Early Georgia

[KFCarter]

Carter, I must say you know your history, the only reason I know anything about GA or Savannah for that matter, is b/c I helped my wife get her tourguide licence with the city for one of the carraige companies she works for. And I tell you what- Its a rabbit hole! Once you start digging, it goes on for ever! But I LOVE history, and this is a great place to learn about!

It's impossible to escape it here in Savannah, but I love it. You should spend some time at the Georgia Historical Society... they have a fairly inexpensive membership and you'd receive their Quarterly. It's a great little softcover book, actually and there is always something fascinating in it... definitely a great entrance to that rabbit hole. The GHS is on the corner of Whitaker and Gaston, right by Forsyth Park.

[KFCarter]

There is even a town named after him, "Nelson, Georgia", its just a few miles north of Atlanta.

I spent most of my childhood in Atlanta... Nelson sounds familiar but I can't place it on the map...what is it near?

Also, thanks for the link to that book... looks great.

Ken

[wyldathart]

I lived in North Georgia for four or five years. As with most eastern states, GA has a very rich and long history.

[KFCarter]

I lived in North Georgia for four or five years. As with most eastern states, GA has a very rich and long history.

You have that right. After growing up in Georgia, I lived in California for fifteen years and was amazed at what a one-dimensional view those folks had of Georgia (and Southern) history. If a story wasn't civil rights, Civil War, or Dukes of Hazzard, then it couldn't be true. The more I've lived here the more I'm amazed at the layers of history in this state.

btw, as mentioned in another thread... Congrats on the new kilt!

[McMathTX]

My g-g-g-g-grandfather moved to GA (maybe from PA) sometime around the beginning of the Revolution. He is reputed to have fought at Brier's Creek, the Cowpens, and King's Mountain. After the war, he was given land bounties in the Warren County area and acquired more land on his own as time passed. My direct ancestors from the following generations (always younger sons) began migrating west to Alabama, then Arkansas, then Louisiana with me ending up in Texas.

Dean

[george7]

Early (morning) Georgia

[KFCarter]

Early (morning) Georgia

Now this is a Georgia chicken:

http://jamasters.smugmug.com/photos/99260052-L.jpg

[wyldathart]

Another little known fact about Georgia. The first gold rush in the states happened in North Georgia in a little town called Delonaga. I used to go pan for gold there with the kids on the weekend. Great family fun. Anyway, most folks think of California when they think of gold but Delonaga has Cali beat. Another little known fact is about the white tailed deer. The whitetail deer in GA aren't native to the area. During the civil war, the deer were hunted out almost completely. Some time after the war, deer from the north were transplanted into GA to replace the whitetail stocks. Also the forests you see are not the original forests. The original forests were logged out completely. What you see know is mostly poplar and mixed hardwoods. Before the logging the forests were more Hemlocks, white pines, ect.
Like you say, most folks have a one dimensional view of GA history. In all actuality it's very deep and rich

[KFCarter]

Another little known fact about Georgia. The first gold rush in the states happened in North Georgia in a little town called Delonaga. I used to go pan for gold there with the kids on the weekend. Great family fun. Anyway, most folks think of California when they think of gold but Delonaga has Cali beat. Another little known fact is about the white tailed deer. The whitetail deer in GA aren't native to the area. During the civil war, the deer were hunted out almost completely. Some time after the war, deer from the north were transplanted into GA to replace the whitetail stocks. Also the forests you see are not the original forests. The original forests were logged out completely. What you see know is mostly poplar and mixed hardwoods. Before the logging the forests were more Hemlocks, white pines, ect.
Like you say, most folks have a one dimensional view of GA history. In all actuality it's very deep and rich

Didn't know that about the deer... interesting stuff. You're spot on about Dahlonega. I'd recommend it for a family visit over a lot of the big-name places in Atlanta... it's actually center for a fair number of vineyards, too.

[thescot]

Thanks a lot, Carter, for this terrific thread.

Anyone who hasn't visited the old fort south of Savannah should do so--great history lesson.

And--just let me say--we might want to keep nort Georgia off the radar. It's so far superior to Atlanta and its environs (where I live) that we don't want word to get out. People might start coming there and spoil our playground.