Micajah Williamson (1744 - 1796)

Born 28 Jul 1744 in James River, Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Gilliam) Williamson — married 25 Feb 1765 in Albemarle County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 12 Dec 1796 at age 52 in Washington, Wilkes, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Colonel Micajah Williamson served with Wilkes County Militia, Georgia Militia during the American Revolution.

Micajah Williamson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A126908.

Colonel Micajah Williamson, Gen. Elijah Clarke's most trusted officer during the American Revolution, was one of the wealthiest men in NE Georgia after that great war. He owned some 30,000 acres in Georgia, including much of the land where modern day Washington, GA now sits in Wilkes County. He recieved a land grant of 12,000 acres in Franklin Co., GA from the State of GA for his heroic service in the Revolution. He was appointed to lay out the town of Washington by the State of Georgia, the first town in the US to be named after Gen. George Washington. He was also instrumental in the building of the first Wilkes County Courthouse. Up until then, most of the County affairs were conducted in his tavern located at the present site of the current courthouse in Washington, GA. He was also one of the commissioners who authorized the establishment and construction of the Wilkes Academy in 1797, the first public school chartered by the State of Georgia.

Colonel Williamson helped lead the Georgia Militia to victory at Kettle Creek in February, 1779 and commanded forces at the siege of Augusta in June, 1781, in the absence of Gen. Clarke. He also helped command victories at Kings Mountain and Cowpens in the Carolinas, which was a huge blow to Gen. Cornwallis's British forces and helped bring the long war to an end.

Micajah Williamson and his wife, Sarah Gilliam, had twelve known children. Several of their daughters married prominent men. Some were Judges, Supreme Court Justices, a Governor, US Senator, and legendary figure in Texas. One of Micajah and Sarah Williamson's sons, Peter B. Williamson, was the father of the legendary Robert McAlpin "three Legged Willie" Williamson, a legend in the History of the Republic of Texas. One grandson and one great-grandson became U.S. Supreme Court Justices. John Archibald Campbell was the son of their daughter Mary Williamson, wife of Duncan Greene Campbell. Another daughter, Susan Williamson, wife of Dr. Thompson Bird, a founding father of the Georgia Capitol City, Milledgeville, GA, was the grandmother of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lucius Q.C. Lamar, Jr.

A third daughter, Nancy Williamson, was married to John Clark, Governor of Georgia. John Clark was the son of Gen. Elijah Clarke, who served with Micajah Williamson in defeating the British and Indians in Georgia during the War. Sarah Williamson, another daughter of Micajah and Sarah Williamson, was first married to Judge John Griffin, and second to US Senator Charles Tait of Alabama.

Col. Micajah Williamson was originally buried on his homestead in Wilkes County but was moved to Resthaven Cemetery in Washington, GA. He is buried next to his son-in-law, Col. Duncan Greene Campbell. The burial location of his wife, Sarah Gilliam, is unknown. ^[1]

Researcher's Notes

Biography from RootsWeb: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=lgmathis&id=I58271

Micajah Williamson moved from Albemarle County, VA, to Wilkes County, GA, in either 1766 or 1767. A fire destroyed their home in western Georgia. The family found refuge in the mountains of North Carolina for a while. They then settled permanently in Wilkes County, GA.

He served as a lieutenant colonel under General Elijah Clarke in the South Carolina Regiment. Prior to the Revolutionary War, Micajah saw action against the Cherokee Indians at Nomencee. He protected the western frontier of Georgia. Micajah saw action at Alligator Creek, Kettle Creek, Musgrove's Mill, and Long Cane. All of these Revolutionary War battles occured in Georgia. Micajah also saw action at the Battle of King's Mountain in North Carolina.

On 30 June 1778, a force of 300 American cavalry commanded by Elijah Clarke participated in General Robert Howe's invasion of British Florida. The Americans attacked the British at Alligator Creek Bridge but were unable to penetrate the entrenchments near-by. In the entrenchment were 450 British regular soldiers and South Carolina Royalists. During this skirmish, Col. Clarke was wounded. The Americans withdrew and the British drew back to the St. Johns River.

The Battle of Kettle Creek was fought on 14 February 1779 on the border between Georgia and South Carolina. Georgia was almost entirely under British control. Colonel Boyd led 600 British Royalists across the Savannah River and into Elbert County. Col. Andrew Pickens of the Revolutionary forces had 200 militiamen from South Carolina along with Elijah Clarke's 140 militiamen from Georgia. The two combined forces and marched to meet the Royalists. The battle raged for over three hours before the Royalists fled. Colonel Boyd and 20 of his men were killed. 22 Royalists were captured. It is said that the Battle of Kettle Creek "was the severest check and chastisement the Tories ever received in South Carolina or Georgia."

The Battle for Musgrove's Mill was fought on 18 August 1780. Clarke skirmished with the Royalists there en route to Augusta.

The Battle of King's Mountain was fought on 7 October 1780. Following the surrender at Charleston in May 1780, the British had overrun South Carolina. Isaac Shelby put together a group of men from "over the mountain". The men climbed over the snow covered mountains and began to advance upon British Major Patrick Ferguson's men. Ferguson denounced the colonists as "backwater men ... a set of mongrels." He reached King's Mountain on 6 October where he camped. Some 400 South Carolinians, including Micajah Williamson, joined the "Over the Mountain Men" at Cowpens, SC, on 6 October. The men marched all night through pouring rain. It was noon when they arrived at King's Mountain. The Royalists were taken by surprise. Col. Ferguson was killed after an hour battle. The British surrendered. Over 225 Loyalists had been killed, 163 wounded, and 716 taken prisoner. The Colonists lost only 28 men.

The Battle of Cowpens was fought on 17 January 1781.

When the British forces occupied Augusta in 1780, Colonel Micajah Williamson was listed as one who was "obnoxious to the Crown." He was named a rebel general in the Revolutionary Army. Along with Elijah Clarke, Williamson was part of the victory of the patriots over the British at Augusta on 5 June 1781.

The eleven children of Micajah and Sarah Williamson and some spouses are named in "Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia", by McCall, Vol. III, page 245

http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/VABUCKIN/2001-06/0991445110

Virginia Argus..published in April of 1807--Feb 1807 court JOHN CLARKE , NANCY CLARK his wife , late NANCY WILLIAMSON, DR. LETSON BIRD, SUSANNA BIRD late SUSANNA WILLIAMSON, JOHN GRIFFIN, SALLY GRIFFIN his wife, late SALLY WILLIAMSON, PETTERSON TWEAT & ELIZABETH his wife, late ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON, PETER WILLIAMSON, WILLIAM WILLIAMSON, PATSY WILLIAMSON, POLLY WILLIAMSON, (another) WILLIAM WILLIAMSON, son of CHARLES WILLIAMSON, deceased who was the son of MICAJAH WILLIAMSON deceased...all except the younger WILLIAM (son of CHARLES) are specifically named as the children of MICAJAH WILLIAMSON deceased. The WILLIAMSON group were no longer living in the Commonwealth (thus the notice in paper)

Men of mark in Georgia : a complete and elaborate history of the state from its settlement to the present time, chiefly told in biographies and autobiographies of the most eminent men of each period of Georgia's progress and development (Volume 2-Wm J Northen) (MY Note: Wife's 1st name was Sarah)

Micajah Williamson was one of the strongest patriots furnished by Georgia during the Revolutionary struggle, a man of dauntless courage and good military capacity, and ready to sacrifice everything for the cause. He was born in Bedford county, Va. [sic], it is believed about 1735. His grandfather came from the north of Ireland and settled in Virginia. He and his son both prospered in the new country, acquiring considerable property, so that Micajah Williamson inherited a good estate. Arriving at manhood, he married Susan Giliam, of Henrico county. She was of Huguenot stock and is said to have been a niece of the Rev. Devereux Jarratt, a native Episcopal clergyman of his day in Virginia. In 1768 Colonel Williamson moved to Georgia and bought from Colonel Alston a valuable plantation in Wilkes county, for which he gave sixty negroes. He was at that time rated as one of the wealthy men of upper Georgia. His home was on the Indian frontier, and troubles with the Indians were constant. His capacity made him a leader, and by the time that the Revolutionary War came on, he was among the foremost men of his section. A strong friendship had sprung up between Colonel Williamson and Colonel Elijah Clarke and there had been occasional cooperation between the two men along the frontier. When Clarke became colonel of a regiment in the Revolutionary armies, Williamson became his lieutenant-colonel and his chief dependence. He was especially detailed for all hazardous adventures and was wounded more frequently than any other officer in the service. When Clarke wanted to lay siege to Augusta in the spring of 1781, being disabled by an attack of smallpox, Williamson commanded until Clarke's recovery, and they were reinforced by Colonel Pickens and "Light Horse" Harry Lee.

His wife, a woman of remarkable capacity and unbounded devotion to her husband and the cause of liberty, managed the plantation and supported her large family of sons and daughters while her husband was away fighting his country's battles. In the latter part of the war a force of English, Tories and Indians raided that section, while Colonel Williamson was absent, burned all of his buildings, and hung up his twelve-year-old son before the eyes of his mother. The remainder of the family escaped then to the North Carolina mountains. Colonel Williamson came out of the war much broken in health and entirely broken in fortune. His lands were left and a small number of negroes. For some years he kept an inn in the town of Washington, his home, while with his few slaves he endeavored to rebuild his fortunes through the improvement of his lands. In a few years the financial condition was much improved, but he never fully recovered his health, shattered by the exposures of the war, and he died in 1795, twelve years after the close of the Revolution, about sixty years old.

He was a great friend of education and one of the trustees of the first school established in Washington after the Revolutionary struggle. He left five sons and six daughters. The sons were Charles, Peter, Micajah, William, and Thomas Jefferson Williamson. His daughter Nancy married Gen. John Clarke, later Governor of Georgia, a son of Elijah Clarke, and one of the most forceful men in all Georgia history. Sarah married Judge Griffin, and after his death married Judge Charles Tait, who was for ten years a member of the United States Senate from Georgia. Susan married Dr. Thompson Bird, and her daughter, Sarah Williamson Bird, married Judge L. Q. C. Lamar, and became the mother of the great Judge L. Q. C. Lamar. Martha married a Fitch, Elizabeth a Thweat, both prominent men of their time in Georgia. Mary married Duncan G. Campbell, after whom Campbell county was named, and became the mother of Justice John A. Campbell, of the United States Supreme Court. Colonel Williamson was, therefore, the grandfather of one justice of the Supreme Court, John A. Campbell, and the great grandfather of another justice, L. Q. C. Larnar, through his daughters. It is said of these daughters that they were all women of remarkable character, both in appearance and in intelligence, and that Colonel Williamson's wife, Susan (Gilliam) Williamson, transmitted her strong qualities to every one of her female descendants down to the third generation.

Researcher's Notes

The News Reporter (Wilkes County Georgia News Paper) - 2011-07-14 / Front Page - Revolutionary Col. Micajah Williamson honored at Resthaven - http://www.news-reporter.com/news/2011-07-14/Front_Page/Revolutionary_Col_Micajah_Williamson_honored_at_Re.html

Look up Nancy Hart. A Wilkes County patriot. Present at the battle of Kettle Creek. [1]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43403590/micajah-williamson

• Find a Grave, Resthaven Cemetery, Washington, Wilkes Co., GA [2]
• RootsWeb [3]
• RootsWeb [4]
• Ancestry.com [5]