Because the 1790, 1800 and 1810 Census did not survive for Georgia, it becomes difficult to zero in on how, if and when the Revolutionary War Soldiers took up his Georgia Land Grant. So often, where the soldier drew is not where he made his home! Walla! Well, that means that the 13 counties require some serious researching. I recently had this situation when I was unable to locate a soldier listed in the book on Georgia bounty grants. Frequently, a DAR application lists a county as the place of birth where that soldier did not reside. Hmmm. Thus, my first step is to assume that nothing is correct and go to the 13 counties for some sort of proof. There are a number of tax digests dating back as early as 1800. Although there are published books listing people on the oldest tax digests, it is not enough. One needs to examine the original record, read the notations, and consider the meaning thereof.
One excellent proof of where the Revolutionary War Soldier resided is the “tax digest”. Yes, the tax collector maintained a meticulous record of land owners, amount of acreage and location. Sometimes the occupation is listed, which explains a lot. For example, while the Creeks were being driven out of Georgia, settlers were moving into Heard, Troup, Carroll, Haralson, Polk, Floyd, Chattooga and Walker Counties. Before the Creek removal, they may have been issued passports by the Governor to enter the same territory and beyond, into Alabama.
Later, during the 1830s, gold in North Georgia was driving prospectors into Lumpkin, Forsyth, Hall, Cherokee, Paulding Counties. Often, a husband would leave his family and speculate in the gold field for awhile. I have a relative who came to Atlanta from Abbeville, South Carolina to occupy an abandoned family home 1840, yet moved into Carroll County to search for gold. It is wise not to overlook the tax defaulters found at the end of the record because this notation either indicates that the person died, or that he moved on. An important detail, I would say, as we trace from one place to the other.
I will be at the Georgia State Archives until the end of the year scanning old tax digests. If you have one that you would like to see on Georgia Pioneers, please email georgiapioneers@gmail.com and I will try to locate a specific year/years for you.
Images of oldest surviving Georgia Tax Digests have been added to Crawford County ; Chattahoochee County ; Campbell County ;Carroll County ; Clarke County; Butts County ; Bibb County