Georgia History

The following important events in the history of Georgia affected political boundaries, record-keeping, and family movements.

1732:  King George II of England granted a charter for the colony of Georgia as a place of refuge.

1733:  James Oglethorpe founded the city of Savannah, as a refuge for English debtors.

1733:  Indian land ceded

1734:  German-speaking Salzburgers began to settle at Ebenezer, in present-day Effingham County.

1752:  The charter was surrendered and Georgia became a crown colony.

1763:(February 10,) The French and Indian War came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Paris 1763.

1763: Indian land ceded

1773 & 1783:  Indian land ceded

1788:  Georgia became a state.

1790: Indian land ceded

1802: Indian land ceded

1802: Georgia relinquished its claims to lands west of the Chatahoochee River. These lands became part of Mississippi and Alabama.

1804,1817,1818,1819, 1821, 1826 & 1833:  Indian land ceded

1805, 1807, 1820, 1821, 1827 & 1832: Georgia Land Lotteries

1835: New Echota treaty

1838: (May 25,) Under the command of General Winfield Scott removal of the Cherokee Indians began. General Charles Floyd was in command of field operations.

1838: (December) The remaining Cherokee Indians forcibly removed from Georgia by Federal Troops to Indian territory west of the Mississippi River. (Trail of Tears and White River Trace)

1784-1820:  Thousands of Americans moved to Georgia seeking inexpensive land. The first land lottery was held in 1805.

1861:  Georgia seceded from the Union. It was readmitted in 1870.

A detailed history of Georgia's counties and early settlers is in George Gillman Smith, The Story of Georgia and the Georgia People, 1732-1860, Second Edition 1901, Macon, Georgia: G.G. Smith, 1901; FHL book 975.8 H2sg; film 908502).

References to additional historical materials are found in:

Dorsey, James E. Georgia Genealogy and Local History: A Bibliography. Spartanburg, South Carolina: The Reprint Company, 1983. (FHL book 975.8 D23d.)

Simpson, John Eddins. Georgia History: A Bibliography. Metuchen, New Jersey: The Scarecrow Press, Incorporated, 1976. (FHL book 975.8 H23s.)

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)