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.
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.
1788: Georgia became a state.
1802: Georgia relinquished its claims to lands west of the Chatahoochee River. These lands became part of Mississippi and Alabama.
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.)