These families are allied with the main surnames found in Franklin Co., Georgia. Franklin County was a parent county for the makeup of Banks County, Georgia in 1858. Many of these families came from South Carolina into Georgia via Elbert County. As the years passed, some of them moved into North Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas.
The Carruthers family originated in Scotland and was of Celtic Origin. The location of their settlement was near Dumbries, in Scotland. The name was originally "Ruther" and "Carr. The two clans, being related, were united under ole captain, and called themselves CARRUTHERS. The family coat-of-arms was two chevronels engrailed between three fleur-de-lis; the crest, a seraph volant. The motto was "Promptus et fidelis." The first of this family we find was Rodger Carruthers, 1426. The branch of the Carruthers family from which I am descended left Scotland and settled in the northern part of Ireland. From Ireland came the father of Nancy Carruthers. Record of her parents has been lost. This family settled before the Revolutionary War in North Carolina. They moved to Franklin County, Georgia, after the War. They were members of Hebron Presbyterian Church, in Franklin County, having lived on the Hudson River southeast of the present town of Homer. It is believed the parents of Nancy Carruthers were buried at Hebron Ch.
The senior Carruthers had the following children:
1. Nancy Carruthers, (b. 1759, NC; d. 1812, Franklin Co., GA); m. 1787, Elbert Co., GA. to James MCDONALD, (b. 1756, Isle of Skye, Scotland; d. Jan. 29, 1829, Franklin Co., GA).
2. Andrew Carruthers, (b. 1765, NC)
According to the history of Hebron Presbyterian Church, he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Came with his parents to Georgia soon after the Revolution and was a member of Hebron Church, in Franklin Co. In a few years after his settlement near Hebron, he and his brother James emigrated to Tennessee. There Andrew Carruthers put aside Presbyterianism and joined the Baptist Church and became a preacher of the latter denomination (this according to the history of Hebron church).
p. 417 1811 Signatures to certain deeds in Franklin County: Andrew Carruthers and lawful attorney, Zacariah Thomas, both of Hickman County, Tenn.
3. James Carruthers, b. 1769
He served as a soldier in the American Army during the first was of independence. Following the close of that war, he settled in Franklin County, Georgia, and while living there was a member of Hebron Presbyterian Church. In a few years he and his brother Andrew emigrated to Tennessee. In the history of Hebron Presbyterian Church is given an account of an incident during the military life of James Carruthers during the Revolutionary War. Not long after joining the army of Revolutionary patriots, and during his first experience in battle, young James Carruthers saw a twelve-pound cannon ball bouncing on the ground towards him, and as it passed he kicked at it with his foot with a view to stopping, but missing it he turned to watch it in its further progress. his amazement was great when he saw it soon after passing himself strike a dead man on the neck and sever his head. Then James Carruthers congratulated himself upon his good fortunes in missing the cannon ball when he kicked at it, and resolved that he would never again try to stop a cannon ball.
4. Agnes Carruthers, (b. 1774, NC; d. Franklin Co., GA); m. on January 19, 1792 in Elbert Co., GA. to William Madison THOMAS, (b.Jan. 20, 1763, Culpepper Co., VA; d. Nov. 27, 1835, Franklin Co., GA.).
While living in Guilford County, NC, William Madison THOMAS entered the army as a private and served as follows: from August, 1777, for three months, under Capt. John Leek, in Col. James Martin's Regiment, and was at a battle at Cross Creek; from August, 1778, for three months, under Capt. John Leek and Cols. Paisley and Martin, and aided in burning seventeen Cherokee towns. In August or September, year not stated,he enlisted under Capt. John Leek and was placed under Capt. Ralph Chapman and Col. James Little. He was taken sick in the spring and furloughted home. From Feb. or March, 1781, for ten weeks, under Capt. Richard Varnum. From Oct. 1781, for three months, officers not stated, out after Tories. He was allowed pension on his application executed Sept. 3, 1832, while residing in Franklin County, GA., where he died Nov. 27 1835, and where his widow Agnes was living when she was allowed pension on her application executed July 1 1839, at which time she was 65 years of age. Member of Hebron Presbyterian Church. "William Thomas, Revolutionary soldier," of Franklin County, is listed as fortunate drawer of No. 145, District 5 Section 2 (Muscogee County). "Land Lottery of Georgia, 1827."
William and Agnes moved to Franklin County after their marriage. They had the following children:
1. Elizabeth Thomas, (b. February 27, 1793, GA.); m. William MAYS on April 6, 1813
2. Joel Thomas, (b. October 23, 1794, GA.);m. October 2, 1817 to Isabel. Joel is listed as fortunate drawer of Tract 237, District 2, Section (Lee County), in the Land Lottery of Georgia, 1827. His service to his country during the War of 1812 entitled him to participate in this drawing. They had:
11. William Thomas, who had a dau.
12. Cynthia Thomas who m. W.B. BARNETT.They had:
13. Keff BARNETT
14. John BARNETT
3. Lewis Thomas, (b. December 8, 1796, GA); m. Nov. 8, 1821, Eliza
4. Ezekiel Thomas, (b. September 6, 1798, GA); m. Jan. 29, 1826, Sarah MONTGOMERY
5. William Thomas, (b. October 23, 1800, GA); m. July 28, 1831, Susan C. BURK
6. Sarah Thomas, (b. September 2, 1802, GA); m. Oct. 19, 1837, John ROGERS
7. Mary Thomas, (b. February 3, 1805, GA);m. Dec. 7, 1835, Philip PRUITT
8. Anna C. Thomas , (b. July 18, 1808, GA); m. July 25, 1837, Henry MIZE
9. Madison H. Thomas, (b. August 30, 1810, Franklin Co., GA); m. Feb. 28, 1836 to Nancy F. SHELTON. They had:
15. Melissa Ann Thomas, (b. Dec. 16, 1836, Franklin Co., GA; d. 1895, Jackson Co., GA); m. 1859, Clement Willoughby HOOD, (b. 1827; d. 1910)
16. Clement Jefferson HOOD, (b. 1861, Jackson Co., GA.); m. Grace GOSS of Jackson Co., GA., dau. of W.J. GOSS and Paralee CARRUTHERS.
10. John W. Thomas, (b. February 26, 1814, Franklin Co., GA)
Nancy BAILEY MIZE MCDONALD was previously married in Franklin Co., GA. to Jeremiah MIZE, (b. Orange Co., NC). They had:
2. John J. Mize m. Mary A. QUARLES
2. Thomas Mize, (d. 1872) m. Martha Lavinia CAPE
Nancy Ann MCDONALD LITTLE married Asa GRIFFIN, (b. 1797, North Carolina), on January 15, 1818 in Franklin County, Georgia. To them were born:
1. John Isaac Alexander Griffin, (b. Dec. 29, 1818; Franklin Co., GA; d. 1890, Banks Co., GA). He went to California during the gold-rush days of 1849-50. He never married.
2. Andrew Jackson Griffin, (b. Dec. 16, 1822, Franklin Co., GA; d. June 6, 1848, Vera Cruz, Mexico). He was a promising young lawyer, and on leaving for the Mexican War, he left his law books with his younger brother, Thomas Bowen Griffin. Before his death, he was promoted to the grade of Sergeant.
3. Asa Leander Griffin, (b. Dec. 6, 1826, Franklin Co., GA; d. 1897, Franklin Co., GA); m. (Hall Co., GA) Mae BRYANT. Served as a private in the 31st Georgia Infantry, CSA. He is buried at Silvershoal Cemetery, Banks Co., GA. They had:
5.. Andrew Jones Griffin I, (b. 1850, Franklin Co., GA); m. Priscilla ACREY. They had several children; seven sons lived near Gillsville, Hall Co., GA.
About 1855, Asa Leander Griffin m. Amy Louella BOLING. They had:
6. Emily Griffin, (b. 1865); m. _____KYTLE
7. Thomas Melvin Griffin, (b. 1867; d. 1917, Wheatley, AR); m. (1st) Hattie BOLING; and (2nd) Georgia SHARP
8. Willoughby T. Griffin, (b. 1870; d. 1919); m. (1st) Sarah OSBORNE; and (2nd) Nancy OSBORNE
9. Ed Leander Griffin, (b. 1872); m. Allie DUNNAGAN
10. Ella Griffin, (b. 1875); m. Warren W. KYTLE
11. Bassy Griffin, (b. May 10, 1878); m. Robert GRIMES
4.Thomas Bowen Griffin, (b. Dec. 18, 1829, Franklin Co., GA; d. Mar. 29, 1899, Banks Co., GA); m. 1853, Louise Adalyne TURK, dau. of William TURK, Jr. and Jane MAYS. Thomas and Louise had the following children:
12. Erie Letitia Griffin, (b. Jan. 26, 1854; d. Feb. 9, 1915)
13. Andrew Jones Griffin, (b. Jan. 26, 1857); m. Sarah CHAMBERS
14. Nancy Jane Griffin, (b. Oct. 29, 1859); m. William Fulton MORRIS
15. Daniel Harvey Griffin, (b. April 11, 1862); m. Nan BOWDEN
16. William Asa Griffin, (b. June 26, 1865); m. Jane CHAMBERS
17. Charles Daugherty Griffin, (b. May 16, 1868); m. Mollie MESSER
18. Thomas Mays Griffin, (b. Feb. 18, 1871); m. Evie PARKS
19. Caldona Adalyne Griffin, (b. Mar. 29, 1875)
20. Hugh Griffin, (b. Aug. 4, 1876); m. Lucy Odell WATSON
If you see a connection or have comments, email me at [email protected]
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