Southeast Georgia
Non-White Ancestry
RAULERSON/RAULINSON/ROLINSON
Wayne County, Georgia records show that John Rawlinson (born about 1749 Richland
Co., SC - died about 1816 Glynn Co., GA) and his children (William, Noel and Fanny) seem
to have had some degree of non-white ancestry. John is the progenitor for most Raulersons
of South Georgia. Records show that Captain William Cone filed an affidavit in 1814 that
he had known the mother of William, Noel, and Fanny Rawlinson since she had nursed William
and that she was a fair, white skinned woman and that he also knew John Rawlinson and that
he was said to be their father. Capt. Cone was trying to get voting rights for William.
Obviously, his race was under some debate at the time. Also, Noel's son, William, was
listed in the 1860 Wayne Co., GA census as race = 'M' (mulatto). John Raulerson's grandson
David (1827-1911) was enlisted in the C.S.A. and was described as 5'6" tall, black
eyes, black hair, dark complexion. Huxford Magazine, volume 13, page 348 has a note
concerning this David Raulerson. It states, "His grandmother, Eliz. Moore, said he
was half Indian from Pitt County, NC". See http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Pettiford_Ridley.htm
for more Rollison(Raulerson) family discussion.
SWEAT
The Nathan Sweat family of Southeast Georgia may have non-white
ancestry. Nathan(1760-1830) was a Revolutionary Soldier who migrated from Beaufort
District, SC to Georgia soon after the Revolutionary War. His parents seem to be William
Sweat (born about 1732) and Lucy Turbeville and his grandparents William Sweat(born about
1700) and Martha Cawze.
See http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Stringer-Talbot.htm
for more discussion on this line. Thomas Sweat, brother of William (probable father of
Nathan), was listed as a mulatto in Bladen County, North Carolina in 1768 and 1769 and
taxable in the household of Ann Perkins in 1771.
I believe that my 5th great grandfather Berrien Sweat (1805-1881) was a grandson of this
Nathan Sweat. Berrien was born on 5/25/1805 with the Sweat surname but it was changed to
Berrien Henderson by legislative action on 12/23/1829. Interestingly, no reason was given
for the change. Berrien's parentage is currently unproven, although I think his mother was
one of Nathan's three daughters that were born before 1790. She would have been a sister
to Captain James A. Sweat whom Berrien served under in the Indian Wars during 1838.
Berrien's father "may" have been David A. Henderson, Sr. (b. abt 1775 NC - d.
abt 1825 Ware County, Georgia). Since no reason was given on the document for the name
change, it is hard to know for sure that his name was changed to establish legitimacy or
not. Either way, there is a lot of mystery involved in Berrien's parentage. It makes me
wonder if there was a specific reason that the family did not retain the names of his
parents. I think, beyond perhaps some shame for a potential illegitimacy, it may have been
due his possiblel mixed-race ancestry.
Just before my great-grandmother, Beatrice Strickland, died in her late 90s a few years
ago, my Aunt took some notes from a conversation she had with her. She mentioned that my
3rd great-grandfather James Monroe Henderson (her grandfather and Berrien Sweat's
grandson) and my 2nd great-grandfather Samuel Capers Strickland (her grandfather) were
Full-Blooded Indians. While I know that they were not "full-blooded" Indians, I
do believe there is an element of truth in both cases.
My Samuel Capers Strickland enlisted in the C.S.A. and was recorded as being 6' tall, with
dark skin, dark hair and grey eyes.
Incidentally, the Georgia Black Book, page 90 shows the following record concerning
Nathan Sweat, son of Nathan Sweat (R.S.) being arrested and gives a physical description
of him.
Sweat, Nathan Cattle Stealing 7 Jan 1836 Appling Co., Farmer Georgia 39 yrs
6'2"
Dark complection, dark hair, dark eyes. Pardoned 30 Nov 1837.
BUGG
Georgia deed records of 3/5/1811 show Stephen Bugg, a mullatto,
guardian appointed.
See http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Beverly_Byrd.htm
for Bugg family information.