Old Grist Mills Wilkinson County, Ga.

Waterways
If you have any information about these or other mills you would like to share please email me.


Black Creek, 4th Land District
Jessup Mill
Toomsboro Hwy./112 N. Also know as Crawford Mill (Dr. George Crawford), Napier Mill (Edward and Marguerite Crawford Napier). Was on Black Creek Plantation.  Lot No. 248. 
Black Creek, 5th Land District
 Black Creek Mill 
John Manderson & John H. Manderson. land for sale, lots 176, 177 and 188 / 5th Dis., Wilkinson Co. w/good set of mills 1814, 1817. Sources:  Details -Cynthia Nason. The Georgia Journal 1809-1829 Milledgeville, Georgia Newspaper by Fred and Emile K. Kartz (Vol I, II, III)  1992-1994.  Updated 9-7
Eady's Mill
Council - McCranie Rd. John Eady, Sr.  was on  Council - McCranie Rd.
The Georgia Journal 1809-1829 Milledgeville, Georgia Newspaper by Fred and Emille K. Kartz (Vol I, II, III)  1992-1994  1916 Map Eady's Mill History of Wilkinson County Victor Davidson
Golden's Mill
Vincent Golden, owner. Was located next to Golden Cemetery on Hayward Smith Rd.  1916 Map.   Sources: The Georgia Journal 1809-1829 Milledgeville, Georgia Newspaper by Fred and Emille K. Kartz (Vol I, II, III)  1992-1994 1860 Fed. Census
Byington Mill
Amos Fox Byington, Henry K. Byington Mirabeau Byington (1883) On Black Creek, millpond is on Laurel Branch Church Rd
1916 Map    Byington Mill - Mark Byington History of Wilkinson County Victor Davidson
Lee Mill
Black Creek. land owned by Lawson Creswell 1874. Macon Weekly Telegraph 2/10/187`
Bales Mill
Elijah and William Bales 1850's. aka Moores Mill 1874, Pierce Mill 1880's. Details below.
Martin Edwards mill on Black Creek was purchased by M. M. Bloodworth in 1880.
Commissioner's Creek
Granade and Webb's Mill 
Owners - James Granade ____ Webb in 1846.  Big Commissioner's Creek, 3rd Land District.
Source: 1846 Aug Augusta Chronicle &  Sentinel
Washington's Mill
J.H.R. Washington on Commissioner Creek, 1½ miles  from  Emmitt Station No. 15 (Toomsboro)
3rd Land District Augusta Chronicle &  Sentinel Dec. 14, 1859
Cannon's Mill
Judge Cannon. On Commissioner Creek, Toomsboro. 3rd Land District
Augusta Chronicle &  Sentinel  2/9/1883
Deese and Jackson Mills
 100 acres within a couple hundred yards of Toomsboro 1868. Probable same as Cannon's Mill above.
Lord's Mill
Gene Lord and his two sons Virgil and Vance Lord. Commissioner Creek, Toomsboro. 3rd Land District
Photo of mill &  house where O. C. Weaver and his family lived for several years. Click on the more link. Bill Weaver
Fleetwood's Mill
Leroy Fleetwood and Captain H. K. Byington. Mills J. Lord & Carl Minor Shepherd owned it in 1900-Andrew J. Smith was the miller here in 1900. Commissioner Creek near Wriley. Lot 154, 4th Land District
Details by Mark Byington; Hemperly, Cities, Towns and Communities of Georgia...
Lewis' Mill
Richard Lewis .near William Bivins or  Ben Lancaster 1811. 5th Land District Lot 39 Details  Lewis Family History
Jonathan Nelson 
Little Commissioner Creek, NW of Gordon. Sale - fraction of Lot 10, District 5, 1/2 set of mills.  1813
The Georgia Journal 1809-1829 Milledgeville, Georgia Newspaper by Fred and Emille K. Kartz (Vol I, II, III)  1992-1994 
Isaac S. King
Little Commissioner Creek, NW of Gordon, Lot No. 10, 5th District. same mill as above. Ga. Journal  Oct. 4 1815
Solomon's Mill
David Solomon, ___ Galloway, B.I. Stevens, J.W. Hooks (1910), Pynetree Paper Co. Little Commissioner Creek
southeast of Gordon. 5th Land District Solon's Mill on 1865 map;  History of Wilkinson County Victor Davidson
Branan's Mill
James W. Branan, Sr.? Ramah District, 5th Land District. Wilkinson Deed Book S  page 468, dated 17 February 1899. Mark Byington;  Marcus D. Yates of Milledgeville was working here in 1880 per census
Whiting's /Hornsby's Mill
Was owned by Charles H. Whiting of Putnam County by 1862, sold in estate sale in 1880 , Edward Myers was miller here in 1880. 
________Hornsby. west side of Commissioner Creek/Beaver Creek. 5th Land District. J.T. Brady Map
Stokes & Jones Mill
Joe A. Stokes & __Jones, near Gordon, 5th Land District.  1920 Federal Census
R. G. Dun Mercantile Agency Reference Book, January 1923 edited and published  by Carl Millison. Jr. March 2003
Cedar Creek, 26th Land District
Burke's aka Baldwin's Mill
Daniel Burke; Thomas R. Butler & Missouri Ann Stuckey Butler; ____Baldwin; George Knight. Located on Cedar Creek, Knight's Pond, 6 miles east of Jeffersonville, 26th Land District. History of Wilkinson County, Victor Davidson
Burke's Mill aka Baldwin's Mill
Hayes Creek, 4th Land District
Hayes Mill
Martin Hayes 1812; with Theophelus Howell 1815. On Hayes Creek, north of Toomsboro, 4th District Lot 246
Land for sale 1812, 1815 The Georgia Journal 1809-1829 Milledgeville, Georgia Newspaper by Fred and Emille K. Kartz (Vol I, II, III)  1992-1994 
Slash Creek, 27th Land District
Witt's Mill
Martin Witt, Slash Creek?, NW Gordon Lot 174, 27th  Land District, land for sale 1828
The Georgia Journal 1809-1829 Milledgeville, Georgia Newspaper by Fred and Emille K. Kartz (Vol I, II, III)  1992-1994 
Rivers Mill
__Rivers, Slash Creek, NW Gordon,  Lot 183, 27th  Land District
Wilkinson Deed Book S page 448, dated 22 June 1897, Mark Byington 

 
Big Sandy Creek
Owner
Durham's Mill
Thomas Durham, Big Sandy Creek, 1865 Map; History of Wilkinson County Victor Davidson
Johnson's Mill 
Isaac F. Johnson and E. Johnson 1923.  Big Sandy Creek 26th Land District, Lot 188. Probably Durham's old mill
Will of Isaac F. Johnson R. G. Dun Mercantile Agency Reference Book, January 1923 edited and published  by Carl Millison. Jr. March 2003
Burney's Mill
Green Blount Burney, Big Sandy Creek just above Long Bridge, 26th Land District. History of Wilkinson County
Victor Davidson
South Sandy Creek
Rawl's Mill
_______Rawls, Sandy Creek near Stephensville, Lot 193, 2nd Land District, 1859. Wilkinson County Deed Book A, P. 583
Fordham's Mill
 Zenus Fordham.South Sandy Creek near Stephensville. Lot 256, 2nd Land District, listed as old in 1869. Wilkinson County Deed Book C. Pg 186
Turkey Creek
Ingram's Mill
Anderson Ingram, Turkey Creek (Palmetto Creek), 22nd Land District. Augusta Chronicle &  Sentinel Nov. 30 1853
Chapman's Mill
Turkey Creek. Georgia Weekly Telegraph July 6, 1875
Toler's Mill
Toler, ________Hughes, Turkey Creek District. Peter King was miller lived next to Joseph Toler per 1880 census
1877 News Article
Walnut Creek
Porter's Mill
Joseph Porter. Lot 359, 22nd Land District, Will of Joseph Porter
Nelson Stuckey, 22nd Land District, old Cowarts place. Wilkinson Co. Deed Book F, page 280.
Unknown
Whitehurst Mill
Lanfair Whitehurst 
Estate sale of land 1828
The Georgia Journal 1809-1829 Milledgeville, Georgia Newspaper by Fred and Emille K. Kartz (Vol I, II, III)  1992-1994 
Freeman's Mill
In book
Hemperly, Cities, Towns and Communities of Georgia...
1864 Millers
(listed in 1864 Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia)
Henry Bloodworth   Bloodworth District
J. A. Cumbass  Bloodworth District
D. McCook Bloodworth District
J. Shepherd  Bloodworth District
D. Moody  Lord District
Daniel Colson  Lord District

1880 Millers
Edward Myers, grist mill near Gordon (Whiting?)
Marcus Yates,  near Gordon
 

2ND LAND DISTRICT:

FORDHAM
FJC #1839230
Wilkinson County, Georgia
Deed Book C, P.186
December 11, 1869
William McGowan of Geneva County, Alabama to ZENIS FORDHAM.  $950 for land in the 2nd District containing405 acres.  Lots #255, #256 & #273. #255 lines from corner opposite a large spring on the north and south lines then running directly down the rim of the spring branch then along the road leading to Messers bridge and the whole of lot #256 except 3
acres aroundFordham's old mill and line running down said mill branch to the junction of small stream then up small branch to original line and #273 west of big Sandy Creek.
Wits:   ….. Summerlen    /s/ Wm. McGowen  {LS}
 A.W. Forsham {stamp}

Land District 2, near Stephensville


3RD LAND DISTRICT
 

May 20, 1846
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
STATE OF GEORGIA, Warren County, - In the Inferior Court, sitting as a Court of Ordinary, and for ordinary purposes. March term, 1846.
  It appearing to the Court that James Granade, late of said county, deceased, executed in his life time to Caleb Jones and Benjamin F. Clark, a bond for titles to his interest in a tract of land in the county of Wilkinson, known as Granade and Webb's Mills, on Big Commisssioner in said county, containing sixteen acres more or less, and that the said James Grenade died without making titles to said land, and that the said Caleb Jones and Benjamin F. Clark have fully complied with ther terms and conditions of said bond in their part: It is ordered by the Court, that Timothy Granade, executor of the last will and testament of said James Granade, deceased, do, on or before the first Monday in July next, execute titles to the said Caleb Jones and Benjamin F. Clark, upon their making it satisfactorily appear that said purchase money and interest have been fully paid, or show cause to the contrary: An it is further ordered, that a copy of this rule be published in one of the public gazettes of Augusta, once a month for three months, before the first Monday in July next.
 A true extract from the Minutes of said Court.
PATRICK N. MADDUX. c.c.o.w.c.o.
March 24, 1846

CANNON
February 9, 1883
The Atlanta Constitution
Judge Cannon's splendid mill at Toombsboro was seriously damaged last night, $1,500.
 

WASHINGTON
December 14, 1859
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
PUBLIC SALE OF LAND & Negroes At Station No. 15, Central R. R.
The undersigned, having determined to withdraw from the planting business, will sell at public outcry on TUESDAY, 20 DECEMBER NEXT, HIS PLANTATION
   At Myrtle Spring, Wilkinson county, Ga. and at the same time, offer for sale 45 Likely Negroes.
   The Plantation lies on Commissioners' creek, at No. 15, Central Railroad-eight hours right from Savannah and two hours from Macon or Milledgeville. It contains 1,062 1/2 acres of Upland, Creek and Branch Bottoms. About half cleared,( the remainder fine woods) suitable for the production of Corn, Cotton and Rice.
   About half the cleared Land, FRESH-none worn out Being located near the Depot, it presents the rare inducements of an entire saving of hauling, freights, commissions and storage-the proprietor acting as he own factor, and always finding ready sale for his crop at the Gin House.
   The place has good Log Cabins, Gin House and Screw, with convenient lots of Stock, Springs in every field, one of them Mineral, and it affords one of the handsomest sites for a Dwelling in the State fronting on the Railroad. Good Saw and Grist Mills 1 1/2 miles off, and a fine supply of timber on the premises, which can be sawed on shares. Also, plenty of FISH and GAME at hand.
  The Negroes are among the best ever offered for sale in Georgia. STOCK, PROVISIONS and PLANTATION TOOLS, will also be sold
TERMS
  For the Land, one half Cash, the balance in one and two years. The Negroes will be sold on a Cash basis, but special arrangements may be made for indulgence. call and examine the premises.
J.H.R. WASHINGTON
Persons from a distance will find accommodations at the Depot.


4TH LAND DISTRICT:

FLEETWOOD
Leroy Fleetwood Mill

When the railroad was laid through Wilkinson County, Station #16 was placed on Leroy Fleetwood’s property at the town of Wriley. Near this place, on Commissioners Creek, Fleetwood built a mill. I have no record of this mill until the late 1870s, when the Fleetwood place had come into the possession of Algernon S. Hartridge of Savannah. After Hartridge’s death, his real estate was put up for public sale, and the Fleetwood property was purchased by Capt. Henry K. Byington on 7 December 1880 for $101. This property consisted of fifty acres of land, adjoining other lands already owned by Capt. Byington. The state of the mill at this time is unknown, but by 1884 the mill was functioning, as demonstrated by the following newspaper article.
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Atlanta Constitution
 7 December 1884, p. 5:
Stopped by a Big Fish
From the Irwinton, Ga., Appeal.

Captain H. K. Byington, who is a prominent candidate before the people for the office of ordinary, experienced quite a remarkable incident at his mill a few days ago. The report, as given by our reliable informant, goes thus: It seems that Captain B. leaving his mill running on time, had started to his house to look after something. He had gone only a short distance from the millhouse, however, when all of a sudden the machinery stopped, "never to go again," as it were. Captain B. retraced his steps immediately and commenced an investigation as to the "why and wherefore" the mill had so unceremoniously ceased to budge. After a thorough examination he found everything intact above, and no apparent cause for the stoppage. He was satisfied of some trouble somewhere, nevertheless, and shutting down the water gate, he went below to stir things. In the water wheel which propels the mill he found a fish - yes, a ten pound trout - securely wedged between one of the buckets in such a manner as to "scotch" the wheel and bringing things to a dead halt. His troutship was at once extricated from his perilous position, the gates were hoisted, and the mill proceeded to do its bidding in its usual good manner. Remarkable to say the fish was in no wise mutilated, and furnished the Captain a splendid meal that night at supper.

---------------------

The mill described in this article is not the Byington mill on Black Creek, which Henry K. Byington had sold to his brother Mirabeau L. Byington in 1883, but is instead the old Fleetwood mill. Capt. Byington ran this mill until the end of 1885, when he sold the land and the mill to Mills J. Lord of Augusta for $1,000. The surviving deed records show the transfer of 75 acres of land “on which tract is situated the old Fleetwood house and out houses, mill house, saw mill, gin house, dwelling and out houses at mill.”

At the same time Mills J. Lord purchased the Fleetwood mill from Capt. Byington, he also contracted Marcus Oliver McMullen, a carpenter (and Capt. Byington’s nephew), to improve and refurbish the equipment over a five year period. During this time, McMullen was to build and attach two new water wheels to the existing pair of grist mills by 1 May 1886 (such that the mills would have a capacity of processing 40 to 45 bushels of grain a day), build and install a new water wheel for the cotton gin (which Lord was to provide) by 15 August 1886, build a saw mill shed and repair the existing saw mill by 1 May 1887. In exchange for these services and a modest rent, McMullen was granted the use of the grist mill and mill seat, and all of the land and buildings attached. The repairs and additions evidently went according to schedule, but the fate of the mill can be known from the following newspaper article.

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Atlanta Constitution
 2 November 1889, p. 4:
FIRES IN GEORGIA

On Tuesday night of last week, between the hours of 12 and 1 o'clock, the ginhouse known as the old Byington mill seat, in Wilkinson county, was destroyed by fire. It was the property of Mr. M. J. Lord, having been leased for five years by Mr. M. O. McMullen, two years ago, during which time he had placed thereon a good ginhouse and sawmill, all being under the same roof. The flames were under good headway and the top was falling in before it was known, and the house and everything therein was a total loss. About thirteen bales of cotton that was lying near the house were also burned, together with a number of bushels of cotton seed. The estimate of the loss is placed at about $1,500, and no insurance.

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The mill was located near Wriley, and the Fleetwood home place was itself located between the flow of Commissioners Creek to the north and the run of the Central Railroad to the south. Various deeds appear to indicate that the mills were located on Lot 156 in the Fourth District of Wilkinson. However, the lot numbers on the deed records are not clear, and modern tax maps indicate that the mills could not have been located on Lot 156. They were located  Lot 154, close to where the road from Irwinton to Wriley crosses Commissioners Creek, just below the mouth of Nelson’s Branch.

submitted by  Mark Byington
copyright 2004


5TH LAND DISTRICT:

Bales Mill
Several documents in land records and newspapers to indicate that a mill existed on Black Creek above the Byington mill, just
about where the dam for Hodge's Lake is now. It was referred to as Bales Mills and was owned by Elijah and William Bales in the early 1850s. The mill was located on Lot 152 on District 5, and the property consisted of at least that part of Lot 152 north of Black Creek making 82 1/2 acres, a 38-acre tract in the adjacent part of Lot 167, and all of Lot 151 (part of
which now extends into Baldwin). It was a saw and grist mill. The Bales also had interest in 400 acres of adjacent pine land. They seem to have lost it in the latter half of the 1850s, probably through default on a mortgage, when the land was put up for sale by the sheriff. The public road once ran past this mill and into Baldwin County. In 1874 the road was made public, and the mill appears to be the one called Rev. A. H. Moore's mill. In 1889 the route of this road was changed such that the portion passing by the mill was closed, and the mill was then called the Pierce old mill. Submitted by  Mark Byington

BLACK CREEK

Black Creek Mill
Genealogical Abstracts from the Georgia Journal (Milledgeville)
Newspaper, 1809-1840 v. 1 1809-1818 by Fred R. & Emilie K. HARTZ:

pp.238-239 Issue of 2 Nov 1814. "Will be sold, at Irwinton, Wilkinson Court-house the first Tuesday in December next, the following property to wit: Three lots of land, 202-1/2 acres each, numbers 176, 177, and 188, in the 5th district of Wilkinson County, with a good set of mills on said lots, taken as the property of John H. MANDERSON and John MANDERSON, to
satisfy two executions in favor of John FOX and Mashack LANDTRIP. /s/Joseph JACKSON, Shff.

p.496 Issue of 3 Jan 1816. On the first Tuesday in February next, will be sold, at Irwinton, Wilkinson court-house ... the following property, to wit: ... No. 186 in the 5th dist. of said county ... 202-1/2 acres ... Grist and Saw Mill thereon, taken as the property of John H. MANDERSON, to satisfy an execution in favor of Meshack LANDTRIP ... /s/ Joseph JACKSON, Shff.

p. 781 Issue of 3 Dec 1817. "Saw and Grist Mills. A great bargain may be got, if application is made in a short time, in the subscriber's undivided half of 1113-3/4 acres ... with one saw and grist mills theron, on Big Black Creek, equi-distant betwixt Irwinton and Milledgeville, abt. 9 or 10 miles from each ..." /s/ John H. MANDERSON. Black Creek.

Ad in 1 May 1821 paper, conflict with Zachariah LAMAR over Black Creek Mill(s) and Stafford Tract; Milledgeville, GA, The Southern Recorder, p. 3, column 5. Zachariah LAMAR ad of April 20. J.H. MANDERSON letter of 5 Jan 1821. Note of Z. LAMAR for $300 borrowed from Jno. H. MANDERSON, payable the first of January next, with interest from date, 21 Nov 1820. Statement of Jno. H. MANDERSON, 28 April 1821.
Copyright and contributed by Cynthia Nason

Federal Union 4 Mar 1856 p3 column 5
Wilkinson Sheriff Sale.
Will be sold on the first Tuesday in APRIL next, within the usual hours of sale, before the Court House door, the following property to-wit: ...
Also James O. SPANN, equitable interest in eleven hundred acres of land, more or less, in the fifth District of Wilkinson county, numbers not known, but known as the old Manderson Mill place adjoining Jas. M. HALL, Wm. L. JOHN and others; Levied on to satisfy a Wilkinson Superior Court fi fa in favor of G.F. Wood & Co. vs: James O. SPANN and Leroy FLEETWOOD and Wade F. SANFORD security. Property pointed out by Defendant. The above premises has a good Grist Mill now in motion and a Saw Mill in progress of building.
contributed by Cynthia Nason

5th District
Wilkinson County, GA
1805 Land Lottery
Orginal Grantees
176  James Erring  Oglethorpe  13 Nov 1805
177  John J. Smith  Oglethorpe  23 Jan 1806
186  William Smilley  Hancock   5 Mar 1806
188  William Serral/Small? Franklin   30 Jul 1806
 

BRANAN
Branan Mill- Wilkinson Deed Book S, Page 468, dated 17 February 1899, the sale of 676 acres of land in the 5th District of Wilkinson; land bordered north by W. C. Branan and F. Branan, east by Martha Hudson and J. S. Brown, west by C. H. Branan, and south by J. W. & J. H. Branan; land better known as the Branan Mill place

BYINGTON

Byington Mill

The Byington Mill was located where Laurel Branch Church Road crosses Black Creek, on Lot 166 in the Fifth District of Wilkinson County, near the Baldwin County line. The original road ran slightly to the east around the mill, but the present road runs right through part of the original mill site. Portions of the dam can still be seen to the west of the road, the mill building having occupied the northern bank of the creek. The earliest reference I have been able to find to the Byington Mill on Black Creek is contained in an 1839 legal ad in a Milledgeville newspaper:

Georgia Journal 27 August 1839, p. 3:
Wilkinson Sheriff's Sale. Will be sold on the first Tuesday in October next, before the
courthouse door in the town of Irwinton, between the usual hours of sale,  the following property: James L. Byington and Lewis Jackson's interest in and to 600 acres of pine land in the 5th District of Wilkinson County, numbers not known, whereupon Amos Byington now lives.  On the premises is a first rate grist and saw mill.  Levied on to satisfy a fi fa in favor of Jacob Woodall, for the use of Ezra Daggett, vs. James L. Byington and Lewis Jackson. [Signed] Wm. Cooper, D. Sheriff. August 22, 1839.

Amos Fox Byington (1793-1874) and his family could not have been living on this land for very long prior to the appearance of this ad, since from 1810 until the end of 1838 they had been living in either Baldwin or Hancock, as shown by those counties’ tax records. The property described above was partly owned by Amos’ oldest son, James Lawrence Byington (1815-1869). The mill on the property might have existed before James L. Byington bought his interest in it. Or he might have built it himself, as he is known to have been a carpenter, and he did build the Amos Fox Byington home place, which used to exist on the hill directly opposite the Byington Mill on Laurel Branch Creek Road.

I have found no subsequent records of the mill or the property until 1847, when Amos Byington (who apparently had continued to occupy the land as a tenant) bought about 800 acres of land from Ezra Daggett, who had evidently secured ownership of the land in the 1839 legal action. This seems to have included the 600 acres previously owned in part by James L. Byington, plus an additional land lot. Land records show that the four land lots involved in this 1847 transaction are lots 153, 165, and 166, and part of lot 167, all in the Fifth District of Wilkinson County. Around this time Amos’ mother, Sarah, gained ownership of an adjacent lot (no. 177) and transferred ownership to her son. More specifically, Amos Byington held these one thousand acres of land as trustee for his five youngest children, who were to assume active ownership when they had established themselves (he apportioned the lands in the years immediately following the Civil War).

It is known that Amos Byington and his family ran both a saw mill and a grist mill, which were very likely contained in the same building on Black Creek, directly across the road from the Amos Fox Byington home place. Most of the land Amos owned was pine land, which he harvested for lumber to be processed in the saw mill (which is thought to have been powered by a four-paddle turbine). Even after he transferred ownership of the land to his children, Amos retained the rights to the lumber contained on the land.

Although the deed of transfer does not appear to have survived, it is very likely that Amos transferred ownership of the property containing the Byington mill to his son, Capt. Henry Kosciusko Byington, sometime before Amos’ death in 1874. However, in 1883 Henry K. Byington sold the mill and property to his younger brother Mirabeau Lamar Byington. The deed of transfer still exists, and shows that the property included part of lots 166 and 165, about 200 acres in total (Henry then ran the old Leroy Fleetwood mill on Commissioners Creek near Wriley). A few months after purchasing the mill and property, Mirabeau Byington took out a mortgage on it, and the mortgage records show that this property consisted of: “one engine and saw mill together with all the fixtures & appurtenances thereto belonging, 5 head of mules & 7 head of oxen, 2 wagons, 2 log carts, also three hundred & fifty (350) acres of land, more or less, situated, lying & being in the Fifth District of Wilkinson Co., Ga., adjoining land of McMullen on the North, Jones & Caraker on the East, Smith & Golden on the South.” The land described in this document appears to include the tract that Henry Byington sold to Mirabeau Byington, plus lands that Mirabeau had himself owned before 1883.

Mirabeau Byington maintained and operated the mill for many years, and surviving documents record his purchase of equipment for the mill. Mirabeau’s sons, James Lawrence Byington and Wright Elam Byington, helped run the mill, and it is likely that they took over most aspects of the business in the 1890s. Mirabeau sold the mill and all of his lands north of Black Creek to Joseph Youngblood, Jr. in February of 1900. He retained the lands south of Black Creek, where his house still stands, until his death in 1909. At the time of his death, Mirabeau Byington’s estate included 220 acres of land south of Black Creek, which are still owned by his descendents.

Lot 153 - Elizabeth Walker, original grantee, June 12, 1806
Lot 165- Isaac Love, original grantee, Aug. 20, 1806
Lot 166 - Rachel Waller, original grantee June 18, 1806
Lot 167 - William McCall, original grantee Nov. 13, 1805
 

EADY
JOHN EADY SR., who emigrated from Ireland, whose Revolutionary service was certified by General Elijah Clarke, was one of the early settlers of the county, building a mill on Black Creek still known as "Eady's Mill." His son, Henry, (b. 1786-1847) was married in 1807 to Elizabeth Gay (b. 1790, daughter of Allen and Abigail (Castleberry) Gay. Henry became very wealthy, owning a great many slaves. Henry's daughter, Temperance, married Oren Davis.
Davidson's History of Wilkinson County
  From the will of John Eady - "And to my beloved son, J. A. Eady, I bequeath my grist and saw mill, and one hundred acres of land, parts of two lots, No. 186, the mill tract on lot No. 181, part of the long branch lot"

Lot 181 - original grantee Joseph Baughn, Nov. 13, 1805
Lot 186 -  William Twilley, original grantee March 5, 1806

Atlanta Constitution
August 22, 1912
Fish Fry at Eady's Mill
Milledgeville, Ga, August 21 (Special) A party of Milledgeville men left here in ten automobiles for Eady's mill, Wilkinson county, early this morning. The attraction is a big fish fry. In order that some repairs be made at the mill, the pond will be drained. This pond is a large body of water, and abounds with fish, especially noted for fine trout that the Milledgeville sportsman is so fond of.

KING
Georgia Journal
4 Oct. 1815
Wilkinson County
Sheriff's Sale.
91 1/4 acres..#10..5th dist
good grist mill....saw mill.. house...property of Isaac S.King in favor
of Bliss Hart
signed William Beck  Sheriff

Lot 10 , fractional 182.¼ - Silas Mathews original grantee Feb. 1 1806

LEWIS
Genealogical Abstracts from the Georgia Journal (Milledgeville)
Newspaper, 1809-1840 v. 1 1809-1818 by Fred R. & Emilie K. HARTZ:
p.74 Issue of 25 Dec 1811 "Lost on the road from Milledgeville ... a red morocco pocket book containing three notes on Micajah DIXON ... and one other note on Micajah HISTER ... and an order on John MANDERSON.  Any person who may find said property return it to me or to William BIVINS, esq., near Lewis's mills Wilkinson County shall be handsomely rewarded for their trouble. /s/ Ben LANCASTER



26TH LAND DISTRICT

BURKE
"He was a large planter and land owner. He erected, at large expense, a mill on Cedar Creek, known as Burke's Mill. He amassed considerable property and at one time was the largest taxpayer in the county. At his death he was perhaps the wealthiest man living in that section of Wilkinson County."
 Davidson's History of Wilkinson County

BURNEY
"Green Blount Burney lived for many years prior to the war on his plantation. Among his possessions was the old water mill just above Long Bridge which is still known as Burney's Mill. He died in 1866, and is buried in the old family cemetery near the county line, west of Ball's Church."
Davidson's History of Wilkinson County

ALEXANDER INGRAM
November 30 1853
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
LAND FOR SALE The subscriber offers for sale his PLANTATIONS in Wilkinson County, lying on Turkey Creek, one containing three thousand acres of Oak and Hickory land with a good Grist Mill, Dwelling House and all necessary out-buildings. Also one thousand acres about four miles above on the same creek, containing some valuable Hammock and Swamp Lands, with a good Dwelling and all out-buildings on the premises. Persons wishing to purchase can get a bargain in either or both the above places, by calling on the subscriber, living one mile from Cool Spring, Wilkinson County.
 

Grist Mill - Irwinton
E. Johnson
 R. G. Dun Mercantile Agency Reference Book, January 1923; edited and published  by Carl Millison. Jr. March 2003

"George Knight was wounded in his right leg which later had to be amputated, and was sent home on sick parole. He served the confederate cause later by running a ferry and a grist mill."
 Davidson's History of Wilkinson County


27TH LAND DISTRICT

DURHAM
"When Sherman's Army arrived, Mr. Brooks and his brother, John Pink, had been sent to Durham's Mill, each riding a
swift horse. Suddenly almost upon them they saw a large body of blue clad horsemen coming at a gallop. As they
turned their horses about, the leader of the Yankees commanded. "Halt! Halt!" "Lie down on your horse and lay the whip!" Mr. Brooks cried to his brother, doing the same, each expecting a volley of bullets to be fired at them. For some reason the  ursuers did not fire, evidently bent on capturing the boys' horses. Though hotly pressed they gained on the enemy. Passing the home of Henry Wood, Mr. Brooks called to the family to tell the Yankees they had gone another direction (later he learned they did). Fearing to ride home lest the enemy would overtake them, after two miles at a dead run, the boys turned and made for "Beachtree Hammock" in Big Sandy Swamp, which they could reach by crossing a marsh, and where they knew no Yankee would ever find them. All afternoon they waited here. Near night leaving their horses securely tied they walked to the edge of the swamp where Mr. Brooks climbed a tall tree to reconnoitre. No Yankees visible, the boys ventured home."
Victory  Davidson History of Wilkinson County

JOHNSON
Isaac JOHNSON
ITEM 5.  I bequeath unto my son, Isaac F., 75 acres, more or less, of Lot No. 188, being whereon the mill and gin is situated; the land extending to the ditch on the North side of the creek together with one acre of land, house thereon excepted, from the house place bequeathed to my dear wife in Article 3 of this my last will and testament.  I also give and bequeath to my son, my mule, Rhody.
Will of Isaac F. Johnson 15 Mar 1887 Wilkinson County, GA

JONES & STOKES
Gordon, 1923
Gin and Grist Mill
R. G. Dun Mercantile Agency Reference Book, January 1923 edited and published  by Carl Millison. Jr. March 2003
 

RIVERS
Wilkinson Deed Book S page 448, dated 22 June 1897, the sale of 170 acres on Lot 183 in the 27th District of Wilkinson (just to the northwest of Gordon) from Terry Brookings Sr to Anderson Brookings; land bordered north by the Central of Georgia Railroad, east by Green Brookings, south by B. F. Ryles, and west by W. A. Jones; land better known as part of the old Rivers Mill place.

SOLOMON
At the same time the railroad was built David Solomon, who lived five miles out in the country, built and began operating the Gordon Hotel, which today is in a good state of preservation, and is being used as a first-class hotel. In 1848 Mr. Solomon built a three-story grist and flour mill on Little Commissioner Creek which he afterward sold to Mr. Galloway. It was later owned by B.I. Stevens, then J.W. Hooks who in 1910 sold it to the Pyne Tree Paper Company, where an extensive paper mill was operated until 1927, and is still intact, although not being operated at present.
 Davidson's History of Wilkinson County

STUCKEY
Deed Book F, page 280.  Excerpt:  "Nelson Stuckey deeds to his daughter, Margarett A. (Stuckey) Ganey (Gainey) property which includes "one twenty-five horse steam engine style Talbot and Sons saw and grist mill with the same with all the tools and implements belonging thereto also one sixteen horsepower engine
style Washington Iron Works, ....one cane mill and kettle." 22nd District of W.C. known as the Cowart Place.R. Elizabeth Brewer


Waterways:
Oconee River
Ball Branch
Bearcamp Branch I
Beaver Branch
Beaver Creek
Beaverdam Branch
Big Branch Jeffersonville
Big Branch  Toomsboro
Big Sandy Creek  Cow Hell Swamp
Black Creek
Blackkiln Branch
Brenham Branch aka Brenham Creek
Buck Creek
Buckhorn Branch
Bull Branch
Camp Creek
Cedar Creek
Clear Creek
Commissioner Creek
Cowpen Creek  aka Cowpen Branch
Crooked Shank
Dead River
Deep Slough
Devil's Branch
Dry Branch
Dry Fork
Edmonds Branch
Gaylor Creek
Goose Creek
Hayes Creek
Helton Branch
Hickman Creek
Horse Branch
Hudson Branch
Laurel Branch
Lindsey Branch
Little Black Creek
Little Commissioner(s) Creek
Little Oochee Creek
Little Sandy Creek
Long Branch
Lords Branch  aka Bee Branch
Maiden Creek
Mallory Branch
McGowan Branch
Nelson Branch
Oconee River
Oochee Creek
Pearson Branch
Pitman Branch
Porter Creek  aka Porter Branch, Porters Creek
Ramage Branch
Salt Log Lake
Salter(s) Branch
Sandy Creek
Slash Creek
Thompson Branch
Town Branch
Turkey Creek - near Danville, Pennohatchee Creek, Pinahachi Creek, Palmetto Creek
Walnut Creek
Water Fork
Wheeler Branch
Wildcat Branch
 

Image from clipart.com
 

copyright Eileen B. McAdams 2004