Clinch County Archives – Georgia Genealogy

John Bennett, 1778-1850, Lanier County

John Bennett and Sallie Register Bennett gravestone

John Bennett, born 1778 in Duplin (now Sampson) County, North Carolina, married Sarah (Sallie) Register in 1805 and later settled in what is now Lanier County, Georgia. A veteran of the Indian Wars, John died in May 1850 and was buried at Wayfare Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Together, John and Sallie raised eight children, including Dixon, Felix, and Redding. Sallie died in 1868 and is buried beside him. Their heritage is rooted in Georgia’s early frontier history and honored by descendants at the 1968 Register family reunion, where a new headstone was unveiled in their memory.

Richmond Bailey, 1816-1882, Coffee County

Richmond Bailey, born Jul 1816 in Laurens County, Georgia, married Matilda Sears and settled in what is now Atkinson County. A Confederate veteran, their son Tharp served in the 26th GA Regiment. Other children include Mary (m. Matthew Kirkland), Joseph (m. Mary Pearson), Aaron (m. Almiria Law), Catherine (m. Elias Griffis), and Louvicy (m. James S. Royal). The family home stood by Red Bluff Creek near Union Hill Church. Richmond was a Mason and died in 1882. He and Matilda are buried in Union Hill Cemetery in Axson, Georgia. Their family spends generations throughout South Georgia.

Isaac K. Baldree, 1758-1836, Tattnall County

Isaac K. Baldree, born in 1758 in Pitt County, NC, was a Revolutionary War veteran who later settled in Tattnall County, Georgia. He married twice and fathered at least six children, four with his second wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Sapp. His 1836 will, probate records, and pension file provide a rich source of genealogical detail, though some family connections have been misinterpreted by later researchers. This article explores his military service, descendants, and the myths and facts surrounding his family.

Biography of Prof. William Green Avera

Prof. William Green Avera (b. 1855, Clinch Co., GA) descended from a distinguished line of Georgia pioneers. His great-grandfather, Moore Avera, of Welsh ancestry, migrated from Robeson Co., NC, to Wilkinson Co., GA, where he farmed and raised livestock. His grandfather, Daniel Avera, moved to Lowndes Co. in 1845, later settling in Clinch Co. near the Okefenokee Swamp. Prof. Avera’s father, Stephen Willis Avera (b. 1836), served in the Confederate Army before resuming farming. His mother, Martha Elizabeth Aikins, was the daughter of William Green and Winnie Ann (Moore) Aikins. Through two marriages, Avera’s lineage extended through multiple generations of educators and farmers in Berrien Co. and beyond.

Daniel Avera, 1808-1888, Clinch County

Daniel Avera (1808–1888) was born in Robeson County, North Carolina, and later settled in Georgia, where he built a successful farming and cattle business. In 1826, he married Tabitha Cook, and together they raised a large family. In 1858, seeking better grazing land, Avera moved to Clinch County, Georgia, near the Florida border. He partnered with the Gaskins family in cattle ranching, a venture that thrived until his passing. Avera and his wife are buried at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Jennings, Florida, though their graves remain unmarked. Explore his legacy and descendants in this detailed genealogy.

Hansford Allen, 1811-1893, Echols County

Hansford Allen (1811–1893) was a South Carolina native who settled in Lowndes County, Georgia, with his family after the Indian War. He married Nancy Wilkinson, and they raised several children, many of whom remained in the region. Allen served in Captain Jesse Carter’s militia during the war and later established a home on Little Suwannee Creek in Echols County. He passed away on 10 Oct 1893 and was buried at Boney Bluff Cemetery. His wife was also laid to rest there, though her grave is unmarked. Read more about his life, service, and family legacy.

William Green Akins, 1806-1866, Berrien County

William Green Akins was born on 10 Sep 1806 in South Carolina, the son of Francis and Martha Akins. His family settled in Bulloch County, Georgia, before moving to Lowndes County around 1827. He married Winifred Moore (12 Jan 1812 – 28 Feb 1878) in 1830. They later resided in Clinch and Berrien counties, where Akins served as Justice of the Peace. He was a Primitive Baptist and a veteran of the 1838 Indian War. He died on 16 Feb 1866 in Berrien County. His widow remarried Jonathan Studstill in 1870.