Lowndes County Archives – Georgia Genealogy

John Bennett, 1795-1831, Lowndes County

John Bennett was born in 1795 in Effingham County, Georgia, the oldest son of William and Mary Sheffield Bennett. He married Frances “Fannie” Harris in 1813, and they raised their family in Bulloch and later Lowndes County, Georgia. John died in 1836, and Fannie later married Asa Geiger, a cousin of her first husband. Their children included Mary Ann, Richard, Frances, and William, who all married into other early Georgia families. Fannie was born around 1800 in North Carolina and died in 1904 in Manor, Georgia.

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.

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.

Isaac Edmondson, 1763-1810, Bulloch County

Descendants of Isaac Edmondson road marker

**Isaac Edmondson (c. 1763–1810)** was a Revolutionary War patriot who settled in Bulloch County, Georgia, by 1800. His will, dated 13 May 1809, named wife Nancy (née Cox) and several children, including James, Susannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, John, and David. After his death, Nancy moved the family to what became Brooks County. Though early genealogists claimed Isaac was born in England, later research suggests Virginia roots tied to Thomas Edmundson of 17th-century Essex County. Isaac’s legacy continues through numerous descendants across South Georgia.

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.

William M. Allen, 1836-1911, Echols County

William Allen, born 4 Dec 1836 in South Carolina, was the eldest son of Hansford Allen and Nancy Wilkinson. He settled in Echols County, Georgia, where he married Rebecca Allen around 1860. A Civil War veteran, William served in Company G of the 26th Georgia Infantry. He held roles as Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner. He and Rebecca had seven children, many of whom remained in Echols County. William passed away on 29 Mar 1914 and was buried in Boney Bluff Cemetery.

John Allen, 1805-1886, Lowndes County

John Allen, born in 1805 in Barnwell District, South Carolina, was a pioneer settler of Lowndes County, Georgia. Along with his widowed mother and brothers, he moved to the Naylor District in 1834. A twice-married father of seventeen children, he served in the 1838 Indian War as part of the Lowndes County militia. His descendants played a significant role in the region’s history. John Allen passed away in 1885 and was buried at Good Hope Baptist Church. This article explores his family, legacy, and contributions to early Lowndes County.

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 Alderman, 1798-1864, Brooks County

**Excerpt:**

William Alderman (12 Jan 1798 – Nov 1864) was a pioneer of Brooks County, Georgia. Born in North Carolina, he moved to Georgia in 1816 and married Sarah Edmondson in 1820. They settled in Lowndes County (later Brooks), where they raised a family and remained devoted members of Bethel Primitive Baptist Church. Three of their sons—William, Isaac, and David—served and died in the Civil War. Their eldest son, John A. Alderman, later became a Georgia state legislator. William and Sarah are buried at Bethel Church Cemetery, though no gravestones remain to confirm their exact resting places.