William Lord Patriot

Dear Editor:
This will recall my visit to your office and plant in Waynesboro last summer.  I have been working in Jamaica and Mexico
and other places since then and am just now sending you the information on William Lord of Burke County which I
mentioned then.

William Lord of Revolutionary times has been almost lost to  history, and it is a shame, because he seems to have been a
notable patriot.  I have assembled these facts in the process of searching for my own ancestors, and at one time thought
that this William Lord was my direct ancestor, as another William Lord was my direct ancestor, also a Revolutionary figure and locating in Wilkinson County, Georgia.  I have traced him back to Kent Island, Maryland through land records and pension applications, and am certain that the William Lord of Burke County was another person, perhaps related to my ancestor, but I have no exact knowledge of that.

I am interested in seeing that the William Lord if Burke County is remembered however, and I am placing here most of the
facts I have been able to ascertain about him. In June 1767 he was granted 350 acres in the fork of Rocky Creek, a
branch of Briar Creek about  3 miles from the mouth.  ( Colomial Records of Georgia, Candler-1907, Vol X, page 194 where his petition is shown, )  He had lately come into Georgia from South Carolina with a wife, four children, and five Negroes.  In May 1770 the governor signed a grant for another 100 acres in St George Parish bounding south on his own land, west on land laid out for William Alexander.   Vol. X1, p 47, Candler.
  I was unable to locate the right Rocky Creek when I was there, but am now sure that this land is located on the Rocky
Creek that extends down from Briar Creek in the general area north of and between Sardis and Alexander near the _________Church.  I was there later but could  find no one to show me the road and due to lack of time could not check
further.  The county maps show the location clearly--I see no other place where the Lord 450 acres could be located.

William Lord of St George Parish was an ensign in the 2nd Company, 4th Regiment, Col. John Thomas, Capt. Gideon
Thomas, February 23, 1774 to____.  Delegate to the Provencial Congress in Savannah July 12, 1775.  This could have
been a son of the Wm. Lord who was given the two Colonial grants, but I have no details on this.  He was named
Magistrate, Lower District, St. George Parrish, July 2, 1776 by the Revolutionary Government.  Commissary of  Hides
and Tallow November 6, 1781.  He was elected to the House of Representatives or named to that post---for Burke
County, Georgia, January 2, 1782, also named to the governor's executive council same date, but attended and declined
taking this seat.  He was Road Commissioner for Burke County, River Road, July 29, 1783, Clerk Superior Court Burke
County 1784, 1785, 1786, and 1787.  Coroner Burke County 1790, 1792.  Justice Burke County February 8,  1797.

William Lord also attended the Provencial Congress in Savannah August 10, 1774, with Henry Jones.  Later most of the
citizens of St. George Parish signed a petition denouncing Lord and Jones for the actions taken by them.  This list well
known today.  October 21, 1783, as Clerk of the Court in Burke County, Wm Lord signed charges drawn up by grand
jury and presented to Hon. Geo. Walton, Esq., Chief Justice, present in person listing names of traitors and others who
had worked with British during war.  On at least two occasions, perhaps more, the executive council of the Revolutionary
government issued  "rations for Mrs. Lord, Mr. Lord to be responsible."

There are no Lords in Burke County today, and no records of the Wm. Lord in question, or his family.  All drop from
sight, though I understand there are some Lords in Screven County.  It is evident that here we have a notable patriot, head
of government in his district, and some of the bloodest fighting of the war took place in the  almost impentrentable fastness
of the Briar Creek section.   "Rations for Mrs. Lord"  strikes an ominous note.

It would be greatly apppreciated if you could see a way to print the main facts presented here in THE TRUE CITIZEN.
The county historian there is planning to reissue her history, amplified as much as possible, and as very little is said about
Wm. Lord, these facts may be of interest to her.  I am personally interested in this, and though this Wm. Lord may or may
not be a close relative of my people, I would like to see him restored to his rightful place in history, to the glory of Burke
County and Georgia and the patriots of the great revolution.  I will help in this every way I can and printing this may attract
the interest of others who know something about the Revolutionary LORDS of Burke County.

I would appreciate having notice on my subscription to the " True Citizen " so that I can send in my renewal.  I enjoy the
paper, and think the viewpoint on pressing Southern problems is quite forward-looking and sound.

Sincerely, with best regards,

David B. Lord
1148 Willow Branch Ave.
Jacksonville, Florida  32205

Permission to reprint story by Ray Chalker, Publisher, The True Citizen,  Sept. 13, 2004

Submitted and copyrighted by  Inez Brett