1821 - Creation of Houston and Monroe (original counties)
1822 - 1824 Pike + Crawford Counties
1825 - Land ceded back to Pike
1821 - Indian Land Treaty
18 January 1821 -- Treaty at Indian Spring between Creek Indians and US
Government in which the Creek Indians relinquished claim to all lands
east of the Flint River
Resources about Creek Indians
All Creek Indian Treaties
Lands divided into land districts
Act of Dec. 9, 1822 Dawson page 122. All that tract of country hereinafter pointed out: Beginning at the center of the 11th District of Monroe, running West on the line dividing Houston and Monroe to the corner of the 1st and 16th Districts of Houston, thence a direct line to the mouth of Big Potato Creek, thence up Flint River to the County line dividing Monroe and Fayette, then on said line East to the centre line of the 3rd District of Monroe, thence South on said line and the centre lines of the 7th and 11th Districts of Monroe, forming another County to be called Pike.[This means that the north half of current Upson County was part of Pike County, and the south half of current Upson County was part of Crawford County, from 9 December 1822 until 15 December 1824 when Upson County was formed.]
[Side note: This 1822 bill also created Bibb County from original Houston County, and DeKalb County from original Henry County.]
[Side note: This 1824 bill also created Ware County in south Georgia from original Appling County.]
This 1824 bill gives the following description of Upson County boundaries (taken from Nottingham and Hannah,"The Early History of Upson County, Georgia," page 21):
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this act, all that territory embraced by a line beginning at Flint River, in Crawford county, where the Auchumka creek enters said river thence up said creek to the fork, thence on a straight line to the corner of Monroe and Pike counties, thence along the line dividing said counties, to the district line of the eleventh and seventh districts, formerly in Monroe, thence west on said line to Flint river, thence down said river to the place of beginning, shall form and constitute a new county, called Upson."
Looking at Matthews' 1897 map, you can see that the Upson County line starts as stated up the Auchumpkee Creek to a fork, and heads directly for the southeastern corner of Land Lot 153, District 11, original Monroe County, which would have been the "corner of Monroe and Pike counties" per the law. As you can see, this 1897 map includes a number of land lots east of this line not encompassed by this legislation. This land may have been added to Upson by a later law.
As you can see from the above description, the role of Land Districts plays a considerable role in these county descriptions--"to the district line of the eleventh and seventh districts, formerly in Monroe, thence west on said line of the eleventh and seventh districts [along the line separating Land Districts 11, 10 and 15 of original Monroe County from Land Districts 7, 8, and 9 of original Monroe County]."
"An Act to add a part of the County of Upson to the County of Pike." "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this act, all that part of Upson county lying north of Elkin's Creek, running through the north-west corner of said county, be added to, and become a part of the county of Pike."
Contributed by Jimmy Hunke [email protected]
When searching for land distribution, also remember these:
1. Lands inherited, or gained through marriage
2. Lands which were sold at Sheriff's sales for taxes, or
for Distribution of Estates.
Problems, suggestions, or ideas?
Upson County Page last updated: Friday, 08-Mar-2002 13:30:25 MST