The Captain (elected from each area) of each Company would enroll the names of every male between the ages of 15 and 60, who lived within that District.
Both the Captain and the Lieutenants were elected offices.
The boundaries were determined by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief and determined by the number of eligible men living there.....limiting the district to a maximum of 63 men.
In those days the Districts were known by the Captain's Name, i.e. Captain Wilson's., and whenever a new Captain was elected, the name would change.
In 1804, the numerical system came into being, and the District KEPT the original number even as the Counties were created. However, in those early years the way of referring to the District was chiefly by the Captain's Name. That makes it confusing on Land Lotteries!
In 1804 the Tax Receiver got his list of persons from the Captain in each District Company. Tax payers even now are arranged by GMD.
As new counties were formed, new districts were created also. That is why the GMDs are not in chronological order within the county itself.
#470Jug District is the oldest district in Upson Co....created in 1822
. (This orignally was in Monroe, later in Pike and then Upson)
It is the East Side of the county.
1828-1829 Captain Scroggin's
1850 = Jug Dist Militia Dist #470
#494 Black Ankle (just north of Flint River, Taylor Co border)
1850=Black Ankle Dist Militia Dist #494
#537 was created in 1823 and also known as Flint District. (This was
originally in Pike County) This is on the West side of the County....but
originally would have probably covered everything West of #470!
1825 - Capt Sims. (Reeves was later taken out of this GMD)
1826 - Capt Sander's
1829 - Capt Ezeals
1830, 1832, 1833, 1834 - Capt Nolans
1835 - Flint
1850: Flint District Militia Dist #527 (the whole left 1/3 of the Co bordering Meriwether & Talbot Co.)
#560 was probably created in 1825 taken from Pike County, but there is no record of when it was abolished, and it doesn't exist today. The Flint District covered the western part of the county. A new district was formed called the Reeves District which took up the Southern half of the Flint District.
#555 Red Bone was the next oldest .
1826 Capt Harrells
1829 Capt Turner
1830, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835 Capt Coopers
1850: Pine Bowery Dist Militia Dist #555
#561 Thomaston District
1825 Captain Cooper's
1825-1829 Capt. Perry's
1850: Town District Militia Dist #561
#588 Union Hill DistrictThe right 1/3 of the Co, bordering on Monroe, Crawford & a tad of Talbot:
1825, 1826 - Capt Myrick
1828 - Capt Alford
1829 - Capt Golden
1831-1834 - Capt Dawson
1835 - Capt White
1850: Union Hill Dist Militia Dist #588
#589 Hootenville
1825 - Capt Barron
1829 - Capt Eason
1831- Capt Williams
1832 - Capt Robertson
1833-1835 - Capt Blount
1850 = Hootenville Dist Militia Dist #589
#1336 Reeves (Created from FLINT District)
#1577 The Rock
#1610 Atwater
"Muster Days" were held in each county, usually in the county seat, and were occasions for the county to meet socially. Military drilling took place and even athletic contests and other events were held.
The 1897 Map of Upson County (available for $3 plus $1 postage. Thomaston Library and Archives) indicates the GMD as well as the Land Districts and the individual Lots.
I will be happy to look up a lot number. Send me the District and Lot number and I will give you a description of location.
Between 1805 and 1832, Georgia held seven lotteries to distribute its lands west of the Oconee River and south of the Altamaha River. Each lottery distributed lands for a specific area. The lands were laid out into large original counties (e.g. Muscogee County, Houston, Monroe, Troup) These counties were subdivided into numbered Land Districts (squares with a length and width of 9 miles). For instance, Muscogee had 24 districts (1-24); Troup had 12 districts (1-12).
Each districts were subdivided into numbered land lots (every one starting with land lot 1 and ran in a logical order). Take a look at a map of any county showing Land Lots and you'll see these. But be careful that you first pay attention to the District Land Lines, as some lands lot numbering may run almost parallel to the neighboring District.
Hall's 1889 Original County Map of Georgia shows these Original Counties as well as the Land Districts within it. The present counties are also indicated. This map is available from the Georgia Archives for $1.00.
These districts and land lots are still the same, since a surveying system cannot be changed once it has been established.
Since these original counties proved to be too large and
unmanageable, they were soon broken up into smaller newer counties, which
was a never ending process. County lines have nothing to do with district
or land lot lines; they can cut right through these. That is why you find a
part of District 15, originally Muscogee County, now in Talbot County and
another part in Taylor County. A piece of property in this area would be
identified by land lot number, land district number and county (and
sometimes original county).
Ingrid P. Shields
Sr. Archivist, Land Records Georgia State Archives
What happened was there are offsets where land lot lines meet district lines. When you look at the Matthews Map where the 15th and the 16th meet there are no offsets, the land lot lines cross the district line without offset.To receive his money the surveyor had to meet this requirement so when the original county map was made the land lot lines agreed with the requirement. If you put the separate District maps together you will find that there are offsets. Now so far as the individual plats of the land lots are concerned. The survey on the ground did not always give 202 1/2 acres but the requirements were to have 202 1/2 acres so all of the original land lot plats show this.The survey was a compass and chain survey, which was a primative method of surveying. In the l6th District there are some lots with as little as 60 acres and some that are over 300 acres but to meet the requirements the plats show 202 1/2 acres.
"GEORGIA'S ORIGINAL 32 COUNTIES "Counties formed from the HEADRIGHT and BOUNTY GRANTS: 1. Camden; 2. Glynn; 3. Liberty; 4. Chatham; 5. Effingham; 6. Burke; 7. Richmond; 8. Wilkes; 9. Franklin; 10. Washington.
The Georgia
Land Lottery Papers: 1805-1914
Lookup: Kristopher L Swinson ([email protected])
"Counties Formed in the 1805 Lottery: 11. Wayne; 12. Wilkinson and 13. Baldwin.
"Counties Formed in the 1807 Lottery: The remainder of 12. Wilkinson; and the remainder of 13. Baldwin.This book contains the following information: