Dating this house near Toomsboro, one of the most iconic in Wilkinson County, has proven to be quite difficult. In Architecture of Middle Georgia: The Oconee Area, John Linley opines that the original section of the house likely dates to the early 19th century. He adds: The Jackson family moved to the area in the early 1700s…[the] house has been in their possession continually since it was built. The Jackson house is more indigenous than Greek Revival and it could be that the central hall was once an open dogtrot... Local records also add the date 1885, perhaps when renovations of some sort were undertaken.
As much as I’d like to know when it was built, I’m just grateful that the family has protected and maintained the house over the better part of two centuries.
According to the historical record, Mount Nebo was the first church in Wilkinson County. It was organized in June 1808 by Rev. Charles Culpepper and Rev. John Ross. Constituting members were Samuel Cannon, Sarah Cannon, Benjamin Underwood, Jinney Underwood, Thomas Jackson, John Hardie, Damarius Hardie, William Bland, Elizabeth Bland, William Lord, Molly Lord, Henry Davis, Nancy Davis, Adah Davis, Margaret Edey, Hopey Etheredge, Ann Shepherd, Jeminah Smith, Cally Etheredge. Elders: Joseph Baker, Stephen Safford and Henry Hooten. The first pastor was Claiborn Baitman. William Bland was the first clerk, Samuel Cannon and Benjamin Underwood, first deacons. The congregation was dissolved in May 1855. Obviously, they reorganized at some point and in the 20th century built this church on the grounds of the historic church.
This detailed list of early members is enlightening, especially in regards to excommunication of members. If you make it through all these names, be sure to see the equally fascinating roster of African-American members.
Known members of Mount Nebo were: Sally Adams, by experience 1811, excommunicated 1814 for pregnancy; Shadrack Adams, by experience 1811, excommunicated 1830; Nancy Allen, by letter 1849, dismissed 1849; John Bales, by recantation 1841; Lydia Bales, by experience 1836, by letter 1841, dismissed 1850; Nancy Bales, by experience 1835, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church; James Ballard, by experience 1822, restored 1831, deceased March 1847; Maggy Ballard, deceased in May 1853; Mary Ballard, by letter 1838, deceased May 1850; Catherine Beck, deceased 12th July 1824; Nancy Etheridge Bentley, member in 1852; James Benton, by experience 1822, excommunicated 1837; Maryan Billings, by experience 1838, dismissed 1839, restored 1841; Elizabeth Bland, dismissed 1824; William Bland, excommunicated 1815 for dispute with Clark and Thomas Jackson, reinstated 1815, excommunication 1824 for “taking up hoggs that wasn’t his”, recanted and restored 1824; Hetty Bloodworth, by experience 1835, dismissed 1840; Miles M. Bloodworth, by experience 1843, deacon Susannah Bloodworth, by experience 1850, dismissed 1855; William Bloodworth, Sr., former church in Phillips, South Carolina, by faith and experience 1838, dismissed 1849; Sally Bozman, by experience 1812, dismissed 1821; Magey Brady, by experience 1809; Margery Brady, by letter 1813; Mary Brady, dismissed 1821; Adam Branan, by experience 1832, deceased 3rd Sep 1834; Esther Branan, by experience 1826, dismissed by letter 1849; Harris Branan, by experience 1832, deacon, dismissed 1849; Sarah Branan, by experience 1819, dismissed 1849; James Branan, by experience 1819, deacon, dismissed 1849; Jane Brown, by letter 1829, wife of John Brown, dismissed 1829; John Brown, by letter 1810, excommunicated for intoxication 1823; John Brown, by letter 1829, dismissed 1829; Tabitha Brown, by letter 1810, dismissed 1825; Mary Butler, by confession of faith 1850, dismissed 1855; Netty Branan, by experience 1836; Vilettie Butler, dismissed 1818; Samuel Cannon, a licensed preacher, dismissed 1820; Sarah Cannon, dismissed 1820; Nancy Cato, by experience 1836; Rebecca Cato, by letter 1820, deceased Dec. 1846; Judah Clay, by letter 1826, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church; Lewis Clay, by experience 1828, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church; John Clemmons, excommunicated 1815 for trouble between him and his wife, charging each other with falsehoods; Polly Clemmons, excommunicated 1815 for trouble between her and her husband, charging each other with falsehoods, restored 1816, dismissed 1818; Joseph Clyett, by experience 1811, excommunicated 1813 for the sin of lying; Nancy Clyett, by letter 1811, excommunicated 1813 for the sin of lying publicly, restored 1814, deceased 22 Aug 1818; Maryjan Cook, by letter 1810; Rebeckah Copeland, dismissed 1813; Anna Criswell, by experience 1837; Whitmel Criswell, by experience 1838; Pelitha Culpepper, dismissed 1812;
Adah Davis, deceased 20th Feb 1827; Underhill E. Davis, by letter 1828, dismissed 1834; Wiley Davis, by letter 1828, dismissed 1829; Martha Deason, by experience 1841, dismissed 1845; Elizabeth Dickson, by letter 1817, dismissed 1824; Sally Dickson, excommunicated 1815 for dancing, restored 1815, dismissed 1817; Mary Dismuke, by letter 1836, excommunicated 1846 for attending church at Liberty; Sarah Doke, by experience 1834, dismissed 1844, excommunicated 1846 for “leaving us and being under the witchcraft of Liberty”; Asa Downing, by letter 1830, dismissed 1833, excommunicated 1836 for ill language, restored; Hannah Downing, by letter 1817, deceased 26th May 1820; Nancy Dupree (1849) Joab Durham, by experience 1814, dismissed 1817; John Eady Sr., excommunicated in 1816 for threatening to “chiver brother John Hardies brains out and sticking at him with an unlawful weapon.”; Margaret Edey, deceased 1835; Lydia English, by experience 1812, deceased in 1812; Sally English, by experience 1812, excommunicated 1814 for going with and being “to” familiar with the soldiers; Elizabeth Etheridge, by experience 1811, excommunicated 1811 for taking spun cotton from William Finney’s house; Cally Ethridge, deceased 2nd Feb 1826, aged 67 years; Fanny Ethridge, by experience 1849, dismissed 1850; Hopey Ethridge, dismissed 1852, has been a member since the first meeting in June 1808; Jos Ethridge, by experience 1845, dismissed 1850; Merrit Ethridge, by experience 1814, clerk and deacon, excommunicated 1837 for fathering a child with Eliza Shinholster, restored 1847; Milly Ethridge, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church; Nancy Etheridge, by experience 1847, excommunicated 1853; Nicey Etheridge, by experience 1838, dismissed 1855; Wiley Etheridge, by experience 1843, deacon; Rebecca Fairchild, by experience 1811, dismissed 1816; Nancy Fleetwood, by experience 1846, dismissed 1850; Ann Garrett, by letter 1821, deceased 20 July 1822; Anna Garrett, dismissed 1820; Elizabeth Garrett, by letter 1811; John Garrett, by experience 1811; Peggy Gay, by letter 1818, dismissed 1818; John Gilmore, by letter 1809, dismissed 1818; Ruth Golden, by letter 1828, dismissed 1829; William Golden, by experience 1827, dismissed 1829; Charity Gray, wife of Thomas Gray, dismissed 1813; Rebecca Gray, by letter 1813, dismissed 1817; Thomas Gray, Jr., dismissed 1817; Thomas Gray, Sr., by letter 1813 Maryan Gross, dismissed 1818; Elizabeth Hancock, by experience 1819, dismissed 1822; Mary Hancock, deceased 28th May 1817; Nancy Hancock, dismissed 1816; Damaris Hardie, dismissed 1818; John Hardie, deacon, dismissed 1818; McClendon Harry, by experience 1810; James Hatcher, by experience 1835, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church; John Hatcher, Sr., by letter 1810, deceased 20th April 1835; John Hatcher, excommunicated in Aug 1815 for striking Robert Jackson, restored Oct. 1815; Mary Hatcher, by letter 1810; Mary Hatcher Jr., by experience 1834, deceased 25th Nov. 1835; Peggy Hatcher, by experience 1824, dismissed 1824; Rebekah Hill, deceased in Oct 1814; Archibald Hooks, by letter 1841, dismissed 1849; Tabitha Hooks, wife of Archibald, by letter 1841, dismissed 1850; Martha Hoover, by letter 1836, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church; Nancy Howard, by experience 1812; Patey Howell, by experience 1813; Pheby Howell, by letter 1815;
Amos King, by experience 1825, dismissed 1826; Benajah King, dismissed 1822; Nancy King, deceased 25th Aug 1820; Stacy King, by letter 1823, dismissed 1822; Elisha Knight, by letter 1831, dismissed 1832; Rachell Knight, by letter 1831, wife of Elisha, dismissed 1832; Abner Jackson, by experience 1810, dismissed 1816; Clark Jackson, excommunicated 1815 for dispute with William Bland, restored 1816, dismissed 1816; Elizabeth Jackson, by experience 1811, dismissed 1816 and 1822; Sarah Jackson, by experience 1810; Susannah Jackson, by letter 1821, deceased 30th July 1824; Susannah Jackson, Jr., dismissed 1816; Thomas Jackson, excommunicated 1815 for “drinking too much spirits” and dispute with Wm Bland, restored 1815, dismissed 1817; Mariah Jones, by experience 1849; Nancy Johns, by experience 1839, dismissed 1846; Adam Jones (1828); Gabriel Jones, member in 1841; Lewey Jones; Lucy Jones, excommunicated 1837; Mariah Jones, by experience 1849, dismissed 1855; Gilly Lancaster, by experience 1816, dismissed 1824; Elias Leggett, by letter 1812, licensed preacher, dismissed 1815; Sarah Lewis, transient member 1811, deceased in 1813; Benjamin Logan, by letter 1813; Mary Lord, dismissed 1849; Molly Lord, dismissed 1828; Thomas Lord, by experience 1812, dismissed 1818; William Lord, Jr., dismissed 1818; William Lord, Sr., by experience 1810, excommunicated 1814, restored 1815, deceased 30th Aug 1825; Rebeckah Lowe, dismissed 1811;
Deliah Marchant, by experience 1849, dismissed 1849; Milly Mackey, by letter 1810; William Mackey, Sr., by letter 1810, excommunicated 1814 for falsehoods; Rebeckah Mackey, by letter 1810, deceased 8th Sept. 1827; Dorcas Matthews, by letter 1809; James Matthews, dismissed 1812; Presley Matthews, dismissed 1812; Rebeckah Matthews, by letter 1809; William Matthews, by experience 1810; Ely Mayo, by letter 1828, dismissed 1831; Elizabeth Mayo, by letter, 1817, dismissed 1822; Joseph Mayo, by experience 1823, dismissed 1826; Sarah Mayo, Mariah Mayo, by letter 1828, dismissed 1831; Sarah Mayo, excommunicated 1814, restored 1822; Susannah Mayo, by letter 1822, deceased 1826; Winnie McCook, by experience 1835; Mary McConnell by experience 1818, dismissed 1822, deceased 1826; Charles Mercer, by experience 1811; Delila Merchant, by experience 1849, dismissed 1849; Elizabeth Meshawn, by letter 1828, dismissed 1830; Bethiah Milligan, by letter 1814, dismissed 1819; Mary Milligan, dismissed 1813; Robert Milligan, dismissed 1813; Sarah Minter, by experience 1839, deceased June 1841; Polly Nelson, by experience 1828, deceased 11th Sept. 1830; Wright Nelson, by experience 1838, excommunicated 1838 for going to Liberty Church; Alexander Nesbit, by experience 1837; Barsheba Nunn, by letter 1817, dismissed 1821; Edy Ogburn, dismissed 1822; Mary Pace, by letter 1843, dismissed 1843; Polly Pace, by experience 1819, dismissed 1824; Drucilla Pace, by letter 1809, excommunicated 1818 for slandering Sarah Passmore – she said Sarah bewitched her, restored 1819, deceased 29th Sep 1821; William Pace, by letter 1809, dismissed 1822; Hannah Parker, by experience 1829, deceased Jan 5, 1845; Martha Parker, by experience 1841, excommunicated 1848 for attending Liberty Church; Alexander Passmore, clerk, by experience 1824, dismissed 1827, restored 1830; Fereby Passmore, by experience 1846, dismissed 1855; Patey Passmore, by experience 1824, deceased 20th May 1826; Polly Passmore, dismissed 1824; Sarah Passmore, by experience 1810, dismissed 1812 and 1819; John Paulk, by experience 1812, dismissed 1820; Martin G. Phillips, by experience 1834, dismissed 1839; Saryan Maryan Phillips, wife of Martin by experience 1836, dismissed 1839, returned by letter 1841, dismissed 1849; John R. Rains, dismissed 1849; Sintha Pugh, by letter from Buckhead Church, 1809, dismissed 1821;
John Ross, by letter 1809; Marnett Ross, by experience 1811; Polly Ross, by letter, 1809; wife of John James Rustin, by letter 1814; Elizabeth Rustin, by experience 1818, dismissed 1818; John Rustin, dismissed 1815; Lewisa Rustin, dismissed 1818; Rachel Rustin, by letter 1814, deceased 5th Jan 1815; John Ryan, by letter 1818, dismissed 1818; Joshua Ryle, by experience 1818, dismissed 1824; Elizabeth Sanders, by experience 1817, dismissed 1823; Peggy Maryan Sanders, by experience 1835, dismissed 1838; Henry Sanders, by letter 1819, dismissed 1823; Malachi Sanders, by letter 1818, cited and restored in 1827 for taking too much spirits and betting and wanting to horse race, dismissed 1830; Ann Shepherd, dismissed 1816; Mary Shepherd, by experience 1812, dismissed 1820; Sarah Shepherd, by experience 1815, excommunicated 1818 for leaving her husband; Wiley Shepherd, licensed preacher, dismissed 1817; James Sherer; Elizabeth Smith, by experience 1833; Jasper Smith, by experience 1839, excommunicated 1840; Jemimah Smith, by letter 1810; Elizabeth Smith, by experience 1818, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church, restored 1845, dismissed 1845; John Smith; Lewis Smith, by experience 1832, excommunicated 1837 for being dissatisfied with the church; Milly Smith, by experience 1833, dismissed 1837; Jeminah Snow, by experience 1817, deceased 6th Dec. 1826; Ann Starley, by experience 1818, dismissed 1842; John Starley, dismissed 1849; Moses Swearingham, by letter 1810; John Taliaferro, by letter 1816, deceased 7th April 1821; Lydia Taliaferro, by letter 1817, dismissed 1821; Tabitha Taylor, by experience 1812; Elizabeth Temples, by experience 1835, dismissed 1850; Benjamin Underwood, deacon, resigned, dismissed 1820; Elizabeth Underwood, by letter 1811, dismissed 1855; Jinney Underwood, dismissed 1818; Sally Underwood, dismissed 1820; Sarah Underwood, dismissed 1814; Thomas Underwood, by letter 1811, deceased 7th June 1850; William Underwood, by experience 1811, deacon, dismissed 1820; Thomas Van, by letter 1847, deacon; Elizabeth Ward, by experience 1812, dismissed 1826; Sarah Ward, by letter, 1810, dismissed 1818; James Ware, by letter 1821; Margaret Watson, by experience 1817, dismissed 1822; Frances Webb, by experience 1811; Sarah Weaver, by experience 1835, deceased 21st May 1838; Demarius Wheeler, by experience 1846 dismissed 1852; Mary Wilkinson, by experience 1814, dismissed 1816; Hezekiah Williams, by experience 1810, excommunicated 1811 for the sin of drunkenness; Patey Williams; Polly Williams, by letter 1812, dismissed 1818; Rachel Williams, by letter, 1811, deceased 15th Dec. 1837; Sally Williams, by letter 1819, dismissed 1820; Samuel Williams, by experience 1818, dismissed 1818; William Williams, by letter 1833, excommunicated 1833 for “cursing and swearing”; Polly Winderweedle, by experience 1811; Susannah Wood, by experience 1811.
A rare accounting of Black members of the church also survives: Abraham, licensed preacher, dismissed 1812; Sarry, dismissed 1814; Dick, by experience, slave of John Clemmons, excommunicated 1814 for lying; Dick, by experience 1851, dismissed 1855; Joe, Sen., slave of Bond, dismissed 1836; Edy, by experience 1813,dismissed 1814 for lying, slave of John Clemmons; Annica, excommunicated 1816; Phepy, by experience 1814, dismissed 1818, slave of Robert Jackson Hoy, by letter 1816, excommunicated 1817; Betty, by information of Dr. Jones, dismissed by remission; Sue, by letter 1817, excommunicated 1846; Peter, by experience 1817, dismissed 1819; Joe Jr., by experience 1820, slave of Lewis Bond, dismissed 1836; Lucy, by experience 1823, excommunicated 1834; Ceth, by experience 1823, deceased 12 March 1834; Jim, by experience 1826, dismissed 1830; Teeny, by experience 1826, excommunicated 1846; slave of Lewis Bond, not accounted for; Prugh, by experience 1826, slave of Lewis Bond, dismissed 1840; Sarah, by experience 1827, slave of Lewis Bond Ann, by experience 1828; Sary, by experience 1828, dismissed 1855; Hank, by experience 1829; Jim, by experience, 1834, a slave of Lewis Bond; Lucy, excommunicated 1846, slave of Lewis Bond, not accounted for; Keziah, by experience 1834, a slave of Lewis Bond, dismissed 1836; Albert, by experience 1834, slave of James Branan, dismissed 1837; Betty, by experience 1836, slave of John Edy Lettis, by experience 1837, excommunicated 1845 for having a “white child”; Letty, by experience 1839, dismissed 1840; Ammy, by experience 1840, dismissed 1847; Nancy, by experience 1840, slave of John Eady, dismissed 1850; Mary, by experience 1840, slave of John Eady; Carrie, by experience 1840, slave of John Eady; July, by experience 1840; Sam B, by experience 1840, dismissed 1840 Sam Edy, by experience 1840, deceased 1849; Hester, by experience 1841, slave of John Eady; Kestin, by experience 1838, dismissed 1846; Carrie, by experience 1841, slave of James Ballard Simon, by experience, 1841; Hanneth, by experience 1844, slave of Passmore, dismissed 1855; Hannah, by experience 1841, slave of James Ballard, dismissed 1855; Amy, by experience 1849?, dismissed 1855; Peggs, by experience 1846, dismissed 1855; Jack, by experience 1848, dismissed 1855.
This type saddlebag house, with the chimney in the front slope of the roof as opposed to being located along the top seam, is more commonly found in the Piedmont region than elsewhere in the state. Surviving examples are increasingly rare.
An original workshop barn and well house remain on the property, as well.
Public records for Irwinton identify this structure as the Wilkinson County News building, with a construction date of 1900 and a remodel date of 1960. I imagine the building has had numerous tenants over the years.
This grave house covers the final resting places of Peter Youngblood [28 November 1828-30 March 1894] and Adeline “Lidda” Temples Youngblood [8 February 1826-28 June 1890] and is the most prominent structure in the Youngblood-Cranford Family Cemetery, which only contains two more graves. Mr. Youngblood was a Confederate veteran, serving in Co. K of the 57th Georgia Infantry. I suspect he built the grave house after his wife’s death.
Bud Merritt writes: There was a log house associated with it that we remember being disassembled and moved. Eugene Moore adds: I think this is on the Parker Place. Mr. Claude and Mrs. Willie Parker lived there. Mr.Claude farmed and had the best watermelons ever.
The Youngbloods did not have any children. The other two burials, to the right of the grave house [above] may have been cousins or even neighbors. They are Elizabeth Cranford [?-22 November 1906] and James Nelson [birth and death dates unknown].
This church appears to have been abandoned for quite some time. I enjoy the more formal architecture of many of our historic churches but I also have a strong affinity for unpretentious places like this.
McIntyre may be best known today as the hometown of Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, June “Mama June” Shannon, and family, but this historic community traces its origins to before the Civil War and has been a hub of the kaolin industry for generations. One of the earliest settlers of the area, in the 1840s, was Thomas McIntyre, who purchased a large tract of land near the community of Emmitt, 1½ miles east of Toomsboro. McIntyre was a native of Ireland who had come to America as an assistant of his uncle, one of the the contractors who built the Central of Georgia Railroad. In 1849 he was accidentally killed while doing repairs on the Oconee River bridge. His widow, Sarah Crowell Floyd McIntyre, a native of Washington County, traded her lands at Emmitt for a home in present-day McIntyre, and a new depot and post office were named McIntyre in 1859. The town was incorporated in 1910. -Abridged from Victor Davidson’s History of Wilkinson County.
The mercantile pictured above was built circa 1900, and the shopkeeper and his family lived upstairs. It’s in unusually good condition for a structure of this type and era.
Small utilitarian homes like this were common living spaces for working families in the first half of the 20th century. They’re often overlooked in architectural and historical surveys but were integral in many communities.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 