Joseph Chestnutt Sumner was born about 1761 in North Carolina, a son of Joseph Sumner (Sr.) of Onslow County, Province of North Carolina. He was the son of Joseph Sumner and “Marget” Chestnutt. Joseph Sumner’s (of Onslow) will verifies his wife as Margaret and his children as: Richard, Joseph, Mary, Christian, and Ruth. (see Source Citation, end of text)
Joseph Chestnutt Sumner moved together with his brother Richard from Onslow Co., North Carolina to Burke County, Georgia, sometime after February 1782. In an Onslow County, North Carolina, survey of 300 acres for Joseph Sumner Sr. in February 1782 the surveyor records Joseph and Richard Sumner as chain bearers. The assumption is that this Joseph and Richard are the sons of Joseph Sr of Onslow.
Their uncle, Alexander Chestnut was a land holder in St. George Parish/Burke County. The book The Story of Georgia and the Georgia People by George Gillman Smith, published 1900 on page 567 in the Appendix: Headrights Granted by the Colonial and State Governments from 1754 to 1800 records for St George, Burke and Jefferson “1774-1788 Alex Chestnut” among others as a Headright holder.
Joseph Chesnutt Sumner served as a soldier, probably local militia, in the American Revolutionary war which lasted 19 April1775 until 3 September 1783. However, no specifics have been located about engagements in which he may have participated. Nevertheless, it is a matter of fact that the British we very active in Georgia from late 1778 until 1782. British operations in the north were at a standstill in 1778. As a result, the British decided to shift their main effort to the south. The British objective was to isolate General Washington’s northern forces from much needed logistical support in the south as well as rally support from local loyalist. In December 1778, the British landed unopposed in Savannah. They then began conducting operations between Savannah and Augusta. On 26 January 1779, there was an indecisive engagement in Burke County, Battle of Burk County Jail, between a small British force and local patriots. Augusta fell on 31 January 1779. Other significant operations in Georgia are well documented. The British did not evacuate Savannah until July 1782. There may well have been undocumented minor events. Edward J. Cashin, Augusta State University, writes in the New Georgia Encyclopedia that “Unfortunately for the cause of peace, gangs of marauders roamed the region between Savannah and Augusta.” While there is no evidence that Joseph Chestnutt Sumner was a member of a Patriot military unit it is entirely possible that he may have contributed to the Patriot Cause in North Carolina and/or Georgia between 1779 and 1783 as local militia. Of course this view is influenced by ancestral ties.
Joseph Chestnutt Sumner married between 1785 and 1786 based on the birth of his first child Alexander C(hestnut?) Sumner (b. 31 January 1787- d. 18 March 1872) in Burke/Jefferson County, Georgia.
A survey of land for William Little in Burke County dated 17 March 1784 shows Alexander Chesnut on adjoining land. This plat also shows the name William Barber on adjoining land. A survey of land for William Barber in Burke County dated 26 August 1785 shows the Widow Chesnut on adjoining land to William Barber. Assuming that Widow Chesnut is the wife of Alexander Chesnut, these documents suggest that Alexander Chesnut died between September 1784 and July 1785.
Genealogist Julian Anderson speculates that Joseph and Richard married the Chestnutt sisters, Nancy and Elizabeth. Genealogists Holloman and Martha M. de L'toille show the wife of Joseph to be Nancy Chestnutt and the wife of Richard to be Elizabeth Chestnutt. Anderson further comments “this would mean, of course, that both Joseph and Richard married their 1st cousins......not an unusual thing in those days. And note, also, the use of "Alexander" as a Sumner family name in every generation thereafter.”
A survey of land in Sep 1787 in Burke County shows Joseph Sumner on adjoining land to John Green. Additionally the survey shows both Joseph Sumner and Richard Sumner as chain carriers. This plat is indisputable evidence that Joseph and Richard were firmly established in Burke County in 1787.
In 1795 Joseph and Richard lived on the Alexander Chestnutt grant in Burke Co., Georgia. Genealogist Julian Anderson, January 2000, offers the following:
I think, no proof, that Joseph’s and Richard’s mother was “Marget” Chestnutt sister of Alexander Chestnutt. Alexander Chestnutt moved from North Carolina and settled in Burke County, Georgia, in the mid-1760s. Anderson concludes that Joseph and Richard migrated to Georgia and settled in on “family” land owned by their Uncle Alexander Chestnutt.
From "The Families of Burke County, 1755 - 1855, a Census":
"Chesnut (Chessnut), Alexander, Nov., 1769, has wife and 3 children, asks for 1 lot in Queensbvorough; Oct. 1770, granted 200 a. and 1 lot, Queensboro."
Same Source:
"Chestnut, Alexander. Granted on Novembver 6, 1770. Grant Book I, page 210. Lot 3 in Town of Queensborough and also 300 acres in the township of Queensborough."
From "Queensborough or the Irish Town and its Citizens" by Loris D. Cofer:
"Chestnut, Alexander. Wife and 3 children. Petitioned for land in Nov. 1769. 300 a. granted in township of Queensborough 11/6/1770, grant book I, pg 210, near Alexander and Oates." "Chestnut, Mary. Plat Bk. Mary on tax list Jefferson Co., 1802. A certificate issued at Queensborough, Ga., from the Commissioner of Assembly granted Alexander and his wife and 3 children 300 a. of land where settled in Nov 1764.
Between 1796 and 1802 Joseph and Richard were paying taxes on land originally granted to "Chestnut". The land was originally granted to Alexander Chestnutt who had apparently died as the land was in the possession of Mary Chestnutt, believed to have been his wife. Mary was also shown (on land next to Joseph Sumner) as on the original "Chesnut" land grant. (original grant from "George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, King, etc etc. Tax rolls clearly show Joseph, Richard and Mary (Chestnutt) on land originally granted "Chesnut")
From "Scotch-Irish," "Real Irish," and "Black Irish": Immigrants and Identities in the Old South by Kerby A. Miller: “Queensborough Township was a rectangular 50,000-acre reserve, set aside in 1767, for Protestant Irish immigrants. It extended mainly northeastward from present day Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia, with its southwestern boundary the Ogeechee River and its southeastern boundary, Dry Creek, a branch of the Ogeechee. A 250-acre town site, about 50' X 90', a town common and a glebe area was included for a church.”
The Georgia General Assembly, Louisville, created Jefferson County on 20 Feb 1796 from Burke County and Warren County Georgia.
Joseph and Richard Sumner appear on the 1796 Jefferson County Georgia tax digest.
Joseph and Richard Sumner appear on the 1799 Jefferson County Georgia tax digest.
According to Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia by Folks Huxford, Volume 1, page 268, Joseph appears in the 1802 Jefferson County tax digest. An additional source: http://genealogytrails.com/geo/jefferson/1802taxlist.html records Joseph Sumner and Mary Chestnut on the tax list.
The book 1805 Georgia Land Lottery Fortunate Drawers and Grantees records Joseph Sumner as a person who won a lot and as a grantee. He drew 202 1/2 Acres in Wilkinson County, Georgia. The book was published in 1964 by Virginia S. Wood and Ralph V. Wood. The list represents most of the households in the state in the year 1803 and is an invaluable substitute for Georgia’s lost 1800 U.S. Federal Census. Only people who had resided in the State of Georgia from May 1802 were allowed to participate in the 1805 Land Lottery.
At some point Joseph Chestnutt Sumner moved from Jefferson County and settled in Emanuel County. He bought a large tract of land on the Canoochee River.
The historical reference The story of Georgia and the Georgia People, 1732 to 1860 by Smith, George Gilman, published 1900 by Franklin Publishing, Atlanta, states in Ch. VII, on page 320, states that J. C. Sumner was among the early settlers of Emanuel County, Georgia.
The County was created on December 10, 1812, by an act of the Georgia General Assembly from land originally in parts of Bulloch, and Montgomery counties. Joseph Sumner appears in the 1811-1812 Tax Digest for Montgomery, County.
Source Citation for Joseph Sumner’s will: Probate Records (Onslow County, North Carolina), 1735-1968; Author: North Carolina. Superior Court (Onslow County); Probate Place: Onslow, North Carolina, Notes: Wills, 072.801.18, Shaw, Walter Jefferson, 1960 - 072.801.22, Zagar, Joseph, 1966
