Alexander Jefferson Spriggs

In 1840 Greenville South Carolina court records show that son, Alexander Jefferson Spriggs, and another man were sentenced to hang for counterfeiting. The other man was hung. John Spriggs, at great expense and with the help of friends managed to bond Alexander Jefferson Spriggs out. Upon his release he left for Georgia. John Spriggs forfeited his bond and his friends sued him in court to recover their bond forfeiture. In 1843, disgraced and broke he sold what was left of his estate and moved to northwest Georgia, Amicacola Falls, where he became a plantation owner and post master till his death in 1857."

May 2004, Regarding COUNTERFEITING CHARGE: telephone conversation with Ken, then Robert Spriggs: Alexander Jefferson Spriggs had won $50 in a card game and was paid with a $50 bill. Then in his travels (?) he paid for a horse with the $50 dollar bill and got $5 in change. The person that sold the horse took that $50 bill to the authorities and it was determined that it had been a $5 bill that was changed to a $50 bill. When Alexander Jefferson got back he was charged with counterfeiting the bill.

A J Spriggs - Enlisted 7/9/1861, Age 47? in the "Blue Ridge Rifles" Discharged for disability 4/6/1862

In June of 1861, a small group of boys from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia formed a volunteer corps of soldiers formally known as Company E, Phillip's Legion Georgia Infantry. To North Georgians, the group was far better known as the "Blue Ridge Rifles."

The Dahlonega newspaper ,The Mountain Signal, described them as a company numbering about eighty and made up of the best citizens:"No company from the state is better qualified for destructiveness, as they have been from their earliest boyhood used to the rifle and shut one eye when they shoot, and every time they pull the trigger a man will fall."

Alexander Spriggs, a Mr. Summerour, and a Mr. Clark are said were first to bring slaves to Northern Dawson Co. They were among the very few to hold slaves in the area.

Alexander acquired considerable land in scattered holdings. His slaves cultivated the small parcels in family units, much in the manner of share-croppers. They also were "leased out" to the gold mines after crops were in. They were freed during the war.

According to K. Spriggs

He was tall man for his time and independent thinking. In 1839 after a disagreement with his Dad, John, he left for Georgia where his uncle Ezekiel Spriggs had found the largest gold nugget ever found in Georgia at his gold lot claim.

Alexander Jefferson Spriggs found employment as a plantation overseer. Returning to South Carolina to pick up his belongings, he fell into bad company. When he returned to Greenville South Carolina, he and an associate were arrested for counterfeiting South Carolina Currency. The penalty at that time was death by hanging. A trial was held , Alexander and his associate were found guilty and sentenced to be hung. His associate was hung but Alexander's father bonded him out of prison and he left for Georgia. The sentence was overturned in 1844.

He purchased Amicicola Falls at a Sheriffs auction for $2.57 dollars. He then married Susan Harben, the county judge's daughter.

I have also found this bit of information:

The following data is extracted from Hester Roll Index, 1884. This is a roll of Eastern Cherokee Indians. Alexander is probably A.J. Spriggs. Polly Ann is probably Polly Ann Clingan.

2819 Spriggs, Alexander

2821 Spriggs, Lilly

2820 Spriggs, Mary Addle

2818 Spriggs, Polly Ann

Alexander Spriggs, a Mr. Summerour, and a Mr. Clark are said were

first to bring slaves to Northern Dawson Co. They were among the very

few to hold slaves in the area.

Alexander acquired considerable land in scattered holdings. His slaves

cultivated the small parcels in family units, much in the manner of

share-croppers. They also were "leased out" to the gold mines after

crops were in. They were freed during the war.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14640429