Colonel Micajah Perry Williamson

A Patriot of the American Revolution for GEORGIA with the rank of COLONEL. DAR Ancestor # A126908

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Lt. Col. Micajah Williamson, Gen. Elijah Clarke's most trusted officer during the American Revolution, was one of the wealthest men in NE Georgia after that great war. He owned some 30,000 acres in Georgia, including much of the land where modern day Washington, GA now sits in Wilkes County. He rec'd a land grant of 12,000 acres in Franklin Co., GA from the State of GA for his heroic service in the Revolution. He was appointed to lay out the town of Washington by the State of Georgia, the first town in the US to be named after Gen. George Washington. He was also instrumental in the building of the first Wilkes County Courthouse. Up until then, most of the County affairs were conducted in his tavern located at the present site of the current courthouse in Washington, GA. He was also one of the commissioners who authorized the establishment and construction of the Wilkes Academy in 1797, the first public school chartered by the State of Georgia.

Col. Williamson helped lead the Georgia Militia to victory at Kettle Creek in February, 1779 and commanded forces at the seize of Augusta in June, 1781, in the absents of Gen. Clarke. He also helped command victories at Kings Mountain and Cowpens in the Carolinas, which was a huge blow to Gen. Cornwallis's British forces and helped bring the long war to an end.

Micajah Williamson and his wife, Sarah Gilliam, had twelve known children. Several of their daughters married prominent men. Some were Judges, Supreme Court Justices, a Governor, US Senator, and legendary figure in Texas. One of Micajah and Sarah Williamson's sons, Peter B. Williamson, was the father of the legendary Robert McAlpin "three Legged Willie" Williamson, a legend in the History of the Republic of Texas. One grandson and one great-grandson became U.S. Supreme Court Justices. John Archibald Campbell was the son of their daughter Mary Williamson, wife of Duncan Greene Campbell. Another daughter, Susan Williamson, wife of Dr. Thompson Bird, a founding father of the Georgia Capitol City, Milledgeville, GA, was the grandmother of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lucius Q.C. Lamar, Jr.

A third daughter, Nancy Williamson, was married to John Clark, Governor of Georgia. John Clark was the son of Gen. Elijah Clarke, who served with Micajah Williamson in defeating the British and Indians in Georgia during the War. Sarah Williamson, another daughter of Micajah and Sarah williamson, was first married to Judge John Griffin, and second to US Senator Charles Tait of Alabama.

Col. Micajah Williamson was originally buried on his homestead in Wilkes County but was moved to Resthaven Cemetery in Washington, GA. He is buried next to his son-in-law, Col. Duncan Greene Campbell. The burial location of his wife, Sarah Gilliam, is unknown.

Birth: 1-28-1744

Death: 1795 WILKES CO GEORGIA

Service Description: 1) GA MILITIA

Residence: 1) County: WILKES CO - State: GEORGIA

Spouse 1) SARAH GILLIAM

Micajah Williamson moved from Albemarle County, Virginia, to Wilkes County, Georgia, in either 1766 or 1767. A fire destroyed their home in western Georgia. The family found refuge in the mountains of North Carolina for a while. They then settled permanently in Wilkes County, Georgia.

He served as a Lieutenant Colonel under General Elijah Clarke in the South Carolina Regiment. Prior to the Revolutionary War, Micajah saw action against the Cherokee Indians at Nomencee. He protected the western frontier of Georgia. Micajah saw action at Alligator Creek, Kettle Creek, Musgrove's Mill, and Long Cane. All of these Revolutionary War battles occured in Georgia. Micajah also saw action at the Battle of King's Mountain in North Carolina.

On 30 June 1778, a force of 300 American cavalry commanded by Elijah Clarke participated in General Robert Howe's invasion of British Florida. The Americans attacked the British at Alligator Creek Bridge but were unable to penetrate the entrenchments near-by. In the entrenchment were 450 British regular soldiers and South Carolina Royalists. During this skirmish, Colonel Clarke was wounded. The Americans withdrew and the British drew back to the St. Johns River.

The Battle of Kettle Creek was fought on 14 February 1779 on the border between Georgia and South Carolina. Georgia was almost entirely under British control. Colonel Boyd led 600 British Royalists across the Savannah River and into Elbert County. Colonel Andrew Pickens of the Revolutionary forces had 200 militiamen from South Carolina along with Elijah Clarke's 140 militiamen from Georgia. The two combined forces and marched to meet the Royalists. The battle raged for over three hours before the Royalists fled. Colonel Boyd and 20 of his men were killed. 22 Royalists were captured. It is said that the Battle of Kettle Creek "was the severest check and chastisement the Tories ever received in South Carolina or Georgia."

The Battle for Musgrove's Mill was fought on 18 August 1780. Clarke skirmished with the Royalists there en route to Augusta.

The Battle of King's Mountain was fought on 7 October 1780. Following the surrender at Charleston in May 1780, the British had overrun South Carolina. Isaac Shelby put together a group of men from "over the mountain". The men climbed over the snow covered mountains and began to advance upon British Major Patrick Ferguson's men. Ferguson denounced the colonists as "backwater men ... a set of mongrels." He reached King's Mountain on 6 October where he camped. Some 400 South Carolinians, including Micajah Williamson, joined the "Over the Mountain Men" at Cowpens, South Carolina, on 6 October. The men marched all night through pouring rain. It was noon when they arrived at King's Mountain. The Royalists were taken by surprise. Col. Ferguson was killed after an hour battle. The British surrendered. Over 225 Loyalists had been killed, 163 wounded, and 716 taken prisoner. The Colonists lost only 28 men.

The Battle of Cowpens was fought on 17 January 1781.

When the British forces occupied Augusta in 1780, Colonel Micajah Williamson was listed as one who was "obnoxious to the Crown." He was named a rebel general in the Revolutionary Army. Along with Elijah Clarke, Williamson was part of the victory of the patriots over the British at Augusta on 5 June 1781.

From Micajah and his wife Sarah came an extraordinary number of famous people. U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Archibald Campbell was the son of their daughter Mary. Another daughter, Susannah, was the grandmother of U.S. Supreme Court Justic Lucius Q.C. Lamar. A third daughter, Nancy, was married to John Clarke, Governor of Georgia. Micajah's son Peter was a Methodist preacher known as "the Marrying Preacher."

Micajah was one of the commissioners who authorized the establishment and construction of the Wilkes Academy in 1797. It was authorized in 1783 as the first public school chartered by the State of Georgia.

Sources: Linda Huggins, Frank Oliver Clark, Dave Williamson, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, George S. Scheer, Loreen Thurman.

Source: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db...