Hugh Lawson Montgomery

Col. Hugh Lawson Montgomery was born near Camp Creek, Waxhaw SC in the late 1760's. He was the second child of James and Elizabeth McConnell Montgomery. He was raised and educated in the Waxhaw Settlement. He lost his older brother John Montgomery in the Battle of Hanging Rock during the revolution. Hugh married Margaret Barkley in 1788. She too was from Waxhaw, SC. After the revolution, Hugh Montgomery migrated to Hancock County, GA. In the 1780's he was employed by Benjamin Hawkins to help run the boundry lines that seperated Franklin County, GA from the Cherokee and Creek Indians. These were the lines established in the treaties written in the Hancock County area. (ie. Shoulderbone Treaty) The problem was the Indian Cheifs would give up land in the treaties, then Hugh would have to convince the Indians that their land had been given up. There are many accounts where Hugh could not convince the Indians to move so he gave them trinkets such as blankets and boots t! o get them to move. His treaty lines can be found throughout Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. By the early 1800's Hugh moved to Jackson County, GA where his father lived. Hugh lived on the "Walnut" in Jackson County, GA. There he served as Justice of the Peace and Justice of the Inferior Court. His younger brother James McConnell Montgomery was the Jackson County Sherriff at this time. Hugh also served in the Georgia state legislature and the state senate. Hugh was a member and elder of the Olney Thyatira Presbyterian Church in Jackson County, GA. With finances from this church he headed into North Georgia and Tennesse to help spread Christianity among the Indians. His endeavor was accompyed by ex-Tenn. Gov. Joseph McMinn. In 1825 the U.S. Senate appointed him as U.S. Federal Indian Agent to the Cherokee Nation. He then moved with his family to Cherokee Nation, Bradley County, Tenn. Here he served as the liasion between the Indians and the U.S. Government. Many of! his letters from the Cherokee Nation exist today. He speaks of the t roubles he has with the Indians and in the same token he speaks of the troubles that the Indians had with the white man. His last job at the agency was to design a plan to remove the Indians westward. His plan was designed and he stepped down prior to the actual removal of the Indians. The Trail of Tears began with his agency. During this time of turmoil Hugh retired to Menlo, Chattooga County, Georgia. He was buried in the Old Alpine Church Cemetery in 1852.

Col. Hugh Lawson Montgomery was given the title Col. out of respect, not military action. During his day he was in a precarious situation. First he had to take the Indians land away, re-assign them to another piece of land, then he had to protect them from the white intruders that settled on their land. Hugh Montgomery's letters are available on NARA microfilm. (Ref's: University of Tenn Archives, GA Archives, National Archives)

Col. Hugh Lawson Montgomery was the older brother to James McConnell Montgomery that settled Fort Peachtree located in present day Atlanta,GA.

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