John T. Spriggs

John was a corporal in the war of 1812, and received two 80 acre tracts of bounty land for his services. (Perhaps in Nash's Regiment? I found two possible contenders on the roll of Nash's Regiment John Sprigge and a John Sprigs, both are listed as Privates)

It is possible that John Spriggs was a Constable, authorized to serve warrants in Greenville county in 1829. He was appointed to be a manager of elections that same year by the State House of Representatives.

Notes from Robert P Spriggs, Bio Includes the Will of Captain John T. Spriggs. Mentions Wife Doshe, Children John M, Zion, Louisa, Malinda, Amilda, Mahaley, Martha A, E. M. and A. J. NOTE Who Is John Kinsey Beardin Spriggs?

"John Spriggs was married to Theodocia McKinney in 1815. He was an industrious man who raised a big family. He was brother to Ezekiel Spriggs who early on left SC and moved to the Bradley County, Tennessee area. John was a rather dominant family member who served in the War of 1812, obtaining the rank of Captain. Little is known about his service at this time except he was able to apply for and receive land grants based upon that service. He acquired the old home place of Thomas and land owned nearby by his sister Mary Couch. In subsequent years he aggressively acquired other lands in the Saluda River area. He had two sons, among others, that he seemed to work more closely with, as evidenced by various legal processes recorded. These records are recorded elsewhere herein to give a flavor of what was occurring in their lives. Ezekiel M. Spriggs (middle initial is believed to be for the mother's maiden name "Mckinney") was the elder son and ancestor to the author hereof. Another son was Alexander Jefferson Spriggs, believed named "Alexander" for Theodocia's father Alexander Mckinney, and "Jefferson" for Thomas Jefferson. Alexander was notable in SC for the fact that in 1840 he was sentenced to be hung for "raising a bill", a form of counterfeiting. It appears he was spared by grace of a legal concept called the "law of banishment", which permitted him to leave the state and not return. John sold all of his land shortly after this episode, some of it for less than he had paid. It appears likely that John spent some of his wealth in securing Alexander's release. He also helped Ezekiel M. Spriggs with some of his economic problems. E. M. was in several businesses in the Greenville area, including a hotel and livery stable. These did not do particularly well, and resulted in legal cases which also involved John. It appears that John followed Alexander to the gold fields of Georgia, both due to the attraction and to leave behind the losses of his farming operations in SC. Gold was discovered in the area around Auraria, Georgia about 1828. Its production peaked about 1840 when John and Alexander moved there. It appears that John concentrated most of his efforts in land acquisition and development, while Alexander acquired land, mined gold, and promoted an extensive water ditch project designed to bring water from the upper hills to the mines for hydraulic mining purposes. He worked on this with C. L. Summerour, a surveyor, who was married to a member of the Spriggs family. Summerour left a diary of these efforts in the 1880s which described many hardships, events in their lives, and apparent failure of the project. The lands owned by John and Alexander comprised a plantation in the area of Amicalola Falls, an area which is now the Amicalola Falls State Park. John Spriggs died in 1857, followed by Theodocia in 1860. Subsequently the Civil War arrived. Alexander and other members of the family were heavily involved in the Confederate cause. It appears that the family fortunes were severely damaged by the events of the war and its aftermath. Further accounts of the lives of John and Alexander, prepared by Kenneth Spriggs, are included elsewhere herein. John Spriggs, Theodocia, Alexander Spriggs and his wife Susan Harben, John Summerour and his wife Amilda Spriggs, and other members of the Spriggs and Summerour families are buried in the Spriggs/Summerour Cemetary, located approximately 15 miles from Dahlonaga on the road to Ellijay.

ABSTRACT [rec 7th of January 1830] Greenville District Deed Book Q, South Carolina, page 246

Isaac Ford sells one hundred acres to John Spriggs, being on the middle fork of the Saluda river, bounded by lands of John Spriggs and Jeremiah Cleveland.

Here is his Last Will and Testament

The Last Will and Testament of John T. Spriggs (1787-1859)

Georgia Lumpkin County Sept 28, 1857

Knowing that I must shortly die, I make this my last will and Testament being in my proper mind, In the first place I disire my body to be buried in a plain and descent maner and my Soul to go to God, from whence it came. IN the next place all my Just Debts paid.

1 – Item: I will to my Wife Doshe (2) Two negroes any two not otherways disposed, She is to have her support from the proceeds of the plantation we now live on or not otherways disposed of in my life. If so she is to have a hansome support out of my Estate during her lifetime, at her death to be equally divided amongst all of my children the plantation to be sold, and equally divided amond all my children.

2-Item: To Malinda my daughter, Becky, a negro girl and (3) three children. I likewise charge on my book, my will is when her (2) two children she ha snow, Sarah and John Sheriff, come of age they are to have the two oldest negro children Sarah the girl, and John the boy, if she has any more children the (2) two negroes given to John and Sarah the price to be deducted out of part of my Estate which I have given my daughter Malinda or may give hereafter.

3- Item: I give to my daughter Amilda Summerour (4) lots of land all joining the lot she now lives on the deeds will show the numbers, and one negro girl Crescy which I charge to my family book.

4- Item: To my Daughter Mahaley which I price on my book (1) negroe girl Saline

5 – Item: To my daughter Martha Ann I give (2) two negroes Bob, a boy and Jane a girl, which I price on my book. I wish it distinctly understood that all of my Estate, that I will and give to any and all of my daughters either before or after my death is to them during their lifetime and at their death, to go to their children if they have any living children if not go back to the Estate and be equally divided among the balance of the heirs.

I now order for the more Safely Keeping the property from waste. I hereby appoint A.J. Spriggs and Zion Spriggs Guardians or Trustees for all my daughters to see that the property is not wasted in their lifetime and at their death to see that their children get their part. All my property I give or may hereafter to any or all of my children, I charge on my book out of my Estate the balance of all of my Estate both personal and real lotted off or sold at private or public sale which my executors may think best.

I hereby appoint E.M. Spriggs and Thomas Spriggs my lawful Executors to the above will, they are to have nothing for their services more than will defray their expenses while managing the business. This Will is not to be broken for the want of form. In witness I here unto set my hand and affix my seal in the presence of,

                                                                                            John Spriggs H.K. Winkle Samuel Harben Kimsey Bearden

Probated Dec.22, 1859

Entries on book referred to in will

                                            My Family Book

                                            Value of Land and Cash and

                                              Negroes

I give Thomas Spriggs (1) one negroe $1700.00 cash $600 I give John M. Spriggs (1) one negroe boy 500.00 I give Zion Spriggs (1) one negroe boy 800.00 I give Louisa Cox, my daughter a negroe girl 600.00

 land and other property                                                                   100.00

Malinda Sheriff my daughter I give (1) one negroe Woman and (3) three children $1600.00

                                                             land                                 150.00       cash  $150.00

Amilda Summerour, my daughter (1) one negroe girl $800.00

                                                                           land                $800.00

Mahaley Clouts, my daughter (1) one negroe girl. $1200.00

Martha Ann Spriggs, my daughter I give her (1) Boy Bob and a Negroe girl Jane $1700.00

E.M. Spriggs my son I give (1) one negroe boy $700.00 cash $600.00

                                             (1) one negroe boy                      $900.00

I give A.J. Spriggs, (1) one negroe boy $700.00 cash $600.00

                               (1) one negroe boy                                    $800.00   

The above account is the valuation of the money and property that I John Spriggs have given my children to date, November the 14th 1857.

• Ref: FindAGrave memorial.