The Georgia Archives will hold its first history symposium April 25, focusing on the War of 1812.
Speakers will address the war in general and its impact on Georgia, especially the occupation of Cumberland Island in early 1815.
The event will run 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., is free, and you can bring your own lunch, purchase items available on-site, or eat nearby.
The invited speakers include: Adam Tate (Clayton State University), Mike Bunn (author of “Battle for the Southern Frontier: The Creek War and the War of 1812”), John Mitchell (Cumberland Island National Seashore), Dan Elliott (archaeologist with the Lamar Institute) and Diane Cannestra, representing the lineage societies who helped bring the Appling Sword back to Georgia.
Archives staff members also will discuss the records the archives has related to the war.
Further details can be found at georgiaarchives.org or call 678-364-3710. The Georgia Archives is located at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, next to the National Archives. Parking is free.
For some reading on Georgia and the War of 1812, see two works by Mary R. Bullard: “Cumberland Island: A History” (2003) and “Black Liberation on Cumberland Island in 1815” (1983). Bullard, who died in 2014, donated her Cumberland Island papers to the Georgia Archives.
North Carolina grants and plats
North Carolina land grants and plats are being digitized and uploaded on a new, free site, nclandgrants.com, that is not part of the North Carolina Archives site or FamilySearch. There is a great index and lots of extra features.
You also can check mars.archives.ncdcr.gov to see what is there related to your ancestors, as they have land records and a lot more.
Also, you should review abstracts of North Carolina land grants and related records, such as those published by A. Bruce Pruitt, found in many libraries.
European roots
Websites of interest for European backgrounds include the Hungary Exchange (hungaryexchange.com) and WieWasWie (wiewaswie.nl), which is in Dutch. Bremen passenger lists can be searched at passengerlists.de, with a wide range of dates and types of records.
Other good sites for various ancestral origins can be found through Cyndi's List (cyndislist.com).
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