The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-29
CAPT. WILLIAM MAXWELL.
A RESIDENT OF BELFAST, GEORGIA,
AND DIED THERE IN 1907.

Some Interesting Ancient History
of Chatham County-Facts Drawn
From the Records of Long Ago.
Names of Men Who Played PrOmi-
nent Parts in GeOrgin's Affairs in
the Early Days of the Colony.
Many Matters Of Special Interest
to Savannahians OF the Present
Day.
Savannah. Sept. I.-The reference in the
Morning News of the 18th inst. to the por-
trait of Capt. William Maxwell prompts
me to offer for publication the following
sketch of the life of that gentleman:
In Georgia, during the colonial period
and the time of the struggle for American
Independence, men of ability, courage, in
tegrity and perseverance, took part in the
affairs Of state, whose lives of patriotism
and usefulness, if written, would prove
Of interest and profit to the reader. A
score or more of once well known citizens
of this state could be mentioned, whose
names are now almost, and in some cases
entirely, forgotten-persons who bore
conspicuous part in the states history,
now lost sight of because of the neglect
on the part of some one with sufficient in
terest in the matter to gather up the facts
and to place them on record. OF this num-
Der I have selected. as the subject of this
sketch, Capt. William Maxwell, who came
TO Georgia before reaching the age of
manhood, about fourteen years after its
settlement lived here the remainder of
his life, and died here, at the age of IS
years, in 1897
His father, James Maxwell, was a resi-
ont ,F a. MI
Carolina, where, in the year 1922, he mar
RED Mary, the daughter of Benjamin and
Mary Du Pre- Simons. and where Will
lam, the youngest son, was born in the
year 1879. From South Carolina James
Maxwell, with his family, moved to Geor-
gia, in 1747, and settled on a tract of land
situated on the left bank of Midway
river, in bend made by that stream, a
little more than five miles above the after
ward prosperous town of Sunbury, and in
lull view of the point of land upon which
tAat settlement was made a few years
i4ter He named the place Belfast, and
mere many of his grandchildren were born.
Georgia, at that time, was composed of
Two counties, called Savannah and Fred
1lca, the former embracing within its
units Belfast. On March IL, 175S the
lIoFlnce was divided into parishes, OF
which one was called St. Philip, wherein
was included the family seat of the Max
Wells. Another division of the state into
SG44ties was effected by the constitution
" FEB ., 17f7, when Chatham county was
@1elared TO consist of the parish of Christ
iAHrch and the lower part of st. Philip,
19lo% Canouchee, and Belfast thus became
part OF Chatham county. In 1898 a por-
ON OF Chatham was cut off and called,
~ 9enor of Jonathan Bryan, one of the
IVtiest characters In the annals of our
Stdte, Bryan county, from which time the
lsIle OF the locality has remained IN
"a lged. These facts are given in order
= account for the connection Of William
aA@elIs name hereinafter with the par
i5n o. ST Philip. Chatham county and
Ivan county After the death of his. IA
ger, JanieT. winch occurred in Novenl-
ner, ifes, William Maxwell became the
e lies buried
On July j. ITO, provincial congress
ICY IN the ctty of S8Kannah, called by
N9l. G. G. Jones ''Georgia's first seces-
ION corNen lon" in which, as that care
H. historian goes on TO say. Every
Sfish was represented, and the dele
d-es We're Sitting opponents Of the intel
.ehee, the dominant hopes and the ma
al interest o. the communities from