Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-12-05
GEORGIA GETS HONOR
FIRST TO NAME CITY AFTER
FATHER OF COUNTRY.
Town OF Washington Chrlstened In
177e-History Proving Contention
of Resident Brought to Light
and Fixed by Records.

Washington. Ga-After much and
long protracted discussion IL has been
settled when where and how this
town was named i'm honor of George
Washington. These are the facts as
they have been ascertained:
The name Washington was chosen
by the people of Wilkes county fol
their new town in the year l779, and
confirmed by the general assembly In
January, 1880.
Historians have been prone to doubt
and question these dates, claiming
that in 1880 was the dark year In
ieorgia apd that no session OF the
General assembly was held in that
5ear Augusta had fallen, Savannah
had fallen and the whole state was in
he hands of the enemy. This is very
nearly true, but not quite so.
The "ceded lands, which seven
years previous had been bought from
The Indians and called Wilkes, for
John Wilkes. our friend in the Brit
ish parliament, was one spot In the
state not under British rule. This
was due TO our victory at the battle
IT Kettle Creek.
stephen Heard, president of the as
sembly. was acting governor, because
George Walton. the governor, was in
Philadelphia attending the council
here. And Wilkes county being the
nnly spot free from British rule,
stephen Heard moved the state papers
and records 10 the courthouse az
Ieard's Fort Heard's Fort. there.
ore became the capital of Georgia
ror the time being. And ii was here
hat the only session Of the state leg.
stature or assembly was held In the
year 1880 1t was at this session that
he act was passed confirming the
lame Washington chosen for the little
own to be laid out around the site OF
Ieard's Fort
In Watkins Digest, the Oldest COM
pilation of the legislative acts OF
Georgia, will be found the proofs OF
his statement. as follows:
Section 10 And whereas it is es-
ientially necessary for the conven-
ence of suitors and ministers OF pub
lie Justice that the building of small
town in the county of Wilkes should
be encouraged, be IL therefore enact
ID by the authority aforesaid, that five
commissioners be appointed by this
house. and said commissioners so TO
Re appointed. or any three of them, be
empowered to lay out 100 acres OF
and circumjacent to the said place
into town and common, and the
same be sold and granted in the man.
ner pointed out in this act-and be IT
further enacted by the authority
aforesaid that William Downs, Barn
ard Heard. John. Gorham, Daniel Cole.
nan and John Dooley. Esquires. be a
board of commissioners for acting UNI
Ter this act. representing the town
at the courthouse in Wilkes county,
which shall he called Washington.
There YOU have the proof that the
general assembly confirmed the name
IN the year 1880. for Watkins Di-
gest." printed in 1880, is indisputable
authority.
Now for The proof that the people of
Wilkes had selected the name for
their town i'm the year 1873. John
Dooley. one of The commissioners
mentioned in the act, was killed soon
after the battle of Kettle Creek, in
l779: therefore the act appointing
him commissioner and naming the
town must of necessity been determin-
ed upon before his death, February
1879.
The original plot of the 100 acres as
laid ont by the commissioners is still
i'm existence. and is among the treas
ures Of the Mary Willis library, in
Washington.