The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-02-20
GEORGIA GETS. HONOR
FIRST TO NAME CITY AFTER
FATHER OF COUNTRY.
Town Of Washington ChrIstened In
tT7e-HlStory Proving Contention
Of Resident Brought to Light
and Fixed by Records.

Washington, Ga.-After much and
long pretracted discussion 1t has been
settled when, where and how this
town was named in honor Of George
Washington. These are the facts as
they have been ascertained
The name Washington was chosen
by the people of Wilkes county for
their new town In the year 1878, and
confirmed by the general assembly In
January, 1850.
Historians have been prone to doubt
and question these dates, claiming
that In 1850 was the dark year" IN
Georgia and that no session Of the
general assembly was held in that
year. Augusta had fallen, Savannah
had fallen and the whole state was in
the 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
OF Kettle Creek.
Stephen Heard, president Of the as
sembly. was acting governor because
George Walton, the governor, was in
Philadelphia attending the council
there. And Wilkes county being the
only spot free from British rule,
Stephen Heard moved the state papers
and records to the courthouse at
Heard's Fort. Heard's Fort, there
fore became the capital of Georgia
for the time being. And 1t was here
that the only session OF the state leg
lslature or assembly was held In the
year 1850. 1t was at this session that
the act was passed confirming the
name Washington chosen for the little
town to be laid out around the site OF
Heard's Fort.
In Watkins Digest, the Oldest com
pilation Of the legislative acts Of
Georgia, will be found the proofs Of
this statement as follows:
Section 10. And whereas 1t Is es
sentially necessary for the conven
fence of suttors and ministers Of pub
lie Justice that the building of small
town In the county of Wilkes SHOULD
be encouraged, be 1t therefore enact
ed by the authority aforesaid, that five
commissioners be appointed by thiI
house, and said commissioners SO Il
be appointed, or any three Of them, b.
empowered to lay out 100 acres O
land circumjacent to the said plae'
into Q town and common, and thu
same be sold and granted in the man
ner pointed out In this act--and be 1
further enacted by the authorit!
aforesaid that William Downs, Barn
ard Heard, John Gorham, Daniel Cole
man and John Dooley, EsQuires, be
board of commissioners for acting I'm
der this act, representing the tow
at the courthouse, in Wilkes county
which shall be called Washington"
There you have the proof that tn
general assembly confirmed the nam
In the year 1850. for watkins ID
gest," printed in 1880, 10 indisputabl
authority.
Now for the proof that the people 0
Wilkes had selected the name TO
their town In the year 17T0. Johl
Dooley, one Of the commissioner
mentioned In the act. was killed 500
after the battle of Kettle Creek, Il
l779; therefore the act appcintin
! him commissioner and naming tn
. town must Of necessity been determir
eA upon before his death, February
177s.
The original plot of the 100 acres a
laid out by the commissioners is sti
In existence. and Is among the treas
ures Of the Mary Willis library, 1
Washington.