The Porter Family of Morgan County
Provided by J. T. Lamkin

THE FUTURE HOLDS THE ANSWER
The Porter-Fannin Families
by John Jr. Burrey
"The Weekly Madisonian"
Madison, GA
Issues of July 19th, 26th, August 2nd, 9th and 16th 1895
copied by Miss Katie Porter Barnett?

A summary of the PORTER family is in substance as follows:

[A] John PORTER and Mary Anthony "an humble but worthy couple" were married in Belfast Ireland about 1740. They were Scotch-Irish Protestants - fairly well-to-do in education and worldly goods - quite likely went to Ireland in Cromwell's time.

A short while before 1750 they, with two children, sailed from Belfast to America, landed at Philadelphia, went from there to Prince Edward Co, Va.

[A1] William and [A2] Florence [Flora] were born in Ireland, their other six children, [A3] John, [A4] Nathaniel, [A6] Oliver Cromwell, Frank [A8], Mary [? Rachel] and Sarah [? Anna] in America.

Wm PORTER at the very threshold of manhood was called to the defense of his country - became a leader of patriots and served as a Captain of a company in the 12th Virginia Regiment, supposedly served under Francis Marion - "The Swamp Fox" - of South Carolina, William was severely wounded at the Battle of Cowpens. A witness of the grand surrender at Yorktown.

In recognition of his valuable services, the state of VA of which Kentucky was a part until 1792 made him grants of large tracts of land. Immediately after the war the feeling existing between the Whigs and Torres grew to be quite strong and bitter and to escape such trials Capt. Wm P. together with many of his family removed to Ky in 1796-97 to Little Muddy Creek near Sugar Grove in Logan, now Butler Co where many of them have greatly aided in building up that great state. "He was evidently a man of good parts left his impression upon his life-period.

[A6] Oliver PORTER the youngest, but one, of the sons was born P.E.Co.Va. Oct. 14, 1763 *At 17 a member of his bro Wm's Co. *Present at surrender at Yorktown Oct. 19, 1781 *Married Miss Margaret Watson when nearly 20 years of age - Oct 10th 1783 in VA; d/o Douglas WATSON & Margaret PARKE, d/o James PARK(E) & Mary FULTON.

Circumstances indicate that Col. George Mathis with his regiment of Virginians did service in Ga, during the war, became pleased with the country and eventually influenced many Virginians to immigrate with him to the new colony - among whom were Oliver PORTER's and members of his wifes family , (the Douglas Watsons).

Oliver PORTER & followers settled on Fishing Creek in Mike's, now Greene Co. About 5 mi west of where now stands the village of Penfield. In order to settle himself securely in the confidence of the community - he secured a a certificate, now in possession of the Porter family viz:

Time after time he served his people in the legislature - as evidence of his satisfactory service he was thus honored 21 years.

Oliver Porter, Geo M. Laup[?], Augustine Beall etc. were chosen to lay off and sell the town lots in Milledgville which was done satisfactorily to Georgians.

• He was chosen 4 times as a presidential elector and by reason of the last - called his youngest son "James Madison Porter",

• In politics a staunch Whig

• A member of "Shiloh" Baptist church, as such was an original trustee of Mercer College in Macon, GA - see A History of Mercer University 1833-1953

Blessed with 6 sons & 5 daughters - all of whom save two (Oliver & Nancy) grew to manhood & womanhood and they were permitted to see everyone of the surviving 9 (save one) happily married & comfortably fixed, in their respective houses.

The remains of these valiant soldiers lie in the old Porter & Daniel graveyard, on the old Porter place, in Fishing Creek, beside those of their sons Mr. Ja. Madison, & Frank, & daughter Nancy.

Family Record

[A6] Oliver Cromwell PORTER ) B. Oct. 14th 1763. M. Oct. 10th/83 D. Aug 29th 1838 Margaret WATSON ) Apl 20th 1765 " D. Mch 30 1837

=CHILDREN=

[A61] Polly PORTER - B. Nov 12th 1784. Married Jas Fears Oct 30th 1805

[A62] D. Watson PORTER Dec 8 1788 M. Dec 16th-1802. d. 26 Dec 1823 married Arabella DAWSON. Annabelle Burwell MURKLIN, b 1785; d 1836

[A63] Anthony PORTER B. Dec 8 1788 M. Dec 16th 1825.

Louisa ALEXANDER

[A64] Peggy PORTER B. Jany 7 1791 M. Sept 1 1809 d. 30 March 1837

Isham S. FANNIN 1st - - - - - D. Apl 26 1817

Lazarus BATTLE 2nd m. 8 April 1818 d. July 1824

Thomas KING 3rd m. 12 March 1827

[A65] Ann PORTER B. Jany 8 1793. M. Dec 17 1812 d. 1 March 1875

Adam G. SAFFOLD


[A66] Caty PORTER B. June 2 1795. M. Apl 10 1814 D. -----1855

Jeptha FANNIN D. 1848


[A67] John W[atson] PORTER B. Apl 2 1797 M. May 6 1834/24 D. Jany 8 1868

Ann Mapp FANNIN b. 10/31/1806 D. July 21 1875


[A68] Wm PORTER (Never Married) B. July 16 1799 D. Sept 29 /30 Oct? 1841


[A69] Oliver PORTER B. July 14 1801 D. Dec 25 1803


[A60] Nancy PORTER B. Feby 22 1804 D. Oct 22 1805


[A6A] James Madison PORTER B. Aug 30 1809 M. Dec 12 1833 D. May 24 1849

Athalia(h) James COX b. 26 Aug 1815; d 1871

------------------- O --------------------

[A61] Polly PORTER FEARS: Children


[A611] Oliver FEARS - who married Miss SANG[sp?]


[A612] John FEARS - " " 1st Miss SHY 2nd Miss JONES[sp?]

Their children occupy the homestead today.


[A613] Mary married Mr. MATHIS -

issue [A6131] Mrs Lucius PERRICK[sp?] and [A6132] Mr Jas MATHIS


[A614] Amurica [sp?] married Mr William DAVIS. Descendants now in Texas


[A615] Margaret " " Coleman MOORE " " in Ala.


[A62] D Watson PORTER moved to Morgan early in life & served us long & well in various

capacities - Member of Superior Court - clerk, etc.

He was above the average man in intellegence & business capacity. His wife was the widow of

Maj. Jno E. DAWSON and mother of Rev. Jno E. DAWSON & Mrs Edward J. HILL. issue 5

children.

[A621] Margaret - married Mr BUCKHANOE [sp?]


[A622] Eliza " " ALLEN [?] Eliza Armistead m John David HIWELL


[A623] Dilla " " RUSE Adela Musedora m John Claudius REESE[sp?]

[A6231?] John C. REESE [sp?] Jr m Kitty STEWART


[A624] William unmarried


[A63] Anthony PORTER was remarkable for his strict integrity & purity of life - An intelligent, 
active business man. At one time private Secy. of Georgia's governor & respteirely [?] Treas. Cashier & president of the "Bank of the State of Ga" The latter position he held for many years and died in harness xxx signed his name A. Porter the dot after the A being a circle and a sure test of the genuineness of the signature. No children

[A64] "Patsy" or "Peggy" [Margaret] Porter FANNIN:

wife of Islam S. FANNIN

The procamation declaring the new county (Morgan) found him in readiness to assist in organizations & he became a member of the new court & the records show him first scribe in that capacity. He held this position until 1813. Married Aug 29 1809 - died in 1817

1 daughter [A641] Eliza who married Col Jno B. WALKER

The widow married again Mr S BATTLE - She who with Jno B. WALKERs children moved - most of them to Texas.

[A6411] Mattie WALKER m Rev W T BRANTLEY

[A64111] Eva BRANTLEY m Samuel N. HELM

[A65] Ann Porter SAFFOLD

Judge Adam G. SAFFOLD was one of Madisons landmarks - issue two children

[A651] Col Wm Oliver SAFFOLD - married Miss Mary HARRIS. And has many descendents.

[A652] Miss Goudylock SAFFOLD - married Col David S. JOHNSTON of North Carolina - issue two children ([A6521] Saffold and [A6522] Sally)

[A6A] James Madison PORTER - "Mat" was his familiar name - genial - jolly man & big hearted [?] The pranks-jokes & escapades of this good man would fill a book - issue 2 children and

[A6A3]William PORTER b. 11 Sept 1837 d. 24 Sept 1837

[A6A4] John W PORTER twin d. 18 Sept 1837 or ca. 1891

[A6A2] Oliver Saffold PORTER, CSA, b. 18 June 1836; d. 17 April 1914. FounderPorterdale. Newton Co Ga. Married a Mrs. Julia McCRACKEN CAMP & is now busily engaged rebuilding the waste places of his old state. He is quite prominent & greatly trusted by his fellows & bids fair to properly maintain the reputation of his grandpapa & namesake.

[A6A21] John Anthony PORTER, b 4 Jan 1871; m 1st Martha McKAY; m 2nd A. L. JEFFERSON

[A6A211] John Oliver PORTER m Gertrude JONES

[A6A2111] Frances

[A6A212] Mary Erin m Perry JENKINS

[A6A2121] Perry JENKINS Jr

[A6A213] Margaret Elizabeth PORTER m Arthur LEWIS

[A6A22] James Hyde PORTER, b 24 Jan 1873; d 1948?; m 18 Dec 1902 Olive; b 3 Feb 1878; d 3 Aug 1939; d/o Thomas Chalmers & Elizabeth Crawford Stowers SWANN

[A6A23] Oliver William PORTER, b 31 March 1873; m Elizabeth TODD

[A6A231] Julia

[A6A232] Harriet

[A6A233] Billy PORTER

[A6A24] Mary Erin, b 1877; d 1890

[A6A1] Miss Sally [Sarah] E., b. 6 Dec 1834; m 1856 married a Jeremiah Millwood SESSIONS.

[A6A11] Mary SESSIONS m 1st BONIFELL; m 2nd HOTCHKISS

[A6A12] Kate SESSIONS m 1st BARNHART; m 2nd Frank FREEMAN; m 3rd Col MARSH

[A6A] J.M.P. and wife died early in life yet left a name to comfort the living. The other members of this noted family will be called for as they are needed to complete this paper. I ask at the hands of our young people a thoughtful study of this family - their characters and work. None surpassed and but few equalled their accomplishments in making Middle Georgia, the Paradise it was - torn and bespoiled by the late Civil War. As tillers of the soil, office workers bankers and citizens each contributed his part in rendering this a great people.

God be praised for them.

[A66] Caty "Kate" [Cathrine] Porter FANNIN wife of Jeptha Fannin. Came to Morgan Co prior to 1811 became successor of his brother Isham S. Fannin on the Superior Court list - also wrote in clerks office for several years. Married about 1814 & took up his abode on the farm now occupied by Anthony. 10 children were entrusted to them.

[A661] Isham S. FANNIN Married Miss LEE- dead.

[A662] Margaret Porter, b 1817; d 1898; m 1845, married Mr. Frank ALLEN

[A6621] Kate ALLEN m Albert Gattalin SIMS

[A66211] Louise SIMS m Marvin R. ADAMS

[A663] Elizabeth married Harry/Henry [?] HARRIS - both dead

[A664] Anthony unmarried. A confirmed, determined Non-Benedict [?]

[A665] Oliver Porter FANNIN married Miss Ellen SHAKEFORD - died a few years ago in Florida leaving several children. Set on foot plans that resulted in the organization of an "Asylum for the Deaf" under state management.

[A666] Mary FANNIN married Dr. Austin WALKER of Columbus, Ga. They left two children. The son [A6661] was killed in a Florida hunt some years since & the daughter

[A6662] Mrs.______ is now a resident of the "Land of Flowers" [Florida?] xxxxxxx

[A667]Ann(e) married Capt Joel Crawford BARNETT - a brave Confederate soldier, bore to his grave honorable scars & a useless arm. He was always found on the side of right & his death vacated a highly honorable place in the ranks of Morgans citizens. The widowed wife has reared their precious children well. The son - [A6671] Cranford - is making his history in Alabama. One daughter- [A6672] Mrs D. Mary STOKES is a valiant soldier in lifes warfare - while the other - [A6673] Miss Katie Porter BARNETT ministers to a devoted mother & moves around industriously in the Master's service.

[A67] Capt John Watson PORTER B 4/12/1797 M. 5/6/1824 D 1/8/68

(Ann Mapp FANNIN) B 10/31/1806 D 7/21/75

[A671] Elizabeth G. PORTER B. 1/28/25 M. 12/20/42 D. 7/18/94.

James H. WADE B. 1/24/20

[A6711] "Huttie" WADE son of Elizabeth enlisted in Panola [sp?] Guards - died 
of disease in Virginia

[A6712] Miss Ann WADE married Col. L. S. LANGSTON (have children) [?]merchant

[A6713] Miss Mattie WADE married Mr. GODDARD of Washington D.C. who is now dead - widow survives with children in Washington.

[A672] James? Henry PORTER B. 1/23/29 M 11/7/66 Fannie L. LOWRY

Issue:

[A6721] John Henry PORTER

[A6722] Lowry PORTER

[A6723] Julia PORTER m Bates BLOCK

[A673] Martha Fort PORTER B. 3/19/31 M. Nov 4-56

Geo M.[?] WILLIAMS

Martha Fort WILLIAMS = have resided since marriage in Charleston S.C. +++ "Get his letters (G.M. Williams) to young men" - They are rich in experience & precept" Their children [A6731] Geo M. Jr and [A6732] Mrs. Patrick CALHOUN and others are living specimens of the work turned into the busy world from this training school.

[A674] Sarah Floyd PORTER B. 2/14/33 M. 11/4/56. D. 3/31/71 Azariah GRAVES

[A675] Jno W. PORTER, Jr. B. 11/9/1839 D. May 28 - 41

Comments in italics those of John Tucker Lamkin, taken from "History of our family connection" by Captain John M. Porter, CSA; research of John A. Porter, died 1928, found in Kentucky Porter papers; and "A Genealogical Record of the Porter Family of England and America" by Olive Swann Porter.

This family and these facts are presented here by J. T. Lamkin.

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