By John Harvey
As I come across names within my own family in the course of research, I ad them to my file.
Among those who have been helpful recently are Harvey Powell, Irene Malone and Mrs. Hulon Penn, as well as others. Those whose hobby is genealogy, like Tommy Walton of Covington, with whom I had a recent conversation. Milton Wyatt, who remembered many of the families who settled the Broughton, Farrar and Kelly areas, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Lanier) Layson of Tucker, one of the most professional I have met, though she says she is "only an amateur", have shred information. In this and future articles, I will share with you some of what I learned about early jasper Countians.
Zephaniah Harvey
Lucian Lamar Knight says that Zephaniah Harvey, a veteran of the Revolution, lived in Jasper County for 32 years and is buried somewhere in the county. Members of our family speak of Mr. Harmon Harvey who operated a tin and metal shop in Adgateville and later in Monticello between 1898 and 1924. Mr. Harvey was a great grandson of Zephaniah Harvey. It is thought that the family connection would be about four generations back. Miss Lillie Harvey, a sister of Harmon Harvey, married into the Aiken family at Shady Dale. Her descendants are still in the county.
In the county records, I found that Zephaniah was a Justice of the Peace in Jasper County from 1810-1832. That was all I could find out about him until Elizabeth Layson loaned me a book compiled by Mrs. Elizabeth McPherson, a former state genealogist, and there was Zephaniah Harvey.
Zephaniah Harvey was the eldest son of William Harvey's second marriage. William Harvey's first wife's name is unknown, the second marriage was to Elizabeth Mikel. Children of the first marriage were: Matthew, Mary, James, Ann and Elizabeth. The children of the second marriage were Zephaniah, John, William Neihamiah, Thomas, Elleinder and Lincy.
William Harvey is believed to have been one of four brothers who came over from Northern Ireland in 1761. John, his older brother was secretary to the Royal Governor of North Carolina. John Harvey was an early participant in the activities that led to the Revolution. In his position as secretary to the Royal Governor, he was able to pass along information to his nephews, Matthew, James, Zephaniah and John.
Both John and William Harvey received grants on land in North Carolina and South Carolina. A third brother, Charles, received a grant in Georgia. Charles Harvey and his sons Blassingame, Charles, Jr. and John were active in the Revolution in Georgia. Blassingame was the officer responsible for the confiscation of Tory property for the state of Georgia. Zephaniah Harvey was a "Minute Man" and soldier of the line, meaning that he fought in the regular army in battles in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
After the war, he received land grants in Wilkes, Hancock and Baldwin Counties in Georgia. He inherited lands in Chester and Edgefield, S.C., from his father, William. In 1805, Zephaniah Harvey drew Land Lot No. 39 in the 15th district of Jasper County (formerly Baldwin on which he built his homestead. Record in the Georgia State Archive show that four veterans (Issac Gaston, Samuel Reid, John Tomlinson and Zephaniah Harvey) signed a petition to the General Assembly in 1802 asking that the lands recently received from the Indians be surveyed for settlement. This petition was presented to the legislature by Gen. Elijah Clark. Also on file in the Archives is a copy of Zephaniah Harvey's commission as a Justice of the Peace in Hancock County with the notation that his commission had been transferred to Randolph 9Jasper) Count in 1810.
Zephaniah Harvey was also married twice, first to Nancy Smith, children of that marriage were Zephaniah, Jr., Moses, James, Lucy, Elizabeth, Patsy, Penelope and Nancy. His second marriage was to Sarah Tomlinson, daughter of his old comrade in arms, John Tomlinson. The children were Sarah, Mariah and Thomas.
Zephaniah Harvey died on Feb 1 1832. His will (on file in the Jasper County Courthouse) names his son, James and son-in-law, James G. Davis as his executors. It leaves the "home place" to Zephaniah, Jr., gives other land and household goods to the other children, and give her mother's share to Sara Tomlinson, his granddaughter, daughter of Nancy (Harvey) Tomlinson (deceased)
In 1939 an attempt was made by Mrs. McPherson and other descendants to find and mark the grave and "homestead" of Zephaniah Harvey. The house site was found, but the grave could not be found. A land lot map of Jasper County shows Land Lot 39, District 13 to be just off the left hand side of Ga. 212 about 3/4 mile before the Putnam County line. A recent visit showed two buildings on the site but both were of more recent vintage, the mid 1930's or early 1940's.
Additional Comments:
Transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net)
April 2005, from copies of articles contained in the Monticello News. There articles were prepared by Mr.
John Harvey and published in this newspaper during the 1970's and 1980's time frame.
Some were under the title "Jasper Reflections", others
"Bicentennial Bits".
Permission has been granted by Mr. Harvey for use of these very valuable and informative articles.
Copies of articles provided by Benny Hawthorne.