TWIGGS COUNTY GEORGIA ABSTRACTS Records of a Burned County. Collected and Edited by Bess Vaughn Clark. (1987)

The compiler, a native of middle Georgia with a lifelong interest in genealogy, has compiled the records of Twiggs County which she collected over the past forty years. As child she heard the 'family stories' told on the front porch on summer evenings. Interest continued as an a adult and she began recording by hand every scrap of data. Contacting older members of the family and friends familiar with Twiggs County, the records and resulting problems began to fall into place. The biggest obstacle: the Twiggs County Court House burned on February 6, 1901 and only several volumes of Tax Digest records were saved. A major genealogical feature of the book is a substitute for the "missing" U. S. Census of 1820 of Twiggs County which the compiler has reconstructed to derive a valuable record 0f the residents of the period Other source records include over 40 U.D.C. membership applications dating from 1909 to 1911, as well as abstracts of re-recorded deeds (after the 1901 fire) dated before 1860. Also included are abstracts of deeds, wills, etc. from other counties; abstracts of all types of records from newspapers; and records pertaining to Revolutionary Soldiers. But perhaps the most valuable source documents are the many personal family records gathered by the author including abstracts of Bible records, cemetery records, deeds, newspaper articles and other documents all carefully referenced and documented as to source. The index contains in excess of 3000 surnames, plus the alphabetized name listings shown in several Lotteries, Mortality and Census Schedules. An interesting and charming aspect of this book are the personal interest records, stories, and letters that bring to life the story of the early Twiggs County residents. This includes some personal pictures from the compiler's collection as well as some informative maps. A limited number of copies from the first printing are available and at this time no reprint is anticipated. Published in HARDBACK, the 5X 8.5 inch compilation is over 300 pages of extraordinarily valuable data to anyone interested in Twiggs County and some of its early inhabitants. 

Bess Vaughn Clark's  second book about early Twiggs County Georgia records and families is available for purchase. 

Return to Twiggs County Genealogy Resources