Matchetts and Granthams in
History of Irwin County, J.B. Clements, 1932

Jacob, William, Wells, and Henry Matchett appear in this Irwin Co., GA, history from 1830 to 1845. After 1845, only Jacob Matchett appears, and then only until 1849. There are no references to John H. Matchett. There are no Matchetts living in that area today. There are many Granthams, however. (Francis Marion Matchett's wife was Cherry Ann Grantham, a descendant of Daniel Grantham.)

CHAPTER 2
ORGANIZATION OF IRWIN COUNTY.

"The county was organized in 1820. Within the boundary of originally Irwin County were quite a few pioneer settlers before the county was created coming from different sections, some from North Carolina, others from South Carolina and Virginia and quite a few from the older settlements in Georgia. The Indians were here, so when they came they were obliged to build block houses and fortified places called stands as oftentimes hostility with the Indians occurred. Wolves howled about the cabin doors at night, bear was plentiful, deer, turkey, fish and all other game were to be had almost for the taking. When these sturdy pioneers first laid eyes upon Irwin County it was a goodly land to look upon. An unbroken pine forest of original trees stately and majestic which would be a most beautiful sight to the people of this time and generation. In the forest could be seen wild deer and turkeys in droves, it being no unusual sight to see a dozen wild deer in a drove or as many as twenty wild turkeys in one flock. Vicious animals such as bear, tiger or catamount were numerous."

Tax receivers include:
    David Grantham, 1850.

Justices of the Peace include:
    Benjamin Grantham, 1823
    William Matchett, 1833
    Wells Matchett, 1839, 1841, 1844

OLD SETTLERS OF IRWIN COUNTY

The Tax Digest of the county from 1820 to 1830 has been lost. A list of those returning tax for 1830 include:
    Jacob Matchett
    William Matchett
    John Grantham
    Dariel (Daniel?) Grantham, Sr.
    Elijah Grantham

Those returning tax for 1839 include:
    Wells Matchett
    William Matchett
    Jacob Matchett
    Daniel Grantham, Jr.
    John Grantham
    Elija (Elijah?) Grantham
    Daniel Grantham


CHAPTER 3
SUPERIOR COURT AND PRESENTMENTS OF THE GRAND JURY, JURY COMMISSIONERS, SALE OF LIQUOR, PAUPER, PONTOON BRIDGE, REGISTRATION LAW, JUVENILE COURT.

Members of the first Traverse or Petit Jury (1820) included:
    Benjamin Grantham
    Daniel Grantham
    John Grantham

Third term, March 28, 1822, Petit Jurors include:
    Benjamin Grantham

Grand Jury, Spring Term 1830
"Having nothing of importance to make presentment, we congratulate our fellow citizens on the general good order, peace and harmony which prevailed in their community."
Members include:
    John Grantham

Grand Jury, April Term 1832
Members include:
    John Grantham

Grand Jury, October Term, 1839
"Returned indictments against James C. Fussell, Mathew Merritt, William Sloan and Lazarus Williams for gambling, also one against James C. Fussell for keeping open a Tippling House on the Sabbath, also one against Daniel Peterson and Mary Mancil for adultery and fornication."
Members include:
    Daniel Grantham
    John Grantham

Grand Jury, October term, 1840
"We present William Fussell for the offense of keeping open a Tippling House on the Sabbath on the twenty-sixth day of July, 1840, it being the Sabbath in the county aforesaid. Witness, Alex Mobley. We present William Fussell with the offense of keeping open a Tippling shop on the Sabbath on twentieth of September, 1840, in county aforesaid. Witness, Alex Mobley. We present William Fussell for the offense of retailing spiritous liquors without license in said county on twenty-sixth of July, 1840. We present Thomas Young, Mathew Merritt, Luke Merritt, Daniel Cary, William Akins and James Hall for the offense of riot committed in said county on fifth day of October, at the storehouse of William Fussell, by fighting together with sticks, knives and guns."
Members include:
    Daniel Grantham

Grand Jury, April Term, 1842
"A great grievance and want of morality on the part of certain citizens of our county in violation to the Sabbath, but for want of sufficient proof to insure conviction of any individual we defer making any special presentment in this behalf and at the same time ask all good citizens to be vigilant in detecting violation of the law and make presentments at the next term of the court."
Members include:
    Wells Matchett
    Daniel Grantham

Grand Jury, April Term, 1844
"We have had under consideration the charge of his honor, Judge Cole, upon the subject of raising a fund to educate the poor children of our county"
Members include:
    William Matchett

Grand Jury, April Term, 1845
"At this term of court the Grand Jury returned an indictment against Irwin Fitzgerald for the offense of selling spiritous liquors to a negro slave named Toney and other slaves. They also presented James Hall, Jr., with the offense of gambling with a slave named Joe, the property of Mark Mobley, at a game called seven-up or Negro Whisp."
Members include:
    Wells Matchett
    Daniel Grantham

CHAPTER 8
INFERIOR COURTS, BONDS, ELECTION DISTRICTS, NEW ROADS, ROAD COMMISSIONERS, NEW COUNTIES CREATED, ROAD DISTRICTS, ADMINISTRATORS AND EXECUTORS, PHYSICIANS, SLAVES, WIVES AND CHILDREN OF VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS, COLORED PERSONS, MARRIAGES, DIVORCE, TAX RECEIVER AND COLLECTOR, TAX, POOR, THREE-DAY ELECTION, INQUEST, LUNACY, COMMISSIONER OF PATROL, FERRIES, FISH, MAIL ROUTES, ADVERTISEMENTS, ETC.

COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICERS

Judges of Inferior Court include:
    Daniel Grantham, 1834-1841

INFERIOR COURTS

"The second session of the Inferior Court was held on the first Monday in January, 1821. Present Judges: John Sutton, David Williams and David Calaway. The only business transacted was an order passed to enter suit wherein Richard Wiggins was plaintiff and Daniel Grantham defendant. The suit was called and dismissed at plaintiff's costs."
"At July term, 1825, John Smith, Moses Steter and Daniel Underwood were appointed to examine road from Alapaha to Little rivers and report practicability of starting same. Thomas Bradford, Daniel Grantham and William Fussell were appointed to examine the road from the Alapaha to Ludd Mobley and report practicability of starting same."

ELECTION DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED IN IRWIN COUNTY

"An act approved December 27, 1845, provided that election precincts should be established at the following places in Irwin County. At the house of John Gibbs, at William Pridgen's mill, at the house of Daniel Grantham, Sr., at the house of Manassa Henderson and the house of Ruebin Gay."

ROADS AND ROAD COMMISSIONERS.

At July term, 1825:
Daniel Grantham appointed road commissioner for third district

At the July term, 1831:
"William Matchett, Daniel Grantham, Sr. and Micajah Paulk, Jr., are appointed to lay out and mark a road beginning at Thomas Swain's ferry and running to Lowndes County line to intersect Coffee road."

At the January term, 1833:
"William Hall, William Matchett and Ludd Mobley were appointed commissioners on River road, from Sturgeon Creek to Tel-fair line, below Mobley's mill."

At January adjourned term, 1836:
"Commissioners were authorized to turn the road leading from courthouse to Ruebin Marsh's ferry on Alapaha to near John Benefield's on to Elisha Grantham's ferry on Alapaha and strike Coffee road nearest and best way."

"An act approved December 26, 1836, provides that it is all important that a bridge should be built across the Alapaha River at or near the Coffee road, and whereas the citizens are unable to build said bridge, and a subscription is on foot to raise about $800.00 which is thought will be about one-half of the amount necessary to build a substantial bridge, it is en-acted that Jacob Paulk, Daniel Grantham, Sr., and John Mc-Millan be authorized to draw from the state the sum of $800.00 to build said bridge and repair Coffee road."

January term, 1837:
"Shaderick Griffin, Daniel Grantham, Jr., and John Henderson, appointed commissioners on road leading from Widow Mobley's by Jacob Paulk's to Howelville; said road was cut by Jacob Paulk and said road is to run as it was cut out by Jacob Paulk."

At September term, 1839, the following road districts established and commissioners appointed, to wit:

Third district. "Commencing at Ocmulgee swamp near Mrs. Mobley's, known as Coffee road to Wiggins Creek. Wells Matchett, Alexandra Mobley and Frederick Merritt, commissioners."
Fourth district. "Beginning at Wiggins Creek and ending at Lowndes County line. Henry Matchett, Aaron Daniels and John Paulk, commissioners."
Twelfth district. "Road known as Paulk road, commencing at Bowen's mill and ending at Jacob Paulk's. Wiley Tyson, John Henderson and Daniel Grantham, commissioners."

Thirteenth district. "Road known as Paulk road, beginning at Jacob Paulk's and going by public bridge to Lowndes County line. Wiley Tyson, John Henderson and Daniel Grantham, commissioners."

March term, 1841:
"Wells Matchett, James McDuffie and Redding Hunter, commissioners, commencing at district line and ending at Telfair line."

At March term, 1842:
"A new road was established commencing at Grantham's mill and intersecting Coffee road at Leonard Harper's."

At January term, 1844:
"Appointed Thomas L. Willcox, James C. Fussell and W. S. Moore, commissioners for second district; also Joseph R. B. Wiggins, James Dorminy and Wells Matchett, commissioners for seventh district."

January term, 1846:
"W. S. Moore, Jacob Matchett and Frederick Merritt commissioners on Coffee road."

January term, 1849: "Fleming B. Harper, Jacob Matchett and Benjamin R. Philips commissioners on Coffee road from William Curry's to Telfair County line."

CHAPTER 8
WILLS, GUARDIANS, ADMINISTRATORS, ETC.

"At July term, 1825, letters of administration were granted to John Henderson and Sarah Henderson on estate of Daniel Henderson, and Willis King, John Sutton, Sion Hall, Benjamin Grantham and Jacob Paulk were appointed appraisers. Sarah Henderson, the widow, was allowed for a year's support, one thousand pounds of pork, seventy-five dollars in cash, one hundred pounds of sugar and twenty-five pounds of coffee."

CHAPTER 9
MARRIAGES

"The following is a list of the marriages recorded in Irwin County from August 30. 1835, to June 1, 1930. The record from 1820 to 1835, has been lost."
Included in list is the following:
"Dukes, Robert, married to Williams, Barbary, by Wells Matchett, J. P., November 17, 1840."


CHAPTER 14
CHURCHES-NEW HOPE, BRUSHY CREEK, BETHLEHEM, MOUNT ZION, RICHARDSON AND UNION CHURCHES AND GILDERS BLUFF.
RICHARDSON METHODIST CHURCH.

"An act of the Legislature approved December 28, 1843, provided that John Henderson, Jacob Matchett, William Fussell, Woodson Willcox, Josiah Pane, William M. Kennedy and Thomas L. Willcox be and they are hereby declared to be a body corporate under the name and style of the trustees of the Richardson Methodist Episcopal Camp Ground in Irwin County, Georgia. This camp ground was located upon what is now the lands of W. M. Fussell upon land lot number thirty-two in the fourth district of Irwin County, Georgia."


Excerpted by Wayne Matchett, 19 Jan 05, from an online transcription of History of Irwin County, J.B. Clement, 1932