In previous articles, we have discovered that our Creek Indians originally came into

Alaska from North China and South Russia,

beginning about 20,000 years ago, and finally

reaching Georgia about 10,000 years ago.

In January of 1821, a major portion of land was ceded from the Creeks, creating five

new counties Fayette, Henry, Houston, Dooly and Monroe.

Among those eligible to draw for this free land were Revolutionary War veterans,

many of whom had fought under French Gen. Marquis de Lafayette. It is felt that our

county was named by some of our very earliest settlers for this illustrious leader.

These five counties were cut up into 202 1/2-acre squares (don't ask me how they

came up with the figure, heaven only knows) and

the squares were each numbered and put into districts. Each square was written down on

a piece of paper and, in effect, put in a big fish bowl.

You were eligible to draw under one of these conditions: if you were a

Revolutionary War veteran, you had two chances to draw,

(oh yes, there were blank slips put in the fish

bowl, too); if you were a widow with minor

children, you got two chances, etc. All this took place

in early Spring of 1821 and it was during this year that many settlers came to see what

had been drawn. Of course, the widows weren't packing up and leaving civilization, so for

the next 30 years, our deed books are full of land sales that obviously come from these

ladies selling their bonanza, sight unseen.

And here's another 'oh, yes.' Let's say you live on one acre of land you know what

you paid for that one acre. Those drawing for our land lottery had 202 1/2-acres, and they only

had to pay a $19 filing fee for the whole kit and caboodle!

I'll leave you with another astounding piece of information. In 1821, Fayette County went

up to the other side of Atlanta and the other side

of Jonesboro. Of course, what the State giveth,

the State can also take away, and they began doing this in 1822.

Next time we'll talk about the counties we are 'Mother' to.

Carolyn Cary is Fayette County's official historian and editor of "The History of

Fayette County," published by the Fayette

County Historical Society.

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