Georgia Trails Fannin County

"Wash" Brown Story

Born May 15, 1805
Died Jan. 11, 1865

George Washington Brown was murdered on 11 January 1865 by Civil War Renegades or Marauders. He is buried in the Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery in Fanning County, Georgia. His wife Francis, moved to Arkansas for a brief time then returned to Henderson County and made her home with her father, Hiram King. She is buried in the Kings Grove Cemetery Henderson County.

Sources: Jennie Poteet Pitts, census records of Henderson County, North Carolina, census records of Union, Gilmer, and Fanning Counties, Georgia.

According to the book "Facets of Fannin County", G.W. and his preacher were at George's home when a group of outlaws, who were living in the mountains to avoid serving in the war (Civil War), came and killed George Washington Brown and reportedly put the preacher head first into a 60 gallon barrel of sour kraut. The preacher, Rev. Mull, survived and formed the original Lebanon Church where George Washington Brown is buried.

The story was told to W. R. King by his mother and aunt like this:
"The men that lived in the mountains were called "The Home Guard". They were always masked and would come down from the mountain and raid peoples home. The Home Guard came to George's house that day and he ran and hid their horse and their meat, then remained hidden, afraid that if he went out they would try and make him tell them where his supplies were. The men attacked G. W.'s girls Rebecca and Polly (a nickname for Mary) and George then came out and tried to stop them. They shot George and proceeded to rape Rebecca and Polly (Mary)".

Taken from Ancestry.Com/
transcribed by Pam Rathbone

"The News Observer" a local newspaper featured an article about George Washington Brown. Please feel free to click on the link below to view the article.

Featured Article in "The News Observer" 6/6/2008

http://www.thenewsobserver.com/articles/2008/06/06/features/feature01.prt

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