The Revolutionary War Patriots of Midway
No parish in Georgia in 1775 was more patriotic, more public spirited, or more opposed to British rule than Saint John’s Parish. When the Georgia Provincial Congress failed to correct injuries of the Intolerable Acts, the Midway Patriots convened meetings and urged the rest of Georgia to revolt. Few parishes joined them so they elected Dr. Lyman Hall, the 32-year-old foremost advocate of independence in Georgia, to be their delegate to the Second Continental Congress and sent rice and money to the suffering people in Boston. They participated in Sons of Liberty protests, and when Georgia finally declared independence, they helped to form the new government and served in the Revolutionary War where many were wounded, captured or killed.
The importance and influence of the Midway Patriots during the American Revolution in Georgia greatly exceeded the size of the Midway colony. Five Georgia Counties have been named in honor of Midway Patriots: John Baker, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, James Screven and Daniel Stewart
In memory of Bill Ramsaur
William (Bill) Ramsaur passed away on February 19th, 2022. Bill was a good friend to so many of us interested in Midway history. He was instrumental in creating the Midway Patriots Project to identify and mark the graves of Revolutionary War patriots in the Midway Church Cemetery. He was a very active member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and spoke widely on historical topics, but may be remembered most for his kindness, collegiality, encouragement to others, and friendship. He will be missed.
Documenting the Patriots
The Midway Patriots Project, originally led by Bill Ramsaur, has been documenting the American Revolutionary service of members of the Midway Society or Church. More than 150 members have been researched so far, and additional members are being considered. The Project, sponsored by the Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution, is also marking the graves of Patriots who are buried with tombstones in the Colonial Midway Cemetery.
How You Can Help
If you have questions or further research to contribute to this project, please contact Dr. Peter Martin at doglegdoc @ gmail.com.
Are you interested in documenting your lineage to any of these Patriots? If so, to join the Daughters of the American Revolution, contact Teresa Daniels at teresabronte @ yahoo.com, or for Sons of the American Revolution, contact Steven Hinson at stevenhinson61 @ gmail.com. The St. John’s Parish Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, which supports the Midway Museum, will also help. Please contact Beverly Waters at b_waters04 @ yahoo.com or Linda Poston at lrposton @ gmail.com.
Click the button to see a list with more biographical details,
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Colonial Midway Residents With Revolutionary War Service
Alexander- Adam;
Allen- Rev. Moses;
Anderson- David;
Andrew- Benjamin (2), John; Andrews- Isham;
Ashmore- Strong;
Axon- Samuel Jacob (A27);
Bacon- John, Jonathan, Joseph, Nathaniel, Samuel. Thomas (G12) & William (2);
Baker- Artemis, Benjamin, John, Nathaniel (A20), Samuel, Thomas & William (2);
Ball- Edward;
Brownson- Nathan;
Burnley- Samuel:
Cassells- Elias, William; Coddington- Francis;
Cole- James;
Cooper- John;
Croft- John;
Dowse- Gideon;
Dunham (Dunnom)- Charles, John(2) & William;
Dunwoody- James (A23);
Edmonds- Rev. James;
Elliott- John, Thomas;
Foster- John;
Fox- Joseph;
Fraser- Simon;
Gignilliant- James;
Girardeau- John & William (A28);
Goulding- John, Palmer (2), Peter & William;
Graves- John (2) & William; Gwinnett- Button;
Hall- Lyman;
Hart- John;
Hendry- Robert;
Johnson- William
Jones- John;
Kell- John;
Lambright- John, William;
Law- George & Joseph;
Lawson- John;
LeConte- John Eatton & William;
Lewis- Elijah, Joseph, Judah & Samuel;
Lowe- Philip;
Mallard- Lazarus (B14);
Mann- John & Luke;
Martin- Edmond, John, Martin & William;
Maxwell- Audley, James;
Powell, Joseph, Josiah, Thomas (2) & William;
Maybank- Andrew;
McCollough- James & John (2);
McGowen- John, Joseph & William; McIntosh- John, Lachlan & William;
McLean- John;
Mell- Thomas;
Middleton – James & William;
Miller- Elisha, Samuel;
Mitchell- John (2);
Moore- James;
Morris- Thomas;
Nephew- James;
Norman- Richard;
Odingsells- Benjamin, Charles;
Osgood- John & Josiah;
Oswald- Joseph & Thomas;
Peacock- William (2);
Powell- James & Josiah
Quarterman- John, Joseph (F13), Richard, Robert (B-9), Thomas (B11) & William;
Rees- David;
Robarts- John;
Roberts- Daniel;
Sallette- Robert;
Sallins- Peter;
Saltus- Samuel;
Sandiford- John;
Screven- James (A1) & John;
Shave- John (2) & Richard; Sheppard- Thomas;
Sillivant- Daniel;
Sommersall- Stafford;
Spencer- Charles, Samuel & William;
Stacy- John Sr., John Jr. (A10); Stevens- John, Joseph, Samuel & Thomas (C-11);
Stewart- Daniel (C19), James & John (2);
Strother- William;
Sumner- Thomas;
Taylor- Nathan;
Walthour- Andrew (E24) & Jacob;
Way- Andrew, Edward, John (2), Joseph (2), Joseph, Parmenas (2), Moses, Parmenas &
William I (B29), William II;
Wells- Joseph;
West- Charles, Samuel & William;
Whitehead- John;
Winn- John (2), Joseph & Peter (A-37);
Wood- Henry, John & Joseph (2); Woodward- William
Total – 159
List updated: 1/21/2020
Want More Liberty County History?
The Colonial Midway Museum presents and preserves the history of the Midway Church & Society founders, many of whom were active in the Revolutionary cause. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-4 p.m., with tours guided by experienced docents. Experience life as it was lived in colonial Georgia, with authentic period furnishings, artwork, jewelry, and clothing. Click here for more information.
Be sure also to visit the Fort Morris Historic Site, where Revolutionary War patriots resisted the British with Col. John McIntosh’s defiant cry “Come and take it!” before falling to superior numbers, and the Historic Dorchester Academy African-American Museum, with its impressive displays of life as it was lived by the enslaved African Americans owned by colonial and Revolutionary-era Midway plantation owners.
Interested in information on the people held in slavery by the Midway plantation owners? Visit TheyHadNames.net.
