Sherrill's Creek, located in the Springfield Community of Union Point, Taliaferro County, Georgia, was ceded land once owned by William Sherrill of North Carolina. Wilkes County deed book states, Sherrill, William-N.C, a wife and 9 negroes 200 acres on South Fork Little River where he lives.
The story goes like this: William Sherrill, the son of William 'The Conestoga Indian Trader" Sherrill, settled in North Carolina, but in 1773, the land was warranted to William, David, and Reuben Sherrill in Georgia, and they began building a Fort on the Creek there.
On January 14, 1774, a band of Creek (Muscogee) Indians who had been causing trouble for months on the frontier attacked the fort. One of Sherrill's brave negroes (enslaved person) fought with one of the Indians, allowing five wounded residents to escape. William Sherrill, four other white settlers, and 2 Blacks were killed in the attack, along with two of the Creek warriors.
"On January 23, a company of Georgia rangers and militiamen escorted survivors back to the Sherrill farm to survey the damage and recover any salvageable property when once again they were ambushed by the Indians, killing four more White men and put the militia to flight. Lt. Daniel Grant was captured and tortured to death. "
(Haynes, 2018)
On November 21, 1783, Reuben Sherrill was found guilty of treason, and his land was sold on Sherrls Creek to the highest bidder.
On September 10, 1788, Jane Sherrill sold her 400 acres, the land where William Sherrill formerly lived, to Benjamin Porter for 100 shillings.
March 13, 1878, David Sherril 450 acres were sold for 100 shillings.
HAYNES, J. S. (2018). Patrolling the Border: Theft and Violence on the Creek-Georgia Frontier, 1770–1796. University of Georgia Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1vhtrk4
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