Historical Background

Compiled by Adeline Limehouse, Savannah, Georgia and Hoyt Canady, Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia was the last of the British Colonies established in America and was founded in 1733. The Charter granted by George 2nd created a Board of Trustees called "The Trustees for Establishing the Colony in America"–for a period of 21 years.

The first settlement was made at Savannah and the Colony grew until, in 1741, it was divided into two counties–Savannah and Frederica. The latter never functioned as a Government and two years later, its affairs were placed under the jurisdiction of the Savannah officials. Until the adoption of the First State Constitution during the Revolution, there was but one County. The Trustees surrendered their Charter in 1752 and Georgia became a Royal Colony. The statute of 1758 divided the provinces into eight parishes: Christ Church, St. Matthew, St. Andrew, St. John, St. George, St. Paul, St. Phillip and St. James. In 1765, four additional parishes were created: St. David, St. Patrick, St. Thomas, and St. Mary.

Administration of the affairs of the provinces assured a mixed character of civil and ecclesiastical authority until the adoption of the State Constitution of 1777 when seven counties were created from the parishes. Wilkes, an eighth county also created in 1777, was made from previously unincorporated territory.

Chatham County, created February 5, 1777 from Creek Indian cession of May 20, 1733, previously organized as the parishes of Christ Church and a portion of St. Phillip. Bryan County, the 16th county, was created December 19, 1793 and was taken from Chatham.

Seven children resulted from the unity of Thomas Canady to Sarah Jane Delegal, the fourth being William Ervine Canady, who was a farmer in Bryan County, with his land being in and around what is now Pembroke, Georgia. He married Susan Bacon, whose family also originated in Bryan County and whose family were also farmers.

William Ervine Canady was born in Bryan County on April 5, 1840. He enlisted in the army in 1861 as a private, and as a corporal he was wounded and later captured near Nashville, Tenn., on December 18, 1864. He was sent to, and imprisoned in, Camp Chase, Ohio. He was released from there on June 12, 1865. He fought with the First Company, 25th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Company, the Army of Tennessee–nicknamed the Bryan Guards.

Life in the Army was a memorable as well as a bitter experience. The cold was severe, food was scarce, and the only coffee they had was made from corn which they obtained from fields, and which they parched and ground, or parched and just boiled.

After being mustered out of the army, he returned home to marry Susan Bacon, and returned to farming. He also ran for Sheriff of Bryan County and was elected, and served in that post for 26 years. From this marriage was born nine children, as follows:

Florence Canady – married to Walter Cave

Thomas Lonnie Canady – married to Jessie Estel Willis

Albert Prince Canady – married to Gertrude Zipperer

Susan Virginia Canady – married to Joseph Henry Lynch

Julia Canady – married to Levi E. Miller

Paul I. Canady – married to Callie Chitty

Otelia Canady – married to Patrick Higgins

Joseph C. Canady – married to Lavada Virginia Gay

Hettie Canady – married to Adolphus N. Smith

The matter of history and records will be in the hand of the younger generations. We hope you will continue to take special interest in your heritage and memories of your ancestors, and continue to carry on with the annual reunions for which we have tried to lay the foundation.

If families do not stick together, how can we expect nations to stick together.