Guyton, Georgia

History

While some of the community's early settlers came from the Savannah area, it seems that most came from North and South Carolina. In 1792 a tract of 250 acres (1.0 km2) of land in the form of a land warrant from Effingham County was issued to Squire Zachariah White. The community became known locally as "Whitesville". White was not married and left no heir when he died in 1838. He had granted a right-of-way to the new Central of Georgia Railway company prior to his death. White was buried on his own land, as was the custom. His grave is located at the rear of the present New Providence Church. Years later, controversy ensued when some members of the community tried to have Squire White's grave moved to the new local cemetery; the grave was never moved.

Shortly after White's death, the Effingham County Commissioners took over his land for unpaid taxes. They had a survey made, laid off various lots and streets just as they still appear today, and sold the land at public auction as payment of his taxes. Many lots were bought by affluent Savannah residents as a place for a summer home. At this time, an epidemic of yellow fever had struck Savannah.

From the History section of Guyton, Georgia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.