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| Gov. Heard's Home Off this road lies the site of Heardmont, home of Governor Stephen Heard, 1740 - 1815, and "God's Acre," the family cemetery where he lies buried. A ten acre park surrounding the site is owned and maintained by the Stephen Heard Chapter, D.A.R. A Virginian of Irish descent, Heard came to Georgia, establishing Heard's Fort, now Washington, Ga., in 1773, and fighting with Gen. Elijah Clarke at the Battle of Kettle Creek where he was captured. As President of the Council, he was de facto Governor for a period in 1781. After moving to Heardmont he was one of three who selected the site of Elberton. |
"Near the outskirts of the little town of Heardmont, in the eastern part of [Elbert] county, stood the old home of Stephen Heard, the founder of Washington and one of the most noted of Georgia's early patriots and pioneers. It was called Heardmont, from the name of the owner. The residence is said to have been the first lathed and plastered house in this part of the State, and when the contractors were building it people came miles to see the handsome structure. In appearance it was not unlike the old Heard house at Washington, with a double veranda enclosed by tall columns. The furniture was of solid mahogany purchased in London. The home was destroyed years ago. But the little cemetery is still to be seen and the monuments are well preserved." [Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends by Lucian Lamar Knight (1914), pg. 537]
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| Gov. Heard's Grave Stephen Heard, Governor of Georgia in 1781, lawyer, planter, surveyor and soldier of the Revolution, lies buried in this family cemetery...Heard's home "Heardmont" once stood nearby... |
In the family burial ground at Heardmont lie the mortal remains of the old patriot. The inscription on his tomb is as follows:
Sacred to the memory of Colonel Stephen Heard. He was a soldier of the American Revolution, and fought with the great Washington for the liberties of his country. He died on the 15th of November, 1815, in the 75th year of his age, beloved and lamented by all who knew him. "An honest man is the noblest work of God."
All photos © 2011-15 S. Lincecum.
8 comments:
Thank you for the great post. I just found out Stephen is my 6th Great Grandfather.
Is the grave if the slave woman who rescued him from prison, identified?
Yes! See - http://blog.southerngraves.net/2015/05/mammy-kate-and-daddy-jack.html
Well, as identified as any person of color from that period could be. Still, not having an identity in the literal sense of the word, defined as, one who can be identified from others as an individual, she will never be identified. Unfortunately, we will never know who she was apart from her enslavement to Stephen Heard. Imagine how many women and men who never had any identification at all and no record exists now, that they ever lived in the first place!
So true, Amie.
Stephen is my 4th great grandfather thanks for the information
Yes, Kate is buried mere feet from Stephen Heard
Thank you so much for all of the information. This is also part of my family history.
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