Women of Achievement looking for nominations

Georgia Women of Achievement board of selection is seeking nominations for next year’s induction into its hall of fame.

Founded in 1992, the organization honors women who have contributed to Georgia’s history. To be nominated, a woman must be clearly identified with Georgia and have made exceptional or enduring contributions in her field of endeavor. She must also have served as an inspiration for future generations. It’s required that a nominee has been deceased for at least five years.

A wide range of women has been inducted into the hall of fame. Information on the inductees can be found on the GWA website, Georgiawomen.org, along with videos about them. The nomination form is also found on the website. Nominations need to be researched, completed and mailed in time to be received no later than September 30. They can be emailed, with attached information, to the address online. See instructions and “Frequently Asked Questions” on the web site. If sent by regular mail, the address is Georgia Women of Achievement, P.O. Box 8249, 4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, Ga., 31210. For further information, contact Betty Hollan, executive director, at bettyhollan@ georgiawomen.org.

Jackson County Superior Court Docket Book

The Jackson County Historical Society has just completed another publication — the “Jackson County, Georgia, Superior Court Docket Book, 1796-1802,” transcribed by Sharon Carroll Stanley. This book consists of page-by-page, color photo reproductions of an earlier volume. Then opposite each reproduced page, there is a current transcriptions of the information, giving the reader the best of both — the original and an easier-read copy. The docket book is just a list of cases to come before the court. This may be all you learn of an ancestor’s existence. More could exist in the Superior Court minutes. There is a full-name index. The book is $20 postpaid from the Jackson County Historical Society, 85 Washington St., Jefferson, Ga., 30549. For more about the county’s historic archives and welcome center in the old courthouse, see Jacksoncountyhistoriccourthouse.com.

Ancestors: Why did they leave?

A September 2017 article in “Family Tree Magazine” discusses the main reasons our ancestors left the “old country” to come here: religious persecution, natural disasters (including famines and epidemics), military conscription, economic hardship, and war. It’s always good to learn why your ancestors chose to leave. It may be in the family story, or something you learn from research. Either way, you need to learn the reason if you can.