Wednesday, April 30, 2014

The First Gold Rush in the United States!



Patty Smith Hall here. What is the first place that pops into your mind when you hear the word ‘goldrush?’ California and the discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter’s Farm that started a human stampede west, of hope filled people from across the country and around the world looking for a better station in life? Or maybe your thoughts turned to Alaska, to the Yukon gold rush that opened up a new territory to those who longed for adventure and a bit of the precious metal.

While these have been much written about, particularly as a setting in fictional works, they weren’t the first nor the highest quality of gold ever found in the United States. No, the first gold rush in this new country started in the fall of 1829, in the North Georgia mountains along the banks of the Etowah and Chestatee rivers. As the story goes, a young man by the name of Benjamin Parks was out deer hunting near Nuckollsville, Georgia when he stumbled over a unique stone that caught his eye. But it was this August 1st, 1829 report in the Georgia Journal that brought hordes of prospectors to the region:

GOLD.—A gentleman of the first respectability in Habersham County writes us thus under date of 22d July: "Two gold mines have just been discovered in this county, and preparations are making to bring these hidden treasures of the earth to use." So it appears that what we long anticipated has come to pass at last, namely, that the gold region of North and South Carolina, would be found to extend into Georgia. 

People carrying spades, pans and picks came from all over the country and from around the world, evading what was then known as the Cherokee nation. Overnight, shanty towns like Aurora and Dahlonega spouted up along the river banks of the Etowah and Chestalee Rivers where gambling, drinking and fighting became the usual way of life and laws were little known and less cared for. Vigilante justice become common place. In response, the governor enlisted a group of men known as the Georgia Guards to protect the mines and drive out the federal troops. But with only 60 guards to patrol the hundreds of miles of river and mountains, renegade miners found it easy to outrun them, robbing other men’s claims of vast gold stores. This continued until the Georgia Land Lottery of 1832 and was the beginning of a devastating time for the Cherokee in that region.

Next month--Panning for Gold!



Patty Smith Hall has been dreaming up stories since the days she spent her Sunday afternoons riding in the backseat of her daddy's '64 Comet. Now she's thrilled she gets to share her tender stories of determined women and heroic men with the world. Her next release, The Doctor's Bride will hit the bookstores in Nov, 2013.

14 comments:

  1. How interesting, Patty. We have gold mines around here in SC. I didn't realize GA was the first gold rush though! I'd have said CA. Good thing that wasn't on a test! heehee

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    1. Debbie Lynne, I've always taken the Georgia Gold Rush for granted, living 30 minutes from Dahlonega. Interesting fact--there are still profitable miners panning in that area today!

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  2. Great info, very interesting. I can't imagine the hard times everyone had during the Gold Rush years and all the crime that would happen because of the stealing and want of more.
    Susan P

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    1. One of the biggest problems these people faced was starvation--with all the farmers and hunters panning for gold, meat and other food items ran dangerously short in supply.

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  3. It's so great to get history lessons here.

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    1. Martha, thanks for stopping by. I'm sure I can speak for all the folks here when I say we love sharing history with everyone!

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  4. Georgia?? Really? Wow... I did NOT know that and I'm a Georgia girl. Born and mostly raised. :) My husband and I have property up in the N. Georgia Mtns... gold would be great! lol

    I'm with Martha... I LOVE all the history I learn from this site.

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  5. Shame on you, Ladette! LOL! To be honest with you, I'd plumb forgotten about it until I moved back into the area four years ago. It's like all the Civil War battlefields around Atlanta--you just don't think about them until you do! Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. Good morning, Patty, I did not know this about Georgia. Fascinating. Thanks for your post. Most enlightening.

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  7. Great article Patty. Of course I'm partial to Dahlonega having written my book "Death in Dahlonega" set in the charming town.

    Deborah Malone

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  8. Hi Patty I had completely forgotten about that area of Ga, I wish I were younger I might go looking...LOL
    thanks for all the great info today.
    Paula O

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    1. Panning for gold is serious business! I tried it a couple of years ago and my shoulders were sore for days afterward. But I did find about $5 dollars in gold dust!

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  9. What a fascinating post! I enjoyed learning about the Georgia Gold Rush and look forward to next month's post, Panning for Gold.

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  10. I had never heard of the Georgia gold connection as being the first gold discovered in the US. Very interesting! I wonder why CA and the Yukon were the most heard about? maybe because there was more gold there and it lasted over a longer period of time. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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