Gregory Orlando Dansby

Born in Bremen, Georgia I am a descendant of some of the first black slaves in the Villa Rica and Winston, Georgia area (known as Dark Corners),on my maternal side. My paternal side family members were in the Heard County, Coweta County, and Troup County, Georgia area during slavery.

My maternal side includes surnames such as Carnes, Hart, Dobbs, Hawkins, New, Geter, Sims, McLarty, Bailey, Poole, Polk, Nation, Jones, McClendon, Evans, Vansant, Nalls, Lester, Phillips, Baker, Mathis, Holliman, Scales, Varner, Hayes, Dorsey, Sinkfield, Bryant, Ensley, Weddington, Glanton, Luke, Thrasher, Bowen, Barnes, Barge, McCoy, Cox, Chism, Favors, Taylor, McLaren, Welch, Styles, Parker, Sparks, Chism, Arnold, Zachery, Young, Swanson.

On my paternal side the surnames include Dansby, Dukes, Cato, Spearman, Kirk, Jackson, Graham, Alexander, McGhee, Daniel, Dunson, Wilkerson, Troy, Allen, Philpott, Newman, Shank, Steagall, Poythress.

I research the West Georgia counties of Douglas (Old Campbell County), Heard, Troup, Fayette, Paulding, Coweta and Elbert County in East Georgia. I spend a lot of time going through old documents such as Wills, Estate Files, Inventory and Appraisements of slave owners, and Tax documents for clues to my ancestors before and after slavery. So for White and African American researchers looking for incite into their families past before the Civil War and thereafter contact me via e-mail at [email protected]. I will also travel to Carroll County since few of its courthouse records are not on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org yet.

Items of interest found during my family research includes:

2 gift deeds from 1847 where my 2nd Great grandmother Mariah Dukes was given to the slave owners granddaughter along with her siblings and parents who were also gifted to 2 other granddaughters and the slave owners daughter.

A news article of my 3rd great grandfather Peter Carnes in the Atlanta Constitution in 1896.

Peter Carnes in the will of his Slave owner along with his daughter Sarah, in 1860.

Peter Carnes's Will,

Sofia Carnes Will-wife of Peter Carnes

1856 Inventory and Appraisement listing Freeman Dobbs and other family members being divided among Estate heirs of Silas Dobbs of Carroll County, Georgia.

1862 News Article of my 2nd great grandfather Freeman Dobbs being sold after death of his 2nd slave owner.


2nd great grandfather Simon Dansby purchasing over 450 acres of land and his brother Thomas Dansby also owning over 200 acres of land.

Dansby Hall's established at Morehouse College and Jackson State College in Mississippi. In honor of Claude B Dansby and B.B. Dansby, relative from Heard County, Georgia.

These are just a few of my incredible finds in researching my family. There's a wealth of info to be discovered for those who are patient and persistent. So if your families were in the cited counties above then I have probably come across some relevant family documents. Inquire and perhaps I can show you or help you find some discoveries of your ancestors.

Gregory Orlando Dansby

Born in Bremen, Georgia I am a descendant of some of the first black slaves in the Villa Rica and Winston, Georgia area (known as Dark Corners),on my maternal side. My paternal side family members were in the Heard County, Coweta County, and Troup County, Georgia area during slavery.

My maternal side includes surnames such as Carnes, Hart, Dobbs, Hawkins, New, Geter, Sims, McLarty, Bailey, Poole, Polk, Nation, Jones, McClendon, Evans, Vansant, Nalls, Lester, Phillips, Baker, Mathis, Holliman, Scales, Varner, Hayes, Dorsey, Sinkfield, Bryant, Ensley, Weddington, Glanton, Luke, Thrasher, Bowen, Barnes, Barge, McCoy, Cox, Chism, Favors, Taylor, McLaren, Welch, Styles, Parker, Sparks, Chism, Arnold, Zachery, Young, Swanson.

On my paternal side the surnames include Dansby, Dukes, Cato, Spearman, Kirk, Jackson, Graham, Alexander, McGhee, Daniel, Dunson, Wilkerson, Troy, Allen, Philpott, Newman, Shank, Steagall, Poythress.

I research the West Georgia counties of Douglas (Old Campbell County), Heard, Troup, Fayette, Paulding, Coweta and Elbert County in East Georgia. I spend a lot of time going through old documents such as Wills, Estate Files, Inventory and Appraisements of slave owners, and Tax documents for clues to my ancestors before and after slavery. So for White and African American researchers looking for incite into their families past before the Civil War and thereafter contact me via e-mail at [email protected]. I will also travel to Carroll County since few of its courthouse records are not on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org yet.

Items of interest found during my family research includes:

2 gift deeds from 1847 where my 2nd Great grandmother Mariah Dukes was given to the slave owners granddaughter along with her siblings and parents who were also gifted to 2 other granddaughters and the slave owners daughter.

A news article of my 3rd great grandfather Peter Carnes in the Atlanta Constitution in 1896.

Peter Carnes in the will of his Slave owner along with his daughter Sarah, in 1860.

Peter Carnes's Will,

Sofia Carnes Will-wife of Peter Carnes

1856 Inventory and Appraisement listing Freeman Dobbs and other family members being divided among Estate heirs of Silas Dobbs of Carroll County, Georgia.

1862 News Article of my 2nd great grandfather Freeman Dobbs being sold after death of his 2nd slave owner.


2nd great grandfather Simon Dansby purchasing over 450 acres of land and his brother Thomas Dansby also owning over 200 acres of land.

Dansby Hall's established at Morehouse College and Jackson State College in Mississippi. In honor of Claude B Dansby and B.B. Dansby, relative from Heard County, Georgia.

These are just a few of my incredible finds in researching my family. There's a wealth of info to be discovered for those who are patient and persistent. So if your families were in the cited counties above then I have probably come across some relevant family documents. Inquire and perhaps I can show you or help you find some discoveries of your ancestors.