Dr. Ignatius Semmes was born in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland and following the Revolutionary War some of the prominent families of Maryland were driven out and lest their native state preferring to move to Missouri, where some settled and others including the family of Dr. Ignatius Semmes and his wife Henrietta Thompson Semmes moved to Sharon, Taliaferro County, Georgia. This is where the 1st Catholic church in Georgia was founded, Locust Grove, founded ca. 1791.
Dr. Semmes was the son of Thomas and Anne (Queen) Semmes. He moved to Georgia between the years of 1788 and 1791. He and his 2nd wife Mary Cooksey Semmes were the parents of seven known children. His daughter Catherine Cooksey Semmes married 1st Dr. William T. Quillian, when she was 17 and her husband was aged 62. who is buried close to the grave of Catherine's father in Locust Grove Cemetery. Dr. Quillian died soon after the wedding. She then married Dr. John Pearse O'Leary who came from Cork Ireland with his brothers and settled in the area.
Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery. Later it is known that the community outgrew the church and additionally the church burned twice and the Church of the Purification was built. The cemetery is all that remains. Dr. Semmes gave all his wordly processions to his wife Mary Cooksey Semmes and their children. The will was signed on July 27, 1832. It was probated September 1, 1834. Many of the names on the will are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery. The Roman Catholic families in the area all knew each other and worshiped together. He died June 5, 1834. His widow moved to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi with her daughter and remarried there.
In the 1830's and early 1840's many of the families left Sharon, Taliaferro County, Georgia. These families included, Semme's, Brook's, Griffin's, Thompson's, Lucketts, and O'Leary's and relocated to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi.∼Dr. Ignatius Semmes was born on November 11, 1768 in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, USA. This information is according to the Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, an "Ignas Simmes," registered as a Private in Maryland on roll box 33. In 1790, he was listed as having 13 slaves in Charles County, Maryland. In the U.S. War of 1812 Service Records, an "Ignatius Simms," registered in the 43rd Reg't (Hamilton's ) Maryland Militia as a private on roll box 190.
He moved to Warren County, Georgia in the late 1700's. His was one of several Maryland families that made the trip south about that time. Settling near Locust Grove, (now Sharon, Georgia), they established the first Roman Catholic Church in Georgia and erected a log church in 1792. Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery and is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery with many of the early settlers of the region. A priest, Father John LeMoin, was sent to it from Baltimore, Maryland. French families, fleeing the French Revolution and later several Irish families, (the O'Leary brothers from Cork, Ireland arrived in 1817), joined the colony. After 1860 a church was erected in Sharon, as the Locust Grove location had become too remote. Today (2013) Locust Grove is located in Sharon, Georgia. Locust Grove Academy, the first chartered Roman Catholic Academy in Georgia, was formed about 1818. From the group of those early immigrants from Maryland have come many of Georgia's prominent families. Dr. Semmes was the father of six children by two wives, Henrietta Thompson, date unknown and Mary Cooksey June 7, 1799 in Warren County, Georgia.
In an 1830 Wilkes County, GA census, Dr. Semmes was listed as owning 32 slaves. Dr. Semmes died on June 5, 1834 and is buried in the Locust Grove Cemetery in Sharon, Georgia.
This information was reprinted from Semmes America, Semmes Family History with some additional facts added.
Dr. Ignatius Semmes was my ggg-grandfather and I have visited his grave several times in the recent years. The cemetery is in good condition however it is in the woods and in the summer poison-ivy is a problem. Many of the original settlers from this area of GA. are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery.
Dr. Semmes was the son of Thomas and Anne (Queen) Semmes. He moved to Georgia between the years of 1788 and 1791. He and his 2nd wife Mary Cooksey Semmes were the parents of seven known children. His daughter Catherine Cooksey Semmes married 1st Dr. William T. Quillian, when she was 17 and her husband was aged 62. who is buried close to the grave of Catherine's father in Locust Grove Cemetery. Dr. Quillian died soon after the wedding. She then married Dr. John Pearse O'Leary who came from Cork Ireland with his brothers and settled in the area.
Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery. Later it is known that the community outgrew the church and additionally the church burned twice and the Church of the Purification was built. The cemetery is all that remains. Dr. Semmes gave all his wordly processions to his wife Mary Cooksey Semmes and their children. The will was signed on July 27, 1832. It was probated September 1, 1834. Many of the names on the will are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery. The Roman Catholic families in the area all knew each other and worshiped together. He died June 5, 1834. His widow moved to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi with her daughter and remarried there.
In the 1830's and early 1840's many of the families left Sharon, Taliaferro County, Georgia. These families included, Semme's, Brook's, Griffin's, Thompson's, Lucketts, and O'Leary's and relocated to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi.∼Dr. Ignatius Semmes was born on November 11, 1768 in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, USA. This information is according to the Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, an "Ignas Simmes," registered as a Private in Maryland on roll box 33. In 1790, he was listed as having 13 slaves in Charles County, Maryland. In the U.S. War of 1812 Service Records, an "Ignatius Simms," registered in the 43rd Reg't (Hamilton's ) Maryland Militia as a private on roll box 190.
He moved to Warren County, Georgia in the late 1700's. His was one of several Maryland families that made the trip south about that time. Settling near Locust Grove, (now Sharon, Georgia), they established the first Roman Catholic Church in Georgia and erected a log church in 1792. Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery and is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery with many of the early settlers of the region. A priest, Father John LeMoin, was sent to it from Baltimore, Maryland. French families, fleeing the French Revolution and later several Irish families, (the O'Leary brothers from Cork, Ireland arrived in 1817), joined the colony. After 1860 a church was erected in Sharon, as the Locust Grove location had become too remote. Today (2013) Locust Grove is located in Sharon, Georgia. Locust Grove Academy, the first chartered Roman Catholic Academy in Georgia, was formed about 1818. From the group of those early immigrants from Maryland have come many of Georgia's prominent families. Dr. Semmes was the father of six children by two wives, Henrietta Thompson, date unknown and Mary Cooksey June 7, 1799 in Warren County, Georgia.
In an 1830 Wilkes County, GA census, Dr. Semmes was listed as owning 32 slaves. Dr. Semmes died on June 5, 1834 and is buried in the Locust Grove Cemetery in Sharon, Georgia.
This information was reprinted from Semmes America, Semmes Family History with some additional facts added.
Dr. Ignatius Semmes was my ggg-grandfather and I have visited his grave several times in the recent years. The cemetery is in good condition however it is in the woods and in the summer poison-ivy is a problem. Many of the original settlers from this area of GA. are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery.
Dr. Ignatius Semmes was born in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland and following the Revolutionary War some of the prominent families of Maryland were driven out and lest their native state preferring to move to Missouri, where some settled and others including the family of Dr. Ignatius Semmes and his wife Henrietta Thompson Semmes moved to Sharon, Taliaferro County, Georgia. This is where the 1st Catholic church in Georgia was founded, Locust Grove, founded ca. 1791.
Dr. Semmes was the son of Thomas and Anne (Queen) Semmes. He moved to Georgia between the years of 1788 and 1791. He and his 2nd wife Mary Cooksey Semmes were the parents of seven known children. His daughter Catherine Cooksey Semmes married 1st Dr. William T. Quillian, when she was 17 and her husband was aged 62. who is buried close to the grave of Catherine's father in Locust Grove Cemetery. Dr. Quillian died soon after the wedding. She then married Dr. John Pearse O'Leary who came from Cork Ireland with his brothers and settled in the area.
Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery. Later it is known that the community outgrew the church and additionally the church burned twice and the Church of the Purification was built. The cemetery is all that remains. Dr. Semmes gave all his wordly processions to his wife Mary Cooksey Semmes and their children. The will was signed on July 27, 1832. It was probated September 1, 1834. Many of the names on the will are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery. The Roman Catholic families in the area all knew each other and worshiped together. He died June 5, 1834. His widow moved to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi with her daughter and remarried there.
In the 1830's and early 1840's many of the families left Sharon, Taliaferro County, Georgia. These families included, Semme's, Brook's, Griffin's, Thompson's, Lucketts, and O'Leary's and relocated to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi.∼Dr. Ignatius Semmes was born on November 11, 1768 in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, USA. This information is according to the Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, an "Ignas Simmes," registered as a Private in Maryland on roll box 33. In 1790, he was listed as having 13 slaves in Charles County, Maryland. In the U.S. War of 1812 Service Records, an "Ignatius Simms," registered in the 43rd Reg't (Hamilton's ) Maryland Militia as a private on roll box 190.
He moved to Warren County, Georgia in the late 1700's. His was one of several Maryland families that made the trip south about that time. Settling near Locust Grove, (now Sharon, Georgia), they established the first Roman Catholic Church in Georgia and erected a log church in 1792. Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery and is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery with many of the early settlers of the region. A priest, Father John LeMoin, was sent to it from Baltimore, Maryland. French families, fleeing the French Revolution and later several Irish families, (the O'Leary brothers from Cork, Ireland arrived in 1817), joined the colony. After 1860 a church was erected in Sharon, as the Locust Grove location had become too remote. Today (2013) Locust Grove is located in Sharon, Georgia. Locust Grove Academy, the first chartered Roman Catholic Academy in Georgia, was formed about 1818. From the group of those early immigrants from Maryland have come many of Georgia's prominent families. Dr. Semmes was the father of six children by two wives, Henrietta Thompson, date unknown and Mary Cooksey June 7, 1799 in Warren County, Georgia.
In an 1830 Wilkes County, GA census, Dr. Semmes was listed as owning 32 slaves. Dr. Semmes died on June 5, 1834 and is buried in the Locust Grove Cemetery in Sharon, Georgia.
This information was reprinted from Semmes America, Semmes Family History with some additional facts added.
Dr. Ignatius Semmes was my ggg-grandfather and I have visited his grave several times in the recent years. The cemetery is in good condition however it is in the woods and in the summer poison-ivy is a problem. Many of the original settlers from this area of GA. are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery.
Dr. Semmes was the son of Thomas and Anne (Queen) Semmes. He moved to Georgia between the years of 1788 and 1791. He and his 2nd wife Mary Cooksey Semmes were the parents of seven known children. His daughter Catherine Cooksey Semmes married 1st Dr. William T. Quillian, when she was 17 and her husband was aged 62. who is buried close to the grave of Catherine's father in Locust Grove Cemetery. Dr. Quillian died soon after the wedding. She then married Dr. John Pearse O'Leary who came from Cork Ireland with his brothers and settled in the area.
Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery. Later it is known that the community outgrew the church and additionally the church burned twice and the Church of the Purification was built. The cemetery is all that remains. Dr. Semmes gave all his wordly processions to his wife Mary Cooksey Semmes and their children. The will was signed on July 27, 1832. It was probated September 1, 1834. Many of the names on the will are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery. The Roman Catholic families in the area all knew each other and worshiped together. He died June 5, 1834. His widow moved to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi with her daughter and remarried there.
In the 1830's and early 1840's many of the families left Sharon, Taliaferro County, Georgia. These families included, Semme's, Brook's, Griffin's, Thompson's, Lucketts, and O'Leary's and relocated to Sharon, Madison County, Mississippi.∼Dr. Ignatius Semmes was born on November 11, 1768 in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, USA. This information is according to the Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, an "Ignas Simmes," registered as a Private in Maryland on roll box 33. In 1790, he was listed as having 13 slaves in Charles County, Maryland. In the U.S. War of 1812 Service Records, an "Ignatius Simms," registered in the 43rd Reg't (Hamilton's ) Maryland Militia as a private on roll box 190.
He moved to Warren County, Georgia in the late 1700's. His was one of several Maryland families that made the trip south about that time. Settling near Locust Grove, (now Sharon, Georgia), they established the first Roman Catholic Church in Georgia and erected a log church in 1792. Dr. Semmes gave the land for the church and cemetery and is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery with many of the early settlers of the region. A priest, Father John LeMoin, was sent to it from Baltimore, Maryland. French families, fleeing the French Revolution and later several Irish families, (the O'Leary brothers from Cork, Ireland arrived in 1817), joined the colony. After 1860 a church was erected in Sharon, as the Locust Grove location had become too remote. Today (2013) Locust Grove is located in Sharon, Georgia. Locust Grove Academy, the first chartered Roman Catholic Academy in Georgia, was formed about 1818. From the group of those early immigrants from Maryland have come many of Georgia's prominent families. Dr. Semmes was the father of six children by two wives, Henrietta Thompson, date unknown and Mary Cooksey June 7, 1799 in Warren County, Georgia.
In an 1830 Wilkes County, GA census, Dr. Semmes was listed as owning 32 slaves. Dr. Semmes died on June 5, 1834 and is buried in the Locust Grove Cemetery in Sharon, Georgia.
This information was reprinted from Semmes America, Semmes Family History with some additional facts added.
Dr. Ignatius Semmes was my ggg-grandfather and I have visited his grave several times in the recent years. The cemetery is in good condition however it is in the woods and in the summer poison-ivy is a problem. Many of the original settlers from this area of GA. are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery.
Inscription
In memory of
Doct. Ignateus Semmes, who departed this life on the 5th of June 1834 in the 67th year of his life.
Requiescal in peace.
Amen
Family Members
Children
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Martina Ann Semmes Ward
1801–1864
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Henrietta Elizabeth Semmes O'Leary
1802–1859
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Jane Queen "Elizabeth" Semmes Brooke
1811 – unknown
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Ignatius Gray SEMMES
1813–1827
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Catherine Cooksey Semmes Quillan O'Leary
1815–1889
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John THOMAS SEMMES
1817 – unknown
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Sophia Elizabeth Semmes
1819–1827
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Francis Cooksey Semmes
1822–1867
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