Individual Details

In May, 1777 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia all free born males inhabitants of the state above the age of sixteen years had to take and subscribe the oath renouncing allegiance to George the Third, King of Great Britain and that they would be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia. These oaths had to be taken before October 10th. William took the oath and was listed as William Cauthern on Charles Kennon's list.

William served in the Revolutionary War. He is listed as Private William Cauthorn and found thus: Certified that William Cauthorn is entitled to land allowed a private of the state line of Virginia Artillery, for three years service. Benj. Harrison, Gov.

Estate papers shows William had North Carolina land warrant #1381 dated May 21, 1799 for 200 acres. It was located in Sullivan County, North Carolina, now a part of Tennessee.

In 1788, William purchased 120 acres in Franklin Co GA from John & Nancy Payne. He was the 1st Justice of the Peace for Franklin Co in 1788. Beginning in 1792 he served as a state senator for Franklin Co. He died Apr 1811 and the names of 8 children are taken from the settlement of his estate: William Jr, Orpha, Millie, Chesley, Larkin, Elizabeth, Rhoda, and Rutha. He is often referred to as Squire William.

"Deeds of Franklin County, Georgia 1784-1826" by Martha Walters Acker:
Deed Book C, Page 16: Deed dated 2 Jan. 1788, rec. (no date), from John Payne and wife Nancy (x ) of Franklin Co. to William Cawthon of same. In cons. of 100 pds, conveys 120 acres in Franklin Co. on Tugalo riv., adj. Payne, including the improvement where Cawthon now lives, being part of land granted to said Payne 15 Nov. 1785. Wit: Larkin Cleveland, J.P.
Deed Book NNN, Pages 78, 79: Deed dated 11 Oct. 1802, rec. 15 Oct. 1802, from William Cawthon, Sr. and wife Rhoda of Franklin Co. to William Cawthon, Jr. of same. In cons. of $50, conveys 102 ac. in Franklin Co. on Big Shoal Crk., granted to Aaron Campbell. signed only "W'm Cawthon". Wit: W'm Paine, Sam'l Paine, J.P.

In the Executive Journal of Georgia for January 7th to February 15, 1788, page 86; William Cawthon is appointed to serve as one of the Justices of the Peace for Franklin County from February 13, 1788 to December, 1789. Squire William Cawthon was in 1791 William "Cawthran" was on the Clerk of Inferior list. William served as a state senator for the years 1792-1795. William obtained the title of Squire when he was appointed as Justice of the Official Court.

Some databases have confused the fact that apparently there were two William Cawthons, father and son, and both may have married ladies named Rhoda. Some suggest they were both Rhoda Walters. Rhoda, daughter of Robert Walters Jr. & Mary ??? is the right age to have married the young William, which is also suggested by the dates of records found in Franklin Co. When the older William Cawthon died in 1812, his son William and mother Rhoda were Administrators. After that date the records continue to reveal that William Jr was also married to a lady named Rhoda; he is then recorded as William Sr in various records according to the custom of the times, but it's obvious that the older man was deceased.

WorldConnect database
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=otime&id=I01063
From a "Cawthon" family book "Companion" owned by William Cawthon
William Cawthon October, 6 1747 April 8, 1811
Rhoda Payne Cawthon August 22, 1751 August 1, 1823
Childern:
Elizabeth Cawthon November 17, 1771 unknown
William Cawthon April 16, 1774 November 4, 1849
Orpha Cawthon August 19, 1776 August 1824
Rhoda Cawthon March 11, 1779 unknown
Millie Cawthon August 16, 1781 unknown
Chestley Cawthon January 9, 1785 unknown
Larkin Cawthon May 10 1787 Febuary 2, 1835
Ruth Cawthon September 30, 1789 unknown
Polley Cawthon April 25, 1792 unknown
Ann Cawthon December 7. 1772 unknown

Items regarding death of William Cawthon.
Letters of Administration issued to Rody Cawthon (widow) & William Cawthon (Jr), 6 Jul 1812.
Inventory taken Jul 1812; Sale, Oct 1812
Return of William & Rhoda Cawthon, adm'rs, July 18114
Return of William Cawthon, Jr. with receipts of heris: Larkin, Elizabeth & Rutha Cawthon, William & Phillip Paine.
Return of William Cawthon, Jr., July 1816 with Rec't of heirs: Elizabeth Cawthon and William A. Blackburn (Rutha's husband)
Return of William Cawthon, Jr., Mar 1819
Order to sell, July 1819
Return of William & Rhoda, adm'rs, May 1822. Rect's of heirs, Elizabeth, Chesley & Larkin Cawthon, Philip Payne
Return of William Cawthon, Jr. adm'r, July 1823 - rec't of Charles Payne for wife Rhoda, formerly Cawthon, a daughter
Petition for last distribution, 13 Jan 1834; issued 1 Sep 1834.

Birth	6 Oct 1747	Lunenburg County, Virginia
Marriage	Ca 1770	Rhoda Payne
Death	8 Apr 1811	Franklin County, Georgia

Spouse	Rhoda Payne (1751 - 1823)
Child	Elizabeth Cawthon (1771 - 1850)
Child	Elizabeth Cawthon (1773 - 1840)
Child	William Cawthon Jr (1774 - 1849)
Child	Orpha Cawthon (1776 - 1824)
Child	Rhoda Cawthon (1779 - 1844)
Child	Millie Cawthon (1781 - )
Child	Chesley Cawthon (1785 - 1860)
Child	Larkin Cawthon (1787 - 1835)
Child	Rutha Cawthon (1789 - 1837)

Father	Charles MacCawthon (1720 - 1767)
Mother	Elizabeth Womack ( - )
Sibling	John Cawthon (1745 - 1824)
Sibling	Sarah Cawthon (1747 - )
Sibling	Claiborne Cawthon (1755 - 1818)
Sibling	Lydia Cawthon (1758 - )
Sibling	Hannah Cawthon (1761 - )
Sibling	Judith Cawthon (1762 - 1844)
Sibling	Mary Cawthon (1764 - )