January 29, 1850
The Georgia Telegraph
MARRIED, On the 24th inst. by the Rev. Edward W. Jones, John Field, Esq. to Miss Sarah E., daughter of David Cooper of Powelton, Hancock county, Ga.

February 26, 1850
Southern Recorder
FIRE IN SPARTA. Sparta, Feb. 20, 1850
Messrs. Editors: You will be sorry to hear that a fire broke out last night about 3 o'clock, in the passage adjoining Barnes & Lewis' Law Officer. There is but little doubt that it was the work of an incendiary. Alll that square, including the Tavern and out houses, except the stables, Dr. Pendleton's office, Dr. Mackie's office, a house owned by Capt. O. J. Murray and occuiped as by Jno. W. Scott as a grocery, Tate's grocery, the dwelling occupied by Mr. Nye, and owned by Tuttle H. Audas, Esq.. Barnes & Lewis' law office, the Post Office, and all that range of buildings down to Cook & Little's store, and Dawson & Cain's law office, were burnt down. It was with great difficulty the fire could be arrested.
  Messrs. Barnes & Lewis lost their law library, their books of accounty and many valable papers. Dr. Jas. D. Mackie, who but the other day was burnt out, has again lost every thing in his office, his furniture, books, &c. He had not time to even save a suit of clothes or his watch, and barely escaped with his life. The Doctor's waiting-man finding the stair-case was burnt down, prepared the feather bed at the window up stairs, threw it out and the Doctor upon it. Such as act in a servant is worthy of praise. The boy also escaped by jumping.- Neither of these parties were injured.
  Mr. Tate has been truly unfortunate, and his case, as well as that of others, calls for sympathy from every man that has a heart.
  The loss sustained cannot fall short of thirty thousand dollars.   In haste, yours, &c. D. [Republic

April 9, 1850
Macon Telegraph
   The Savannah Republican of the 2d inst. say, We have with pain to record the sudden death, in this city, yesterday afternoon, of Capt. John L. Swinney. The deceased was a native of Hancock county, in this State, whence came to this city some eight years ago, since which time he has been engaged in the commission business. Capt. Swinney was in Florida with Gen. Scott during the Seminole war, where he commanded the Hancock troop. He was a man of integrity, an upright merchant, and has left many friends to mourn his unexpected death.

July 11, 1850
Savannah Republican
~excerpt
(Correspondene of Savannah Republican)
Sparta, July 6, 1850
  At a meeting of the stockholders of the "Hancock Manufacturing Company" this day, the following gentlemen were elected Directors: James Thomas, Dr. Wm. Terril, Thomas M. Turner, Wm. D. Wynn, Wm. Fraley, B. T. Harris, T. J. Smith; and at a meeting of the Directors, Jas Thomas, Esq. was duly elected President, O. Eldridge, (of the Milledgeville factory,) Superintendent. The other offices are not yet appointed. With a direction of such spirited men and their enterprising President, we may expect soon to see our factory in operation.
  Arrangements are being made to re-build, with handsome brick buildings, the burnt portion of our village, and we hope are long to our beautiful town "itself again."

December 6, 1850
Savannah Republican
HOUSE. &c. FOR SALE. My Place of Residence in the plesant and healthy village of Sparta is offered for sale; the Dwelling House of stone-and-brick is spacious and convenient, well arranged for a large family, several Houses for Servants, ample Stables and Carriage Houses, a larger Garden with variety of fruit and floers; the premises comprise one hundred acres of Land, about one-half of which is covered with timber and fuel, all in good condition. For terms, apply to me at Sparta. WM. H. SAYRE, Sparta, Hancock Co., Nov. 30, 1850.

December 10, 1850
The Georgia Telegraph
MARRIED.    In Sparta, Hancock county, by the Rev. Richard Lane, Mr. Lavoisieus L. Lamar of Macon, to Miss Louisa R. Harris of Hancock county.

March 18, 1851
Southern  Recorder
~excerpt~ Departed this life, on the 25th of February, at his residence in the neighborhood of Mounty Zion, Hancock county,
Dr. JAMES O. B. THOMAS, in the 54th year of his age, after a very painful and protracted illness of several years,...

April 22, 1851
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ last sad tribute of affection and respect to the memory of Dr. JOHN L. BUTTS, J. W., of this Lodge, who departed this life, at his residence in Hancock county, Ga., on the 11th inst., in the 30th year of his age.

June 10, 1851
Southern Recorder
  Died in Sparta, on the 23d of May, RICHARD P. SASNETT, Esq., in the 39th year of his age, after a protracted illness of severeal months, which he bore with Christian fortitude. He left a wife and five children to mourn their irreparable loss.

June 17, 1851
Georgia Telegraph
Died . In Sparta, Ga., on the 34d ult., Richard P. Sarsnett, Esq., in the 39th year of his age, after a protracted illness of several months, which he bore with christian fortitude. He left a wife and five children to mourn their irreparable loss.

July 15, 1851
Macon Telegraph
Four months after date application will be made to the honorable the Inferior court of Dooly county, when sitting for ordinary purposes, for leave to sell all the real estate, including the houses and lots in Sparta, Hancock county, belonging to the estate of Samuel Turner, late of Hancock county, deceased. W. S. Hamill, Ex'or

January 5, 1852
The Georgia Telegraph
~excerpt
Sparta Male and Female Academies
  The Trustees of the Sparta Male and Female Schools, have the pleasure of announcing to the public, that they have secured the services of Messrs. Thomas C. Neel and Richard M. Johnstone, as Principals, in the Male School for the ensuring year. "
   "They would also announce that those who have Daughters to educate, that they have had the good forunte to seure the service of Rev. John A. Moseley, as Principal in the Female School. "
  "S A PARDEE, T M TURNER, B T HARRIS, H ROGERS, J T MARTIN, Trustees
Sparta, Ga., Oct. 29, 1851"

January 6, 1852
Southern Recorder
A Proclamation. Georgia: By Howell Cobb, Governor of said State.
  Whereas information has been received at this Department, that Newton J. Carr committed murder on the body of George W. Youngblood, in the county of Hancock, on the seventh day, of December eighteen hundred and fifty one, and that the said Newton J. Carr has fled from justice;
  I have therefore thought proper to issue this my Proclamation, hereby offering a reward of one hundred and fifty dollars for the apprehension and delivery of the said Newton J. Carr to the Sheriff of Hancock county in said State. And I do moreover charge and require, all officers civil and military in this State, to be vigilant in endeavoring to apprehend the said Newton J. Carr in order that he may be brought to trial for the offense with which he stands charged.
  Given under my hand and the great seal of the State at the Capitol in Milledgeville, this twentieth day of December, eighteen hundred and fifty-one and of the Independence of the United States the 76th. Howell Cobb. By the Governor: N. C. Barnett, Secretary of State,
Description. Said Carr is about 30 years old, five feet six or eight inches high, weighing one hundred and thirty-five or forty pounds, light complexion, auburn hair, heavy beard, a pug nose, and a large mouth, with yellowish hazel eyes, stoops considerably  in his shoulders, talks but little and speaks very slow. Dec. 23, 1851.

January 27, 1852
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~ DIED, At his residence in Hancock co., Ga., on the 17th Oct., 1851, Maj. JESSE LOCKHART, in the 62nd year of his age. He was born, lived and died within a few miles of the same place.

April 27, 1852
Southern Recorder
   ~excerpt~ DIED, at his residence in Sparta on the 12h inst., after a protracted illness of two and a half months, Mr. RICHARD FEARS, in the sixtieth year of his age. He was born in Augusta in this State, and for more than thirty years has been a resident of Hancock co. ...his wife, of a kind and devoted husband, and his children (six in number)

May 22, 1852
Augusta Chronicle
~excerpt~ DIED In Hancock county, Ga., after a protracted illness, on the 22 of April, Mrs. Cynthia,consort of John A. Evans, Esq.
  Mrs. Evans, at the time of her death, was 57 years, 8 months and 6 days old; she had been a member of the Baptist Church at Horeb nearly 24 years; she died as she lived, meekly trusting in God her savior.

June 15, 1852
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, In Hancock county on the 27th ult., by the Rev. W. J. Harley, Mr. JOHN R LATIMER  to Miss SUSAN RACHEL all of said county.
   In Sparta, on the 1st inst., by the Rev. D. Kelsey, Mr. SIMEON C. BODFISH, to Miss ISABELLA ELDRIDGE, all of Sparta.

DIED, In Sparta, on Saturday the 12 instant of inflammatory fever, after an illness of thirteen days, Mrs. MARTHA B. RYAN, aged 58 years.

November 16, 1852
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, In Sparta, on 3d inst. by the Rev. D. Kelsey, Dr. JAS. G. SPIVEY of Thomaston, to Miss SALLIE E. ROGERS, of the former place.

December 22, 1852
Sandusky Daily Commercial Register
Baltimore, Dec. 22
Ten Bales of Cotton are preparing at Sparta, Ga. for exhibition at the New York World's Fair.

March 8, 1853
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, In Sparta, on the 27th Feb. last, by L. S. Stewart, Esq., Mr. JOEL SHED of Baldwin county, to Miss A. J. Garner.

July 19, 1853
Southern Recorder
~excerpt~Departed this life, on the morning of the 5th inst., in Hancock county, Mrs. SARAH ANN E BURTON, consort of
Dr. Geo. W. Burton, in the 20th year of her age......She has left a void in the community in which she lived and a bereaved husband and two little brothers, which it will be hard to fill.

August 30, 1853
Southern Recorder
   DIED, At his residence on the Oconee in Hancock county, on Tuesday, the 16th inst., Mr. JOSIAH SHEFFIELD, aged 98 years. Mr. S. was one among the first settlers in his neighborhood, having resided where he died for the last forty-nine years, and was always esteemed as a good neighbor and worthy man.

September 13, 1853
Augusta Chronicle
 ~excerpt~ Mrs. Ariana A. Hudson was the daughter of Rev. James J. and Mrs. W. E. Harris, of Glenville, Ala. She was born on the 27th of Feb, 1833, was married to Dr. N. L. Hudson April 3d, 1853, and did in Hancock county, Ga., on the 23d of August last.

October 18, 1853
Southern Recorder
  ~excerpt~MRS. FRANCES HUDSON was born Oct. 19th, 1789, and died in Hancock Co., Ga., Oct. 5th, 1853.

December 23 1853
Athens (Ohio) Messenger
     A gentleman namedWm. B. Moss, from Hancock county, Ga., committed suicide in Marshall, on the 20th inst., by cutting his throat with a razor. He had property to the amount of $16,000 with him.

February 21, 1854
Federal Union
MARRIED, In Hancock county, on the 11th inst., by Francis Minor, Esq., Mr. Everett Arnold of the city of Macon to MissMildred Melvina Lewis of Hancock.

March 14, 1854
Federal Union
  ~excerpt~ Departed this life on the 28th ult., at his residence near Sparta, Georgia, Dr. Charles Henry Audas, within a few days of 21 years of age.

March 21, 1854
Federal Union
MARRIED - In Sparta on the 16th inst, by the Rev. C. W. Key, Mr. B. H. Bigham of LaGrange, to Miss Mary Jane, daughter of Benj. T. Harris Esq.

March 28, 1854
Southern Recorder
  MARRIAGE AND DEATH -In Hancock county, on the 26ult. , Mr. Joel Jackson was married to Miss Nancy Graham. In four days thereafter, the bridegroom followed the bride to the grave.
 

June 20, 1854
Augusta Chronicle
~excerpt. Died in Sparta, on the 7th inst., at the residence of Mrs. Sarah Alfriend, after a short  but painful illness, Mattie A., only child of John T. and Sarah J. Allen, aged 1 year and 5 months.

June 7, 1856
The Columbus Enquirer, Tri-Weekly
MARRIED.   In Sparta, Ga., at the residence of the bride's mother, on the 4th inst., by Rev. Samuel K. Talmage D.D., Edgar G. Dawson, Esq., of Columbus, Ga., and Miss Lucie, only daughter of the late Hon. Wm. Terrell, M.D.

July 29, 1856
Southern Recorder
MARRIED, In Hancock county on the 22d inst.,by the Rev. John W. Knight, Mr. WM.  M. WHITE to Miss MARTHA A MEDLOCK, daghter of Benjamin F. Medlock.

November 27, 1856
The Columbus Enquirer, Tri-Weekly
~extract. Col. Seymour R. Bonner died at his residence in this city, on Friday night last.  Age 47, leaves widow and six children (five daughters and one son). Born in Hancock county, Ga., one of the earliest settlers of Columbus, moving there in 1826, built first framed house in city. Officer in the Creek war, sheriff of Muscogee county four years, once Representative in the State Legislature.

September 17, 1857
Pittsfield Sun
   The Milledgeville, Georgia, Union learns that John I. Bass was killed in his own house in Hancock county by Mrs. Hudson. Bass came home drunk, maltreated his wife and drove her and her children and Mrs. Hudson and her children out of the house. Mrs. Hudson bursted two caps at him; then she went home, and next morning very early, just as Bass was getting up she entered his room, placed a pistol to his breast and fired, killing him instantly.

Washington County Newspaper Clippings Vol 1 1852-1866, Tad Evans

TRIAL OF MRS HUDSON
(Sparta) The trial of this woman for commitment for the murder of  John Bass of this county came up on Saturday last, before Justices Little, Berry and Turner. Cain appeared for the prosecution and DuBose for the defendant.
  The only evidence of much force, as we understand, was a youth of some twelve years of age, the son of Mr. Bass. He stated that Mrs.Hudson came to his father's on the morning of the second instant and went into the kitchen. Bass followed her, and asked if  wanted to shoot at him again, rubbing his fist in her face. She drew a pistol and Bass retreated behind the door. She following him and shot him in the left breast. He died instantly.
  We suppose other witnesses must have been before the court, favorable to the prisoner, of which we know nothing, as they admitted her to bail in the nominal sum of $800. Her father, Mr. Josiah Collins, who is a planter of respectable means, stood her security.
  Her husband, Mr.Josiah Collins (wrong, this should be Mr. Joseph Hudson,) is now in Milledgeville Jail for shooting a man at the city ferry.  She demeaned herself during the trial as one who had about as much interest in it as any of the bystanders. She appears to be about 25 years of age, is good looking and had nothing in her countenance that indicates the heart of a murderer.
(Note she was sent to prison Oct. 18, 1859.)

December 8, 1857
Macon Weekly Telegraph
DIED. In Vineville on the 2, inst., at an advance aged Mrs. Chloe N. Kelsey, widow of the late Capt. Nash Kelsey, formerly of Powelton, Georgia.

December 8, 1857
The Georgia Telegraph
High Prices for Negroes. - At Sparta, on Tuesday  last, forty-one negroes, belonging to the estate of Thos. L. Wynn, late of Hancock county, were sold, averaging $840 each, including old negroes, children and infants. One boy, twenty-two years old, a common field hand, sold for $1600; one girl, sixteen years old, $1500. The sales were on cash terms.

December 8, 1857
The Columbus Enquirer
A Teacher Caned - The Central Georgia of the 3d inst., says:
   The pupils of the Sparta Male and Female Institute recently concluded to give Mr. D. E. Laird one of their teachers, a caning, on his departure for Virginia. This they did effectually by giving him a gold headed cane valued at $8, not over his head, but in his hand.

December 9, 1857
The Charleston Mercury
Death of a Very Old Negro Man. - The Milledgeville Recorder says that a negro man named Val Bellamy, died at the advanced age of 100 years, in the neighborhood of Island Creek, Hancock county, on the 29th ult. He was a cook for the American troops stationed at Charleston during the Revolutionary war.

December 15, 1857
Southern Recorder
 Married in Hancock county, at the residence of Thomas M. Hunt, Esq., on the 25th inst. by the Rev. Johseph H. Echals, Mr.
T. M. MERRITT of Forsyth, and Miss ANNA HAMLIN, eldest daughter of the late Col. James G. Lewis of Hancock county.

June 1, 1858
Southern Recorder
  Married, at Sparta, Ga., on 26th May, 1858, by Rev. James S. Lane, Mr. JOHN G. COLBERT, of Cass Co., to Miss REBECCA S. AUDAS, daughter of T. H. Audas, Esq.

  In Hancock county, on the 7th day of August, NATHAN YOUNGBLOOD, in the 90th year of his age. He had for more than fifty years been a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and died as he had lived, in hope of a blessed immortality. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." R. R.