Colonel Thomas Waters, Page 2
Deed Book E-4, Page 11 - 14
Charleston, South Carolina
31 December 1771
Coachman, planter to Peter Manigault, barrister-at-law, 700 acres. Witness was Thomas Walter.Deed Book M-4, Page 144 -149
Charleston, South Carolina
14 & 15th September 1772
Thomas Vaughn of Berkley County, South Carolina, planter and Agnes his wife to Philemon Waters of Charles Town, Gentleman for 500 # South Carolina money, 150 acres on south side of the Saludy River, granted by George III 7 April 1770. Signed by Thomas Vaughn, Witnesses: THOMAS WATERS, William Nichols. Proved 12 January 1773 before John Fairchild, J.P. in Colleton County by the oath of THOMAS WATERS. Recorded 29 August 1774.
( note: This deed links the 2 brothers together. )In 1773 Sir James Wright was Captain General, Governer & Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Province of Georgia. He issued a Proclamation to Edward Barnard & Thomas Waters in 1773. The recently ceded lands around what is now Augusta, Georgia needed law and protection as the white settlers moved in. He chose Edward Barnard to raise a Troop of Rangers and be commanding officer. He chose Thomas Waters to be second in command. Barnard was also Superintendent of Indian Affairs and held the rank of Captain. Thomas Waters was Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs and second in command to Barnard. Thomas Waters was commissioned as follows:
6 September 1773
From His Excellency Sir James Wright, Baronet Captain-General, Governer and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's said Province of Georgia and Vice-Admiral of the Same---- To Thomas Waters, Gentleman
I Reposing special trust and confidence in the loyalty, courage and good conduct of you the said Thomas Waters have commissioned , constituted and apointed and by these presents I do commission, constitue and appoint you the said Thomas Waters to be First Lieutenant of a Troop of Horse where of Edward Barnard Esq. is Captain which said Troop from time to time you are to lead, train, muster and exercise according to Military Discipline and you are likewise from time to time to follow and observe all such orders and instructions as you shall receive from me or the Commander in Chief for the time being or any other of your superior officers according to the rules and discipline of War and all inferior officers and other persons concerned are hereby commanded and strictly required to obey you as Lieutenant of the said company. This Commission to Continue During Pleasue. Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the Province as aforesaid at Savannah the sixth day of September in the thirteenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the Third and in the year of our Lord 1773. Sir James Wright.So was Edward Barnard & Thomas Waters cast upon one of the exciting times of history--the founding of a new nation !!!!!! This great war would separate fathers and sons, brothers and friends. In the end tho the Waters Brothers would reunite. Had Thomas Waters known that this great war was only 3 years away he might not have accepted that commission, but alas he did not know and he faithfully kept his oath to the British Army and fought with courage and strength. Later will be his first hand account to the British Government of his trials in defending Fort Augusta, which he and Edward Barnard had founded. He bravely held Fort Augusta for 11 weeks while the Rebels had them under seige. I do not know what happened to Edward Barnard-he quietly disappears and Thomas Waters is promoted to Colonel in 1780.
Thomas Waters chose to build his house on the Savannah River between where Little River joins the Savannah River and where Broad River joins the Savannah River. This is a little north of where they established Fort Augusta. They established several forts in this area north of Fort Augusta.
It was likely late 1774 before he had lodging and a home for his family to move to Georgia. It may have been sooner since he would have had access to Indian labor.