The Robert Toombs House

The Iris Garden Club is inviting the public to come Tuesday at 10am. Meeting will be outside at the picnic tables and will have a great announcement made about the green space of the grounds. :) Hint: Community Garden coming in the Spring!

Had a wonderful visitor today from Albany and they brought pecans as a gift from Mark's Melon Patch in Dawson, Ga. one of my favorite stops on the way to Cuthbert, Randolph County Ga. He lives near the Plantation that was owned by Judge Andrew so had a connection to Wilkes Co.

The beautiful house now shines at night!!

Meet Charity Wade (Turner) 1868-aft 1930. She was the daughter of Adeline and her husband Willis Wade. Willis was from Beaconton, Mitchell Co., Ga and married Adeline there in early 1850 after she had moved from Washington, Wilkes Co., Ga (still looking into why she was in Mitchell Co actually traveling there Friday to see if the Toombs’ owned land in area). Adeline had two son’s in Washington Wilkes with the General’s nephew he had adopted, Dr. Robert Ezekiel Toombs, who set...tled in adulthood in Randolph Co., Ga. Adeline and Willis Wade moved back to Washington in late 1870s. Adeline and Charity continued to work for the Toombs’. Adeline Wade (1823-about 1900) Charity Wade and Adeline’s son James (Jim) Toombs (1848- 1916) are all mentioned in the General’s will. Plus the General gave land to Adeline and Charity years before he died. Charity Wade married Robert Turner in Washington Wilkes 1886 and moved to NYC by 1925 passing away after 1930. I have been honored to be in contact with family members and it is amazing to finally put faces to names. Charity is mentioned in a journal of standing behind the chair in the dining room of a young Marion Colley’s chair to make sure she behaves at the table. She would of been only in her teens when she worked at the house. See more

Toured Cuthbert, Randolph Co., Ga today. General Toombs owned a very large cotton plantation here and in neighboring county of Stewart. I got to see where the train depot once store, the location of the court house and where his home once stood. I found the cemetery where his nephew he had adopted (father of two son’s by an enslaved woman I am researching her and her sons) is buried and the location of the Methodist Church where Mrs. Toombs might of worshiped while she was in... residence. Dug in the old deeds at the court house and found a few where he was buying large tracks of land for the plantation. Also a few deeds where his brother Gabriel was buying land along with some other Wilkes Co. men. Found a release of a mortgage the General held for I believe his grand children or possible in laws. I will have to look up DuBose names when back in Wilkes Co. See more

Would like to say THANK YOU! to Dr. Granade for the donation of a large display case. This is the first step in being able to acquire from the State artifacts that were found under the wash house - buttons, coins from 1853, a small metal bracelet and ring possibly owned by Johanna Johnson’s daughter. Johanna was an enslaved lady (later freed) that did the wash at the house and possibly lived with her husband, young daughter and son in the adjoining room. Her great grand daughter has been helping me in the family history of the Johnsons. I hope to have this exhibit ready by the new year. Starting Tuesday the 15th the General’s swords and saber will be on display along with a few other person items. THANK YOU DR. GRANADE!

Robert Toombs House will be opening Sept 15 regular hours for self guided tours. Masks are highly recommended.

The Watson Brown Foundation Jr. board is looking for local CSRA high school students (Athens and Milledgeville also have chapters) to join the Jr. Board. This is a great opportunity for the students as they learn about historic preservation and grants. They are in charge of $30k in grant money to fund projects in the CSRA (or their chapter areas).

We are excited to announce the Robert Toombs House can be used as your wedding venue. With a beautiful porch, front lawn and historic walkway to the 4 acres of space behind the house we can accommodate a large party. If a quaint small wedding, space can be arranged inside. The General’s oldest daughter and a niece were both married inside the home in the mid 1800s with plenty of space for dancing and fellowship. Please share this exciting news with any lovebirds you know. Thank you to Photographers Twynn Takes Photography out of Eatonton, GA. For the magical photos of Hayden Cosby’s wedding photos.

While traveling this weekend. We stopped in Clarksville, Ga. General Toombs had a summer house located at 172 Jefferson Street about a block SE of the town square. His wife Julia passed away here in 1883 and he sold the house in 1884. The House burned so the house standing here now is newer. He bought the house after he returned from Fance after the War. Julia’s brother, William Rembert, lives in the region possibly closer to Tallulah Gorge area. The General hid in this area for a few month summer of 1865 evading capture while he was trying to get out of the country. Neat to think these stairs might of been here when he was.

Thank you Georgia Bee Removal!

Happy 210th birthday General Toombs! The Toombs house is considering opening on Friday and Saturdays starting July 10th (depending upon covid levels) Limited entrance and masks will be required. Starting slow to see how thing go. Meeting room is available now please give us a call to reserve it. Grounds are open and have a new interpretive sign that is worth stopping to see.

New sign is installed!!!

Love that everyday I find out new information about where I work! I knew French held Church services in Barnett Grove just east of the City Musuem, but not that he spoke from the front steps of the Toombs House. Interesting man.