As there seems to be some doubt connecting the history, or even the existence of this brave old heroine of the revolution, I will come to her rescue, and give publicity to a few facts in my possession which will be an evidence undeniable that she really lived, and was a noble, true woman who did all she could for the establishment of our glorious republic.

I have often thought of publishing these facts, but could not do so without introducing a certain amount of family history in which I have inherited, and justly, too, the old Carolinian pride of ancestry. These long cherished records of past generations have been kept only to hand down to my children, not for publication, butwhen our gifted author of the "History of Georgia People" and other books, Rev. G. G. Smith, in the Macon Telegraph (copied in the Atlanta Journal) asks: "Was Nancy Hart a creation of Romance?" I feel it would not be just to withhold them from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dr. Smith says: "This is a story of fiction. There was no such person as Nancy Hart in real life. It is just a pretty story that was written by a clever writer, and it made such a hit that the character of Nancy Hart has been given a place in history."

Dr. Smith is a valued friend of our family and I have often wished he could have met my grandmother, Mrs. Winifred Lane Rogers, before writing his history, for she was a personal friend of Nancy Hart, and well acquainted with the pioneer Methodist of Georgia. Her father, Capt. Jesse Lane, was a member of the Third North Carolina Continentals, and moved to Georgia in 1784. His brother, Col. Joel Lane, the founder of Raleigh, was a member of the first provincial congress, and the assembly often met at his house, which is still standing, a grand old relic of his whole-souled patriotism.

Patience Lane, his niece and sister of my grandmother, was born Friday, March 8, 1765, and married John Hart, the second son of Nancy Hart in 1787.

The following letter to my mother, Mrs. Louisa H. Kendall, from Dr. Neisler, formerly of Athens, dated Butler, Ga., February 8, 1872, and her reply, in relation to the history of Mrs. Hart, will give the facts much more accurately than I can state them. Dr. Neisler says:

"My mother is with me and a few evenings since the conversation chanced to turn on Nancy Hart, of revolutionary fame.

She informed me that when my grandfather moved to Georgia in 1803, Nancy Hart was living with her son, John Hart from whom he had bought the lease of the place which he intended to occupy, and furthermore that this John Hart was your uncle, having married your mother's sister. I was delighted as well as surprised, for having little to engage my thoughts, I had been some time rummaging among the musty chronicles of the state, and while doing this I had met with a very meager account of Nancy Hart, and I thought I had now found the means of learning something more of that remarkable woman and her family than is generally known.

I should like to know in what county John Hart lived when he married your aunt, whether your mother knew anything that she can call to mind concerning the woman, her general appearance, her exploits, especially her capture of the Tories and in what state that took place?

John Hart was a man of considerable property for those times, was much respected and elevated far above the mass of the population of the country. I find by reference to Clayton's digest of the laws of Georgia from the year 1801 to 1810, page 35 in the act to divide the county of Jackson, passed December 5, 1801, "John Hart with four others were appointed to fix on the most convenient and central place of said county of Clarke at which courts of elections may be held," and was thus one of the fathers of Watkinsville."

The reply is as follows: "Bellwood, Upson Co., GA., Feb. 22, 1872. I shall be pleased to answer all inquiries in my power concerning Mrs. Nancy Hart, whom I have heard of ever since my childhood. She with her husband and younger children moved from Edgefield, S.C. to Georgia in its earliest history and settled on Broad river, Elbert county, where she remained many years. John Hart, her son, married one of my mother's oldest sisters, Patience Lane, in 1787. He remained in Elbert a year, then moved near my grandfather, Jesse Lane, who lived on Long creek, three miles from Lexington, in Oglethorpe county, which was a wilderness and had not been named. After living there several years Mr. Hart moved to Spark's Fort, three miles below Athens on the other side of the river, the Indians being exceedingly troublesome on this side. He only remained there one year, then bought or leased land near a valuable plantation owned by my grandfather, Lane, on the Oconee, a few miles below Athens. This property was afterwards bought by Colonel Harden. John Hart then bought the land purchased by your grandfather, Mitchell, above Athens [illegible] afterward moved to Kentucky, taking his mother, Nancy Hart, with him who was related to the Morgans of that state. Ben Hart, her husband, was brother to the celebrated Col. Thomas Hart, of Kentucky, who was father of the wife of Henry Clay. It is thought that Thomas Hart Benton is also a member of the same family.

"My mother says 'Aunt Nancy Hart', as she was always called, was in possession of considerable property when she knew her, and able to provide well for her family, though she lost much by moving from place to place.

Her husband indulged her every wish, or she always 'carried her point' at least, though she made a good wife and a very affectionate mother.

She was the mother of eight children, six sons and two daughters. The sons were Morgan, John, Thomas, Benjamin, Lemuel and Mark. The girls were Sarah, who married Hugh Thompson, and Keziah married Mr. Compton, of lower Georgia. "She often told my mother, Winnie Lane, of her exploits with the Tories, which happened in this state as she preceded my grandfather in this state many years.

"Her husband, Ben Hart, was not a coward, as some histories represent him, but was necessarily compelled to take his stock and negroes to the swamps to save them and his own life. The Tories, much to their credit, never shot at women, but killed all the men they could find unarmed. Nancy Hart was conscious of her power and was a stranger to feat, so she always went to the mill, several miles off, entirely alone, and related to my mother an incident that has never been in print. One day, while on her rounds, she was met by a band of Tories with the British colors striped on their clothing and hats. They knew her and asked for her 'pass'. She shook her fist at them and replied, 'this is my pass, touch me if you dare!'

"Being amused at her answer and wishing to have some fun, they dismounted the old lady and threw her corn to the ground, laughing at her trouble. But this did not disconcert her in the least, and with her brave, muscular strength she coolly lifted the two and a half bushels of corn and proceeded to the mill. She often boastingly said she could do what few men could, and that was to stand in a half bushel measure and shoulder two and a half bushels of corn.'

"Many Tories lived on the other side of the river, opposite her cabin, and she had many trials with them as they enjoyed worrying her. The stories of her capturing a large number at her own table, and throwing hot, boiling soap into the face of one who was peeping at her are true.

"There was a large oaken stump near her home in which she cut a notch for her gun. Concealing herself in the undergrowth around, she watched for Tories as they crossed the river, and without compunction shot them down, and blew the conch shell for her husband to deliver their bodies over to the proper authorities."

From these facts the Daughters of the American Revolution may be well assured that Nancy Hart was not a myth, but a veritable reality, and perhaps accomplished as much for her country as any old soldier of the revolution.

I regret not knowing anything of her life after her removal to Kentucky, or whether she ever returned to Georgia, but she lived several years at St. Mary's, in this state, before living with her son, John Hart.

Let Georgia render "honor to whom honor is due," and respect the memory of one who did what she could for her state.

BACKGROUND BY: Barb Johnson from the orignal newspaper article.



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