At only 26, George Walton became one of three Georgians to sign the Declaration of Independence, and on Thursday, people gathered at Meadow Garden, Walton’s home, to celebrate Independence Day.
Ransom Schwerzler, Meadow Garden’s executive director, said that guests to the house museum often have no idea who he was. Their only knowledge is that he must have something to do with the name of Walton Way.
More than one Walton was significant in the country’s early history.
John Walton, George’s brother, was one of the Georgia delegates to sign the July 24, 1778 Articles of Confederation, and one of his descendants, Kevin de l’Aigle, read the Declaration of Independence on the porch Thursday.
Members of the Sons of the American Revolution participated in the activities dressed as militiamen of the day.
Bernard Martin of Waynesboro can trace his lineage to Jacob Ammons, his seventh great-grandfather who fought under Col. Elijah Clarke during the Revolutionary War. He was among those demonstrating cannon fire from a British three-pounder, a weapon also known as a grasshopper.
Martin said the guns were taken from British ships and designed to be mobile.
Independence Day also served as the soft opening for a new program. Not all who lived in Walton’s home experienced the freedoms that Walton fought for. Several enslaved people worked inside the home and a grant through the Porter Fleming Foundation will make it possible to share their stories as well, Schwerzler said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
