Crawford-Dorsey House and Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The Crawford-Dorsey House in Lovejoy, Georgia
was first begun by Wm. Crawford in circa 1820. The area was then Henry County. Then in the mid-1850s Mr. Stephen Dorsey bought the home. He then moved his home on log rollers to the site of the Crawford home and connected the two homes together to form one residence. In 1858, this part of Henry County
became Clayton County
. Mr. Dorsey also became a Judge for the county. He was married to Lucinda McConnell.
By the time of the Civil War
in 1861, he had amassed 2,400 acres of land in Clayton County and 500 acres in Henry County. He also possessed 41 slaves which made him one of the largest land and slave owners of Clayton County. The Civil War came to his home on July 28, 1864 during the McCook-Stoneman Raid. Judge Dorsey was hidden for fear of capture by the Union
soldiers. Then the next incursion to his property was on August 20, 1864 during the Kilpatrick Raid to Lovejoy Station. The fighting began at Lovejoy and spread across Judge Dorsey's land on into Henry County. Then the Union Soldiers returned when General Hardee of the CSA lost at Jonesboro
on August 31-September 1, 1864. Then General Hood CSA also abandoned Atlanta to move into Lovejoy where he stayed for approximately two weeks. Then the last time the Union forces came to Lovejoy and Mr. Dorsey's land was when General Kilpatrick came through on the March to the Sea
and drove General Iverson CSA to Griffin
.
After the Civil War, in 1867 a group of women from Griffin brought a train of flat cars to Lovejoy and recovered approximately 700 skeletons to take to Griffin to start the Confederate Cemetery. Lovejoy and the Dorsey property would not change much. Mr. Dorsey filed for reparations from damages done during the war, but by 1881 he had gotten nowhere. By the time the 20th century would come around the Hastings Seed Company would come to the area to grow flowers, shrubs, and trees to be shipped everywhere. Even the Dorsey family had gotten in on the Nursery business and they still to this day have a tree farm in Henry County.
The old Crawford-Dorsey House and family cemetery were placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on July 5, 1984. The Clayton County Historical Society was thinking of restoring the old home for an attraction when it mysteriously burned in December 1984. From 1979 to 1984 there was extensive archaeological and artifact recovery done and shipped to the Atlanta Historical Society. The property had become part of the Clayton County Water Authority to be used as a sprayfield. The cemetery remains as well as the earthworks
from the Civil War out behind where the old house once stood.
Lovejoy, Georgia
Lovejoy is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,495. During the American Civil War, it was named Lovejoy's Station, and was the site of the Battle of Lovejoy's Station during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864.During the 2000s,...
was first begun by Wm. Crawford in circa 1820. The area was then Henry County. Then in the mid-1850s Mr. Stephen Dorsey bought the home. He then moved his home on log rollers to the site of the Crawford home and connected the two homes together to form one residence. In 1858, this part of Henry County
Henry County, Georgia
Henry County is a growing suburban county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 119,341. As of 2010, the county's population swelled to 203,922, up 70.9% from the previous census and becoming Georgia's 8th most populous county and the 10th fastest growing...
became Clayton County
Clayton County, Georgia
Clayton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 236,517. The 2008 Census estimate placed the population at 273,718. The county seat is Jonesboro...
. Mr. Dorsey also became a Judge for the county. He was married to Lucinda McConnell.
By the time of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1861, he had amassed 2,400 acres of land in Clayton County and 500 acres in Henry County. He also possessed 41 slaves which made him one of the largest land and slave owners of Clayton County. The Civil War came to his home on July 28, 1864 during the McCook-Stoneman Raid. Judge Dorsey was hidden for fear of capture by the Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldiers. Then the next incursion to his property was on August 20, 1864 during the Kilpatrick Raid to Lovejoy Station. The fighting began at Lovejoy and spread across Judge Dorsey's land on into Henry County. Then the Union Soldiers returned when General Hardee of the CSA lost at Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Georgia
Jonesboro is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,724 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Clayton County....
on August 31-September 1, 1864. Then General Hood CSA also abandoned Atlanta to move into Lovejoy where he stayed for approximately two weeks. Then the last time the Union forces came to Lovejoy and Mr. Dorsey's land was when General Kilpatrick came through on the March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
and drove General Iverson CSA to Griffin
Griffin, Georgia
Griffin is a city in and the county seat of Spalding County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 23,643.-Geography:Griffin is located at ....
.
After the Civil War, in 1867 a group of women from Griffin brought a train of flat cars to Lovejoy and recovered approximately 700 skeletons to take to Griffin to start the Confederate Cemetery. Lovejoy and the Dorsey property would not change much. Mr. Dorsey filed for reparations from damages done during the war, but by 1881 he had gotten nowhere. By the time the 20th century would come around the Hastings Seed Company would come to the area to grow flowers, shrubs, and trees to be shipped everywhere. Even the Dorsey family had gotten in on the Nursery business and they still to this day have a tree farm in Henry County.
The old Crawford-Dorsey House and family cemetery were placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on July 5, 1984. The Clayton County Historical Society was thinking of restoring the old home for an attraction when it mysteriously burned in December 1984. From 1979 to 1984 there was extensive archaeological and artifact recovery done and shipped to the Atlanta Historical Society. The property had become part of the Clayton County Water Authority to be used as a sprayfield. The cemetery remains as well as the earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
from the Civil War out behind where the old house once stood.