262 GILMER COUNTY. 



1757, he was sent to England as the agent of Pennsylvania, 

 and whilst residing there was appointed agent of Massachu- 

 setts, Maryland, and Georgia. In England he was highly 

 honoured, chosen a fellow of the Royal Society, and received 

 the degree of Doctor of Laws from several universities. In 

 1766, he was examined at the bar of the House of Commons 

 in regard to the repeal of the Stamp Act ; and in 1775, he re- 

 turned to America, and the day after his arrival, was elected 

 a member of Congress. Various important missions were in- 

 trusted to him by his country, in all of which he evinced his 

 devotion to the cause of liberty. His name is on the Decla- 

 ration of American Independence. 



In 1776, he was sent as commissioner plenipotentiary to 

 France, and concluded a treaty with this kingdom, February 

 6, 1778. While he was acting as a commissioner for nego- 

 tiating peace with the mother country, his uniform answer to 

 repeated questions as to the terms which might be obtained, 

 was, " Nothing but independence.'' On his return to Phila- 

 delphia, he filled the office of President of the Commonwealth 

 of Pennsylvania, and served as a delegate to the Federal Con- 

 stitution in 1787. 



This venerable man died April 17, 1790, and was buried 

 in Christ Church burying ground, in Philadelphia. When his 

 death was known, Congress ordered a general mourning for 

 him throughout the United States for one month. In France 

 there were also expressions of public sorrow. 



GILMER. 



Boundaries. — This county is bounded N. by Tennessee 

 and North Carofina, E. by Union and Lumpkin, S. by Chero- 

 kee, and W. by Cass and Murray. Laid out from Cherokee, 

 and organized in 1832. 



Rivers, Creeks. — The rivers are Ellijay and Tacoa. 

 The creeks are Carticary, Ticanetlee, Talona, Mountain, Talk- 

 ing Rock, Mountain Town, Fighting Town, Sugar Town, 



