From 1785
through 1820, individuals from Georgia or traveling through Georgia from other
states who desired to travel to or through Indian Territory were required to
obtain a passport from the Governor.
Included
in the Archives Collection, File II, (Record Group 4-2-46) are approximately one
hundred recommendations for passports.These
recommendations are from neighbors, friends, and local officials vouching for
the character of the individual requesting a passport.
The
original passport was issued to the traveler and a copy was recorded in the
Executive Department Minutes (Record Group 1-1-3).
Transcripts
of all known Georgia passports and recommendations may be found in the following
two sources:
Bryan,
Mary G.Passports Issued by
Governors of Georgia, 1785 to 1820.National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 1977 [reprint].
Potter,
Dorothy Williams.Passports
of Southeastern Pioneers, 1770-1823: Indian, Spanish and other Land
Passports for Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, North and
South Carolina.Baltimore:
Gateway Press, 1982.
