Vann House Chatsworth GA

Last crawled date: 1 year, 11 months ago

Vann House in Chatsworth, GA At the start of the 19th century, one of the richest men in the Western Hemisphere lived on this land. James Vann, a member of the Cherokee Triumvirate, worked and fought hard for the money he used to build this house along the Old Federal Highway at Spring Place. At the time, he owned about 200 slaves and hundreds of acres of farmland. Vann and a number of his wives lived in the house or nearby. After his murder in 1809, the house passed to Joseph, Vann's eldest son. When 'Rich Joe' Vann was 20 years old President James Monroe paid him a visit in 1819. Through the 1820's Rich Joe proved every bit as shrewd as his father James and expanded the family wealth. The Vann's were finally forced out of the house in March, 1835. In November of that year Col. Bishop imprisoned John Howard Payne for 13 days on the grounds. Payne, noted as composer of 'Home, Sweet Home' had been charged with sedition for supporting the claims of the Cherokee over the state of Georgia. The house passed through numerous hands and by the 1950's was in disrepair. The roof had come off and the elements were taking their toll. At the time, sites like Vann House were administered by the Georgia Historical Society. A restoration project began in 1951 and was completed 12 years later. ngeorgia.com/parks/chief.html #Vann_House_Chatsworth_GA