I'm finding quite a few Trees which contain John McWilliams b. abt 1780 in Ireland/d. abt 1866 in DeKalb County, GA. but none (as yet) that contain a son by the name of "James". This John did have a son, John G. McWilliams, who named one of his sons "James".

I believe there was a connection between this John McWilliams family and the William Terrell family also living in DeKalb County, GA circa 1830 to 1850.


Online sources hint at a family feud between the McWilliams and Terrell families of DeKalb County, Georgia in the late 1840s. Court documents and newspaper accounts exist concerning "William Terrell" being tried for the murder of "James McWilliams" in 1848, DeKalb Co., GA. (the murder, I believe, happened in 1847 but William Terrell wasn't tried until 1848 (?)) James Terrell was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years hard labor.

Does anyone have more information concerning this event or the two men involved in it?

Thanks for listening.