While researching his earliest known paternal ancestor, Lawrence McManus, who owned 400 acres of land in Chatham County on Ephraims Creek from 1782 to 1799, Dean McManus came upon data that convinced him that Ephraims Creek is the earlier name for what is now called Evans Creek. However, in the Waterways of Chatham County list on the Chatham County Historical Association web site Ephraims Creek was listed as the former name of Welch Branch.

Realizing that this error might also confuse other researchers, Mr. McManus wrote to CCHA presenting data to suggest the Chatham Waterways list be changed with respect to Ephraims Creek. He noted that the correction would be particularly useful for anyone studying the history of families who owned land on or near Ephraims Creek in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.

In researching his own family, McManus has made a thorough study of many Chatham County deeds, using the county’s online resource. To date, he has found that during the late 18^th and early 19th centuries these families include Brewer, Brooks, Bray, Culberson, Dixon, England, Jones, Lambert, McSwine (McSwane), Ruston, Smith, Thompson, Welch, and Wilcox.

Mr. McManus documented the sources that support his conclusion that Evans Creek is the current name for what in older deeds is called Ephraims Creek. You can see that document here. Mr. McManus welcomes inquiries about his research. He can be reached at mcmanusda@earthlink.net.

Mr. McManus is a retired professor who lives in Seattle. He hopes to visit Chatham County in the near future to see the land his ancestors occupied.

The Waterways of Chatham County list archived on the CCHA website has been updated to make the correction Mr. McManus suggested. In addition, several waterways discovered in deeds and plats since the last posting of the list have been added to the list, but are not yet shown on the map.

If you have an article or photograph which you would like considered for use as a feature on this website, please send it to history@chathamhistory.org.