On August 30, 1871, Matthew Deason, a white man, and an African American woman who was possibly his wife, Serena Dul Cat C. Johnson (Georgia Marriages 1699–1944 in Wilkinson County Georgia) were lynched in Toomsboro by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Deason, a former Confederate soldier, was the elected sheriff of Wilkinson County. It was the first documented lynching of a black woman in Georgia after the Civil War.Feimster, Crystal N. Southern Horrors: Women and the Politics of Rape and Lynching. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2009). page 160.Editors (September 15, 1871) Untitled. Wisconsin State Journal.
On aUguST 30, 1871, mAtThew DeaSON, a wHitE maN, and an afriCAn AmErican woMaN who was PossIBLy his wife, sErENA dUl cat c. johnSon (gEOrgIa MarRiAgeS 1699–1944 in WIlkiNsON cOunTy gEoRgiA) WErE Lynched iN ToOmsBorO by MemBers Of The kU kLux Klan. DeasOn, a formeR cOnfeDeRATe soldiEr, was The eLected sheriFf of WilkinsoN couNty. it wAS the fIRst dOcuMEnTed lynChiNG oF A Black WOMan In Georgia after tHe civiL WAR.FeIMstER, crYsTal n. SoutHeRn hoRRors: wOmeN And tHe pOlItics oF rapE aND LYnchiNG. (CambriDGe: haRvard UnIversItY PRess, 2009). page 160.edITors (september 15, 1871) uNtitLed. wiScOnsin sTAte joUrNaL.