by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy
On “July 2d, [1842, a] recontre took place in Carthage between Mr. A. C. Sharkey and Mr. George Goff, in which the latter received the contents of a loaded pistol in the right side, just below the kidneys. – The difficulty, we understand, arose out of misunderstanding relative to the care of some houses, belonging to R. C. Perry. Very little hopes are entertained for the recovery of Mr. Goff. Mr. Sharkey immediately gave himself up . . . but . . . changed his mind and made himself scarce in these parts.”1 This skirmish took place in Carthage, Leake Co., Mississippi, USA. No further newspaper accounts have been located. But who was George W. Goff?
Phillip Goff is the co-author, along with Roy L. Lockhart, of The Four Goff Brothers of Western Virginia. Since 2004, he has run the Goff/Gough Surname DNA Study, which today has about 400 participants.