They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will — John Foster


Will Summary (published 1964)

John Foster, planter, of Liberty County. Last Will and Testament dated September 28, 1790; probated October 26, 1790. Gives to his daughter Mary Foster, son William Foster, daughter Elizabeth Foster when and as each becomes 21 years of age or marries. Executors: John Way and Samuel Jones. Witnesses: James Wood, George Law, Andrew Maybank, Jr.

Slave names left out of the original summary:

To daughter Mary Foster: “one negroe girl named Amey, to her and her heirs forever.”

To son William Foster: “one Negroe girl named ? Letof ? [hard to read] to him and his heirs forever.”

To daughter Elizabeth Foster: “one Negroe boy named Stephen and girl named ? Cuter ? [or Cutor or the “r” may be a different letter], to her and her heirs forever.”

“One Negroe wench and her increase named Dinah, I leave to be equally divided between all my children, when the first of them shall marry or come of age.”

Find the original (complete) will online at:

Ancestry.com:

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8635/005759431_00001?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d8635%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=005759431_00028

FamilySearch.org:

“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-P9XB?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 28 of 689; county probate courthouses, Georgia.

1964 Summaries From: “Georgia Court-House Records – Liberty County,” 1964 quarterly issues of The Georgia Genealogical Magazine, Folks Huxford, Editor. Published Under the Auspices of The Wiregrass Georgia Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.