They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will — Thomas Quarterman


Will Summary (published 1964)

Thomas Quarterman of Liberty County, planter. Last Will and Testament dated December 8, 1790; probated July 12, 1791 (or 1798? not plain). Devises to wife Rebecca and to children Susannah, Joseph, Robert Quarterman, grandchild Thomas Quarterman, daughter Rebecca; to daughter-in-law, Rinchie Elliott the mother of said grandson Thomas whose father is deceased. Executors: Wife Rebecca, brother-in-law William Baker, son Joseph Quarterman and brother William Quarterman and friend John Stacy. Witnesses: John Lambright, Peter Winn, N. Baker. Probated on the testimony of Peter Winn.

Slave names left out of the original summary:

To grandson Thomas Quarterman: “…the use of a Negroe boy named Mingo during his minority…”

“It is my will that the rest and residue of my estate, real and personal, including the two wenches Nanny And ? Bellar ? that I have lent my daughter Rebecca and the two Negroes Bess and Nanny, that I have left my son Joseph and the Negroe boy that I have herein given the use of to my grandson, and any issue that have or may come from the wenches, shall be made into as many equal shares as I have therein pointed out heirs of the same.” Shares left to daughter Rebecca, daughter Susannah, son Robert, and grandson Thomas Quarterman and his mother, daughter-in-law Renchie Elliott.

Also, “…when a division takes place of my estate, my daughter Rebecca if she so choose shall have included in her share my wench Bellar and her issue, that I have already given her the use of.”

 

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_00033

FamilySearch.org:

“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-P9D7?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 33 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.