They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will — John Goulding


Will Summary (published 1964)

John Goulding of Liberty County. Last Will and Testament dated —  1789. Codicil dated —- 1789. Probated November 5, 1789. It is stated that the testator died November 3, 1789, apparently without signing the will. Palmer Goulding testifies that the instrument is the last will and testament of said deceased. The will devised testator’s home tract of land and the tract formerly owned by his brother, Palmer Goulding, together with three other tracts of land on Medway Neck, to testator’s three grandchildren, William and Sarah Goulding (the issue of testator’s brother, William Goulding, dec’d) “and to Peter John the son of my son, Peter Goulding, lately deceased.” If these die before they are 21 and without issue, then their bequests to go to testator’s nephews, Palmer, Thomas and Sallie Goulding. Testator liberates five slaves after they become 21 [sic, 25]. If all said legatees die before 21 and without issue, then his estate to go to said five slave children who are to be freed. Executors: Peter Winn, Palmer Goulding, Thomas Goulding. Codicil adds Thomas and an unnamed girl, the children of testator’s nephew, Thomas Goulding, dec’d, adding them as legatees with his above-named grandchildren. George Foster, at the probating of the will, testified he drew up the will and read it to the said John Goulding, who approved it. Affidavit of Foster dated January 10, 1790.

Slave names left out of the original summary:

“My will is that Joe, Pegg [alt: Peg or Peggy], Jammy, Satira and Sally after they severally attain the age of twenty five years remain entirely free, and emancipated during their lives, and the issue of the said Pegg, Satira and Sally.”

“ the remainder of all my slaves…to my three grand children…” [other provisions for his property, then:] “…and in case of their deaths without lawful issue, I give and bequeath the whole of my slaves and their issue and all my other personal property to Joe, Jammy, Pegg, Satira, Sally or their issue to be equally divided among them share and share alike.”

Find the original (complete) will online at:

FamilySearch.org:

“Book A” of wills, appraisements and bonds (1789-1823), Liberty County, Georgia, pp. 161-2; digitized microfilm accessed through manual search, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-P9WM : accessed 13 Nov 2022), “George Probate Records, 1743-199” >, Liberty County > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1789-1823 vol A > image 103 of 689.

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.