They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will — Thomas Shepard


Will Summary (published 1964)

Thomas Shepard [alt: Shephard] of Liberty County, planter. Last Will and Testament dated November 5, 1810; probated March 4, 1811. Gives to his wife Rebecca and children, children being minors. Executors: Wife Rebecca and friends, William Baker, Micajah Andrews, John Osgood Baker, John Robarts. Witnesses: Mrs. Ann Baker (widow), Sarah Sandiford, James Sandeford [sic, probably Sandiford].

Slave names left out of the original summary:

“My Negroes I will & desire shall be kept together on my Estate for the mutual benefit of my wife and children until my oldest child becomes of age, or my daughter should marry; then I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife one of my young Wenches, and one of my Negro girls, Nancy or Bess, allowing her to take her choice in both cases, which said Negros I give & bequeath to her only during her natural life; at her death they shall return & become part of my Estate.”

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_00112

FamilySearch.org:

“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-P9QR?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 112 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.