They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will — Lazarus Mallard


Will Summary (published 1964)

Lazarus Mallard of Liberty County. Last Will and Testament dated February 11, 1814. Probated May 2, 1814. Gives to his daughter-in-law, Lydia, widow of his son John Mallard, and their children. Gives to wife Sarah, son Thomas; granddaughters Eliza Mallard, Anna Mallard, each when 16 years of age; and to grandson John B. Mallard, when 18 years of age; to granddaughter Mary E. Mallard, when 16 years of age; to granddaughter Sarah W. Mallard when 16 years of age; and to son Thomas Mallard; and to grandchildren Eliza, Anne, John and Mary Mallard, when 18 years of age. Executors: Son, Thomas Mallard, and friend, William Wilson. Witnesses: Elizabeth Phelps, Eliza Hannah Phelps, E. Baker

Slave names left out of the original summary:

To wife Sarah Mallard: “my negro boy Joe and girl Rose…”

To son Thomas Mallard: “…my negro wench Nanny, and her brother Jim…”

To granddaughter Eliza Mallard: “my negro wench Hagar, to be delivered to her at the age of sixteen years, or on the day of her marriage.”

To granddaughter Anna Mallard: “my girl Nanny, to be delivered to her at the age of sixteen years, or day of marriage.”

To grandson John B. Mallard: “my negro boy Toney, to be delivered to him at the age of eighteen years or day of marriage.”

To granddaughter Mary Mallard: “my negro boy Stephen, to be delivered to her at the age of sixteen years, or day of marriage.”

To granddaughter Sarah W. Mallard: “my negro girl Phoebe [alt: Phebe], to be delivered to her at the age of sixteen years or day of marriage.”

To granddaughter Mary E. Mallard: “my negro boy Will, to be delivered to her at the age of sixteen years, or day of marriage.”

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_00120

FamilySearch.org:

“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-P93G?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 120 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.