Will Summary (published 1964)
Mary Brown [see note below about name] of Liberty County. Last Will and Testament dated March 8, 1823, probated May 1823. She sets free her servant Cassandra. She gives to her (testatrix) daughter, Elizabeth, all of Cassandra’s children. Son John and son Thomas, minors, are given legacies. To son Charles she gives certain land and $200 and cattle. Remainder of estate to daughter, Elizabeth, except her hogs which she gives to John C. Broughton who is named executor. Witnesses: Jeremiah Baker, Ann Baker, James W. Baker.
[NOTE: First name looks more like Mercy in the original. Also, the land given to son Charles is the land adjoining “Nat [Nathaniel] Law’s.”
Slave names left out of the original summary:
“Be it known to all men, by these presents, that I Mercy [or Mary] Brown, of the County aforesaid, do, in perfect mind, will and leave my faithful servant Cassandra free, after my debts are all paid. All my servants to remain together until that time; then the above named Cassandra to be free forever. I leave to my beloved daughter Elizabeth all of Cassandra’s children, Mary, Louisa & Susannah, and Cassandra to remain with her children, if she chooses. I leave my servant Flora to my beloved son John, after the said Flora has worked four years first, and all the money for her four years’ labor to my beloved son Thomas by the executors, which is John C. Broughton & Major Law, of the said County, and State above named. Then the said negro slave Flora to work under the above named John C. Broughton for my son John’s support until he is twenty one. Then my son John to have her during his natural life, and at his death, to return to my daughter Elizabeth, her and her children, if she may have any.”
“Power is given by me to John C. Broughton to sell Cassandra’s children to her, and buy a negro to work four years for my son Thomas, then for my son John, and he take Flora for my daughter Elizabeth, if he chooses.”
Find the original (complete) will online at:
Ancestry.com:
FamilySearch.org:
“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-P9X4?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 148 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.