They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will – Joseph Austin

Will Summary:

Testator: Joseph Austin, Liberty County, State of Georgia

Bequests:

  • It is my will and desire that the following negroes named Harry and Phillis, bought at Sheriffs’ sales from John Stewart, Sheriff of Liberty County, and recorded in the Clerk’s office in Book H pages 459 & 460, sold as the property of Peter Farley Winn, and now in the possession of said Winn, shall go to the son of the said Peter Farley Winn, named Abiel Winn, as soon as the debts are paid by said property, which I have assumed for the said Peter Farley Winn.”

  • Wills that “a certain tract of land, sold as the property of the said Peter Farley Winn, & purchased by me at Sheriffs’ sales, and sold by Benjamin Mell, Sheriff of Liberty County, title to the same recorded in the Clerk’s Office in Book H pages 458 & 459, be the property of the son of said Peter Farley Winn, named Abiel Winn, as soon as the debts are paid which I assumed for the said Peter Farley Winn.”

  • It is also my will, that the following named negroes, to wit, Charlotte, Harriet, Abby, Lewis, David, Tenah, Peggy, Elizabeth, Frank, Bristol, Bob, Toney & George, making thirteen in number and now in the possession of the said Peter Farley Winn, and purchased by me at Sheriffs’ sales from William Maxwell, the then Sheriff of Liberty County (bill of sale recorded in the Clerk’s office in Book I folio 257) be the property of the said Peter Farley Winn, named Abiel Winn, together with the future increase of the females, as also the increase of the female slaves named in the third item of this my will, to him & to his heirs and assigns, so soon as the debts are paid which I assumed for the said Peter Farley Winn.”

  • Gives to his son Joseph Austin his young horse called Liverpool.

  • Gives to his son Joseph Austin his principal dwelling house and furniture and out-buildings, where he now resides, reserving the free use of those to “my affectionate wife and her sister Fanny ?Valley?, along with the furniture “as it now stands,” a supply of provisions, vegetables and other products of the plantation for family use, the benefit of the stock, together with “a sufficiency of good land for the negroes belonging to my said wife and her sister to plant and enjoy the same during their natural lives as they did during my lifetime.”

  • Desires that his wife and her sister Fanny ?Valley? be provided with “a good gig, horse and boy” to be at their disposal during their natural lives. “I would leave my wife more, but she has been amply provided for by a marriage settlement between herself and myself.”

  • Gives “to my said beloved son Joseph Austin the following negroes, to wit, Venus, Lanchester, Isabel, Lucy, Caleb, Little Sally, Cretia, Eliza and Andrew, making nine slaves, to him and to his heirs and assigns forever.”

  • Gives to daughter Abigail King, wife of Reuben King, to her and “the heirs of her body, the following negroes, to wit, Sally, Arrington, Amey, Nancy, and Pompey. The last three negroes named I claim under and by virtue of my former wife’s will, being the issue of a certain wench named Sylvia, said will recorded in the Clerk’s office of Liberty County. The above negroes not to be subject to the debts of Reuben King, the husband of my said daughter.”

  • Gives to nephew Bartholomew A. Busby a sorrel gelding, now in his possession, named Napoleon, and one tract of land containing 105 acres, which is a part of the original tract of land now owned by his nephew that was purchased from Mr. James S. Bulloch, administrator of John Elliott’s estate and formerly owned by Robert Iverson.

  • Rest of his estate, both real and personal, to be equally divided, with one half to go to his son Joseph, and the other half to his daughter Abigail King and to the heirs of her body and not to be subject to her husband Reuben King’s debts.

  • If son Joseph Austin dies intestate and without issue, then his part of the estate goes to his daughter and the heirs of her body.

Executors: “my trusty friend” Reuben King, son Joseph Austin, nephew Bartholomew A. Busby.

Date signed: 28 January 1829

Witnesses: Jos. [Joseph] Jones, W. Maxwell, Joseph M. Jones

Probated by Capt. Joseph Jones on 4 January 1839

Recorded on 12 January 1830

See original will at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-PX?i=473&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901&cc=1999178