They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Estate Division – William Anderson

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: William Anderson
Date Sworn: 1841-12-14
Appraisers: Thomas Quarterman, Sidney Fleming, Charles B. Jones
Estate Administrator: Joseph A. Anderson (acting for the minor children)
Court Officer: E.H. Bacon
Date Recorded: 1850-07-23
Recording Official: J.S. Bradwell, Clk
Total Value of Property Appraised: $13764
Value of enslaved persons: $13764
Comments: William Anderson’s estate was initially appraised in 1825 (here). The division of the estate’s enslaved people appears not to have taken place until the minor children came of age. On 14 December 1841, Thomas Quarterman, Sidney Fleming and Chas. B. Jones swore before E.H. Bacon that “upon application of Mrs. Mary E. Anderson, the widow of William Anderson deceased & her three children who being of proper age (to wit) Joseph A. Anderson, Sarah Anderson & Marion Anderson for a division of the remaining negroes belonging to the estate of said William Anderson” they would appraise and divide all “the said negroes belonging to said estate” who would be produced for them by Joseph A. Anderson “who being of full age and acting as the next friend and agent to the parties concerned.” The appraisal and division was performed on January 6, 1842. The lots were drawn as follows:

Lot 1: Joseph A. Anderson
Lot 2: Marion Anderson
Lot 3: Sarah Anderson
Lot 4: Mary E. Anderson

See Mary E. Anderson’s subsequent will here.

July 500   1
Toney 500 [alt: Tony] 1
Ben 475   1
Bella 400   1
Lucy 400   1
Pharaoh 350   1
Lucy 300   1
Leonard 250   1
Richard 240 [looks like Bichard] 1
Ferdinand 225   1
Farmer 600   2
Daniel 500   2
James 400   2
Harriet 400 [alt: Harriett] 2
Dianna 375 [alt: Diannah, Diana] 2
Bode 390   2
Russel 250 [alt: Russell] 2
Luck 250 [could also be Suck, short for Sukey or Sucky] 2
Edwin 250   2
Stephen 275   2
Lane 150   2
Celia 200   2
Rebecca 125   2
Agrippa 500   3
Ned 500   3
Sim 500 [looks clear as Sim but maybe Jim ?] 3
Taymour 400 [2d half of name is hard to read] 3
Pompey 350   3
Joe 500   3
Sam 300   3
Phillis 250 [alt: Phyllis] 3
Patience 200   3
Mary 200   3
Ben 140   3
Prince 100   3
Venis 1 “infirm”, [alt: Venus] 3
Jim 500   4
Will 500   4
Cain 450 [alt: Cane] 4
Kate 400   4
Hannah 350   4
Charly 350 [alt: Charlie, Charley] 4
Phebe 300 [alt: Phoebe] 4
Miley 240 [alt: Milly] 4
June 200   4
Amanda 200   4
Betty 125   4
Cain 125 [alt: Cane] 4
Dinah 50 “Old” 4
Katy 100   4
Ned 50   4
Venis 1 [alt: Venus], “Old” 4

To see the original digitized estate division and associated documents: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-GHGD?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 682 of 689; county probate courthouses, Georgia.

These antebellum estate inventories and appraisals generally included all the deceased person’s “property,” including enslaved persons. Only those names are documented here for historical and genealogical purposes. Anyone interested in the actual property owned by the deceased may find it at the link at the bottom of the page. Names are listed in the original order, as this often gives very valuable information about family groupings or the age of children (who may be listed in age order).