They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Estate Inventory & Division – Robert Hendry

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Robert Hendry
Date Sworn: 1847-12-06
Appraisers: James B. Bird, N. Bradley, ? ? Bradley
Estate Administrator: not specified
Court Officer: John A. Hendry, J.P.
Date Recorded: 1848-04-15
Recording Official: J.S. Bradwell, Clerk
Total Value of Property Appraised: $4625.00
Value of enslaved persons: $4625.00
Comments: “We ascertained that there were ten distributees to wit: Henry E. Smith, husband of Martha A. Smith, daughter of Said Robert Hendry deceased, and John A. Hendry, Enoch D. Hendry, Robert A. Hendry, L.B. Hendry & William H. Hendry, sons of said Robert Henry deceased and John A. Hendry, guardian of George N. Hendry, Alfred J. Hendry, James T Hendry & Mary E. Hendry, minor children of said Robert Hendry.” Lots were drawn out of a hat as follows:
Lot 1: J. A. Hendry
Lot 2: L. B. Hendry
Lot 3: J. A. Hendry Guardian
Lot 4: J.A. Hendry Guardian
Lot 5: J.A. Hendry Ditto
Lot 6: [missing]
Lot 7: E.D. Hendry
Lot 8: J. A. Hendry Guardian
Lot 9: R.A. Hendry
Lot 10: H. E. SMith
The values of the lots were unequal so there was a chart showing who had to pay what to whom to make the inheritances equal.

Enslaved Person Named Value Desc. Lot #
Peter 500 A Negro man 1
Charles 600 A Negro man 2
Archy 450 A Negro man 3
Daphney & child Amy 350 A Negro woman 4
Moses 525 A Negro boy 5
Isaac 500 A Negro boy 6
Richard 450 A Negro boy 7
Lucy 450 A Negro girl 8
Lucinda 400 A Negro girl 9
Eliza 275 A Negro girl 10

Find the digitized original estate division at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GHPX?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 656 of 689; county probate courthouses, Georgia.

Find the digitized original estate inventory, which includes lists of land and other property, at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GHBK?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 638 of 689.

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).