They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Estate Inventory – William Hodges

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: William Hodges
Date Sworn: 1841-03-29
Appraisers: Eli Bradley, Newman Bradley, John S. Bradley
Estate Administrator: not listed
Court Officer: E. Daniel, J.J.C.L.C.
Date Recorded: 1841-07-12
Recording Official: John W. Stacy, C.C.O.L.C.
Total Value of Property Appraised: $4406.00
Value of enslaved persons: $2775.00
Comments: None

Enslaved Person Named Value Comments
Sam 600 man
Caesar 500 man
Minder 300 woman
Amy 400 woman
Matilda 375 girl
Sally 250 girl
Dove (? – maybe Dave?) 150 boy
Jim 125 boy
Jack 75 boy

Find the digitized original at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893L-GHK1?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 589 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).