They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Estate Inventory – Joseph L. Stevens

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Stevens, Joseph L.
Date Sworn: 1862-11-23
Appraisers: Abial Winn, Joseph A. Anderson, Wm. C. Stevens
Estate Administrator: John Stevens
Court Officer: L.L. Varnedoe, Notary Public
Date Recorded: 1863-07-11
Recording Official: Wm. P. Girardeau, O.L.C.
Total Value of Property Appraised: $5501.75
Value of enslaved persons: $4750.00
Comments: None

Enslaved Person NamedValue
Daniel800
Edmund1000
Elsey500
John1000
James400
Harcules600
Harriette450

Find the digitized original at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93T-XYYK?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 317 of 703.

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).