Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Laing, Lydia (Mrs)
Date Sworn: 1861-04-02
Appraisers: Col. Joseph Quarterman, S.A. Fraser, W.E.W. Quarterman, W.S. Norman, A.S. Quarterman
Estate Executor: John B. Mallard
Court Officer: H.F. Horne, J.I.C.L.C.
Date Recorded: 1861-05-15
Recording Official: W.P. Girardeau, O.L.C.
Total Value of Property Appraised: $9846.00
Value of enslaved persons: $9325.00
Comments: John B. Mallard, “one of the distributees of Mrs. Lydia Laing deceased,” applied for appointment of appraisers to distribute the estate; document identified two legatees and eleven distributees: John B. Mallard, Mrs. M.A. Cassels, Mrs. C. A. Baker (listed as C.A. Fleming in the division), Mrs. Mary Spencer, John E. Baker, W.H. Baker, R.Q. Baker, Augustus Baker, S.M. Baker, E.F. Baker, minor children of Mrs. Ann Scriven (distributees) and L.M. Baker and B.L. Baker, legatees. Note that inventory appears to have been made by gender, and by value within gender, so likely does not indicate family relationships. Estate was divided into three lots, which were drawn as follows:
1 — John B. Mallard
2 — children of Mrs. Ann Lydia Baker deceased
3 — Mrs. Mary A. Cassels
Lot #2 was then subdivided and distributed to the remaining 9 distributees. Only the first 3 lots included enslaved people, as follows:
1 — by E.F. Baker, minor
Betsey
2 — by S.M. Baker
Ester
3 — by Mrs. Mary Spencer
Stephen
Eliza
Dinah
Chloe
William
Cate
| Enslaved Person Named | Value | Desc. | Lot # |
| Plymouth | 750 | “a negro man” | 1 |
| Shadrick | 900 | “a negro man” | 3 |
| Dinah | 250 | “a negro woman” | 2 |
| Louisa | 500 | “a negro woman” | 1 |
| Chloe | 600 | “a negro woman” | 2 |
| Rachel | 700 | “a negro woman” “legacy” | |
| Cinda | 800 | “a negro woman” | 3 |
| Mary | 650 | “a negro woman” | 3 |
| Harriet | 700 | “a negro woman” | 1 |
| Bess | 75 | “a negro woman” | 3 |
| Hagar | 150 | “a negro woman” | 1 |
| Samuel | 700 | “a negro boy” “legacy” | |
| Stephen | 500 | “a negro boy” | 2 |
| Jim | 450 | “a negro boy” | 1 |
| Robert | 150 | “a negro boy” | 3 |
| William | 120 | “a negro boy” | 2 |
| Charles | 100 | “a negro boy” | 1 |
| Stepney | 50 | “infant” “legacy” | |
| Eliza | 300 | “a girl” | 2 |
| Betsey | 250 | “a girl” | 2 |
| Ester | 150 | “a girl” | 2 |
| Abby | 275 | “a girl” | 1 |
| Nancy | 100 | “a girl” | 3 |
| Cate | 100 | “a girl” | 2 |
Find the digitized original at:”Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893T-XT6K?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 258 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).