They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Estate Inventory – Moses W. Way

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Way, Moses W.
Date Sworn: 1860-01-05
Appraisers: Wm. G. Martin, John E. Mann, Mathew Butler (signed by mark)
Estate Administrator: Mrs. Ann Irene Way, temporary administrator
Court Officer: not listed
Date Recorded: 1860-02-16
Recording Official: W.P. Girardeau, O.L.C.
Total Value of Property Appraised: $6052.87
Value of enslaved persons: $5200.00
Comments: Property shown to appraisers by W.E. Quarterman, agent for Mrs. Ann Irene Way. Inventory also contained list of estate items sold on January 7, 1859, including names of buyers (not listed here, no enslaved persons included).

Enslaved Person NamedValueDesc.
Cicero1200“negro man”
Binah750
Russell750
Charlotte600
Rachel600
Dora550
Jim350“Young Jim”
Ephraim250
Caroline150

Find the digitized original at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-993T-XTFH?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 228 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).