Enslaved Persons Named: Abram, Frederick, Drusilla, Jim, Moses, Sam, Sary, Nancy, Amy and Henry
“Georgia, Liberty County } Know all men by these presents that we Sarah Rebecca Lane widow of Benjamin Lane deceased of said County – Orrin S. Perry next friend of the children of Joseph Lane deceased, one of the children of Benjamin Lane deceased – Benjamin B. Lane (son of Benjamin Lane deceased) now a citizen ofAb Levy County, Florida, George W. Lane of the County of Chatham – Orrin S. Perry in the right of his wife Mary Elizabeth daughter of Benjamin Lane deceased of the County of Chatham James Clark in the right of his wife Mary Esther of the County of Liberty and daughter of Benjamin Lane deceased, being the sole heirs and distributees of the said Benjamin Lane deceased – have mutually entered into the following covenants and agreements.
“Mrs. Sarah Rebecca Lane is to receive as her portion of the estate during her natural lifetime, the following property, Abram, Frederick, Drusilla, Jim, fifty-three acres of land including house and lot known on the plat as the Andrews land one horse and buggy household and kitchen furniture, provisions farming utensils and stock cattle marked one crop and two under bits in one ear and one crop and split in the other, also the stock of hogs. And it is furthermore covenanted and agreed that the said Sarah Rebecca Lane shall make and execute a deed of trust conveying said negroes to certain trustees for her use during her lifetime and at her death to James Clark in trust for his wife Mary Esther and her children.”
“It is furthermore covenanted and agreed that Joseph Lane’s children by their next friend Orrin S. Perry, Benjamin Lane, George W. Lane, Orrin S. Perry in the right of his wife Mary Elizabeth and James Clark in the right of his wife Mary Esther are to receive as their portion of the Estate of Benjamin Lane deceased the following property, three hundred and fifty three acres of land known on the plat as the Wilson and Andrews Land and the negroes Moses, Sam, Sary, Nancy, one horse and mule stock of sheep twenty head of cattle more or less marked one crop and upper bit in one ear and swallow fork and under bit in the other. Branded B.L. and three shares of the S.A. & G R. Road stock. “
It is furthermore covenanted and agreed that Joseph Lane’s children by their next friend Orrin S. Perry, Benjamin B. Lane George W. Lane and Orrin S. Perry in the right of his wife Mary Elizabeth shall receive as their portion of the Estate of their mother Elizabeth former wife of Benjamin Lane deceased the following property negroes, Amy and Henry and notes of hand due said Estate.
“It is further covenanted and agreed that the said Orrin S. Perry next friend of the children of Joseph Lane deceased Benjamin B. Lane and George W. Lane and Orrin S. Perry do pay all the debts due by the said Benjamin Lane deceased, and will indemnify and save harmless the other contracting parties from all lawsuits liabilities and litigation whatsoever. “
Signed by Sarah R. Lane, Benjamin B. Lane, George W. Lane, Orrin S. Perry, James Clark, Orrin S. Perry for the children of Joseph Lane. Witnessed by Jos. S. Ashmore, William S. Norman, Not Pub. L.C. Ga. Recorded on January 13, 1859, by S.A. Fraser, Clerk.
[Genealogy Notes: “Next friend” apparently means someone who is not a party to a proceeding nor formally appointed but represents another person who is not able to represent himself or herself. Sarah Rebecca Lane was born Sarah Rebecca Ashmore, the daughter of John Ashmore and Sarah Farrar. This estate settlement appears to reveal that Joseph Lane, Benjamin B. Lane, George W. Lane, Mary Elizabeth Lane Perry were Benjamin Lane’s children by a former wife named Elizabeth, not his then present wife Sarah Rebecca.]
Source: Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. O-P 1854-1870,” Record Book O, p 446-7. Image #271. (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-RSP3-V?i=270&cat=292358)
Enslaved Persons Named: Moses, Sam, Sary, Nancy
Type: Bill of Sale
Georgia, Liberty County } Know all men by these presents that I James Clark of said Count for and in consideration of the sum of nine hundred and eighty dollars to me in hand paid by Benjamin B. Lane George W. Lane and Orrin S. perry have granted bargained sold and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain sell and confirm unto the said Benjamin B. Lane George W. Lane and Orrin S. Perry their heirs and assigns all my claim right and title being the one fifth part to the following property three hundred and fifty three acres of land known as the Wilson and Andrews land formerly belonging to the Estate of Benjamin Lane deceased and also my claim right and title to the following slaves Moses, Sam, Sary, Nancy one horse and mule stock of sheep cattle and three shares of the S.A. & G. R. Road Stock.” Witnessed by William S. Norman, Joseph Ashmore J.P. on January 11, 1859. Recorded on January 13, 1859, by S.A. Fraser, Clerk.
Source: Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. O-P 1854-1870,” Record Book O, p 447. Image #271. (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-RSP3-V?i=270&cat=292358)
Enslaved Persons Named: Frederick, Drusilla, Jim
Type: Deed of Trust
On January 11, 1859, Sarah Rebecca Lane executed a deed of trust to put “the following three negroes Frederick, Drusilla, and Jim with the increase of the females” “in consideration of the great love and affection which she bears towards her daughter Mary Esther Clark wife of James Clark.” The trustees were Joseph Ashmore and James Clark. Additionally, “Joseph Ashmore is to be vested with the sole and entire management of said property during the natural lifetime of the said Sarah Rebecca Lane and the entire profits hire and income of said negroes are to be appropriated to the maintenance and support of the said Sarah Rebecca Lane, during her lifetime but the negroes are not to be sold or otherwise disposed of but at the death of the said Sarah Rebecca Lane said property is to be delivered up to James Clark in trust for his wife Mary Esther Clark and her children…” Witnessed by G.W. Lane, William S. Norman, Not. Pub. L.C. Recorded on January 13, 1859, by S.A. Fraser, Clerk.
Source: Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. O-P 1854-1870,” Record Book O, p 448. Image #272. (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-RSRR-3?i=271&cat=292358)