They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Marriage Contract (Lewis/Wright)

Enslaved Persons Named: Kit (?), Abram, Nora (?), Leonard, Toby, Paul, Nanny, Sylvia, Cloe [alt: Chloe], Christian, David, Cloe, Renchie, Jacob, Isaiah, Jenny, Venus, Jubiter [alt: Jupiter], Lucy, Old Lucy, Old Toby, Dinah

On February 24, 1846, Caroline R. Lewis, of Savannah, Chatham County, entered into a marriage contract with her intended husband, Elijah H. Wright, of East Hampton, Massachusetts, through her trustees John R. Wilder, of Savannah, and John P. Hines, of Bryan County. Per the contract, property owned by Caroline Lewis at the time of her marriage was to be controlled by her trustees, and not by her husband. The following “named negro slaves” were listed: 

Name

Approximate Age

Kit (?)

25

Abram

35

Nora (?)

32

Leonard

24

Toby

19

Paul

12

Nanny 

Sylvia

Cloe

Christian

David

34 (and her below-named children)

10

8

3

8 months

Cloe

Renchie

Jacob

Isaiah

19 (and her children)

3

2

1

Jenny

Venus

Jubiter [alt: Jupiter]

38 (and her children)

10

2 months

Lucy

18

Lucy (Old Lucy)

58

Toby (Old Toby)

63

Dinah

46

Caroline Lewis was also listed as owning one gold watch and chain, and promissory notes from Joseph Way and George W. Walthour. [NOTE: These promissory notes may be the reason this contract was recorded in Liberty County.] Recorded by [Liberty County court] clerk J.S. Bradwell on December 7, 1848. 

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. M-N 1842-1854,” Record Book N, pp. 95-7. Image #458-9 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5HBX?i=457&cat=292358)