Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Way, Joseph [see note, not deceased at time of appraisal]
Date Sworn: 1850-09-05
Appraisers: Charlton Hines, W. ?V? Way, Geo [George] W. Walthour
Estate Administrator: N/A
Court Officer: N/A
Date Recorded: 1850-10-02
Recording Official: J.S. Bradwell, Clerk
Total Value of Property Appraised: $8745
Value of enslaved persons: $8745
Comments: “By my request and voluntary wish, I have called my [one word] friends, Charlton Hines, W.?V? Way, and Geo. [George] W. Walthour to appraise and divide my negro property into three equal parts for the benefit of my [word heirs crossed out] children.””The above appraisement and division has been shown to me by the appraisors & dividors being perfectly satisified with said appraisement and division. After all my just debts are equally paid by my three children, I give and dispose of the same in manner following, Lot no 1 I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Way. Lot no 2 I give and bequeath to my son in law Edwin White and lot no 3 I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah J. Way. I am aware that there are negroes in lot no 1 and three subject to two mortgages. It is my wish that they do remain, and that the negroes Ben, Louisa, and York, which are in Lot no two, I wish released from said mortgages, and Charlotte, Cuffee and Henry be substituted in lieu of them.” Signed Joseph Way
| Enslaved | Value | Desc. | Lot |
| Prime | 350 | 1 | |
| July | 700 | 1 | |
| Cyrus | 500 | 2 | |
| Ben | 650 | 2 | |
| Abner | 600 | 3 | |
| Eve | 400 | 2 | |
| Phiboe | 500 | [alt: Phoebe, Phebe] | 3 |
| Mary | 175 | 3 | |
| Tenah | 100 | 3 | |
| Charlott | 500 | 1 | |
| Henry | 400 | 3 | |
| Sarah | 420 | [alt: Sary] | 3 |
| Washington | 450 | 2 | |
| Cuffee | 400 | 1 | |
| Welsher | 300 | [alt: Wilsher, Wiltshire ?] | 1 |
| Tom | 250 | 2 | |
| Cyrus | 175 | “Little Cyrus” | 1 |
| Dinah | 250 | “Old Dinah” | 3 |
| Miley | 500 | 1 | |
| Isaiah | 400 | 3 | |
| York | 400 | 2 | |
| Louisa | 275 | 2 |
Find the digitized original at: 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. 281-2. Image #553-4 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5HJ2?i=552&cat=292358)
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).