Enslaved Persons Named: Jerry, Jacob, Sarah, Stepney, Pender [or Penda], Dick, Franky, Sampson, Clem, James, Hetty
On August 2, 1842, Dr. J.D. Stevens purchased “six Negro slaves the property of Joseph C. Wilkins” for $1350 at public auction at the Hinesville Courthouse: “Jerry, Jacob, Sarah, Stepney, Pender & Dick.” Fuller Moore & Co, David J. Llyle [alt: Lyle] and John Shannon had obtained a judgment aginst Joseph Wilkins at the Liberty County Superior Court, causing Sheriff Enoch Daniel to seize the slaves and put them up for sale. Witnessed by S.S. Moody, John E. Mann. Recorded on September 6, 1842, by E. Way, Clerk.
On September 1, 1842, James D. Stevens executed a deed saying that he had become indorser [SIC: endorser] on “a certain Bill of Exchange drawn by Joseph C. Wilkins” of Liberty County and dated August 24, 1842, “& directed to Messrs Elias Reed and Sons of the City of Savannah…requesting them on the first day of February in the year [1842] to pay to me or to my order one thousand dollars.” He added that because the BIll of Exchange was accepted by Elias Reed & Son “and has been discounted by the Savannah Insurance and Trust Company, and the proceeds thereof received by me,” he put up “the following named Negro Slaves to wit Jerry, Jacob, Sarah, Stepney, Penda, and Dick” as collateral. Witnessed by Francis S. Bartow, Not/ Pub. Recorded on September 15, 1842, by E. Way, Clerk. [NOTE: Written on this deed was “Satisfied May 13th 1852, Elias Reed. Recorded 7 May 1853. C.C. Andrews, Dep. Clerk, S.C.”]
On September 1, 1842, Joseph C. Wilkins used as collateral on a promissory note of $1400 to Archibald Wilkins Sen. of Chatham County “five negro slaves to wit – Franky, Sampson, Clem, James, Hetty…” Witnessed by Oliver Stevens, E. Way, Clerk. Recorded on October 8, 1842, by E. Way, Clerk. [NOTE: Written on this deed was “Satisfied May 6, 1852, Elias Reed. Recorded 1 May 1853, C.C. Andrews, Dep 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. M-N 1842-1854,” Record Book M, pp. 4-9. Image #30-3 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5QXJ?i=29&cat=292358)