When researching enslaved people, it’s unfortunately very important to research thoroughly their enslavers. In 1843, Elizabeth S. McKinne entered into a marriage contract with Henry M. Stevens, both of Liberty County, Georgia, and she put into a trust the nine enslaved people she owned in her own right: Prince, Goliah, Cate, Rose, Georgian, Grace, Patsey, Logan, Macy [or Mary].
By searching TheyHadNames.net for several of these names together, we discover that they all (with the possible exception of Macy, whose name may actually be Mary) appear in the 1837 estate inventory of Samuel S. Law. The marriage contract named Joseph Law and Josiah S. Law as her trustees. Since trustees were often the bride’s relatives, this all tells us to research Elizabeth’s family history. It turns out that she is a daughter of the Revd. Samuel Spry Law of Liberty County. She first married Barne McKinne, who died a few years after the marriage, and then she remarried to Henry M. Stevens.
Samuel S. Law’s will divided his estate among his then wife and his children, so it appears almost certain that Elizabeth inherited these enslaved people from him.
So we now know where they were and with whom in 1836 (when Law died), 1837 (the estate inventory), and 1843 (the marriage contract), and we have several further avenues for future research. It would have been difficult to put this together without knowing that Elizabeth McKinne was actually a married name, and that her maiden name is Law.