Bill of Sale (Barnard/Grest)

On December 16, 1845, John B. Barnard sold to Valentine Grest for $175 “a certain negro slave named Margaret,” noting that Margaret was part of the property his sister Martha Louisa Barnard was given as a result of her marriage with John T. Rowland in their 23 October 1823 marriage contract, which put her property under the trusteeship of James P. Screven, Stephen S. Williams and John Barnard “since deceased.” The marriage contract was said to have been recorded on page 10 of Book N.N. in Chatham County Superior Court. In addition, an indenture was created on May 1, 1835, between John T. Rowland, then of Darien, McIntosh County, a merchant, and trustees James Screven and Stephen S. Williams, of Chatham County, recorded in Chatham County Superior Court, book T.T., page 264-267, according to which the said property was turned over to the two trustees and authorizing that if either were to die, Martha could select a new trustee. When Stephen S. Williams died, and Screven asked to be release from his duty, Martha appointed her brother, John B. Barnard, as trustee, thus enabling him to make the sale of Margaret, which was said to be “for the sole use benefit and behoof of Fredericka Grest, the wife of the said Valentine for and during the term of her natural life, at her death to and for the use of such child or children of the said Fredericka by the said Valentine as may be living at the time of her death. Further inheritance conditions were specified. Witnessed by E.F. T. Rowland, W.B. Fleming, Not. Pub. Also included was the letter from Martha L. Rowland requesting John B. Barnard to sell Margaret, dated December 15, 1845. The transaction was recorded on December 25, 1845, by J.S. Bradwell, Clerk.