Liberty County Estate Inventory & Division – David R. Corker

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Corker, David R.
Date Sworn: 1818-08-21
Appraisers: Joseph Jones, Joseph Law
Estate Administrator: not listed
Court Officer: E. Baker, Clerk
Date Recorded: 1818-08-29
Recording Official: E. Baker, C.S.C.L.C.
Total Value of Property Appraised: $6500
Value of enslaved persons: $6500
Comments: On August 21, 1818, Cornelius Williams, who signed by mark for himself and his wife, and James Corker, appointed Col. Joseph Law and Joseph Jones to settle their claims regarding a “certain deed of conveyance, made and duly executed by Francis Brown to his daughter Margaret (as of record in the Clerk’s office) and also as touching a certain marriage contract, executed by David R. Corner, previous to his intermarriage with the said Margaret Brown…” Cornelius Williams and James Corker agreed to abide by the decision made by Law and Jones or forfeit a $4000 bond. The contract was witnessed by Joseph Jones and John Ashmore. John Ashmore probated the document on August 24, 1818.

Joseph Law and Joseph Jones ruled on August 21, 1818, that, although they had doubts as to the legality of the marriage contract between David R. Corker and Margaret Brown, his wife, this did not matter because “the intention of the deed & marriage contract follow the law of distribution of the state now in operation.” They decreed that all of the property then in possession of Mr. Williams should be equally divided between Mrs. Margaret Williams and her son, Mr. James Corker, adding “we believe Mrs. Williams, on every occasion, acted with the best intentions, the trustee, Stephen Corker, having refused to aid her.” They therefore further ruled that Mrs. Margaret Williams “shall remain in quiet possession of sd estate,” and that she should not be liable for any damages. They added, “We recommend that the sd James Corker would forthwith use such means and exertions as may be best calculated to recover the two negroes carried away by Hendley, and, when recovered, we decree that they shall exclusively be the property of the sd James Corker…” John Ashmore also probated Law’s and Jones’ signatures to this document on August 24, 1818.

The following individuals were divided into two lots. Cornelius Williams, on behalf of his wife Margaret, drew lot #1, and James Corker drew lot #2. The document stated that unspecified land, plus stock and the current crop, were to be divided equally between the two parties at a later date. John Ashmore probated the division on August 29, 1818.

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. H-I 1816-1831,” Record Book H, p. 192-4. Image #126-7 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSTK-V?cat=292358)