Used as Collateral (Wilkins/Stephens)

On April 12, 1841, James S. Wilkins, Liberty County, used as collateral on a bond to Alexander W. Stephens “the following named negro Slaves together with their future issue and increase (viz) Phoebe, Sandy, Joe, Peter, Leah, Sally Sukey, Maria, Fatima Polly Nicholas Nelly Rose Henry Sary Billy and Amus [alt: Amos]” in addition to a 500-acre tract of land known as Mount Pleasant Hemlock Greenwich together with the adjoining hammock or island bounded on one side by the St. Augustin Creek or inlet and on the south and west by lands of A.D. Abrahams and estate of Edward L. Tatnal [alt: Tattnall] generally known as the Greenwich Plantation. The deed explained that Samuel Wilkins, late of Liberty County, had bequeathed in his will a certain amount of bank stock to the people he named as trustees in trust for his “legitimate children.” However, these parties had declined to act as trustees, and therefore Alexander W. Stephens was appointed Trustee. In 1833, it said, Stephens had appointed James S. Wilkins as his attorney to receive from “the Bank of the United States and from the Planters Bank of the State of Georgia” the dividends from these stocks. Wilkins was said to have received a large amount of these dividends, which he owed to Stephens, and thus used this land and enslaved people as collateral to secure his debt. Witnessed by V. Grest, Edward Q. Andrews, J.P. Recorded on April 16, 1841, by E. Way, Clerk.