Bill of Sale (Busby/Field)

On March 18, 1824, Bartholomew A. Busby, planter of Liberty County, sold to Jedidiah Field, of East Guilford, Connecticut, for $1500 “the following negro slaves: namely Frank, Sylvia, Charles, Lydia, Katy and Tom [or Sam], together with the future issue of the female slaves.” Witnessed by Uriah Wilcox. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on March 23, 1824. 

In a separate entry following this, Field sold to Busby for $7625 one-half part of a 650-acre tract of land bounded north by the Sunbury road, south and west by Peter F Winn’s land, and east by Josiah Wilson’s land. Field also sold to Busby “the one moiety or undivided half part of the following forty one negro slaves, together with an undivided half part of the future issue of the female slaves; to wit, 1. Frank, 2. Sylvia, 3. Charles, 4. Lydia, 5. Katy, 6. Tom, 7. March, 8. Susy, 9. Lucy, 10. Boston, 11. Charles, 12. Luley, 13. Flory [alt: Flora], 14. Cinder [alt: Cinda], 15. Harry, 16. Little Cinder, 17. Amy, 18. Adam, 19. George, 20. Suky, 21. Ellick [alt: Aleck], 22. Miley, 23. Binah, 24. Abner, 25. Phebe [alt: Phoebe], 26. Jane, 27. Siney [or Liney], 28. Abraham, 29. Isaac, 30. Sally, 31. Tom, 32. Keziah, 33. Sampson, 34. Nancy, 35. Candace, 36. Little George, 37. Sarah, 38. Rachel, 39. Toney, 40. [looks like Yan], & 41. Diana, and also one undivided half part of the following articles, namely, fifty head of cattle, fifty head of hogs, three horses, and all of the plantation and carpenters tools, and other utensils, now on the plantation or tract of land afore mentioned.” “But be it known, and clearly understood, that no division of the permises aforesaid shall be made, or take place, without the consent of the saiad Jedidiah Field, or his lawful representative, until every legal demand which the said Jedidiah Field, or his said representatives, may have against the said Bartholomew Busby, his heirs or assigns, shall be fully satisfied and paid.” Witnessed by Uriah Wilcox. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on March 24, 1824. 

In another separate transaction, Bartholomew A. Busby, planter of Liberty County, was “held and firmly bound unto Jedidiah Field, of the State of Connecticut and Town of East Guilford,” for $15250. The amount was to be paid back as follows: $635.41 with interest within one year; $635.41 with interest within two years; $635.41 with interest for 12 consecutive years, “making the whole of the principal to amount to the sum of seven thousand and six hundred and twenty five dollars.” 

Following that, Busby sold to Field one-half interest in the same land and enslaved people listed above (apparently essentially exchanging their half interests?). 

Then followed a memorandum reading: “State of Georgia, Liberty County } This memorandum of agreement, made this twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty four, between Jedidiah Field and Bartholomew A. Busby, witnesseth that they have agreed to keep and work their negro slaves together on the plantation where they now are, and where they have been kept during the last year; they are to be continued under the management of the said Mr. Busby, who is to be allowed the yearly sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, for his care and attention in managing the undivided half of the property belonging to Mr. Field. Mr. Busby is to be at the expense of providing himself with all the necessaries of living, excepting such as the plantation may afford. If either of them should be disposed to sell any part, or the whole of his proportion of the plantation, or other property now on the premises, the other shall be afforded the first opportunity of purchasing. This agreement is to continue in force, until all the demands which Mr. Field has against Mr. Busby shall be fully satisfied and paid . In testimony whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written.” 

Signed by Jedidiah Field and B.A. Busby. Witnessed by Uriah Wilcox. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on March 24, 1823. 

Jedidiah Field also appointed “my trusty friend” James A. Maxwell, of Savannah, Georgia, as his attorney “during my absence from the said State of Georgia”. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on March 24, 1824. 

[NOTE: Boston and Keziah appear to have been inherited by Field and his wife from Mrs. Catherine Hastings in 1814. See https://theyhadnames.net/2018/03/28/liberty-county-will-catherine-hastings/ & https://theyhadnames.net/2019/07/01/liberty-county-estate-inventory-catherine-hastings/. See also: https://theyhadnames.net/2021/03/09/used-as-collateral-busby-austin-fields/]