Enslaved Persons Named: Simon, Dick, Joe, Henry, Jim, Jack, Bess, Deborah, Maria, Dinah, Phillis, Maria, Moses, Hamlet, Plymouth, Elsy, Peter, William, Louisa, Daniel, Eve, Jane, Primus,Toney
On April 15, 1825, Lydia Mallard and Robert Laing, both of Liberty County, entered into a marriage contract, with Thomas Mallard and Elijah Baker, same county, as her trustees. The contract created a trust for Lydia Mallard, said to be “justly and legally entitled to a considerable personal estate, consisting of negro slaves within the County and State aforesaid,” upon her marriage that included “all her right, title and claim to one undivided fourth part of the following negro slaves, together with the future issue of the female slaves: namely, Simon, Dick, Joe, Henry, Jim, Jack, Bess, Deborah, Maria, Dinah, Phillis, Maria, Moses, Hamlet, Plymouth, Elsy, Peter, William, Louisa, Daniel, Eve, Jane, Primus & Toney.” The contract also stated that Lydia Mallard could leave this property to anyone she chose via a last will and testament; if she died without a will, then her legal heirs were to inherit. Any future property she was to become possessed of would also fall under the trust. Witnessed by Cornelius Laing, Matthew Bennet. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on May 12, 1825.
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 I, 1822-1831, p. 129-30. Image #366-7 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SS1M-8?cat=292358)