They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Marriage Contract (Jones/JOnes

Enslaved Persons Named: Robin, Jack, Lizzy, Elsey, Stepney, Patience, Dick, Clarissa, John, Flora, Phoebe, Phillis, Sue, Eve, Jackson, Bella, Little Betty, Daphne, Evelina, Toney, Little Caesar, and Adam

On December 20, 1830, Mary Jones, Liberty County, and Charles Colcock Jones, also of Liberty County, entered into a marriage contract, with Joseph Jones, Joseph Maybank Jones, William Maxwell and Andrew Maybank, also of Liberty County, as her trustees. Put into trust for Mary Jones were “certain negro slaves, subject to a life estate therein of her father Joseph Jones, under and by virtue of a certain deed or indenture of three parts, duly executed by and between Sarah Anderson (mother of the said Mary Jones) of the first part, the said Joseph Jones of the second part, and James Nephew, John Couper, William Anderson, Andre Maybank and William Page,” dated Jun 26, 1806. The contract noted that Mary Jones’ father Joseph Jones had agreed to “surrender a certain portion of said slaves to the said Mary Jones, on or after her marriage.” Witnessed by W.M. Maxwell, Mary E. Robarts.

On February 23, 1831, the enslaved people concerned were divided and allotted to Mary Jones:  “Robin, Jack, Lizzy, Elsey, Stepney, Patience, Dick, Clarissa, John, Flora, Phoebe, Phillis, Sue, Eve, Jackson, Bella, Little Betty, Daphne, Evelina, Toney, Little Caesar, and Adam, making in the whole twenty two.” 

In making the division, the trustees created an inventory and valuation of all the enslaved people from whom 1/3 were selected for Mary Jones, as follows: 

“Appraisement & division of negroes, one third allotted at this time to Mary Jones, the wife of Charles C. Jones, & daughter of Joseph Jones, this 23d Feby 1831.” Appraisers were Andrew Maybank, Charles West, W. Maxwell. 

1. Sylvia $400

2. Nanny $400

3. Cuffee $450

4. Bess $400

5. Delia $400

6. Paul $350

7. Joe $300

8. Friday $250

9. Bristol $450

10. Big Prime $300

11. Old Miley $150

12. Little Prime (cooper) $500

13. Allen $450

14. Jenny $350

15. Little Affee $400

16. Mag $250

17. Rosan $200

18. Little Charles $150

19. Judy $150

20. Georgia $100

21. Troup $100

22. Phoebe (seamstress, drawn by Mary Jones) $400

23. Clarissa (by ditto) $150

24. John (by ditto) $50

25. Big Sue $300

26. Niger $450

27. Rebecca $400

28. Esau $350

29. Pharaoh $300

30. Old Betty $50

31. Dick (drawn by Mary Jones) $450

32. Hardtimes (seamstress) $400

33. William $50

34. Florda (drawn by Mary Jones)

35. Phillis (drawn by Mary Jones) $400

36 Sue (ditto) $350

37. Eve (ditto) $350

38. Jackson (ditto) $300

39. Bella (ditto) $200

40. Little Betty (ditto) $250

41. Daphne (ditto) $75

42. Evelina (ditto) $100

43. Little George $450

44. Candace $400

45. Chloe $250

46. Little Phillis $200

47. Nero $450

48. July $450

49. Titus $300

50. Sandy $200

51. Patty $150

52. Carolina $450

53. March (carpenter) $500

54. Kate $400

55. Little Miley $350

56. Robin (drawn by Mary Jones) $450

57. Lizzy (ditto) $400

58. House Jack (ditto) $500

59. Elsey (ditto) $400

60. Stepney (ditto) $450

61. Patience (drawn by Mary Jones) $300

62. Toney (ditto) $400

63. Trim $450

64. Little Caesar (ditto) $400

65. Adam (ditto) $400

Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on May 27, 1831.