They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Marriage Contract (Donworth/Anderson)

Enslaved Persons Named: None named

On October 10, 1785, Peter Donworth [alt: Dunworth], merchant of Sunbury, entered into a marriage contract with Mrs. Mary Anderson, widow of Captain David Anderson. Dunworth agreed that Mary Anderson was to retain all her property, both real and personal, and any other property that might come to her in her lifetime, provided that she changed her name to Donworth, which she agreed to do on October 27. He was not to have any share of her property during her life, and she was to dispose of it as she chose upon her death. “She is to have & to hold by virtue of these presents all her own Negroes & the Increase thereof Lands Cattle & horses her hogs & poultry etc etc,” as well as Lot #56 in Sunbury, which she had purchased from Captain Peacock. Witnessed by John Cooper, Patrick Donworth. John Cooper swore before a Liberty County Justice on January 26, 1788, that he had witnessed Peter Donworth sign his name to the above contract. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on January 26, 1788. 

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. A-B 1777-1793,” Record Book B, 1787-1793, p. 75. Image #306 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLZ-FG7F?i=305&cat=292358)